iskra
patreon
A post of pure frustration [delaying a bit + pausing the billing from mid-October]
🕑 Added 2024-09-30 08:34:40 +0000 UTC😒 I hate to make emotional posts because I strive to keep my galleries a place for pleasant feelings and thoughts, but… it’s impossible to keep this inside once again. I’m starting to think that I am cursed. First of all, the past month and a half, I have been feeling constantly sick and exhausted — dealing with complications after my surgery, catching a food poisoning, and colds, colds, colds in between … But ok, that’s a routine.
😓 The last week has been simply absurdly unlucky! Every day something has to break, get canceled, or lead to arguments. I’ll describe just the most recent thing:
😵 My Apple Pencil that I use for art creation, suddenly died. I bought it only six months ago for $110 and treated it more carefully than I treat myself; I didn’t drop it or get it wet. But it suddenly started glitching, and at first, I didn’t realize it was the Pencil’s fault.
🤔 So, I tried restarting my iPad, reconnecting Bluetooth, reinstalling my drawing app. Of course, when I reinstalled the app, I accidentally deleted all the artwork in progress!!! And that didn’t even solve the problem with the pencil!
🥲 Later I figured out that the issue was indeed the pencil, and after a diagnostic test was made, I found out it couldn’t even be repaired — I would need to look for a new one. Okay, I thought, I’ll just buy a new one.
💸 I had to visit several stores, but that model of pencil was nowhere to be found. At the Apple store, they told me it had been discontinued, and now instead there was a next-generation model— the Apple Pencil USB-C. It cost $150, and I asked the seller about the difference with my former pencil a few times, and they convinced me that the only difference was that this pencil had to be charged via cable instead of magnetically. I couldn’t test the device in the store, I was also too exhausted to google about it, and decided to buy this stylus…
🫤 Later, when I unpacked it, I couldn’t understand what was wrong: it only draws uniform thick lines, just like if I were drawing with my finger. I thought again that the problem was with the driver, the app, anything, but no!!!
It turned out…
🤯 In the technical specifications, it states: NO PRESSURE SENSITIVITY!!! (Means: useless as an art tool)
🤬 An expensive, recent high-tech device from Apple is just an absolutely useless plastic stick! It has all the functions of your own finger and you still have to charge it THROUGH A CABLE! I can’t remember the last time I was so bewildered and furious at the same time!
🫠So now I need to return this useless stick and get my $150 back. But unfortunately, due to another ridiculous set of circumstances, it’s turns to be also a very complicated quest now! Moreover, I need to find a normal pencil somewhere. And I’ll also have to redo the work that was lost due to this ridiculous accident, now using my old drawing tablet …
😟In general, I was very happy and impressed with Apple devices at first, but now I am very disappointed. And I am even more exhausted.
So unfortunately, I won’t be able to send out the September archive before ~October 5, and the comic pages will be added to the archive until ~October 8 as I need to recover some lost files.
After that, I would really need to take a break if I don’t want to face the fate of my first pencil, too…
So! The plan: you’ll be charged early October and then you’ll get the September reward as usual, after that I will pause the billing cycle. You won’t be charged early November yet you will still have access to my patreon: in October I would like to continue conducting surveys and sharing thoughts and some personal drawings, so we will stay in touch ❤️ Next billing cycle will come early December and you will get the November archive + the October personal work as a bonus!
As some of you know, I started my Patreon in 2015, and since then I have not had a vacation longer than a week! For almost 10 years I’ve been drawing full archives (at least 8-9 artworks per month) of cheerful pictures for you (okay, and for my own enjoyment too ^^). Only in 2020 was one month missed - and that was only because I was admitted to a psychiatric hospital that month, and you can’t use devices there.
Thank you so much for your support, especially to those who have been here for years! You have always made me happier, you gave me a sense and a goal for my art life and life in general, and I hope I have made you happier too! ❤️❤️❤️
- Iskra
Comments
FortunePayback
Aww, shoot. I'm sorry to hear this, Iskra. I imagine that's a little bit of a scary situation to be in, being that you kind of need your pen to, y'know, make money! As always, I wish there was something I could do to help. Here's to hoping it all gets sorted out and you can stay healthy for once! Good grief. *Big hugs!*
Huskydog
Aww, a gift would be wonderful, but the point of this would be so you can catch a break from all the hard work. I wouldn't want a donation to make you work even more 😅
Duster
Hrmm. The USB C model is the most basic one and you should still have access to the other models that have magnetic charging and pressure sensitivity. Please let us know if there's any way we can help you to get the proper pencil. :c
NoNameCZ
All the time, anytime. Love
SeamusX
BoxWave Universal AccuPoint Active Stylus - Jet Black, Stylus Pen for Smartphones and Tablets https://a.co/d/aiScjke
SeamusX
A universal bluetooth stylus. I will share a link
Iskra
What is it?
