^ This.

This, times a squillion (It's a million mixed with squirells). YOur art and your talents and your time are WORTH things, they have value.

*agree*

Your time and talents have worth, never doubt that.
If I had monies to give, you top my list of people I want to draw my characters

Fankyoo guys seriously sometimes I just... I dunno I guess having come from an extremely poverty stricken childhood I sometimes just can't get my head around people paying for pictures I draw. I also know there are loads of people who can't afford to get pics of themselves and the furry community is certainly very artwork orientated so I always feel bad that some people don't have many pics of themselves so kinda wanna fix that but I need to get rid of my debt as quickly as possible :) fankyoo millions for making me feel better.

You know somehow I know just how you feel!
I always like offering the community art for free too cause I like seeing people happy with it..
I know eventually I might wanna charge so I can offset costs, but i guess that'll come later when I am into coloring fully =P

Honestly, staying humble after having grown up in poverty and improving your life condition is not as guaranteed as you think. Many who go up in the socio-economic ladder become obsessed with money and hoarding either due to fear of going down again or because they now look down on the group they used to be a part of. Your humility and wariness of being consumed by greed only prove you're nothing like the above described :)

gem, you are such a gentle kindhearted squirrel that it pains us to see you in trouble.
we WANT to pay for your art, we WANT you to make a living doing what you like to do... no matter how small it seems.
heck if i had the cash i would pay off your loan entirely just for a single picture.
unfortunantly i dont even have the cash to pay for a normal picture.
anyway getting sidetracked. what i am trying to say is that you help so many people with your art that maybe it is time to stop focusing outward for a bit. and focus on yourself, do a fundraiser to pay off this loan thingy.

Same here, Sammy. Don't feel too terrible for all this. I hope things don't turn out too badly with your job ending soon.

This is very true* ^^^

I agree

Dont worry about it in the least gem. We all understand and you need to take care of what you need to first.

Awwws.you're not mercenary,Gem.Everyone has their needs for sooner or later,wanting or not. And for your point of people can't pay for your pics, there can have other ways to get art with no money. It can be by a trade (art or story), or for being a nice people around.

I'm thinkin in ways to get comissions, since my paypal is blocked and i can't get in back without a job and a credit card. for example...A way i'm thinkin is offer something(comissions or adoptables),but instead they send the money to me, they send to an artist i would like to comission directly. So if a comission is like 25 dolars.i can offer 5 things for 5 dolars.

If anybody thinks of you as a money hoarder they're dead wrong... cute hoarder maybe but that comes with you being you =3 you have a right to make money off of your art =3 I'd say more but looks like smarter and better people beat me to the key points.

Gem, please don't worry too much about it. You are an artist so it's perfectly fine to do some art and earn some money.
Giving out the occasional free art and raffle is so nice of you and you have a way of helping people to pay their their bills.
Still, you have bills too. Altruism is applaudable, but you need to think about yourself every now and then. Don't feel bad about it. Besides, your prices are very reasonable, it's not like you're ripping off people. o.o'

Gem, When an artist does 3 giant group pics in a row in the period of a week, it's rather obvious they're worried about finances.



I think most, if not all, of the babies who have participated have been VERY happy to have a cheap way of getting themselves drawn and included in something really cool.... And i think all of us would be very happy to know that we were able to support you by commissioning when you needed it. :3


Please.... Do me a favor. Focus on getting your DEBTS payed off. Debts are absolutely terrifying... And even more-so when you don't have a job to pay them off. Keep focusing on commissions. You already do more free-stuff than any other artist at your skill level. It can wait for a better time.

Gem, I can't say I've paid you even a penny you haven't given me every penny's worth for! Your art brings happiness and while money can't buy that I can hope it can help you stay on your feet. You've also been so generous to so many others over the last year - doing emergency commission streams for those in trouble even tho Mr. Taxman had to take his share.

Your art kind of speaks loads to the old notion of "Do what you love and the money will follow". Just keep it up and keep it being what you love first and foremost.

