Some news

Hey guys how have you been doing?

I'm always so late updating this Blog with the latest events. I'm a lazy ass, I know.
Well, it was my Birthday a couple of weeks ago and I'm 32 years old now. Strangely, I don't feel that age; I always feel younger. People tell me that's good and it reflects on my spirit and appearance lol. Anyway, me and Carlos are thinking that maybe it's time for a baby now..... who knows what will happen in a near future?
I first celebrated in Évora (my homecity) with my boyfriend and all my family; we had such a blast. My family is a bit crazy so, it's impossible not to laugh all the time while around them.
On the week after I celebrated in Porto with all my friends (the city where I've been living for the last 8 years and a half and where I have a home with my boyfriend and my 2 fat cats). It was a wonderful time as well; I have no normal friends (in a good way) so, it was impossible to stop laughing all the time as well lol.
For the first time, I did my own Birthday cake and, despite it was my first time doing a more laborated cake, I think it came out so great that I have to show you a photo of it. :D
It was chocolate cake with wild berries filling. The cover was sugar paste; I bought the paste and did everything for the cake (ribbons, the losangs, etc). It was very, very tasty......... now it's time for a super diet because I ate a lot during these days and I don't wanna get fat lol.

About the rest...
I've been working on several comissioned works and I desperately need time to rest. I've been taking my free time to do some art but I miss a day where I simply can afford doing nothing and relax the entire day. I'm currently doing the whole corporate image for a Cafe/Bar, a Spa and a Car washing Garage. Plus, I'm starting to studyhard because I'm planing to go to University again next year and I have some exams to do. I need vacations again lol.

My online store has been helping me a lot to gather some money for the court expenses. Anyway, my lawyer sent a request so that part of my legal expenses are payed by the Court itself. The Court Action is ready and now, we're just waiting for a reply to that request. Unfortunately, everything is delayed because we had National elections and I guess I won't be having a response until mids of November or so.
I'll update more info about the case as soon as I have some news. I never thought thigs could take so much long but, everything that involves lawyers and Court is never fast going lol.
Meanwhile I'll keep on updating my OnlineStore with fresh new Goodies. I did a Poll on deviantArt to see which Goodies you want the best.
Thank you all who've been purchasing me resources. You cannot imagine the big help you're giving me right now.
Thank you for everything. Blessings.
♥

Inspiration vs. Copying

Hello guys, how are you?

I prefer to speak about this subject on my blog because I'm going to be very frontal about it and, I prefer my little corner to talk about all this.
I tried to solve these things in private with this person but provoking me won't solve anything so, I can't be quiet anymore and I have to expose my reasons in order to understand if I'm being crazy or if I'm right at what I'm trying to point here.

First of all, I've ALWAYS defended that people can and have the right to be inspired, in order to perform their artwork; I love that people get inspired by my work but this doesn't mean that they can literally copy and/or reproduce exactly my work or parts of my work.
To me, inspiration is when someone gets inspired by something and, from that, they create something on theyr own, something new. To me, inspiration is NOT exact reproduction nor copying exactly what already exists.

As everyone who follows my work might already know, Ive been developing a hair style of my own that it's becoming part of my signature. Some of that hair style involves horns with hair around them.
I'll give you some examples:

Now, here's what's happening:
On August 28th, Eclipsy did an image using exactly this hair style I've been developing. She added on the description that the hair was inspired by me but still... I didn't liked the fact that the hair was indeed not inspired by me, but an exact copy of mine. The link is here: link
I sent her a note exposing my reasons and I told her that in my opinion she didn't got inspired by me but she did only an exact copy of my work. Well, I've always been polite but still I was called arrogant. I have the notes for everyone who wishes to see them. I'm not lying and I won't become the monster of this story.
In the end, I asked her not to be inspired by MY work anymore, since both opinions about "inspiration" were different.

Today, as soon as loggin to dA I read another note telling me that she did it again.
This time she added thumbs of other look alike hair styles and stating that she's inspired by them.
Strangely, the hair style keeps on look A LOT like mine, instead of the artworks she's now supposed being inspired from.
The link is here: link

On the same week I got 5 notes telling me about people reproducing my work. I've talked privately to all of them but only one is literally using this as a personal attack and provoking me.
I've been trying to develop my own style, with my own "signature" details and, to be honest, I don't like to see that some people are using this to reproduce my work as it is as an excuse to become popular.
Art comes from within, comes from our soul; it doesn't come from copying others just to promote our emotional profit with beautiful words and promotion.

I think this is sad and, it's making me sad.
I've exposed my reasons, now you can decide if I'm being crazy or if I'm right in being upset about this.
This is not a personal attack on anyone; this is simply me trying to defend what is mine and what is part of me as a human being.
Take care guys. Luv you all.
♥

Are they for real?

