Except that this is- by no count- the usual default retraction.

I'm not going to mess about here; DeviantART is a bit of a point of contention for me, however it's grown to be rather useful platform for many things. Professional as well as personal. However as of recent, as with a lot of things with life as of recent, rules have gotten a little bit… Lax. I have witnessed experiences from friends concerning what constitutes as a "rip" and outright copying, and what doesn't. As it stands, a handful of admins here share a scope on this that makes budding artists- serious or not- think it's completely okay to take an idea that is essentially someone else's- fanart or not- tweak a few poses here and there and claim it's conception was entirely theirs.

To say that I have experienced this with my own artwork would be the most obvious statement I've ever made here. In regards to the Sonic artwork community, I'm edging on to my eleventh year here. There are a mere handful of us who can level with me first hand to the amount of times I've been outright ripped, had ideas stolen from, had artwork sold without my permission or profit, and no less than three times had someone pretend to be me, which is always outright disturbing, I'm sure you'll agree.

"Oh my God, you take this too seriously, Li." Is something I hear from people who draw for shits and giggles. I get that. The truth is, I have to. Granted, I started drawing Sonic for fun, and it has been the large basis of my artwork here only because I wanted to draw it, I enjoyed drawing it, I was good at drawing it, and other people enjoyed drawing it too. But I've been virtually inactive for several months for things that don't seem quite apparent. I take it seriously because I've been doing artwork professionally for quite some time. It is a source of income based on hours of hard work, and it's main basis are ideas that I- and only I- can bring to the table in a unique, profound sense that everyone's style is different, and I am paid for that style.

The kind words of my colleagues have allowed me to see this week that not only am I supported,  and that my online presence is somewhat vital to maintaining my customer base, and have been offered adequate support in anything that I may need or want taken down. But ultimately, by… More of you than is healthy, as well as my colleagues, I was reminded that for some obscure reason I motivate, inspire and bring something to the table a lot of artists can't that a lot of people will miss.

Whereas I cannot legally directly discuss the incident that tipped me over the edge- I will say this. I am busy as all hell working on a lot of things behind closed doors, as well as commissions- public and private- as well as running a full time job during the day, whilst chasing an opportunity very, very few people have had a chance to obtain before myself, as well as provide artwork off my own back just because it's boiling in my mind, or because I think it's an idea people will like. The very last thing I need to see at the end of the day is someone mindlessly ripping or imitating me.  But I need to try and find an even keel between stressing myself out constantly and my involvement here.

Whilst I work these things out, I am back for the most part, but I will be working on Astralspark in the main time, and attempting to use that as more of a main hub once it's complete. As well as other things.

That's pretty much it. You can stop rolling your eyes whilst mumbling "omg drama whore knows what he's doing" under your breath now.