My faith, you has lost it.

Right.
So I said it wouldn't bother me considering it was work done at a low price for a local, but it does bother me now. I can't help it.

Mid way through last year I was asked to do some illustration/design work for a fellow near where I live. He said he couldn't pay me much and I was happy to help out for a lower price than I normally charge for graphic design or illustration work.
So we made an accord but no paperwork was every actually exchanged. I took his word for it.
Mistake number one.

So I drew the illustrations to his specifications; he wanted cartoony/childish and, though not my strongest area, he was happy with the sketches and where they were going.
I managed to crank out to his very detailed specs, 5 illustrations, including a cartoon logo design and a fully prepared brochure for which I even had to write my own copy (text) for.

I could tell the brochure wasn't quite to his liking, he said it was too corporate (ie. too professional, in my opinion) and asked if I could give him my source files so he could "mess around with them".
I, trustingly and stupidly, did.
Mistake number two. And a doosie this one was.

I never heard from him again.

Today I was having lunch at a local eatery with my mum when, lo and behold, there staring me in the face was my work. Or at least a hideously cannibalised version of it.
He's selling the brochure for two bucks a pop, it looks terrible, completely amateur and no where am I credited for the work he so kindly took, used, destroyed and is now making money from.
I was shaking so hard I couldn't eat my lunch.

I know this is mainly my fault but damn does it ever destroy faith in others when you're blind sided like this. :(

Here's a link to his website, which also uses some of my graphics which he so nicely edited, chopped and messed up royally.

Thief?

I know I should confront him and ask for payment for services rendered, godknows I spent a good amount of time trying to get the exact cartoony feel down with all the illustrations, as well as on the brochure which he didn't use, but all I want to do is forget about him and how bad I feel right now.
Maybe one day, when i've cooled down a little, I will, in the meantime, I have to live with the knowledge that the man across the street ripped me off for been a gullible idiot.
Lesson well learned.

:(