hoofprint-is-spooky:

jestre:

alskylark:

And this makes making a living out of traced stuff right how? He apologizes now that he’s been caught… So that makes it right? After 3 years of “occasional tracing”, he only apologizes now? I’m sorry but his apology is a damage control pr move and I don’t quite like it. It doesn’t feel sincere at all. He only apologizes because he can’t keep doing the same shit.

To be honest, if he’s gonna play by fair rules from now on, aka selling his original artwork, then alright fair enough. But truth is, the damage has already been done, plenty of people have bought plenty of prints and merchandise from a tracer who got that illegitimate money. He already got popular, he can create the shittiest pieces and theyll still get more views than some of my friends’ amazing art and worse yet, bought.

And people are already falling into the apology. Soon nothing will have happened. Because the guy already made it there. The moral of the story is that cheating will get you further than working hard.

But, at least we got to speak out, the artist community isn’t happy about him. And even though the guy isn’t going to stop making an indecent amount of money (which hopefully Hasbro will have a say in it) his sales are going to take a hit. His original artwork is quite mediocre so hopefully people will be less willing to throw their money at him now that his art isn’t completely show accurate.

So what should we do if we see his traced work at a con?

A basic breakdown of what Drawpony’s apology translates to.

“I am sorry for being caught. I will be more careful in my tracing. People will complain, but I know there will be people who will never know about this as long as I apologize and cover it up fast enough. I will still be selling my 100$ blankets and merchandise at conventions, because there will always be people who don’t know about my blatent tracing. I will not be refunding anybody who has paid me, and I will be keeping my Patreon active.
You may not see much of me for a bit, since I’ll be waiting for this whole issue to die down. But I will be back. I will be selling, and I will apologize again just like I did this time if I’m caught. Because people will always accept an apologize as long as I seem sincere. Even if I have no plans to change my behavior or make amends to those I am hurting.”

Because that’s what it usually ends up being when somebody apologizes for cheating like this.

an apology is not justification. Nobody is obligated to accept them.