*HUGS*

Incidentally, you said you need a place to do your work at - ever considered making mudpies at home? <giggle> A cottage mudpie industry!

;hugs and cuddles; Compared to other artists prices, you are very inexpensive. I know artists with your skills who charge 50 or more! [hopes he isnt givin you any ideas >.<

Lol no you don't hafta worry. My prices aren't increasing any time soon. I already uped the price fairly recently from the 2nd character going from 5 dollars to 10. So realistically I think that's the only price increase I'm gonna be doing for quite some time to come. I want to be affordable just because I don't want people to feel excluded.

;hugglecuddles;

I understand you point of view, went i did plushe i msake them to make friend happy, charging people for my plushie make me unconfortable, but in your case you should realy not feel this way about having more comission, for what i know a big part of the commision you made was to help peoples in need, it only fare that you do some for you, specialy if it to keep you for getting in financial trouble.

I can assure you that if that will have botthering peoples, you surly never be able to full so quickly you 3 geant drawing with people who wish to be in, you event hade to restrict peoples who already get in one to give the chance to other peoples who have not yet, and even then you did it in a record time!!!

If you wish to make drawing your full time job one day you will have to stop feel duty about be able to make money of it:)

*hugs*

Never feel mercenary for making ends meet and taking care of yourself! I don't consider being generous to the point of damaging your own well being to be a virtue. How can one truly take care of others if they're incapable of taking care of themselves? There are plenty of ways to be generous other than giving stuff away for free. Sometimes a kind word, a bit of helpful advice, or just making somebody smile goes further than any amount of money can. You give plenty of your time and talent to people, doesn't always have to be at the expense of your treasure.

We give to others when we have it to give but most of all you must take care of your self first so you can give to other's.
You give so much back to us so never feel you are cheating us. Dear one you are a great person or you would not be so well liked.
By us all. Hugs

Trust me. You're one of the generous artists. Ever seen  marcimcadams's prices?

 marcimcadam's

Hun, Your artwork is very much worth paying for, You do great artwork. Sometime when I myself are not waist deep in bills Id love to have you do a pic of me with my cubs.

Gem you have the right to make money off your art if people had a problem with it they would simpley not pay for it but look how many people happily do you arts not even all that expensive you shouldnt worry so much about that gems

Sure, there are lots of people who can't afford art, but there are also lots and lots and LOTS of people who WANT to pay you for art! I think you should be super happy that so many people wanna get arts from you, Gemm! And besides-- you still do a whole bunch of generous stuff, like freebies and doing commissions to help out others!!

heheheh...
I didn't have my glasses on so I thought the title of the journal said "good morning"
I was way off huh... X3

I probably couldn't get money for my art if I wanted to, but the idea does leave me a little uncomfortable...

you have to do what you have to do sometimes hun, that's life sadly these days

gem
i dont think you are doing anything wrong..
as i know what it is like being jobless..
chu should find a job if it all goes tits up (hehehehe i said tits)
you are a hard worker and i feel you do way too much for your current work..

As long as you're getting commissioned, you shouldn't worry about "ripping" your commissionners because they have enough money for your art, or else they wouldn't commission you

I hope you find other job Gem.

How much that in USA?

around $7650 USD

That's more I get. I get SSI/ SSDI. I only working on Wed. I started on May 15. Only on Wed. He will call me to get more days to work.

... I what? Don't know, don't want to know! Direct whatever that was meant to be as appropriate to the proper person.

Gem I as well agree with Marinaneira.
Sometimes things happen and finances become more than we can afford.
Some artist never give free artwork and charge very steep prices.

You do give out free art, also your prices are very reasonable.
I love the pieces you did for me. ^_^
I do hope you do not go jobless and something works out.

I mean really gem I do have to agree with what everybody else has siad so far and that is that really you should not have to feel bad about it because I know there are tons of people who would love to get your art and could not always afford it but really the ones that do will commission you and they do it all the time. Really though that is just such a sweet thing for you to even considering offering for your next group pic and really you are such a kind hearted and generous person who always offers some great deals and I do think that Your commission prices are more than fair for anyone who wants your art!