Hello everybody, how have you all been doing?

I'm finally home and I'm slowly updating on everything. I've been neglecting my Blog but I promise I'll try to fix that soon.
I recently found out that KittyD is going through the same situation as me.
One of her images has been stolen by the same Publisher and Design company who stole my image, and it's now on a book cover as well. Just like in my case, the book with her image is already being sold and she has no credit, no compensation, no nothing.

We already talked to both our lawyers and we're discussing the best action to take from now on.

That Publisher already stole 2 people (that we are aware of) and something has to be done in order to prevent future situations like these.

The final chapter of this story is near.

Stay tuned for more info as soon as possible.

All the best people.

♥

Exposition in Porto

I should have been updating this so long ago but, my mind is always a living tornado and I forgot to share sooner this important event of my life.

In the past June 21th I was invited to have my work in an art exposition at Atelier Caffe Bar in Porto.

This exposition was hosted by Abismo Humano oraganization and was part of the Marcha do Orgulho LGTB event.

The exposition had the participation of several Portuguese artists and it had live performaces of some Portuguese poets and live piano music by Alberto Augusto Miranda.

It was an aamazing night and I'm very proud of myself for being part of it.

Off to continue my weekend away from the computer.
Wishes of a great weekend!
♥

Part of an update

So....

I moved on and I searched for a new lawyer. Thankfully I found a new lawyer not as expensive as the previous one and now she's officially taking care of my case.

She's revising the whole process and making sure that nothing is missing.

Some more things are being done already and, as soon as I get her permission, I'll share all the info with you.

Wishes of a pleasant week!

Confessions

One of those days...

This whole story really shook me up. It shook me up even more when I shared it with everyone on the internet. I never realized that this would bother me so much; before I think I was numb, in a strange dormence, thinking that this could easily be solved but, now, I don't know...

All small things throw me down so easily now; every tiny things like, my boyfriend saying "You forgot to turn on the washing machine" make me feel so useless. How could I guess that one lowsy book and one lowsy publisher could ever kill my sanity like this?

In days like this I just feel like I wanna give up everything; delete all my galleries, delete all the trails I left and just dissapear... I feel like I want to give up on everything.

I look around and everything seems so hollow, everyone, every words, seem so shallow; as if mankind itself lost the purpose of meaning.

In days like this, everything is pointless....

This beautiful photography (which is the perfect example of) belongs to rockthenations and it can be found HERE .
♥

Thieves and disbeliefs

A couple of months ago LadyAmdis sent me a note asking if I had licensed one of my images because she saw it on a book cover and, if it was the case, she wanted to congratulate me. I was surprised because I didn't licensed any of my images for a book cover. So I went to a bookstore and there it was: a book from a portuguese author with one of my images on the cover. I wasn't even being credit or anything.

So I went and talked to a lawyer and asked what I could do. He build a huge file with my case; I had to testemony, I had to present all the proofs that the image was mine and then, he sent the case file to that book Publisher and to the supposed Design Company being credited for the image.

In the last day of the legal limit for a reply, their lawyer replied saying that they were not going to credit me or giving me ANY royalties because they found the image on a "free images" website. Their lawyer also said they won't do any agreement and, if necessary, they'll go to Court. In reality, they're only stalling trying to see if my money runs out and I can no longer keep the process going on (big fish vs. little fish situation).

They know that, if I go to court, I'll win the case because the image IS mine but, the truth is that I won't be able to keep on affording my lawyer in case this situation goes to Court. For now, while he's trying to get an agreement with the Publisher, I'm only paying smaller costs but, going to Court, the story is very different. The worst part is that, if the case is transfered to the Public Ministery, it will take forever and, in the end maybe it will lead to nowhere.

For now my lawyer is still trying to make an agreement and avoid going to Court... because it's way too much expensive for me... but the fact is that, I believe this will end in a Court room no matter what.

That's why I created an online store to sell resources; I'm trying to get some more money to keep affording my lawyer for a little longer and hope that things can get solved.
I don't know what the future holds but I'll be more than frustrated if the Publisher gets away with this.... yes, I'm kinda desperate already. No wonder lawyers are gently called "devil's advocate; they can come up with 1001 things to get away with things for their clients, even if they're wrong.
If you find anything you want to purchase in my Lune's Secret Store, feel free to do so and, you'll be helping me a lot already. I'll try to keep you posted with short uptades about how things are going... despite I believe that "slow" is the correct answer for now.

For now don't ask me the book name or the Publisher's name. I don't want any kind of harrassment or anything.
Also, don't send me donations. I don't feel good about taking anyone's money; I feel uncomfortable. That's why I created the store... you give me money but at the same time, you're getting things you need and want, in return.

♥