So hey, seeing as I'm the one who started this, I figured I'd better chime in with my thoughts.
I started this because I was... unhappy with fans getting shafted with their art commissions. I love this community, and wanted to make sure that it didn't sink into a dark place.
Now, the 'artist in question' is back and willing to make amends. He's stated that he'll either finish the piece, or give the money back. IMO, anyone who has a grievance at this point needs to make a decision. And whatever decision they make, they've gotta' stick with it.
I'm going to bow out of it at this point. I came in, because 'the artist in question' had disappeared and many were left feeling they had no option. I made this thread (and some art) so that they would have one. But I'm not here to take away customers from a fellow artist.
I hope you all can kind of see why I'm saying.
-Juggy
I think everyone can totally understand your point Juggy. You started/did one of the most generous things I have ever seen. This is why I have been here for almost 3 years. (Holy cow has it really been that long?!?!?!?!) You guys rock! *makes loud whoo noise while raising fist*
Dark Mystic:
What is it listed under so I can remove it?
With Gil back in action, I'm going to bow out as well. Juggertha got something great going and it helped boost moralle, gave us all a ton of fun, and possibly contributed in some minor way to the reboot.
With the return of MMOART, I think it's only appropriate for customers to resume their relationship directly with Gil. It would be wrong for us to continue.
We're here for ya, Gill!
/Battlewraith
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I'm going to bow out of it at this point. I came in, because 'the artist in question' had disappeared and many were left feeling they had no option. I made this thread (and some art) so that they would have one. But I'm not here to take away customers from a fellow artist.
I hope you all can kind of see why I'm saying what I am.
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I guess I can kind of see it but I don't agree. I have no relationship to Gill. I offered to do two pieces simply because people in this community were getting ripped off and burned on doing commissions. I am not getting paid for this. I'm not stealing someone's customers. If either of the people I'm doing a piece for want to go ahead and continue with their commission with him that's fine with me.
I got involved in this to support the cox community. It's absolutely not to help his reboot or whatever you wanna call it. The whole microsoft outlook email meltdown thing sounds like a load of crap. Taking your deviant page down because people can try to reach you there is.......egh whatever.
I really hope people get their money and/or art--and that it doesn't take another 2 years and another reboot. Talk is certainly cheap.
Blacklisted
"I'AM SATANS FAVORITE CHILD!!"
Well if you like I can let Dagger know Gill's 'back.'
But.... now I don't know WHAT to do.
One part wants to just tell him to go get a real job, art talent or no, cos he's REALLY bad at running a business. The other... the other is to try and support him.
Doesn't help that it's been a long stressful day and Double Xp s turning into lagsville and crash city.
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Well, I'm gonna see what happens. I am still not sold on this, but will give them the benefit of the doubt for the moment if I see some results. I'd be remiss if I didn't extend the same from my end - I know Doug has finished his awesome piece for me, but Wassy, if you want to pass at this point, I'll certainly understand.
That said, I want to once again reiterate my gratitude for those who stepped up to tackle pieces for me - that really went the extra mile, and I'm moved by your generosity as much as your talents. I know you all were doing this of your own accord and gratis, but I know that this will certainly make you all first in mind when I decide to get another commission. I can't really do much more to repay you for your kindness outside my words, and maybe tossing some cash your way in the future. And a virtual hug! 
Thanks!
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos
Hey Soul...
I feel you. I do. I've been in a situation where I was on a job where the art director was a good guy, but a really bad businessman. Because he was a friend, we reconciled, but I'm not sure I'd direct any of my friends to work with him. I feel like this is the same situation. Gill may be a great guy, but not every artist is a good at business. And they shouldn't be. Taking care of the business side of things is stressful. That's why a lot of artists I know have someone else who is business oriented handle that side of things. Otherwise it ends up in lots, if not LOADS of stress.