However I do not think you are ripping anybody off, you always are great with it and you do have your financial needs but you know how much "You" need and what you need it for and really even being generous you do have to consider what do i need the funds for and really you being such a great artiest I am sure that you can make up the amount to cover the loan costs and not look like a mercenary or greedy at all *hugs*

You should not feel bad for charging for Art, Personally I think you are a super value for how good you are. I know that some people can't afford art and think that is awesome that you help those people. Just make sure you have a good balace and dont hurt yourself or become unhappy or unable to pay your bills. You're a great person :3

Gem, there is absolutely nothing wrong with charging money for your art so you can keep a roof over your head, your art is amazing! *huggles*

My favourite thing about you is your ability to make and take jokes, but also how humble you are to your art work, it is really good and cute art work, but you still are very humble about it, thank you for not being an "uppity" person, thank you for even being willing to share your artwork with the people here.

I don't care if you charge for art, its YOUR work, if you need to save up and want to sell art to do it then no one will hate you for it :) trust everyone here who watches you loves you (even me :3) and we enjoy the work you do and appreciate the effotlrt you put into do it, screw art school, like you need some fancy shamncy paper to say what we all know you can do!!

Gambatte!! And just keep doing what youre already doing :3 enjoy life, enjoy draw, and just enjoy yourself, you inspired me to draw for myself and now I can draw a propper nappy thanks to you.

Just keep your head high and know that if you offer at least one of us is willing to buy, and not to just buy art, but to buy a "Toddlergirl" pic, that is how good you are!!

It would be a waste to not charge for such beautiful artwork ^w^

So at risk of being a tyrant here, I actually would recommend you cut BACK on the amount of free art you give/do. Certainly it's very charitable and nice to give out free art out to those who can't afford it, and some within reason is nice..

But there are a LOT, if not the majority of poor furs out there who only have their own actions, inactions, self-entitlement complexes, and laziness to blame for their situations. Not saying anybody in particular of your watchers or commenters is one of those, but I would not be surprised if a fair amount were. And if somebody feels like challenging that notion, I back it up with my first-hand observations, and some of the less savory furs I've helped around the globe.

But I digress a bit, there are a number of these furs, some who are just whiny, begging scum of the earth that have oodles of free art. Multiples of what some of us who have paid in all fairness prices artists have deserved, above what they ask for in many cases. I can proudly say that the vast majority of my gallery is works I have paid for, to the tune of around $2700 for what can be found in my gallery, and it's not that many pieces. 1/77 pieces are gift art, 3 are photos, and one is my own colouring work. Which means around $2700(USD) for 60 pieces, or an average of $45/each. Now I can think of at least one fur, whose name I shan't mention who has paid around $300 for an entire BRIEFCASE full of badges, most of which were free art, and I assure you they have done NOTHING to deserve that level of charity.

(Okay I digress a hell of a lot) the gist is you charge far lower than you should, and you're actually not doing yourself or many deserving (far more so than I) people out there any favors by being so overly charitable with your time, effort and *soul* that you pour into pictures.

Postscript,

For those who have an issue and want to claim I've become greedy or corrupted by money, please do a little research beforehand, then come tell me my place.. I would call myself a jaded, and cynical tyrant - but I alone reserve the right to be able to say that of myself.

I understand your point and I think in my two and a half years of being here ive learnt to a certain extent to recognise the moochers.= I try to make it so that when I do do free stuff for people i'll go check their page out and see whats in their gallery I tend to try and favour those who have a fairly bare gallery. That wasnt always the case but I used to do a lot of free sketch streams and it always turned out to be the same people who would pile in and manage to get art from me, yet these people A. never commissioned me and B. often had a lot of other art from much more expensive artists than me, and that always kinda made me feel used, so I learnt to check people out before drawing them free stuff. :) *hugs*

Really? Wow!