Iskra
True! And thank you so much ☺️
Iskra
Maybe it’s just a problem with those pencils in my area while still possible to get easily in USA then…
Iskra
That’s what I was told! :( And it turned to be very difficult to find the needed version of the pencil while they sell that stupid usb-c and the very expensive pro versions. And yeah, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255473562?sortBy=rank
Iskra
Haha nooo Although i used to draw with a mouse in the past xD
Iskra
Thank you so very much! I would probably make a donation poll but I want to grant some small gifts for this
Iskra
Well apple gadgets are way more expensive in my area for sure :( Taxes and import fees. Regarding usb c, apple page simply says nothing about pressure, but I looked for answers in the internet, and all of them say this: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255473562?sortBy=rank
Israel
Dont worry about work or deadlines... Your health always comes first. If you want to take vacations for one month, I will still support you. Your art has truly made me happy over the years, i think you are very talented and of course you deserve some rest from time to time.
Cozy
Hope things get better for you soon. Take it easy and recharge all you need to. ❤️
Edronax
i support the idea! a paid vacation is something i would gladly grant
Zaiaku Kerohiko
It sounds like the Apple Store guy didn't give two shits about what they sold her. Just went with what they had in stock. But you are right, all 4 of the pencils are available to purchase still... Though it seems like the version needed will depend on which Ipad Iskra has.
Ravin
Do what you need to formyour mental health. I am sure all of us will be happy to see you when you return. Sorry things keep making a left off a cliff, but ma6be that means less stress down the line.
Duster
I'm terribly sorry to hear about your struggles. Honestly the issue with the new Apple pencil you got does not seem correct, I wonder if the store gave you the wrong version? Over here in the states there is an apple pencil charged by USBC but it's the cheapest version at 79 us dollars. The next model, second generation charges magnetically and has pressure sensitivity. The pencil Pro also has pressure sensitivity and charges magnetically. It sounds like they gave you the cheapest one while charging you for the most expensive one.
Darwinskeeper
Ugh...sorry to hear that so much is going bad for you. I confess there are few things that I hate more than feeling ill and technology not working like it's supposed to. I agree that the break is a good idea for you. You've gone through so much in the last few years, I don't even want to think of the stress levels. Please take care of yourself.
Huskydog
Iskra, I'm so sorry that you've been going through such stressful times. Taking a break sounds like a great idea, and I can't speak for everyone but you don't need to pause billing for me. If you do pause billing, I would like to send you my monthly pledge some other way (PayPal?) so you don't miss out on the support. I really hope you feel better soon ❤️
iamzid
So you're saying there's a possibility that we might get finger paintings? 😁
Dimitri
All this must be stressful for you and does even more harm morally. Take your time to rest, it will only do you good to grant yourself a well-deserved rest. Your quality of work allows me to see the passion with which it draws you. But there is no need to pause the billing cycle for my part, it will be beneficial to you. Give us your news especially, it will be a pleasure to know how you are Iskra.
Alethila
I don't quite understand the Apple Pencil problem, unless you got a fake? They still sell the 1st, 2nd, USB-C and Pro pencil in the UK, so I don't understand why they wouldn't sell them where you are? I'm sorry about the other stuff that's happening to you and I wish you the best, just thought I would chime in as I've owned Apple products for many years and never had any issues ^^;
Battle Tiger
Yea that sounds like typical apple corporate bull crap.... Its not different here either, might even be worse. Take your time Iskra! <3
NoNameCZ
Apple is... well on a weird way lately. And it's really frustrating to even read all of that. We all need some time for ourselves sometimes, so it's ok. And to be honest I am really amazed with the art we're receiving. I remember when there was time when everyone wanted to buy NFTs. Small png pictures with easy base and lot of small details that could be easily changed. Some random and really underpaid artist made those basic templates and PROGRAM randomly generated those interchangeable stuff. Prices were going through the fucking roof. But I was at chill because I knew that for good money I will recive SO MUCH better art. For some prices of one stupid NFT I would be able to pay for Patreon membership of 10! people. And when AI art had it boom I was impressed by the quality, but at the same time I saw the design behind it. Some people doing graphics for living might loose job, but it's because it's for marketing. True art at its finest form is exactly about this. Things mentioned in this post. Yeah maybe it sounds weird, but those struggles to STILL finish all the work shows passion and that cannot be replaced by any programs or machines. Firm nerves and lots of luck for future endeavors. Love
SeamusX
Boxwave is what I use
gingernut
Your quality to output ratio is easily the best of any artist I've seen. I am happy to miss out on a month if it means you get the rest you need you're back catalogue more than makes up for it.❤️
ShyCyborg
That all sounds so frustrating! I hope you can resolve everything quickly and get what your looking for for an art pen! Ill always keep support you and if you need any help just reach out. I think its really nice of you that you update us here so open and you set trust out. Your an awesome artist I hope things will get better soon an stay that way
