Hi guys,

It's been ages since I've logged in. I think I just didn't have the guts to come back after I left dA years ago with no warning and such. But I still owe an apology and an explanation to all of you, whether you'll read this or not.

My inbox is full of unread messages, comments and notifications. I'm sorry I never replied, that must've been really annoying for those of you who tried to contact me. If I still owe you anything, whatever that might be, I'm sorry but I won't be able to do anything about it except apologize since it's been so long and I hardly remember if I even actually owe anything to anyone, let alone any further details. I hope I don't sound disrespectful when I say that. I was quite young when I first made my dA page. I was also pretty damn irresponsible.

Does anyone actually like to remember their 14-year-old self? I sure don't, haha. I wasn't that bad, a little cringey, maybe. But still, I grew out of this page. I can't bring myself to delete it so I'll just let it be.

I won't be making new art but I won't remove any of my old artworks either. If you want to use the art I posted on this page anywhere else - go ahead. No extra permissions needed, credit me if you want to but you don't have to, I won't be checking. When I was still active here, I didn't want my artworks to be used commercially or modified in some way, I guess I still don't but then again, I won't be checking. Do whatever you want, really. It won't harm me anyways.

I also won't be logging in again. It's just me saying goodbye.

I can't express how thankful I am for all of your support through all these years, some days I still miss this beautiful community. It felt like a huge online family and I loved every moment of being here. Thank you so much. I'll never forget any of it.

I'm older now, I've moved to a different city to live together with my boyfriend. I'm in the process of starting my own small business. I want to work in the design industry later in life and make the world a better, more beautiful place.

Those few years on dA were amazing. It's been great talking to all of you and I wish you all the best.

Lots of love,
ShimiArts / EmilyJayOwens - or just Alice, which is my real name

A bit of an update on commissions and such.
I'm slowly getting all of my previous commissions finished, will post some of them in the next few days
My commissions are also open at the moment.
These are the types of commissions I offer:

   
Click on them for more info!

And also:

$10 Portrait Commissions such as this one but I'll make sure to add a very simple BG, like a gradient with a pattern for example. +$5 for each additional character

 

$15 Fullbody Commissions and again I'll add a very simple BG (it will also be shaded of course). +$7 for each additional character



Customs for $2 per each + an additional $1 (so if you take three customs it's 6+1=$7 for example)

So I'll be glad to do something for you  
Remember I'm best at felines, if you want something else I'll have to learn how to do other species and that takes more time.

And have a nice day, everyone! 

Best regards,
Emily

Do you guys ever have these days when it's like all of your conversations with people either suck or miserably fail? All of your attempts to communicate with someone are super awkward? When you end up saying things you didn't mean to say, reacting weirdly, replying in a way no one with the smallest evidence of having a brain would? When you offend someone absolutely accidentally? When you say something and the other person perceives it in a way that is completely different from what you've intended? When you even pronounce things wrong and confuse words and just feel like you're making a fool out of yourself?

And when these days happen do you feel like you really, really want to talk to people but at the same time you don't because you already know you'll fail? But it still makes you kind of sad that you really want to communicate with someone and just can't do it properly so you give up on that completely?  

I'm having this day currently, and boy does it suck! Someone hug me, please

PLEASE TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS IF I OWE YOU STUFF!

Read further for details.

First of all, Emily's been an asshole, everyone. I mean, I've been an asshole, I still am.

I left dA soon after we've reached our goal and never really updated you with what happened, for which I'm genuinely sorry. And here's what's been going on.

Before you guys ask, no, I did not ran away with the money and/or lie to you about the reasons why I asked for them. I'd just never do that, these are not things you lie about, these are not situations you fake to get some cash. I'm not that type of a person. I am an asshole though, for leaving you, for owing a lot of you a lot of art. And you all have your fullest right to be angry at me.

The family got the money, escaped the dangerous area and moved to another city safely. My sweetheart is safe and sound, and I owe that to all of you who helped, who donated, who prayed and showed support. She asked me to thank all of you, to tell you that she never expected to get all that support and that she's forever grateful to each and every single one of you. Even better news: she now moved to Kiev where I'm going to meet her on the 12th of June for the first time after more than 1,5 years of a long distance relationship! Imagine that, we've waited for so long and now there's just one week and we'll be together! I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life!

This autumn-winter was a tough period for me because of.. everything. My sweetheart was very depressed, so was I, add apathy to that, worries about my future, family issues, relationship issues, all the study I had to do but just couldn't, a strong will to just stay in my bed and do nothing for the rest of my life, a lack of inspiration and power to do anything, and that's my shitty excuse for leaving all of you. I couldn't go back, I couldn't do many things I used to enjoy, art being one of them. I've had (and I still have) a hard time not only maintaining friendships but just talking to people, I got tired very easily, I've been weak and pathetic, but something has happened not that long ago. I GRADUATED FROM THIS HELL.

I'm done with my exams and now I am free! Free from everything that's been bugging me so much for years, free to live my life, and I finally feel like things are getting so much better and even better things are yet to come. Some issues are still there, but the worst is in the past. I feel like I've literally left prison in so many ways. And it is glorious! I've also grown up, cut my hair short and stopped wearing braces in case you needed that update, haha. I've been going through my old deviations and journals and just wondering if it was me. I feel like now I'm so different, and hopefully it's for the best.

