DarkArtist's End of the Line Thread

[Wanderer]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I think now is the time to draw positives from this situation and put it to bed. Josh has been flogged enough and further negativity wont speed up this situation. It does serve as a MAJOR warning however, to all those wannabe Les's, Josh's and to a lesser extent Soverign Studio's that just because you have a skill and realise people are prepared to pay you good money to have a piece of your art, you need to take a step back, shake your head, rub the $ signs out of your eyes and put yourself in the customers shoes for a second. You need to ask yourself 'Can I fulfill my customers requests and deliver the quality they have paid for and at a reasonable time?' That is, unless, you are capable of working to schedules in between living your life and dealing with the day to day challenges that crop up.
Goodwill only goes so far in business and using life excuses as means of justifying keeping hold of a persons hard earned money wont fly anymore after what happened with these guys. Afterall, life's ups and downs don't just afflict customisers but us mere mortals too.
Its still very sad how DA and Les have ended up but this is a lesson learnt for eveyone.

 

[eighthsamurai]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Maulfan, the list idea was just a suggestion. I wasn't trying to spark any frustration or tell Josh "how he should do things." i hope my intentions were clear.

the thought of Josh breaking down, crying on the floor, hulking out and throwing furniture, damn, i never thought my repaints would be part of something like that. it's actually quite devastating to think that something as petty as plastic heads could bring someone to their knees.

josh, i've supported you since the beginning. been in your corner. and sometimes, yes, i've found myself being frustrated that my figures have no heads. yes i paid for them, but it doesn't come anywhere close to amounting to a pound of your flesh.

you're a good dude. you have a strength i can't even fathom. you have great friends. even if like me, they sometimes inside get frustrated by the customer-customizer relationship, they still love you in the brother-brother one. your integrity still comes through in many aspects of your work and what you say. which is why i implore you not to let yourself be taken down by these jobs. firstly, i'm actually begging you not to do something stupid. and secondly, this hobby can sometimes be followed by obssessive people who don't have their priorities right. there is so much more to life. if your customers don't remember that, you just HAVE to. don't let it break you down. go outside, smell the flowers. see the world in 1/1 scale, not 1/6. send the most obssessive ones their stuff back and be free of them if it helps you to do that. tnaig has offered money, and i can do the same if you need cash for refunds and shipping. it shouldn't make you feel awkward either. brothers lend money to brothers.

i actually feel ashamed of myself that i was a part of this thing in your life, that shouldn't have brought you down like it did. but, as the great yazz once said, "the only way is up". as hard as it might seem, i don't want to see another post from you unless it's a pic of you smiling a little. let us know you're ok. or at least better.

also, don't fight with your wife at christmas. something happens to women at christmas - it's like they get super strength or something. maybe from carrying all those shopping bags. one wrong move and she'll whoop your ass into 2010!

 

[Ironman1188]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I posted this yesterday but it got pulled for possibly being too volatile. I have edited it and hope that it will be allowed.

OMG you're waiting less than 2 months and you want your stuff? Buy retail. Don't order something custom and expect to get it before everyone else. Did you read this thread before sending it along.
And as for wanting Josh to give you a solid deadline? Read the thread as well. Why would you want him to say "next tuesday"? So you can meander in on Wednesday and say he's no good, you don't have it yet? Lighten up and back off!
Josh is stand up and will not dissappoint!
Josh, how many heads am I waiting on? For how long? What have I always told you? Take your time, take care of family first, thats the priority. I've never asked where they were, how long they would be or for update pix. I am still not rushing you. Understand that. I am just trying to illustrate a point. PATIENCE. It will pay off when you get your final product.
Josh, do what you need to. 1:1 is always a prioirty. After almost losing my wife (twice), my son and then myself last year, no one knows that more than I do.
Email or call if you need to talk. Don't let these naysayers irk you.
The faithful have your back.

 

[Wanderer]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I think this thread should be temporally locked until Josh is ready to comment about updates. It's in massive danger of kicking off again back to square one...

 

[Eli26]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I think this thread should be temporally locked until Josh is ready to comment about updates. It's in massive danger of kicking off again back to square one...

No... we just need to set the guy on the right track.

But yeah, maybe we should take a breather from the thread.

Lets all pick on the Wanderer!!!

Stress averted!

