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IMPORTANT. PLEASE TELL ME, WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
a year ago
General
Hey guys,
I just want to talk a little. I just want to know something and maybe you have an answer. I wonder, what am I doing wrong? How can I fail so much? Last year was great, I really felt like I finally succeeded, then November came and it all went downhill from there. If you are here for some time, you know about my situation and that’s when it got really bad and crushed me and since then I also started to lose my luck. I just don’t understand, am I doing something wrong? People used to order much more commissions from me, it was wonderful, but this year, and mainly last few months, it’s like a drought. Not only I am not getting new clients, but also people who were ordering art from me regularly stopped or slowed down. This is supposed to be my job and I’m so afraid to break even.
So why? I try new things, I try to improve, I want to make good art and make people happy with it. So why did people stop coming? Ironically, I have more watchers than before, everywhere, but it doesn’t help. It actually makes it kind of worse. I feel like a clown, every time going and showing new offers, new stickers, anything. But everyone just goes around me and ignores me, even though I need help. I really feel like I failed as an artist. I find it hilarious and sad so many people look at my art, but they don’t bother to support me where it counts the most. Making this my stable income and living. I don’t want to whine, but the situation got so bad it makes it hard to enjoy making art anymore. If I’m not able to make money with it, I failed and everything will fall apart.
Even if people don’t order commissions, they can become a member. My lowest tier is 2$. For context, that’s a price of one dinner for two people over here. One dinner. I don’t expect people to blow thousands o dollars on me, or even hundred, or ten, but if my art is not worth even 2 dollars a month, then I am really a screw up. Many people helped in June when I broke down and I’m thankful for that, but I hoped things will get better overall, they didn’t. I don’t expect people to throw so much money at me every month, but I hoped someone may return, or even become a member. Only one person did that and it’s a few dollars, but it meant so much, because it means someone decided to stick around. I’m just tired, this year really kicks my ass and no matter how much I try make things better, it just doesn’t help. Is my art not worth the support? Am I not worthy?
Guys please, you watch me, favorite and like my art, comment on it, so please if you want me to continue, please consider supporting me financially. This isn’t my hobby, it’s a job. If you like my art, it makes you smile and you can afford it, please do so. As I said, even if you donate every month just those 2$ it can make a difference. If even more, then great, the more the merrier. If you guys do this, it will improve my income and my life. I want to make art, I want people to enjoy it and make them happier, but it’s hard, when you know almost no one considers you worth of one dinner per month. This realization just hits me hard. And I don’t know what I’m doing wrong as an artist. I would understand if no one was following me, than my art is shit and no one cares. But there is many of you all those platforms and you like my art, so why? Why am I not worth your support? Please tell me, I really need to know, a lot of things depends on it.
If you want to check my Ko-fi, it’s here. Just don’t leave me in the dark please. Thank you.
https://ko-fi.com/lunar_turtle
I just want to talk a little. I just want to know something and maybe you have an answer. I wonder, what am I doing wrong? How can I fail so much? Last year was great, I really felt like I finally succeeded, then November came and it all went downhill from there. If you are here for some time, you know about my situation and that’s when it got really bad and crushed me and since then I also started to lose my luck. I just don’t understand, am I doing something wrong? People used to order much more commissions from me, it was wonderful, but this year, and mainly last few months, it’s like a drought. Not only I am not getting new clients, but also people who were ordering art from me regularly stopped or slowed down. This is supposed to be my job and I’m so afraid to break even.
So why? I try new things, I try to improve, I want to make good art and make people happy with it. So why did people stop coming? Ironically, I have more watchers than before, everywhere, but it doesn’t help. It actually makes it kind of worse. I feel like a clown, every time going and showing new offers, new stickers, anything. But everyone just goes around me and ignores me, even though I need help. I really feel like I failed as an artist. I find it hilarious and sad so many people look at my art, but they don’t bother to support me where it counts the most. Making this my stable income and living. I don’t want to whine, but the situation got so bad it makes it hard to enjoy making art anymore. If I’m not able to make money with it, I failed and everything will fall apart.
Even if people don’t order commissions, they can become a member. My lowest tier is 2$. For context, that’s a price of one dinner for two people over here. One dinner. I don’t expect people to blow thousands o dollars on me, or even hundred, or ten, but if my art is not worth even 2 dollars a month, then I am really a screw up. Many people helped in June when I broke down and I’m thankful for that, but I hoped things will get better overall, they didn’t. I don’t expect people to throw so much money at me every month, but I hoped someone may return, or even become a member. Only one person did that and it’s a few dollars, but it meant so much, because it means someone decided to stick around. I’m just tired, this year really kicks my ass and no matter how much I try make things better, it just doesn’t help. Is my art not worth the support? Am I not worthy?
