It's been a long time. My life has been incredibly stressful and I was dealing with some severe mental health problems. I still think about how I nuked that challenge I tried. I have a steady, normal job now so if I owe you money back please let me know. I have done some art lately, but it hasn't been furry related. I feel like a stranger in this community now but maybe I'll try my hand at some furry art again. But I miss you all. I hope everyone has been well.

I just wanted to create a journal letting you all know that I am still thinking about the money I owe back for commission refunds. I have not forgotten, nor am I running away and abandoning you. I still have no funds at the moment. I thought it important to let you know it is still on my mind. I am sorry. :(

I've tried, and tried, but I just have no heart or time to do art anymore. Life is in a tailspin for me as my relationship seems to be falling apart, and now I have to get my life in order. I will continue refunding all commissions as I get money, I will most likely not be taking any new ones. I am sorry to those who have commissioned me, I should have given your money back long ago.

It's been a long time and I have finally got some things sorted out in my life.

Firstly, I know I owe a lot of people art from my 100 character challenge. If you are one of these people, then please leave a comment below. I can no longer do them in the traditional art way, so you can opt for a refund, or allow me to do a digital painting of your character for you. I want to clear that list off after years because I have been carrying guilt about it for a long time.

Secondly, I need to make $300 by Friday, so I'm opening up commissions again. Please spread this around if you can. They will be digital, along the same style as this, full background and all for $50: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8819519/

They can be any character, and I am only opening 6 slots at $50 a piece. I will stream them, so you can watch me do your picture if you like. Please comment, and all money will be USD sent to taktalius[at]gmail.com

Please help me out, and I promise I will be around again going forward. I will also be working on those 100 character commissions too.

I hoped I would be able to finish this challenge but I really have overstepped myself. I will be refunding all incomplete commissions as I have the money. I have already started doing so. I will send a note to each of you as your name comes up for a refund to double check your paypal address. I'm sorry. I can't apologize enough for this.

If you are on my challenge list and would like a refund back because you no longer want to wait, please send me a note with your paypal address and I will send you your money back. I just want to let everyone know that it is an option.

I have done a lot of thinking, and seeing as I don't and probably won't have the money anytime soon to refund the pieces, I am going to start finishing the list off. If you do not want to wait (It will probably take me a while) Please let me know and I will put you on a refund list for when I do have the money. I am sorry to those because it has been 2 years since I took your money. If you are willing to wait, I will get to your piece eventually

I also know I owe 4 people their pieces in the mail and, no, I have not mailed them yet. If you are someone I owe a mailout to, please note me with your address and I will do my best to get it to you when I can

Thank you all, you amazing furs you.

I feel it pertinent to keep you all in the loop. I have not been able to refund any money yet because I don't have any. This year has been absolutely terrible for my family as far as work goes and I am working hard to rectify that. I just want you all to know that it is still on my mind and I am not trying to get away with taking your money. I am so sorry to do this.

I am considering starting up some of the commissions again if people are willing to wait since I can't work on them as much as I would like. Let me know what you think.

I hate to do this but I will begin handing out refunds to those who I still own pieces to (The ones that are nearly finished will be finished). It is clear to me that, due to my life circumstances that I do not have the time to work on them or complete them in a timely fashion. I will start at the bottom of the 100 list and work my way up as I get money to refund you all. I still have the ones I need to ship as well, I will get those sent out when I can. I am sorry for the wait and I am very sorry I am unable to complete these commissions. I will note you before I send you your money to confirm Paypal addresses and the like. I have a list of who paid and for how much so there should be no discrepancies with the amounts owed. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I have not been able to get on the internet consistently so it may take me a bit to get back to you but I will nonetheless.

Again, I am so sorry for this and I hope that the refunds can calm those who have been waiting nearly two years for their commissions. I did not anticipate the things that have happened to me when I offered to take them. Thank you all so much for your patience. You are all amazing.

I am just posting an update. I have been working on commissions but I have no scanner at the moment. Please bare with me. I will get to posting them. Also, I will mail out the pieces I have ready to go. I am being incredibly slow and I am very sorry. You are all awesome

My day today is devoted to working on my challenge commissions so I hope to get a few of them done or at least the sketches messaged for approval

Things are still pretty weird. I have been working on some art though and I hope to have some pieces scanned in soon.

For those of you who have read my previous journals you know that I left my boyfriend of 10 years. I was a stay-at-home-mom who didn't work so my only income was my art. He paid for everything. Finally our relationship is over (it was a long time coming) and I have no money. He took all the money I had away when I left him and left me with $17. I need to get a new phone because he canceled mine and I need to look after our two children. My life is screwed right now. I am looking for work but I really need money in the mean time. I will continue to work on the challenge pieces as I do these emergency commissions. Please, please, please spread the word. I need money and this is the only option I have. I hate that I am asking but I feel like I don't have a choice.

Commissions will be traditional, full background pieces.
Pricing will run between $100-$150 depending on characters and amount of detail

I will begin work on them as soon as I grab my art supplies this weekend.