 

[Ironman1188]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Locking this thread would be a bad move and only add to stress on both sides.

 

[Mesa]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

So I guess the Obama clapping .gif would be inappropriate at this point?




Good luck Josh, hopefully you pull through this a better man. I can see both sides of the argument. You're being really hard on yourself, and maybe it's deserved, but bottom line is you're trying to get out of the hole you've dug and not taking the cowardly way out (I hope) by just disappearing from the board or something way worse.

 

[Les Walker]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I think now is the time to draw positives from this situation and put it to bed. Josh has been flogged enough and further negativity wont speed up this situation. It does serve as a MAJOR warning however, to all those wannabe Les's, Josh's and to a lesser extent Soverign Studio's that just because you have a skill and realise people are prepared to pay you good money to have a piece of your art, you need to take a step back, shake your head, rub the $ signs out of your eyes and put yourself in the customers shoes for a second. You need to ask yourself 'Can I fulfill my customers requests and deliver the quality they have paid for and at a reasonable time?' That is, unless, you are capable of working to schedules in between living your life and dealing with the day to day challenges that crop up.
Goodwill only goes so far in business and using life excuses as means of justifying keeping hold of a persons hard earned money wont fly anymore after what happened with these guys. Afterall, life's ups and downs don't just afflict customisers but us mere mortals too.
Its still very sad how DA and Les have ended up but this is a lesson learnt for eveyone.

Brilliantly said. Perfect. Incredibly succinct.

And Josh, (mimicking Oddball from Kelly's Heroes)
"What's with these NEGATIVE WAVES, baby??!"


Stand on the mountaintop and cry out your name!
And lose the loser tags! I mean, you sort of followed in my footsteps, sorta. Kinda. You came to my home, saw my moves, copied some, adapted others, and therefore, took some of my kung fu with you, and now you proclaim yourself Failure!??? Not with my Kung Fu, mister!

I say, NO! End this madness now. That is an order! From your older friend, former teacher and "mentor"! I did not teach a fool! We made mistakes, but for crying out loud, let's rise up, and reclaim what is our's, mainly, OUR DIGNITY! And we cannot do that by blocking our own way with such self inposed tags.

I am fighting like hell muself, and to regain a footing that I know I can eventually find again. It must be done and can't be that hard to do. And hey, don't let down that which you've borrowed from me!
Take it and stand proud!
So you kicked a table in anger! So what! So you are upset. I am too. These guys are with us, and hey, they must be some bada$$ guys to STILL be supportive! I mean, seriously.

From me to you, with all the love that an older brother can give...
SNAP. OUT. OF. IT!
Be the DARK ARTIST you already are!

It's all good!

Just...do it. And remember, (this is one I have trouble with) There is no such thing as stress. It's an artificial concept. You can't find it, measure it, grab it, poke or KICK it. It doesn't exist. Now, go paint.
Without stress. If I can (try) so can you, and together, we can get our Kung Fu back!

(And don't ever let me see you taking my old moves out like that, and hang 'em up and beat em like an old rug! I am still proud of my meager skills, even with aging eyes and less than stellar heart. At least you have 20 years to be where I am physically! Remember that, buckaroo! )

End of lecture.
Love ya man. It will all work out.

 

[Wanderer]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Cheers Les I've got the utmost respect for you and Josh. Like the majority of us here were upset how things have panned out and worse that we wont get to experience first hand some of the art you guys create. Certainly i'm personally devastated i may never get to boast i own a piece of work created by either of you two.
Once the workloads level off however, and you've climbed back to the summit, i hope you both reconsider getting back in the game but with a radically restructured business model of course! Personally i think you should both just sell exclusively through your own websites and ebay only. Build up your stock of painted heads, figures etc then put them up for sale as 'available immediately' and just do a one private commission piece at a time. Once you've got that step ahead, i think you'd both do amazingly well...Of course that's easier said than done. And if you're doing that already anyway...Even better!

 

[vader70450]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

U da man bro! and dont let anyone tell you different. As I said before you get to mine when you get time. Get these others off your back first. I can wait and I know it will be worth the wait! I got a special place in my display for that Lee Batman statue painted by the one and only DA! Stay positive and have a great holiday!

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I want to say, if Josh offered you a refund and figure back, personally I think its best for Josh, yourself and any other customer waiting, that you take that offer.