Guys please, you watch me, favorite and like my art, comment on it, so please if you want me to continue, please consider supporting me financially. This isn’t my hobby, it’s a job. If you like my art, it makes you smile and you can afford it, please do so. As I said, even if you donate every month just those 2$ it can make a difference. If even more, then great, the more the merrier. If you guys do this, it will improve my income and my life. I want to make art, I want people to enjoy it and make them happier, but it’s hard, when you know almost no one considers you worth of one dinner per month. This realization just hits me hard. And I don’t know what I’m doing wrong as an artist. I would understand if no one was following me, than my art is shit and no one cares. But there is many of you all those platforms and you like my art, so why? Why am I not worth your support? Please tell me, I really need to know, a lot of things depends on it.
If you want to check my Ko-fi, it’s here. Just don’t leave me in the dark please. Thank you.
https://ko-fi.com/lunar_turtle
One thing that is the same, and any artist would agree, is that everything seems to be proportionate. These numbers are not an exact, but used to demonstrate the point:
For every 100 views, you get 15 favs.
For every 100 favs, you get 7 comments.
For every 10 comments, you get 3 watches.
For every 10 watches, you get 1 monetary support.
So in order to get just 1 monetary support, your art needs to be viewed 3,174 times.
Again, these numbers are simply made up to demonstrate the point. It's not a simple 10 watchers = 10 ko-fi donors.
Anyway, the point is you may not really be doing anything wrong. You may simply need to keep drawing, keep posting, get noticed, be seen, and continue to grow your watchers. Periodically post that you have a ko-fi and your commissions being open and prices to let new watchers know as well as remind old watchers. If you post your art around the same time and same days, try mixing it up and posting at a different time on a different day so new people see your art on the front page who are not on when you normally post.
Also, higher tiers have commissions as rewards. And all the tiers offer something, even the lowest tier has a commission sale. I don't like offering options without anything in return.
To be honest, I normally ignore "hey check out my ko-fi" or "support my patreon" posts. Don't even look at them, so good luck getting people like me to actually click the link (I have looked at yours though since I've been commenting). However, I do look at commission price lists and such. So if you were to make a post about your ko-fi that resembles a commission price list of "what you get for each amount", you'll more likely get someone to look at it. They may also be in the market for a commission, and see is as a perk of getting one for the ko-fi support tiers.
If you don't mind me asking, I would like to know something. You are watching me, so I guess you like my art. So, why didn't you ordr a commission form me, or becoem a member? Is it because of this reason? that you didn't even know about my ko-fi, or is it soemthing else? Like my art not being good enough? Hope it doesn't sound rude, but people like you are the ones who can have answers for me and make me realize what I'm doing wrong. Would really like to know.
As for never getting a commission, I wasn't really sure if you took commissions or how much they were. Your art comes to my inbox, so I don't really go to your main profile page where it mentions it a bit more. FA also has a "Commissions" section that artists can fill out so it appears at the top, near the Gallery, Scraps, Favs, Journals. That tab is good way for people to see you take comms and get an idea on price. Yours does not seem to be there, so I figured you may not take them as that tab is missing.
And do not think you are being rude. You are trying to understand, and I'm commenting and trying to help, so it only makes sense to ask. I don't believe you are doing anything wrong, but rather just need to help get the info out there a bit more.
I understand you don't do monthly donations,but I wonder, what if that subscriptions gives you something useful? If you would like commisions, my tiers have sales on them. They were designed to make it better for people who order pictures from me, like sales, or even getting a monthly commission reward for better price, than regular commission. What do you think of those?
But yeah, with all what you say, this might be the core of the problem that I am looking for. And as I expected, I needed other people to tell me waht it is. Just curious, now that you know, will you ever want a picture from me? :)
As for would I ever want a commission from you? Absolutely! I have a couple characters that I think would look really good in your style, and could use some fresh art. Had I been paid on time (yay for delays), I'd likely have already bought one from you during this conversation. I also have mentioned your commissions to a friend of mine today since I know you offer them now, and will likely tell a few other friends of mine who would likely be interested.
And that sounds amazing, thank you! About the tiers, I'm always tryign to give soemthing in return, being it sales, commissions or stickers. I want to be sure it's worth people's support. The monly subsciptions are the ones that keep me mostly safe. Since commissions are random, that's why I'm trying to hard to get members and be sure they get good things in return. It's a stable income I can count on, I just need it to be higher, so it keeps me safe financially. I understand you are nto a fan of supporting someone monthly, but if you would ever reconsider, it would be awesome, I like to draw for people on monthly basis.
And thank you again, I'lll be happy to draw pictures fro you and if your friends come, even better. Thank you, it means a lot :)
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57789372/