For all who fell for my prank journal "Doing Free Art Requests" http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3320397/ , jokes on you. You've been pranked. For those who missed it or were wary, what this joke was, and then what eventually turned into an unexpected social experiment was that I had art block, and was advertising for "free requests" as a way to help me get over it. Some of the things I did mention were truths, including the more longer yarns I wove to people who were a bit questioning. On the other hand, I am still taking commissions to deal with my various financial needs, and the only art block I have is that I don't have as much time I'd like to, to devote to my own work. That is all there.

Now this journal became a very unwitting, yet shocking experiment. I ran it side-by-side on both deviantArt and Fur Affinity. I had set aside rules, put forth a mannerism of humility, and a need for help with my block. The numbers were telling.
Way more people, especially complete strangers applied on Fur Affinity. Only 1 person on Fur Affinity knew immediately it was a prank (and kudos to him for knowing because of my change in mannerism). 5 people on dA got that it was a prank. One girl especially really played along with me on it because she knew me that well. A few people I managed to convince out of their doubt. The rest of this came down to a matter of manners and personality, and the reality being that most people do "Free Requests" for those they care about and won't take them for a ride. Here, I am true to my promises of always offering requests, as I always have, to those who show they care about me, my work, and don't abuse my kindness. A lot of people abused my kindness, and definitely are not friends or puts into question about those friendships. I offer commissions, and still offer commissions as an act of financial trust. With it, a person becomes my client, someone who has a vested financial interest in me, and in turn, that said active interest I validate with timely and efficient work, of great quality.

Those of you who want to know why you are (you will be contacted individually) or are not getting your requests, here are the examples of those who get them.
Of the roughly 75 people that applied, only 1 person, that was it, actually expressed immediately his sympathies for my apparent art block, and didn't even care about the free art! Over 75 people were more focused on the idea of free art, then being actively invested in the idea of the struggling artist. If I was any other artist who was doing free art giveaways and expressed a reason why, I would want people to know they cared more about me than what they get out of it. No one showed that at the onset. So to that one, single person, he will get his request, in my speed paint style. Thank you for being a human being with empathy. I am aware that there were others who did show some concern, but generally few mentioned about helping or solving the art block at all.
This was even more startling. Only 3 people, of 75, said "Please". Seriously. Just 3 people actually used that word. Two of you (one qualifies for the last category), will get your requests in a sketch format. Thank you for using your manners. Obviously in this day and age, people have forgotten common courtesy.
There were actually people who, in their asking for their requests did not look at my gallery, knew what I drew, and some even had the audacity to chew me out when I asked a question. Most didn't even read the Journal, just the title. Then there were some, who when they communicated to me, knew exactly what was in my gallery, what I was like, and what I wanted to see. These were people who understood the need for challenge, or to give me things that would absolutely make me smile. And to the several people who showed their love, you will all get some colored work.

Of my experiments, none have disappointed me more than this one. Apparently as it goes, if people see things on sale, or for free, whether it be an item in a store, or a person's time, they will jump on it. A person who is offering their valuable free time is either a person who wants to give their friends little things to treasure, or is genuinely out to make the world happy (and after this experiment, the latter has to be very rare). Of course, it does seem cruel to use a prank of promises for free art and lead people on, indeed wasting your time; but really, why is everyone being rejected? It's a simple concept of that when people do things for others they give part of themselves to a project. No artist, ever, would want to put their heart and soul into something, for someone who can't show them respect. I hope that of those who did not get what you asked for, that you use this experience to forge better experiences with your fellow artists. If anyone were to come to me as a friend or a client, then to you I offer my respect. Hopefully in the future everyone can show more exemplary behavior, and be someone any artist would love to work with. Thank you all for your participation.