I did not know that offer was made and apologize to Josh that I assumed it wasn't. If you aren't asking for your money back, you shouldn't be complaining. I can't believe people aren't accepting that offer. I think its the responsibility of the most recent customers to accept that offer and help Josh get his life back on track.

In fact I think for Josh's wellbeing it sounds like he personally should cancel as many of the deals as he can afford to and just say "sorry I can't do this for you, sorry for wasting your time, here is your head and money back".

Void those deals out. That way you wash them from your responsibility and you don't have to think about those particular ones anymore. Even people that say they can wait, you should just send them back. Every figure is a liability and weight on your shoulders even if they say they can wait.

IMO. Any so called friends that are owed figures, if they truly support you, need to understand that you want out of this hole ASAP and voiding those deals will help you get out sooner.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Thanks for saying what I can't say without being a total ass, David. I hope DarkArtist takes your advice.

shorter you can make your list, the easier it will be for your peace of mind and theirs as well.

I agree with this whole heartedly. Even if its just $50 or $100 a month in refunds you will cut your load down and lighten the burden on your shoulders.

And to those waiting on stuff, I hope you support this idea too and take your items back with no ill will because I believe this is the best for Josh and the community.

If a 3rd party takes that position GG recommends, I am willing to donate $50 in stamps to get people their stuff back.

 

[BlindVoyeur]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Pm sent !!

 

[tnaig001]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

To Gordon Gekko:

Thanks for the kind words David, but if anyone deserves a hand, Josh does.


*******


I think all that really needs to be said has been and i believe between Les and Josh, they should have the means to think it through.


I understand that everyone means well with what's posted but I've also come to realise that part of the recoveryprocess comes from self-empowerment.

Let's give him some space to breathe, reflect and decide.

I believe his clients have decided to give him some respite. So let's do the same.


He knows the possible options available. Let's leave him to it.


Merry Christmas.

James.

 

[Wanderer]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Well said tnaig but OMG the posts immediately above yours offering a 'sollution' are bordeline outrageus. Can't we just leave it be rather than stirring it up some more?!

 

[galactiboy]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I think David offers some very helpful suggestions... and even it its just gets people thinking more of how to help Josh than to come in here an post anger and frustration; then its a good one IMO.

If I were local I'd be happy to help out with this, but if it goes forward I'd be more than willing to donate some money to help out

More than anything I want to see Josh free of this burden. Sure I care about my items, but I care much more about how much strain is put on a friend.

 

[pixletwin]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I think David offers some very helpful suggestions... and even it its just gets people thinking more of how to help Josh than to come in here an post anger and frustration; then its a good one IMO.

If I were local I'd be happy to help out with this, but if it goes forward I'd be more than willing to donate some money to help out

More than anything I want to see Josh free of this burden. Sure I care about my items, but I care much more about how much strain is put on a friend.

Well said GB. It's too bad. The customs section used to be a place where friends got together. Then a bunch of ???????s joined the board and sent this place to the dump.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

the new Star Wars custom section is rocking, mainly because its about people doing it for themselves and helping each other out. Pretty much void of any commerce.

I think they had it right here when the 2 sides were seperated.

 

[karamazov80]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Pretty much void of any commerce.

I agree with Prog. Capitalism is the root of all evil.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Are you guys kidding me? This is what you get when you wait for a DA masterpiece. He's the king!

Where you going to buy this stuff? Nowhere. I waited a long-ass time too and it was worth every single month. Unless you're going to die next week just relax and chill. He's a young guy who got in a little over his head, but he's a good person and you will get what you were promised. If you try to pressure him or rush him you may not get his best work and that would be a huge shame, but you'll only have yourself to blame. Believe me, I do understand where you guys are coming from, but you have to just wait. When you get what you paid for you'll be so happy and you'll be apologizing to Josh.

Make him feel good and just apologize now and let him know there's no pressure. You'll be glad you did in the end. Trust me.

Even if it takes another year it's worth it.

Whoa....

Way too much crap throwing here...

The above it the reason I support Josh. He is one man... and does great work. Each piece is one of a kind.

He got in over his head... He let real life get in his way

Please... He's not a little boy in india tied to a bench. He knows where he went wrong... and has paid for it 10 fold. Let's let the man make it right. I know he will.