Artist Beware - Steampunk Artist Molly 'Porkshanks' Friedrich
2010-09-03
So, I'm tired of playing around, here is my official warning to any commissioner for one Steampunk Artist by the name of Molly 'Porkshanks' Friedrich. (
http://porkshanks.deviantart.com/ )
As it stands, I commissioned this artist for a custom cane, sent payment in full, and after she asked me for the height and said she was ready to work on it, all communication pretty much stopped on her end. My notes on DA still say that they have been unread. For the past 6, that's right SIX, months. Or 24 weeks and 21 hours ago according to the note system.
Shall I start from the beginning? I sent an inquiry to Porkshanks in November/December to see if she was interested in doing a cane for me. While arranging things then, communication was absolutely wonderful, every day or so we'd exchange notes and I ended up getting a quote of $150-200 for this project, I decided to send her $250 since she had never made a cane before, and she had to buy the materials and to cover shipping cost when it was finished.
In March/April (24 weeks, 1 day ago according to the note) she told me she was ready to work on the cane and asked what the height should be off the floor, I responded the very next day. Since then, she has not read any of my notes and she hasn't sent my any, either. She hasn't responded to anything I sent to her email, any messages to Facebook, and the one comment she did make was when I posted on her profile page and that was to tell me that she had been thinking about my commission (here). That was on the first of June, and nothing since, obviously. Though she has been active, posting personal works and photo-shoots and such the entire time, and I have made two profile comments since then asking for a refund.
Here are some screen-caps of the notes that I sent her, I thought I was quite polite considering the circumstances.
Last note she sent me
Note telling her my concerns
Second profile comment asking her to read a previous note
Third profile comment, requesting refund and stating issues
One of my requests for a refund
Note from other artist who had been thinking of suggesting Porkshanks to a commissioner Name blacked out for privacy, of course.
Paypal transaction receipt Transaction ID and bank numbers blacked out.
-I have sent Porkshanks a couple emails to the two email addresses I have for her and have not received a response from either of them.
-I've sent her a message on her Facebook page, which she just updated today with no response.
-I have the AIM name she has listed on DA on my buddy-list, but either she has it set to friends only, is invisible, or she's just never on when I am.
-I've sent her 7-8 notes since she requested the measurement for the cane 6 months ago because she was ready to work on it, and NONE have been read, or so my notes say. One update request a month when not getting a previous response isn't badgering, right?
-She HAS been active the entire time, posting multiple personal works and such.
If anyone knows her and would like to inform her of this, go ahead, because I WILL see about pursuing legal action against her like I warned if she continues to be unresponsive.
TLDR:
Steampunk Artist Molly 'Porkshanks' Friedrich likes taking money for commissions she doesn't finish. $250 ones at that.
EDIT:
I got a response today, and it seems like we'll be able to work something out. So, yay! :3
RE-EDIT:
It ended up never being resolved like I had hoped, though the illusion was given that it may be since she would answer notes and ask questions about colours and designs I wear/like to make the commission look nice with things I tend to wear everyday. However, she has ignored notes since our last conversation in November/December 2011.