Welcome to Inkbunny...

To view member-only content, create an account. ( Hide )

Why I don't do commissions/requests.

by Toshubi

So if you've known me for a while you'd know that I turn down commission requests for money. There are a few reasons for this...

1. I don't think my artwork is good enough to make folks part with their hard earned money. I believe that if you are going to pay me for something then I should be able to provide to you professional quality. I personally don't think I'm there yet.

2. I am not fast. My artwork is slow going because I have a full time job, I live alone so I do all the house work, shopping, repairs, errands, and so on. As a result I don't and can't dedicate all my time and energy to doing art.

3. I don't need your money. I make enough money to support myself just fine. With that said, money has a low value to me. What does have value to me is fan-art, art trades, story/art trades, and most valuable of all... Your time. (Apparently this is too high a price for most to pay.)

Sometimes in my streams I'll choose to take a random request simply because I want to test myself and see if I have what it takes to take paid commissions. What bothers me most is how ungrateful the folks getting these free drawings can be. Not even a 'Thank you' given. It really shows me what the furry community is made of when a simple thank you for free art is too much to ask. Which brings me to point number 4...

4. You don't appreciate it. Why should I put forth the effort when you lack the common sense to at least say 'Thank you'? I understand that not all of the furry community are this way but most of you are. Out of ten free commissions only 2 said thank you. Only 1 actually spends his/her time with me via streams.

Now that that bit of depressing info is out of the way I'd like to give the few fans I have some good news. MHALL is making a comeback. Those that do attend my streams already know this cause they've seen the pages getting worked.
It's a slow process but it is happening and if you don't believe me... Join a stream and see for yourself.

Viewed:	84 times
Added:	5 years, 4 months ago 26 Nov 2018 22:27 CET

13 Comments on this Journal

Leave a Comment...

Netreek

5 years, 4 months ago

link

Whenever I can I join your stream. Even if it is only for a short while. Its fun to watch you drawing. :) And how far MHALL the next pages are allready. :)

Toshubi

5 years, 4 months ago

link

@ Netreek

No worries. I know you have work and you make that very clear each time you show up. We're cool.

Turtleman

5 years, 4 months ago

link

Okay, so then:

#1) I personally think you're more than skilled enough to do commissions. You say you want to provide professional quality work, but isn't that what you're already giving?

#2) I understand that part fully. I'm not the fastest artist either (as you can see by my empty IB gallery and nearly empty SF gallery). However, my slowness is mostly due to my own laziness. You have an actual reason to be slow, I just have excuses.

#3) That's pretty moral of you. You understand something a lot of people really don't (myself included at times): money isn't that important. Now, if only more people would in fact give you want you truly want and value.

and finally, #4) I'm really sorry about that. I'm pretty sure I'm one of those people. So, for my lack of appreciation for your work, I am so sorry for my rudeness, and thank you very much for all your amazing pieces. I only hope you gain better fans and friends in the near future.

Toshubi

5 years, 4 months ago

link

@ Turtleman

Actually you are the one of the two that did say thank you and one of one that spends time. The others that show up never made a request I just chose to draw for them cause they were kind enough to show up more than a couple times to a stream.

LemmyNiscuit

5 years, 4 months ago

link

I'm with you on all points, except for the 4th one, though that's going to be personal experience / case-by-case. I've fortunately had appreciative responses to the stories that I write. It's unfortunate that people have grown up without manners, and the choosing beggars exist...

I actually don't like making requests or getting gifts for that reason. It's not that I'm not appreciative, it's that I don't know how far someone is going to go with it, so it's really awkward for me. I prefer when I can be like, "I am going to pay you this amount for this much work, deal?"

Though I appreciate the few gift pieces I've gotten, I haven't yet figured out how I'm supposed to respond in a way that balances appreciation with "is this the final state you intend?" Without sounding like a choosing beggar. So, maybe there's a little bit of that going on. But that's also just my experience, since I've been on both sides of the fence.

Toshubi

5 years, 4 months ago

link

@ LemmyNiscuit

Well if they are working out a trade I can see this point, but if I do a free commission I don't expect anything from the commissioner, (But it is so nice when they do.) however it really takes no effort to simply type out 'Thank you'.
I say thank you to everyone who gives me something, even if it's something I paid for. It's just common courtesy in my opinion. (Plus it's just safer to be nice to the folks that make your food or guard you while you sleep.)
I know that not everyone is this bad, and I'm sure there are some that just get excited and forget to say it. But my experiences don't paint the furry community in a very appreciative light. I'm probably still gonna do those random free commissions but there will be fewer of them thanks to time constraints and frustration.

LemmyNiscuit

5 years, 4 months ago

link

@ Toshubi

Not discounting or excusing, just musing aloud that while I say "thank you," to the gifts, I'm also trying to figure out how to say that without also sounding like I'm goading for more or something.

There's also a difference between art and writing, and a difference in perception. So maybe that's why I haven't come across an unappreciative person within the fandom, yet.

If I ever do, that's a paddlin'.

Blackraven2

5 years, 4 months ago

link

yay :-) Thank You! :-)

ThaPig

5 years, 4 months ago

link

I understand all your other reasons, except the one about your art not being good enough.
Your art is much better than the art of a few people in the fandom who charge for commisions.

I personally hate doing commisions for other reasons. And I always end up not happy with the art I did for them.

Toshubi

5 years, 4 months ago

link

@ ThaPig

I guess it goes back to that old saying, 'An artist is their own worst critic.'
When I see awesome works made by folks like Gi0, NiniiDawns, Zummeng, Ern, or MDGusty I feel my stuff is lacking. (Like comparing a Chrysler 300 to a Rolls Royce Phantom.)
I dunno why, I feel that I'm somehow not hitting that' Pro quality' mark somehow.

VernonOnFM

5 years, 4 months ago

link

Wait, you're streaming again? Damn, I keep missing them. :( Argh!!!! :(

blaze53

5 years, 1 month ago

link

Late as balls since I'm a new watcher, but I would absolutely love an opportunity to see you bring ideas of mine to life. I love your art style. Maybe one day I'll be able to catch a stream when you take a request!

ElfenSciuridae

4 years, 5 months ago

link

I thought I responded to this a year ago. Anyways...

I'm in the same boat as you are for the same reasons. Especially with #3 & #4. I do a lot of free art out there and only a few say thanks because they know how difficult it is for me to have created it. Everyone else say nothing. It's strange how a piece of work can get 2000 views, 6 faves and only 1 comment. (OK I exaggerate but there is some truth to this for my works.) Numbers 1 & 2 is also true, what some of my friends can do in a few hours takes me days, if not weeks, to do. So why should I waste anyone's time for promised/paid work? I am no Picasso, that's for sure.

Like me, you keep doing what you are comfortable with, and you will succeed in being a great artist. Because creation has no time table.

New Comment:

Move reply box to top ↑

Log in or create an account to comment.

Help

Information

Policy & Legal

All artwork and other content is copyright its respective owners.

Powered by Harmony 'Gravitation' Release 80.

Content Server: Virginia Cache - provided by Inkbunny Donors. Background: Blank Gray.

The Inkbunny web application, artwork, name and logo are copyright and trademark of their respective owners.