Please spread the word. I am a fur in trouble.

So I left my boyfriend of 10 years and I am posting this from my sister's. I was a stay-at-home-mom for years and I have none of my own money. He has canceled my phone on me. I need to focus on finding work now so art will be slow. I have to grab my stuff and find a place to live with my kids. I hope there isn't any weird custody issues. Shit is weird right now

Me and hubby are calling it quits after a 10 yr relationship and 2 kids. Commissions may take a little longer to finish while I find out what to do. I have been a stay at home mom for so long I don't know if I'm employable. Life will be tough for me for a bit. Please bare with me. Shit is fucked up right now for me. Bleh....

So our landlord has given us notice that he wants us to move out. Boooo. I can't blame him really because he lives below us and has to deal with our 3 and 1 year old running around and making child noises all the time. We have no emergency fund because my husband owes the government taxes for the past two years. So I wanted to see if anyone is interested in commissioning a digital painting from me that I can work on in between my character commissions. Here are some examples of my digital skills:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8819519/

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/14034889/ (from my alt account)

Each of these took me about two weeks to do, probably looking at around 60 hours total. I have never really liked the idea of emergency commissions but I need the money to help us pay for first months rent and damage deposit at a new place. Those of you who live in the Okanagan might understand how pricey places here are. :(

The commission details are:

* One, possibly two characters
* Must have a full background (I really want to do a background piece since I've been doing so many characters
* The size will be 8.5" by 11" at 300 dpi, done in Adobe Photoshop CC.

The price I am setting at $400. I am a slow digital painter so I won't charge by the hour like some of the more popular and talented digital artists out there. If you are interested please note me and we can get the details hashed out. I will provide a printable file of it if you wish to get a print of it.

In the mean time I am going to be finishing the lineart of the next two pieces in my character challenge. Thanks you everyone for your consideration.

What do you find the hardest part when creating a piece of artwork? I have trouble with the initial gesture drawing when trying to start a piece. Once I know what I'm drawing the rest is pretty easy going. :)

This has taken me a while to get to. So here it is. A list and status of shipments.

tefloncougar (2) - Not shipped
Wolfy-Lupus (2) - in the mail
teiirka - (5) - Shipped - received
Mistingwolf (2) - Not shipped
Cocoalady (2) - not shipped


These are of the finished ones so far. As I finish them I will add you to this list. I know my shipping is slow. I hope to get some out In the next day or two. I will sticky this to my profile

Also, if you paid for shipping and your name isn't here let me know and I will double check and add you. I just combed through my Notes so I apologize if I missed you. Thanks all!

So the weather in Kelowna is insane right now. Not good for my pale freckled skin. Thank got for air conditioning otherwise I would be a puddle on the ground right now. I just got back from a play-date with my kids at the local waterpark and OH MY GOD it is ridiculous out there. Sun, go away. I want some rain!

End of my whining now. Time to get some arts done in my nice cool house :(

I am just sitting here watching my kids and doing work on my commissions when I can. Feel free to ask me anything about myself and I will answer what I can.

I just dived right in and decided to purchase a subscription to Adobe Photoshop CC, which is the CS6 equivalent through their Creative Cloud Service. It is the exact same as Photoshop CS6 but subscription based. I can't afford the $600-$1000 price on the CS6 buyout but this is $20 a month and I can afford that for now. In 4 years it will have paid for a copy of CS6 but this way I am also getting all updates to the software. It works for me. I will definitely practice some digital art between commissions for a recharge. Speaking of which, I should have another one posted in the next day or so. I will make that shipping journal tonight after dinner. Thanks all!

I made a Redbubble account.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/autumnfire

I will be uploading stuff I make to coincide with the story/novel I am righting about my characters world. I will have the first chapter up in the next day or so. I am just proof-reading and stuff now. I have been working on it in between commissions as a recharge. Being creative in a different way. I am not the best writer but I hope you all enjoy reading the world that exists in my head for Autumnfire, Summerwind and the crew. I will probably be drawing a lot more of them in my personal account.

Thanks all. Now back to sleep, then some more coloured pencil layers on the next few pieces of Character Commission art.

Also, I will compile a shipping list tomorrow for those who are wondering about the status of their shipments. It will also help me keep track too.

Thanks and good night all!

My husband just told me it's Friday. I seriously thought it was Thursday. I think it may be because I got really drunk for the first time in years on Canada Day. I forgot how much alcohol affects my memory. Well, back to the grind then. I will have another commission up later today.

Just wishing you a happy and relaxing Canada Day! I am off to the beach today with the family (my son has been asking for a week to go) and fireworks tonight. There may be some beer in there somewhere too. I hope you have a good day!

I am thinking of purchasing an Adobe Photoshop CS6 subscription in the Creative Cloud and I was wondering if any of you use this service. I have no way to do digital art now and once I finish my Character Challenge commissions I would like to get back into doing more digital artwork practice. I just want to know if is a good idea. I do not have the $999 to buyout the product so this is my only way to access the new software. I run Windows 8.1 and it seems fussy about older software I used to use.