But there's also one thing I want to be free from before I finally get to live my own life. And that's all the stuff I owe you. I know most of the things I owe, but just to be completely sure I don't miss anything - PLEASE TELL ME IF I OWE YOU STUFF. Right here. In the comments. Anything, be it a commission, a prize, an adopt, a reply to your message, if you want that. Please. I'll make sure to get to each and every single one of you, I don't want to be the irresponsible little shit I used to be anymore.

I love you all so much and I'll probably never know what did I do to deserve all of you, you're the greatest, most wonderful people on Earth.

Have a glorious day, everyone,
Emily ❤

P.S. Yes, I've changed my username. Good old ShimiArt is good, but way too old for me at that point.

Hi everyone,

Life got really tough for my friend recently, and this is probably the last chance to help her small family. This girl means the world to me, and I'm trying my best to help her, but since I'm far away from them, I'm pretty powerless alone. Which is why I really, really need your help right now.

My friend and her mom live in Luhansk, Ukraine. Not so long ago a serious war begun there, putting their lives in danger. Now there's no water, no gas and no electricity in most parts of their city, half of the city is damaged and obviously it's not safe to stay there. The family went to Kharkov for a week, but now they can't stay there any longer as well yet can't go anywhere, 'cause the mother lost her job, and now they've almost ran out of money. They need to pay the bills, pay for their accommodation and transport, urgently repay the debts and simply some money for their basic daily needs, after all, and they don't have any - nor the opportunity to earn some in the nearest future. 

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As soon as possible, we need to raise $1000 for them.

Raised ~$936 already ($696 + £95 + €60)

We only need $64 more to reach the goal!

- How do I donate?

Donate money to my PayPal. You'll need my e-mail for that, which is otherthings@yandex.ru (lol, I know, that is one weird name for an email, but it's my side email I had to use for a side PayPal account). My name there has to be Ksenia, which is a name I'm not using anymore and planning to change later in life, but I'm telling you that just in case you get confused. Or you can use the gofundme page 

WONDERFUL people that donated!
+ Daniel Singzon, Neus Costa, Holly and Tamura + 4 anonymous donations <3
In case I accidentally missed your name here, just tell me!

Thank you all so very much! We really don't know how to express our gratitude anymore! That means so much to us, and we appreciate every single piece of support we got from you, you awesome people! <3

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Here's what you can get in return if you wish so:

• Spread the word: tell your subscribers, your friends or anyone you know, mention this journal in your journal, blog, site or anywhere else and get a mention here and in my thank-you-so-much journal after we reach our goal
• Donate $1 and get a mention on my page for however long you want
• Donate $10 and I'll draw you a portrait of your character with no bg/one colour bg/simple gradient bg (+about $7 for each additional character) 
  
• Donate $20 and I'll draw you a portrait of your character with a beautiful bg (+about  $15 for each additional character)
• Donate $30 and I'll draw you a full body of your character with no bg/one colour bg/simple gradient bg (+about $20 for each additional character)
  
• Donate $40 and I'll draw you a full body picture of your character with a detailed bg  (+about $30 for each additional character) 
• You can also get some art from wonderful people: FlowerOfEden (details here) and Alexeina (details here).

Donated a lot more than that? Maybe want something else? Note me and we'll figure out what I can do for you.

There's no exact deadline, but we have to do this as soon as possible, maybe in a few days or in a week or so. Every single mention, every single dollar counts. Literally ANY help will be appreciated, and we will be so thankful for it.

• Where do these money go? First to my PayPal, and then straight to the family's bank card so they can withdraw them. Obviously I won't keep a single cent to myself and not a single cent will be spent for anything other than the reasons stated above. We wanted to start a gofundme thing, but it turns out gofundme doesn't work with Russia and Ukraine, so we had to go another way, which is why you're reading this.
• Okay, but I want some sort of a proof! Note me, and we'll find a way to prove you we're not lying. Also, if you think this really needs a better proof for everyone ('cause I'm not sure) and you have any ideas of possible safe proofs, write them in the comments below, it will be very appreciated.
• When will I get the thing promised in return? I'll make a list and will do them one by one, trying to do my best to finish everything asap. It will take some time, but I'll make sure everyone gets everything promised to them. 
• I have some other questions! Note me on dA, comment under this journal or write to otherthings@yandex.ru if you have any questions or anything to say.

IF YOU DECIDED TO HELP US

Thank you so so much! And please:
- If you spread a word somehow, if/when I make a journal of how we've reached our goal please please please make sure to delete your journal/post/tweet/whatever or make a new one saying we're done.
- If you donate something, please either add an annotation to your payment saying who you are, or comment here and tell me what you've donated or if you can, comment/note me on what your first name is on your Paypal account for me to make sure it's you so everything's fair for everyone. I'm sorry to ask for extra stuff to do, but there's no other way I can deal with donations and everything and don't get lost in it. I'll also make sure to ask you if you want something in return and what exactly it is.
- Know we're so very thankful. And you'll get a thank you of course. And then another thank you for everyone. And a thank you when we reach our goal. And probably one more thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. Thank you!

AMAZING people that spread the word!
  and many others!
In case I accidentally missed your name here, just tell me!

And thank you very much as well! You're helping so much by spreading this, and your kind words and wishes are what helps us get through this! <3

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I really hope we can do this. I'm sorry, I wouldn't ask if there was any other way, but unfortunately there isn't. Please help us.

Love,
Emily