Callout for daisiesamethyst, AKA shywizardflower
Good evening. It is with a heavy heart that I must write up this callout for a fan artist I have commissioned over the past several months.
This artist, who goes by the handle @daisiesamethyst (formerly shywizardflower), has blatantly traced another artist's work while working on a commission I'd made with them.
I began corresponding with Daisies back in the summer. I want to say, between this past June to August. They have drawn two pieces of art for me, which I shall link below.
Aina with a Mermaid Pendant
More recently, I'd asked for a third art piece. Here is the WIP of the art in question, posted January 6th at 10:21 PM ET:
It took me a bit to recognize it, but the way Daisies has drawn Elliott here reminded me of another fan art I'd seen posted on this site. Specifically, this one by @andengeu.
quick art of Elliott I made kskskskss ʘ‿ʘ
~~~ I'm still open for commissions!
As you can see, the way Daisies had drawn Elliott's features mirrors the original artist's work almost perfectly.
As politely as I could, I tried to bring this to Daisies's attention. To my disappointment, she refused to own up to the tracing, claiming instead that she would "change it."
I blocked her and informed Andengeu afterwards through DM about what had happened. I'm so very sorry about this. I had wholly expected Daisies to draw her own original rendition of Elliott, not wholesale copy off of someone else.
At this time, I cannot say for certain whether Daisies's previous two commissions for me were traced, nor can I issue such judgment on any art she's made for others. I just found this instance to be so egregious that I felt it necessary to speak up about it.
Altogether, I have given Daisies between $200 and $400: for all 3 arts I'd commissioned her, plus small donations here and there because she said she was in dire personal and financial straits. Indeed, every other day she'd come into my DMs to beg me to give her more money, even when I'd tell her I could not afford to do so. (Note that I have since blocked her, which caused me to lose our text correspondence in the process. This much is on me.)
I am not seeking a refund, nor do I wish to see Daisies harassed for this. I seek only to share this experience so as to warn potential patrons about this artist.
Daisies...I don't know if you'll ever see this, but if you do, please do better. I have promoted you and your work as much as I could in hopes of helping you get back on your feet. Now I feel like a fool to have done so. I can no longer in good conscience support someone who traces other people's work and presents it as their own.