There is only one new piece up on Society 6 and boy is there a reason. Disclaimer, there may be a lot of F bombs used in this blog, viewer discretion is advised. I haven't started any other piece...nor can I. I'm kind of stuck right now...at the mercy of Corel and their lovely **note dripping sarcasm** customer service reps.
Last week when I came back from my sabbatical, there were a lot of technical issues from the PC lobotomy. Including issues with my painting program. After arguing and calling and more aruing, I got the 5 missing brush sets back. I had purchased them off of their website instead of in the program. All was well...there was bliss. Then...((insert sinister music here)) they forced an upgrade, that cost me money!! Granted there was a sale...but the sale was only popping up on the website, which I don't like purchasing from. I bit the bullet and as soon as I did, lo and behold the sale went on the program. So I refunded the one I bought on the website and purchased the upgrade on the store. There was a bit of a refund fight...but at least THAT has been resolved. So happy as a clam, where the hell did that saying come from? Do clams experience happy? Another thing to Google-Fu. I digress, I have the newest edition of Painter...YAY!!! But then BOOO and the fight begins. I managed to re-download the missing brushes...whew. Not the issue. Here's the issue...
Over the day, I noticed I was missing some really key brush sets. I want to let you know, they're not that cheap, either, but they come with 15-16 individual themed brushes. Initially it was 7. All bought in the program, so all of them should have appeared on the Restore Purchase clicky thingy. Nope, they weren't showing up in my library or even on the website store...WHAT?!?!? So I call. I get yet another ticket open. I had 3 tickets open at one point...but one was closed...Note, during this blog, I'm still fighting with them. The other day I noticed 3 more brush sets missing and aren't even in the Bundle pack I purchased...Thankfully I have a lot of digital receipts, just as in real life, in my digital world, I am a hoarder. I discovered this on Saturday. The ticket was issued Tuesday and they usually respond within 24 hours...oh no, I didn't get my email filled with broken download links until Thursday, well 2 of the brush sets did work...out of 7...So Friday I called them pretty much every hour...give or take. Annoying as fuck, but that's how you have to get shit done...and again they lied and gave me broken promises...I'm kind of getting Stockholm Syndrome from all the lies and broken promises. So Saturday I find 3 more missing brush sets! WHAT!!!!??? I call them, and boy are they getting sick of me...the bitch I spoke to allegedly wrote them down and notified their technical team...so I called back an hour later to confirm...got the same bitch...told her I didn't want to talk to her, she grumbled...I said, yes I am quite the pain in the ass aren't I?! So I got someone else and they noted it and emailed the tech department. And here I sit, waiting for an email with 8 more broken fucking links.
I will be calling and calling and did I mention calling? That's the only way to get shit done with them. The only time I got real results is when I managed to speak to an alleged supervisor...oh and what fucking company doesn't have bosses working on the weekend? Riddle me that!! I'm beyond frustrated and beyond pissed. They ruined my happy and my calm that I have been working on for quite some time now. And it's not over!! Why did they take the brushes off of both website and program?!? How many Painter users noticed this?! We bought all of those brush sets...and as I said they aren't cheap, even though I tend to wait for them to go on sale, but there were several I bought at full price.
I was promised an email today...I am seriously doubting that I will get said email. And I will be calling them...again and again and again...you get my drift. I bought those brushes. I have emailed tech support with tons of screen shots, receipts, links to their own fucking website of proof of purchase. Oh yeah, on one call I also got accused of stealing Painter 2020...I bought two fucking copies, one refunded. Needless to say I have not been very mindful over the past 2 weeks and that pisses me off! I don't like being snarky and demanding...and I tried being very accommodating and friendly...it doesn't work. I just think there's some shady practices going on...and if I didn't love the program when it's working so much I'd find another program in a heartbeat. Sadly, not enough funds, and the fact I have invested an obscene amount of money into it...I could scream! A warning to all my minions that use Corel Painter and have upgraded, check your purchased brush sets with the last version! You're probably missing brush sets that you spent your hard earned dollars on!
As for the upgrade itself, I do love the new technology...could they have just patched 2019, yes...but I understand that they have to make money, too, even though there are a lot of brands under their banner...they are the Nestle of the interwebs. When all is good, brush sets showing up, it's an amazing program. I have tried and purchased many and none thus far have topped it. Although there's a new one that launched that I am refusing to try because I will probably love it and want to buy it. Which is not in the cards right now.
Rant over...yup you needed eye drops! Oops. I just don't get why companies think they can get away with the bullshit I'm going through...it is messed up. So I have no more back up art to post...and if I had known THIS was going to happen I would have held back on the uploads. The program is pretty much useless right now, as I use those missing brush sets a lot, most of them are my go-to's. UGH and ARRRRGGHHH!
Let's shift gears to something happy. I am going to be starting to workout again this week! I really need to...I feel very sloth-like and it's not good. I had a Dad Day this week, which was fantastic...despite the art program issues I am having. We had a blast, got our haircut, lots of running around and having fun. The game was officially called...and it's dead now. I'm sad to see it end, but right now I don't have the time to focus on anything else. Right now it's focusing on getting my product up and running correctly. I can sketch on it...and if I tried probably pull off a piece...after I go through the entire brush sets, purchased and base and calibrate them to my style.
On that note, remember that I do take digital and traditional commissions and donations, here. Under support. It doesn't say donate because legally I am not a non-profit organization. But if you want a copy of something or something new, or just to give to a very stressed out artist, you can contact me here, Twitter or Facebook...I would say not so much Instagram...we'll save that story for next week if I remember...that's a big if...Remember that no one is paying me, I'm my own boss, and I don't get hourly wages or salary. So any help would be very appreciated and I would be very grateful.
Okay, I think I'm done, even though I know I'm missing stuff. I think it's stuck in the deep recesses of my brain due to my art program being a complete dick. I hope you all are having a much better week(s) than I am! I wish you all an adieu, until next week. Oh and Happy Independence Day to all of my States side minions, I know that is Thursday! Until next time...with hopefully less rants...no promises.