It takes awhile for any artist to know how much they can handle at one time. I had four jobs on my plate earlier this year and I knew, I KNEW taking that fourth job, I'd be overloaded. But my friend (not the one previously mentioned) was in a dire spot, and so I helped him out. I wouldn't have traded the chaos and stress for the world because it was an awesome project, but after that, I made a long list of things I would and wouldn't do with my artistic career so I wouldn't end up stressing out like I had.
With commissions, it's tempting to take on more than you can chew, and I've been guilty of it in the past. I think Gill got caught up in the mentality of taking on new orders while thinking he could keep going through his queue. The whole, "Well I'm really really full...but just one more bite wont hurt..."
Life happens. A chemical burn to the lungs is nasty, and I don't want to even think what that must have been like going through. I will say that I am glad that Gill isn't taking on new orders or deposits from the looks of things. As for this thread, I still believe that it is viable, as it's only been what? Two, three days since Gill posted.
I vote this thread be kept alive for the next coming weeks so people have a place to look, to know what's going on, what's happened in the past, and if they need help, that we're all here for them.
Juggy, you did a damn good job with this thread, and to everyone who lent their help, it's one of the reasons I came back to post. So thank you. This community rocks.
I'm still doing the one I said I would do, half because I said I would do it and I do what I say, and half because I was really interested in the piece anyhow.
As Battlewraith stated, I don't feel its taking business away from MMOART because I'm not getting paid, and Dark Ether can still get his piece (or money back) from them and have mine as well. Doesn't bother me any. I'm not going to sign up for anyone else's at this point, though. I can see where it would be crossing a line if more were to continue. Like I said... I made a promise to do a piece and it will get done.
If I really want to rationalize it, its always been my intent once my site got going to do free pieces from time to time, the whole deal print and all. Random surprise commissions for people who caught my attention. This is just going to end up being the first one ^.^
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I'm still doing the one I said I would do, half because I said I would do it and I do what I say, and half because I was really interested in the piece anyhow.
As Battlewraith stated, I don't feel its taking business away from MMOART because I'm not getting paid, and Dark Ether can still get his piece (or money back) from them and have mine as well. Doesn't bother me any. I'm not going to sign up for anyone else's at this point, though. I can see where it would be crossing a line if more were to continue. Like I said... I made a promise to do a piece and it will get done.
If I really want to rationalize it, its always been my intent once my site got going to do free pieces from time to time, the whole deal print and all. Random surprise commissions for people who caught my attention. This is just going to end up being the first one ^.^
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Umm....YAY!! Thanks so much!
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos
Yeah i'm confilicted honestly....
I hear ya SoulTrain! I can relate. I don't know what i am going to do really but i'll see how it plays out. What i got is that Jomaro and his family are safe and sound so thats cool.
As for this thread I'll pull my info as well. Withdrawl my requests.
It was agreat idea Juggy and i can't thank you enough for stepping up. You are one of the reasons i still hang around. Doug ty as well for stepping up, as well as the other artists from this thread. You guys all make up the heart and soul of this community and make me proud to be part of it!
My Deviant Art page link-link
CoH/V Fan Videos
Okay, three TA pieces off the list. Dark Jedi--not available for more. Same for Wassy.
I'll make notes to that effect.
Well, on a double sided front I totally understand Juggertha's call on the situation and any and all artists who follow suit. As had been previously "promised," I would do a drawing of Maximum Omega (despite that it appears MMOART already has the original request nearly completed as viewable from the WIP on their page), and will continue with that character as I already had it 85% completed regardless.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Warning: crazy space limit reached. Please delete some crazy and try again. |
I'm totally here to steal work from all other artists. Screw you guys.
I've already contacted Wes (Lousy_Day) about my decision regarding MMOArt's latest offering. I'm willing to give Gill and Co. the benefit of the doubt.
I'm so impressed with what Wes has been doing with Comrade Hero and Graviton Girl that I'm quite happy to compensate him for his time and effort.
