Fantasy Makeup by Becstar Anthony

I've reviewed Becs' book on my blog HERE

Just saw your blog. I love Becstar! I use to watch her on YT all the time when I first started. That sugar skull maybe the prettiest I have seen!

Thanks for the honest review, Shannon!

Oh i love her! she does amazing work!

I only just discovered BecStar on youtube, I love her work!

Bec is a super talented face painter. Her line work and designs are both amazing and unique. I have participated in her recent Australian workshops and admired her work on youtube, but am not sure about buying this particular booklet. I appreciate your honest review.

Nice review!

I too am a book person Shannon and I appreciate your review of this one. While I love her work and admire her skill, I will probably spend my money on something else - I cheapishly like to get a lot of "bang" for my buck.

I just received the book in the mail as well. I love her designs...as always. The book was a bit expensive but, I have already learned some new techniques and design ideas from her.
PLUS....she signed my book...and I absolutly adore Becster.

Good review.

Okay... I've just come up for air after two days of back-to-back jobs... and there is a sh*t storm going on... WTF???

I'm not going to get into it other that to state:

I stand by my review. It was not "bad" nor excessively critical and I think if people actually READ it... they would see I praised the talent and skill of Becstar repeatedly.

I've reviewed quite a few books and products... both on my blog - I also reviewed Extreme Face Painting and the Snaz 3 Minute Cheek Art books. And in print - you can see my reviews here on my resource pages.

I am fair, I am honest, and above all, it is my opinion. I point out the good and the not so good. If you are going to be putting something out there for the consumer, the consumer has a right to hear about the product in order to make up their mind.

People have differing opinions and they are welcome to them and to express them, as am I... I just don't have any problem expressing mine.

And I am receptive to rebuttal - as you can see from the comment on my blog from Becstar.

<--- to the drama

Indeed! What a storm it is. I thought your review was very well written, fair and honest. And if I was or wasn't inclined to buy the book before, the sheer unprofessional childish reaction to the review, coupled with the tantrum over someone else's honest and fair feedback about a workshop has made up my mind for me.
She is a very talented artist with star-quality skill, but there is more to being a person than that.

omg, Shannon.. I had no idea that it was your review that she was pissed over. WOW, that's all I can say. Your review was totally honest, and fair. You pointed out good things and bad things... I had no idea that it was you that she was mad at. just... WOW. Whole new opinion now.

Yeah... I know. I'm getting called names that I didn't know before.

I thought the review gave honest info. In a nutshell you said the name for the book was a bit 'off' compared to contents, the work was perfect and lovely, but your OPINION which was fair and your own, was that FOR YOU and many others around your talent level, may not be quite worth the cost. You also said you are glad you have it as the painting quality was high.

This review is equally likely to have people buy the book as to not buy it. This is the second storm in a teacup this week that I've seen! Fans can be very wonderful and protective of an artist who's work they enjoy....but this is just.....well GOOFY!!!!! comes to mind!!

I know I have wonderful friends who would definately attack if someone was 'mean to me' on line. But construing a non-buttkissing review as an attack is hyper sensitive.

Now my question (which is rhetorical....no real answer to this- I know) is are the attacks on anyone who says non-fantastic things encouraged by the artist or is this just fans being protective over the talent that they see and a percieved 'friendship' that may or may not be there??? You can't control other people when they react to something said or read without your knowledge, but you CAN encourage someone to do so if you were less than ethical.
Random musings............and very shocked at the needless drama this week has held!

rthling wrote:Indeed! What a storm it is. I thought your review was very well written, fair and honest. And if I was or wasn't inclined to buy the book before, the sheer unprofessional childish reaction to the review, coupled with the tantrum over someone else's honest and fair feedback about a workshop has made up my mind for me.
She is a very talented artist with star-quality skill, but there is more to being a person than that.

I completely agree!!!!

Did I miss something? I didn't think this thread was rude or got argumentative. Huh.

glitterfly wrote:Did I miss something? I didn't think this thread was rude or got argumentative. Huh.

It is about the review which is on my blog... and subsequent fallout... and dramatics

I just saw this post.... I just don't get the dramatics, I can't get my head around it, and to now have this nonsense directed at another person....unbelievable. Shannon you did a great review, well written, informative, humourous

Books get reviewed everyday... look at Amazon etc. Different people like and don't like different things and get different things out of books/movies/resturants. (I personally don't like Twilight- don't hate me , but love Funniest Home videos- so many don't).

Suck it up princess and the loyal uninformed, unread "fans"

Totally lost respect for her...

Well worded constructive feedback can still sting but when you sit with it and let it sink in it is these things that lead to growth.. kinda sad for someone to only be surrounded by "yes men" because art is art, and the phenomenal art was never questioned..but business is tough and I actually keep a mental note of the people on here who have the guts to give really honest feedback in case I ever need it so i can PM them!!

