(UPDATE: RESOLVED) Beware: Talen / Talen27 / Seagull / Seaguii

[HatchetHaro]

UPDATE November 5, 4:39am EST: This Beware has been resolved. I have received payment for my work, the client has agreed to my ToS and has taken the necessary steps to comply with my new rules regarding the artwork (with much grumbling and complaining of course; it is actually funny

Comments

[leongon]

More of a question to AB staff:

Is it okay to allow a beware based so heavily on a personal relationship dispute? The artist here allowed it all to work out of norm because of trust, it wasn't handled as a regular transaction, leaving payment for a future possible favor and stuff.

Me ex borrowed art related cash from me aswell before breaking up, but I wouldn't consider bewaring her over it without having at least ONE other case besides mine. I consider it part of the break up.

Yeah. This one feels a little questionable, so I'd like to read what a staff member thinks. :)

[fawkatronic]

I'm not a moderator here but rule 5 states "Do not comment in a post questioning its relevance to this community. Posts are moderated, thus it 'belongs in artist's beware' if it's been posted."

There is a lot of bewares where people were originally friends and someone refused to pay owed money because their friendship broke up. Whatever personal feelings there were do not matter. What matters is that one person agreed to pay another person money for art and then never paid the money.

[leongon]

What about the part where the artist didn't handle the transaction properly, leaving payment in limbo for a future favor or payback?

That's basically what makes it feel a little questionable.

I believe bringing a relevant detail to attention, like the transaction being unprofessionally handled to begin with, it's not just questioning the beware for the sake of being a contrarian. This is the first case where I see something relevant like this to point out. I totally respect what staff is doing here.

[poizenkat]

these are approved before theyre shown so clearly the staff decided that it was allowed.

This artist was not paid for their work and that should be the end of it.

[poizenkat]

So...this guy has the money to commission ANOTHER artist for a full reference but not pay you back for the hard work you've done? Not cool. Thanks for the heads up and I hope you get the money somehow.

[ext_4755620]

I'm aware that this is not an advice post, but I hope it's alright that I share a few thoughts anyway

[jamesalesto]

I definitely agree with you.

While the OP should definitely be compensated for what was agreed upon, I wouldn't touch the character with a ten foot pole.

[ext_4864424]

The original gift was free; the edits, however, were not.

The edits were definitely drastic enough to be considered a redesign. They weren't mere adjustments; many parts of the character, big parts, had been fully remade.

I do not intend to sell the character; I intend to sell the design of the character. Since I have not been paid for the services rendered, I retain full rights to use or sell it as I see fit.

I intend on full transparency with the buyer, and I do not intend to sell it for much more than $50. Honestly, the quality of the work at such a low price should be enough to still interest buyers; in fact, I already have a few people interested in it.

Still, I very much appreciate your feedback and advice.

[spytdragonfyre]

My thoughts are similar to what Gray already said. You are definitely entitled to the $50 for the agreed-upon edits.

I'm ehhh about the idea of selling the reference/design with not/minimal edits, especially given the gray area around the entire design aspect. Unless it was fully disclosed that the design/reference is from an unpaid commission when being sold, I think it would be somewhat unethical to sell a design with so much drama around.

Personally, I think the entire situation is a bit of a mess and you selling the character could be interpreted as vengeful, especially given some of the tone in this beware. I'd have to see the character(s) in question before I could make a solid judgement, but unless there were major differences in color and all-around design, it seems like a bad idea to sell someone else's character (especially if the original design was done as a gift).

[ext_4873011]

I’ve already taken the ref sheet down and stopped using it. The idea and design of the character is mine though, I provided many references for him to work off and asked for many changes to be made to represent my character better. With the amount of detail I gave I undoubtedly own the concept.

The fact that he would not work on it at all without me present in a call to watch and guide him is evidence enough that he did not come up with ideas for this design.

[rayesesshyfan]

Ugh, gross. That is so terrible to treat anyone the way he treated you.

He clearly won't pay you for obvious reasons in the screenshots above so I think it's your best bet to go an alternative route: make edits to the design you made that it's not the same and sell that for 50$. That way you can get your 50$ back and wash your hands clean from his nonsense.