Soul,
I'm communicating with Gill now, but to be honest I'm still leery about the situation and ow it's going to come out in the end.
I'll leave it up to Dagger whether he wants to go ahead or not. I can only imagine how busy he is. 
Either way. Thank you for your effort and Dagger for his generous offer. It has meant a lot.
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Soul,
I'm communicating with Gill now....
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Did he indicate if he knew what was happening here? I would be curious to know if he got word.
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Soul,
I'm communicating with Gill now, but to be honest I'm still leery about the situation and ow it's going to come out in the end.
I'll leave it up to Dagger whether he wants to go ahead or not. I can only imagine how busy he is.
Either way. Thank you for your effort and Dagger for his generous offer. It has meant a lot.
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I went ahead and told him, left it up to him if he wants to back off or whatnot.
And now, the ball is in Gill's court, really.
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Thank you for always keeping me in the loop. Its good to know that MMOArt is back and making good their commitments.
But I never back away from a commitment, whether its paid for or not. Tell Jotunn that I will put the drawing on hold, just in case. If MMOArt delivers, all is well then. If not, the community has something to fall back on. I do hope all will be fine.
Regards to all.
Dagger
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"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
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Did he indicate if he knew what was happening here? I would be curious to know if he got word.
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He didn't mention anything to me about either this thread or the other.
Soul, thank you for the communique. I'll be keeping my green fingers crossed.
Well, I notice that my piece isn't in his queue. For that matter, I doubt any prize pieces are. When we were communicating a while back, it seemed as if he failed to realize he WAS getting paid for the prize pieces, through the free advertising they generated within his target audience, the MMO community. Prize pieces are his advertising budget, and are well worth it in the amount of new business they can generate if handled correctly. That notwithstanding, mine being a prize piece, I am somewhat stuck. I can't ask for a refund, so I sent him an email requesting to be put back into his to do list. So we begin a third round.
Frankly, the whole "multitude of system failures" line stinks to high heaven. If he does his artwork by hand then scans it onto the computer, what can fail? You scan it in and back it up onto a CD or memory card. If you lose a scanner/printer, VERY good photo quality units are available for under $100. Seing as he's charging many times that for some of the pieces he's selling, it doesn't sound like an unreasonable option.
There is something else behind his disappearance. I can smell it in the wind. Will this be the last time he closes up shop with no notice? Only time will tell.
To the artists of the CoH/CoV community...THANK YOU. To Juggertha, MANY thank yous. I hope some of my SG mates get commission works from you. I posted a link to the piece for them to see and there was much drooling, oooh-ing, and aaah-ing, as well there should be.
Hey Cookie Monster, if "C" is for cookie, what is "N" for?
Golden Age & Early Silver Age Heroes (RPers) Wanted!
Batman PWND by The Insidious Termite!
The Internet
I just got a mass-mailout from MMOART today regarding the 'reboot'. Hopefully, it will reach all of their old customers so that they'll all have the option of continuing on with them or not.
((odd though, how did the whole mass-email work if... ah, nm.))
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Soul,
I'm communicating with Gill now....
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Did he indicate if he knew what was happening here? I would be curious to know if he got word.
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I'm also curious about this, so if its ever publicly known (I'm not advocating people relay private messages or anything), do tell.
I got the mass email and I have to say I honestly don't know if I want to shell the three hundred and some odd bucks when and if Gil actually gets around to my piece. I am totally conflicted since I have been jerked around so much since the whole thing started.
Half of me feels like requesting a refund and then paying someone here to do the piece that I wanted. The other half says I have waited this long I should tough it out.
Seriously though, he should offer some kinda discount or something.
Um... just for clarification...
Gill's posted response on his website is that he lost all his customer's emails and will be getting back to them shortly because his email database was "lost." I put quotes because I'm not sure if it was corrupted, the computer broke, etc...
So he had no one's emails.
Now he's sent out a mass email of everyone on his list or just the people that contacted him?
QR
My request is being withdrawn.