I think if we step back and play Devils Advocate....maybe her feelings we hurt and this is how she reacted? A lot of time, money and effort went into that book and to have someone like Shannon who is well respected have a "con" comment....may have stung a bit?
OR Maybe she felt it was not Shannon's place to review the book?
Who knows...but all I got out of her message was that she worked very hard and was hurt by some of the negatives towards her book.
We all have an opinion. Sometimes most of don;t want to hear others about ourselves.
You did support her and bought her book which is an artist supporting an artist. That is awesome. Maybe she is worried that people will stop purchasing the book bc of the review.
But, when I read your review.....I thought it was honest and very descriptive.
Some of her designs were essentially the same in some ways....but her talent and skill took each one to a different level....which I loved.
I bought her book bc I was praying that she would have details on how to create her amazing eye designs. If it were a gore book....or a book on unicorns....I would not have bought it.

glitterfly wrote:I think if we step back and play Devils Advocate....maybe her feelings we hurt and this is how she reacted? A lot of time, money and effort went into that book and to have someone like Shannon who is well respected have a "con" comment....may have stung a bit?
OR Maybe she felt it was not Shannon's place to review the book?
Who knows...but all I got out of her message was that she worked very hard and was hurt by some of the negatives towards her book.
We all have an opinion. Sometimes most of don;t want to hear others about ourselves.
You did support her and bought her book which is an artist supporting an artist. That is awesome. Maybe she is worried that people will stop purchasing the book bc of the review.
But, when I read your review.....I thought it was honest and very descriptive.
Some of her designs were essentially the same in some ways....but her talent and skill took each one to a different level....which I loved.
I bought her book bc I was praying that she would have details on how to create her amazing eye designs. If it were a gore book....or a book on unicorns....I would not have bought it.

Thanks for your well thought out post, you left us lots of food for thought.
Now, I must get up on my soapbox, because I too have been tossed under every imaginable bus there is for giving an honest review of products and this type of social guerilla tactic makes me sick to my stomach.

We can play devil's advocate and consider that maybe Bec was hurt to find out that students weren't perceiving the value she placed on her workshops. We can even consider that she was bothered to find that someone as reknown as Shannon would not simply love everything about her book. However, even considering those things doesn't excuse the way that this situation has been handled. Whether or not Bec feels Shannon has a "right" to review the book or that the students who have taken her workshop have a "right" to give anything less than a stellar review is so moot, it's insane to even consider. Anyone who provides a service should do so with the understanding that that service will fall under review by all those who utilize it. If that person has paid hard earned money for those services/products, then they have PAID for the right to judge the value of those services/products. So, yes, Shannon and the ladies who weren't happy with the workshop were justified in providing a fair and balanced review. It's just really sad that many of the pot stirrers can't see past their hero worship to understand that.

If Shannon had've broken character and slammed Bec three ways from Sunday for the book, then I could see her wearing her pain on her sleeve in retaliation, but to post what she did (in private and public) only shines a light on her lack of the character accoutrements needed to be a professional. What she shoudl've done was apologize to those who weren't happy with her class and sought advice on how to make her next book better from those who weren't thrilled with it. Setting up a venue for a pity party and rallying the support and vengence of loyalists has never helped anyone grow. The fact that this was done publically speaks volumes about whether or not Bec sanctions the way that her followers are treating people who dare to not love her products/services unconditionally. How often do you see Pashur or Mark Reid "whoa is me" parties on Facebook? Those artists have received their share of negative press, but they choose to either grow from it or ignore it. Perhaps they understand that blind allegience doesn't necessarily result in postive professional growth?

A critique/review is an opinion and it can be a powerful tool for professional growth. I suppose it would be easier on the artist if everyone kept the negative opinions private and just allowed people to fall on their faces before realizing that there are serious flaws in their formula for success. I personally would rather feel the pain of knowing I didn't quite get it right instead of wondering why it is that my first book sold really well, but my second just sat on a shelf.

I have loved Bec's work for a few years now and I'm very disappointed to see that she has gone down this path. I'm not saying that she has drunk her own koolaid...yet... but the way that she has handled discovering potential flaws in her products/services will quickly lead me to believe just that. If she is so worried that people will stop buying her book perhaps she should've handled things better in private, disavowed any attempts (by her fandom) to discredit unfavored reviewers, and publically vowed to work harder at improving. All her actions have really done is drive people to investigate the reviews...now THAT could seriously affect her book sales. I personally felt the same way Shannon felt about the book. I chose to go against my better judgement because I wanted to support Bec. To be honest, I probably would've bought it anyway just to show support since I admired her for so long. Now I don't see myself being as supportive, not if she's going to join the ranks of artists who feel they are above the reproach of the people they're looking to for support.

Off the soapbox now...

LJ

WOW.......Are you a writer? That was very well written. I wish my grammar was so elegant.
To be honest, I have not read all the hoopla....I have seen Bec's comment on Facebook and thought it was quite uhm......childish. Is that the word I am looking for? Not sure. But, it did leave a sour taste in my mouth. As amazing as her art is...she should have accepted the review and grown from it....or fluffed it off.
I was not aware that people were unhappy with her workshops as well.
This is very unfortunate and I think that Shannon did a very good review of the book. It was from a professional view. As where my thoughts on the book are from an intermediate painter. And being in that level....I did learn things from the book.
I think Shannon's review actually would bring people to buy the book....if their budget allowed. I think her harshest comment was on the price. But, explained how expensive books can be. So.....not really a negative all together.
I wish Bec took the review in stride and learned from it.
You are 100% correct that when you become a public persona...be prepared to be disliked and critiqued.
Man, if people reviewed me....I would love it. haha That would mean I was popular enough for people to give a crap about what I was putting out there.
I think everyone on here has made some excellent points. Hopefully Bec will stop in and check out this thread?

Unfortunately, I have the attention span of a gnat on crack so the task of writing more than 15 or 20 pages is daunting for me. Thanks for the comement though. When I grow up, I'd like to be a writer, lol. Till then I just keep my soapbox nice and shiny for these such occasions.

Honestly, I hope she doesn't come here because, without a doubt, her dagger tossing fandom will come on her heels and nothing good ever results when this forum is used as a verbal battlefield. I too wish she'd handled it better. Oh well right?