This year has been very....much. There have been some real downs but also some great ups. In the past couple of months things have finally started going totally right, a change that is so unusual I am afraid of some sort of Bundy style curse. (Shout out to anyone who gets that reference.) I wanted to take this opportunity to thank my three artists. Each, in their own way, has done a lot to help keep me stable during this period. This is far more than just producing amazing work, which they do. It's also that they, in different ways, represent the idea of the "perfect" artist paradigm. I know this may seem hyperbolic, but I have been getting commissions for nearly two decades which makes me a bit informed on the matter. lol Looking back at all the wasted funds, subpar results and artists that just didn't work out for one reason or another....I just appreciate these three even more. I have compiled a short list of rules that help guide me when speaking to new artists. I believe it has helped to keep me grounded and free of emotion; I'm kind of a sucker for a sob story.
Semi-Realistic Artist (SR) - I began working with this artist in early 2020 and they have been, by far, the most stable person I have ever met. In the entire time I've known them I've seen them mad...once? That after so much nonsense that I feel that many others in that same space may have ended up on the newsThey almost never turn down an idea and even when they do there is never a feeling that there is judgment attached to it. At times during our interactions one or the other of us has dropped off the face of the earth , sometimes for months at a time, and we always pick right back up where we left off. I actually maintain a rolling invoice for them so we can both keep up on what we were doing and where the balance stands. This was the first artist I ever paid on a stipend rather than per piece. They are also the only artists with which such an arrangement has succeeded. lol Due to some of the work they do for me they ask that I not post their information publicly, but I may be able to offer a referral in private.
BlueHandFish - BHF is just amazing. I found them in a commission server and their work stopped me dead. They have a very vibrant shading style that pops right off of the page. They are somewhat new to doing commissions, so the community has not beaten them down yet. While I exclusively commission fat characters from them; but that is, by no means, the only type of focus they have. They just do fat better than any artist I have ever seen. Every character looks different and the changes really seem to be adapted from the original designs rather than just applying some refabbed idea for chubby. BHF may be the most understanding and thoughtful artistI have ever used. They did a piece for my birthday of Nermal and it was just the most adorable thing! I know it is a small thing, but due to some circumstances from the past my birthday is often overshadowed by tragedy. The piece really made my day. Looking forward to their work helps to get through some frustrating moments to be sure. I really appreciate that BHF is willing to work to figure out how to do a character or idea that I want, that may be on the edge for their comfort. They don't just blow up, they try to find a solution. That is so uncommon that I was completely bemused the first time they sent over a compromise.
JoyStick Babe - JSB is the newest artist with whom I am working, but they may be my favorite artist ever! They are a premium artist and their work definitely supports that. I've had some bad artist relationships and it makes his approach to art so refreshing. He enjoys drawing unlike anyone else I've ever met. When I asked him what his hobbies were, he said, "Does drawing count?" This was not meant in jest, he really enjoys drawing. This seems to apply to commissions as well, something I never thought I'd hear an artist say. He has shown this to be more than just words. The work is just breath-taking. Rather than spending time trying to define what his comfort lines are I just give him an idea and he draws it. I don't think I've ever met someone who is genuinely open to drawing so much. It isn't because he needs money or because he feels obligated. It creates a feeling of comfort and freedom that is almost surreal. He is not cheap, but he is also far less expensive than his style would indicate. I have simply never seen an artist who works at such a high level.
More than just being great artists, these folks are also great people. As things start to trend for the better, I am so thankful to have met each of them. Interestingly...the relationships with these artists started in the ashes of the wake of the death of a prior one. Circumstances stemming from the loss of the prior artist directly lead to finding each of these three. Just another reason to appreciate them even more. :-D
Here's to more awesome work in the future!
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21 Sep 2024 15:10 CEST
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