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AvogadroToast

Return [Kinda] + Life Update + Art Update

Where I've Been

It's been almost a year since my troubles began, and it's taken me a long time to claw my way through it. I've been uncommunicative, late, unproductive, and I've been ghosting. I'm sorry about that. There really isn't any excuse I can give for unanswered PMs and messages. I fucked up bad and in the worst way, silently and by myself. I should have let people know what was going on, and I should have gotten out of this situation way before it got this bad.

The truth is that I got way in over my head. I let things pile up around me and I kept saying to myself, I just need to work harder and I'll climb out. If only I put in a few extra hours, work a little more efficiently, push the scale a little further from mental health and a little closer to burnout that I'll get out of it, but the harder I tried, the further behind I got.

When I started doing art full time three years ago, I was chasing a life dream, and I made it work for three years, but every month was harder than the last, was a closer call, got me further in debt and further behind in my art queue. I developed a reputation for being unreliable and slow, and that's absolutely, fully, one hundred percent deserved. But eventually I hit a breaking point, about six months ago, when I recognized and came to turns with the fact that I had failed as a freelancer and I was going to have to do something else.

Where I'm At


Six months ago I signed on with a truck driving school. It's been a long hard road, but I'm headed out on my first trip tomorrow as a professional driver. For the first time in three years, I'll be able to divorce my art from my income. My drawing time will be more limited, because I'll only be able to draw in hours when I'm not driving, and only after I've saved up enough for a device I can carry with me in the tractor-trailer. But I won't need to take on any new commissions and will be able to focus on catching up.

Where I'm Going

With my home and my food and everything else covered by the income from my new career, I'll finally be empowered to fix my mistakes. I can't erase them, but I can make things right. Please, if I still owe you art, reach out to me and let me refund you fully, now that I'm able. I won't rest until I've got a clean slate and I've made it right for everyone who's been so patient with me, even when I was too broken and cowardly to respond to messages with empty hands.

Where I'm Going (pt 2)

When my slate is clean, I'll be able to focus on drawing for me, even though I'll have less drawing time available overall. This means pursuing larger projects like comics and animations, developing my characters, and honing my skills by pushing myself into unfamiliar styles for sketching and colors to learn new tricks.

I hope you'll stick with me, even though I've been a real dunderhead, and help me make things right, now that I'm able to.
Viewed: 660 times
Added: 4 years, 1 month ago
 
Paleumi
4 years, 1 month ago
*hugs* glad to know your ok at least and gratz on the job :D
CampionL
4 years, 1 month ago
Good luck, drive safe, and be careful of the truck stop lice!
Fluitaire
4 years, 1 month ago
Everyone gets overwhelmed at some point. Most people will understand. Are you wanting to refund everything or if we're still ok with waiting can we go with that?
AvogadroToast
4 years, 1 month ago
I expect some people would rather have their art than a refund, and if you're willing to bear with me a little while longer, I'm willing to do all the art I've promised. It'll still take some time. While I don't have to take on new work anymore just to keep the lights on, my drawing time is also limited, and I'll need to save up for a device I can draw on in the first place before I can even start.
Fluitaire
4 years, 1 month ago
^^ Well I for one am happy to wait for mine. I appreciate the update.
JayJayTheKitty
4 years, 1 month ago
Yeah, even now, I'd much rather have the art than the money, personally. Obviously, I could put it toward other art, but it wouldn't be AvogadroToast art.

EDIT: Derp. Probably should have refreshed the page before replying.

Well, that's good to know. Looking forward to my commission again. <3
RathMutatio
4 years, 1 month ago
Great job, bud. I knew you could do it.
I'm so hecking proud of you.
Tycloud
4 years, 1 month ago
Glad to hear from you again bud.
zephyrnok
4 years, 1 month ago
Congrats on gettin' through the truck driving schooling!  Hope you save up that cash soon enough <3
AshtonHunter
4 years, 1 month ago
Glad to see you back and glad you've got a plan that works for you!
Smolfoks
4 years, 1 month ago
Stress is like, the antichrist of creative energy. When I get stressed, I literally cannot force myself to draw anything, and it's so easy to get stressed from so many sources, it sucks.

I was living off of art money for a bit after covid struck, but I havent made a sale in months and I'm sitting depressed and useless.

I remember having a few talks about your previous issues, and I'm happy to hear you have found some stability, and hopefully a better situation overall. I hope to find a light at the end of my tunnel soon uwu

Keep up the positive momentum, draw when it makes you happy, and limit your sources of daily stress.
k0yangi
4 years, 1 month ago
Proud of you. <3
seraph
4 years, 1 month ago
You'll have my continued support no matter how you choose to proceed, long as it's a path that keeps you safe and happy!
AlyssaKamber
4 years, 1 month ago
Yes! I know I'll stick around. I hope you really enjoy your new career, and yes, get a tablet and draw when you have time.
MintTheFox
4 years, 1 month ago
Im not sure what tablet you are eyeing but there is a pretty good option from huion for about ~1300. way cheaper then a wacom offering

https://store.huion.com/products/kamvas-studio-22

Try looking at that
CodyFox
4 years, 1 month ago
Good to hear you are charting a new course that will be more stable for you. I've found that career changes can be very invigorating too. I think the picture you were doing for me was maybe at the color stage. I don't know how much else you were planning to do before that. I can wait for it, but if you think it will be too impractical to wait then let me know and we can figure out what to do (receiving a refund might be difficult on my end).
FrancisJCat
4 years, 1 month ago
Missed your boopable nose :3
IsabelleUrsaga
4 years, 1 month ago
The nose that boops you back. :P
CjTheOtter
4 years, 1 month ago
I'm glad things are making a turn for you, I hope all goes well for you! Life sucks sometimes, and we all deserve a mulligan now and then
Jerhevon
4 years, 1 month ago
*gives much big warm hugs, and some pettings*
DoaTheJackalope
4 years, 1 month ago
I get it, I’ve put myself in the same spot before and it’s really flipping hard to realize you’re not making the full time freelance thing work, and go back to a day job and crawl out of that depression. For what it’s worth you don’t have to refund me, I know it might take a really really long time, but I commissioned you because I think you were worth the money and I love your art and style and I’d still like to see it drawn some day. I hope you feel better and good luck on the road.
kitsunelegend
4 years, 1 month ago
I know this is a bit late, but I figured better late than never yeah? Anyway, are you by chance driving in the US? If so, I'm a driver as well (running flatbed around the eastern half of the US). Been out here for a little over a year now.

One thing to keep in mind, is dont let other drivers get under your skin. Both 4 wheelers and other truckers. Also, 100% get yourself a CB if you dont already have one, it'll save you so much headache during traffic jams and the like, not to mention sometimes getting a heads up of speed traps and such coming up. Its also kinda funny sometimes hearing other drivers having arguments lol

Also remember, you're the captain of that truck. If you feel its unsafe to drive, for ANY reason what so ever, its your call. Do not let anyone else tell you differently, including your own company.

Anyway, keep that shiny side up and have safe travels man! Maybe we'll see each other on the road sometime? =P
AvogadroToast
4 years, 1 month ago
Yeah, thanks for the advice! Hope I catch you at a Loves sometime. I'll be the one parked crooked
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