Getting commissioned is hard for everybody. I've been struggling HARD for the past month or so because people have just... stopped.

I think it's because nobody has spare money anymore. We're all barely surviving, and what little money we have is not enough to spend on art.

If I wasn't basically starving week after week, I'd be getting commissions but I just. I can't afford art anymore, and I am so damn tired. I'm already gonna forgo food this week to cover the rest of my bills.

Who needs food, anyway? I have enough fat on me to run an army for a month so *shrugs*

It is what it is.

Dang, really? I had no idea, but your comment is SUPER helpful. Thank you for sharing.

I'm in the same boat, honestly! I can afford most of the basics, but not really "fun stuff" like commissions and video games. I have to wait for everything to go on sale for the most part.

I guess it really is what it is.

Thanks for the comment though, gave me a bit of perspective I was absolutely lacking. I didn't realize SO MANY people were struggling.
I wrongly assumed it was just me.

If I could, I would totally grab up a commission! I just have several hundred dollars in bills hanging over my head. I like your art! I am just.... Very quiet and bad at keeping contact with my busy life and memory loss xD

Yeah, the pool of potential clients is definitely shrinking, while the amount of artists is steadily growing. Something Ive realized is now is the time for artists to start diversifying what they do to reach more potential clients.
Be that doing physical merch, improving skills (and upping prices) to reach a more...monied client base, or even branching out into different mediums.

Thanks so much for the comment, it really helps me out.
I've been wanting to dabble with animations, and sculptures, so maybe it's finally time to do that? Would be a learning experience, at least!

Dang, thanks so much for your thoughts!! I think I'm gonna do a mix-up of what you're suggesting.

Youre very welcome! Its always a good time to start trying new things! Even if it doesnt fully pan out, having knowledge of other mediums can really help with what you do normally!

Good afternoon.

I was too busy to reply when you posted this journal, but I've been thinking about it and wanted to throw in my $.02

Your commission issues are nothing unique. Artists all across FA (and the larger furry fandom) are struggling. Yes, some are still doing well, but the landscape has shifted and it has gotten a lot harder to make money with art. I honestly don't think it's the AI angle...yet. AI images (not art) are still pretty primitive, and simply can't compete with work done by actual artists, but that time will come eventually.

The main point that I wanted to address is that, assuming I'm not completely bonkers (always a possibility), people don't generally follow artists for their style, but for their content. As a personal example, if someone does a cow image, I'll usually see it (I search regularly) and I'll check their gallery for more. If it was a one-off, but they do OTHER things I like, I'll hit the +Watch button. If it was a random commission, and nothing else touches on any of my interests, I'll probably move on. This has nothing to do with how good or skilled the artist is - it's just a matter of focus. I like cows, so I want my watch feed filled with as many as I can find. Cherry-picking the artists that are most likely to produce such fulfills my wishes. The same goes for anything else I like, and the opposite goes for stuff I don't care for. Over time there have been a few artists I stopped watching because their focus drifted away from my interests. This isn't because they got BAD, just that they moved into territory that was no longer aligned with my interests.

There are a million different artists and fans out there (I don't quite count since I'm a writer). If your work has a clear focus (I write UnBirthing into nearly all of my stories), you'll eventually find a community of followers, and even friends, that likes that stuff. It may be a small one (really, REALLY small in my case), but it tends to be fairly consistent. If you try to chase popularity, you'll probably just drive yourself nuts, because you'll usually find yourself one step behind. Most of the folks riding waves like that got lucky, and hit the changes at just the right time, but sooner or later that wave will also crash, and unless they've managed to build (or join) a community, they may do a fast fade.

You've probably heard it a million times, but do what you like. Not only does this make your art more authentic, but when it comes from your OWN interests, you're more likely to have fun, and make those positive connections with like-minded souls.

I have to agree with other posters to this thread that learning new skills is very important. Not just because it may mean new revenue streams (which IS absolutely true), but because it helps you build those creativity muscles. Is learning 3D rendering easy? Fuck no. Will you struggle? Yes. But, it will help you see shapes and images from an entirely new perspective. You may go back and look at work you've done in the past with new eyes, and do or try things you never thought about before. And learning is fun...most of the time at least. -:)

Also remember that everyone had to start somewhere, and most folks will (time permitting of course) be happy to offer some advice or help. Do the thing. Try it, suck at first, and they try again - you might just surprise yourself.

Rochndil, who actually thought about learning Blender back in his SL days...

You've said some absolutely solid things that have already helped my focus on this issue.

Give me a little time and I'll respond with a better comment. I'm just really taking in everything you're saying because it's very well thought out and important.

Because of your comment, every single thing I had been missing clicked... I can't even really fully express it into words. I am so thankful that you made this comment. Thank you.

I searched my soul, went back to my roots, and remembered what I loved, what I'm passionate about. My art has expendad now, but... Yeah.
Thank you. Seriously. I wish there was something I could do to repay the kindness, the... guidance my art needed.

Thank you. My art is still a bit of a mess but I'd love to draw you something. We can discuss later. No pressure to take me up on that, but... Just thank you.

Wow, thanks!

It warms the cockles of what passes for my heart when my ramblings are actually useful. In real life I'm a technical writer and user support professional, and every once in a while after explaining something I get to hear the bulb light up when the user GETS it. I'm so glad that I could help you too. I've long felt that it's important for those of us who've been around the wheel a few times (turning 58 next week, yeesh I'm old) to try to share the benefit of our experience. Technology changes a lot faster then people do, and we sometimes forget that.

It is absolutely NOT necessary, but if you do want to do me a pic I'd love something cow/lactation related, whether one of my characters or yours. There can never be too many busty "fresh" cows out there in FA-land.

Rochndil, who never tires of udders...