;w;! I can't do story commissions... So I understand that...

I've always enjoyed commissions and have taken them for years, however have incredibly variable turn around times. Some art waits a week, some art waits a few months etc. I get in a circle of dread that I didn't work on a piece today and then tomorrow I feel worse etc.

It ain't easy and I don't blame you one bit for not wanting to deal with it. I PERSONALLY do the best work when working for others but that's not true for everyone. ^^

However, to also say you don't belong and would be better off somewhere else or not at all-I don't believe. You have those who care about you, even if through a screen. Draw whatever you want and post whatever of it you want (or none of it even!) Things suck a lot... but I hope they get better. That's about all you can do. ♥

;w; I wish I had a better come back, but my brain is just so fried lately. Thank you.

No comeback needed, take your time and take it easy uwu♥

Doing commissions isn't for everyone, certainly. It's a huge responsibility to pu on someone and a huge time sink as well. I get nervous enough writing for friends, for free, so I can't imagine trying to do it for pay and having the added expectation of always being at the very top of your game. And if it isn't fun for you, that just makes it even harder. Though I hate that. I suppose change is inevitable as new people and new ideas and attitudes come in, but it does feel a lot different these days and I miss the old days sometimes, too.

Though I'm gonna push back on the useless part. You're far from useless and even though I know I went into super lurk mode for a while there, your art has always been a part of what makes this place fun.

You should always do what pleases you most.

I know what you mean. I've been in the fandom for decades, and it seems we're at an all-time low as far as treating furry art as a hobby. I got super annoyed with the rise of YCH sketches and reminder flooding the front pages over the last few years. Thankfully, that seems to have died down lately, but the fandom isn't as fun as it used to be.

I still wish there was more commentary and audience participation, like the old days. Comments have been declining for years across all web sites I visit.

oh boy tell me about it! I've seen this particular mood in general just about everywhere lately and let me tell you...I have started making i a social contest with the few remaining social furs to start counting the about of "commissions open" journals per week and "emergency story plz read" and all that. You barely even see anyone socializing anymore these days. It won't stop me though. The worst they can do is block me or suspend me for being social LOL

I understand. Honestly one thing I've come to understand about commissions is whoever you commission you have to be willing to understand that they need time to work and put together your image. Honestly I have a couple pictures that I would like to get again because my old computer storage was destroyed but I can't seem to contact the artist formerly known as sigial and princess bunny 99 to see if they still have access to it the same with some from pony man. I actually have a commission that I requested back in it was either May or June of this year I think? The person who's working on it will likely have it finished and the next two or three months. I've seen their work before is pretty nice and once they get it to me I'll be uploading it here and at deviantART with their digital card because I believe in advertising for the people that do art for me.

It sounds like you could use a break.

I completely can understand. I'll admit I've always wanted to get a commission from you but the last thing I would want would be to try to impose something that would cause so much stress and anxiety toward you.
"It's all business and transactions and NORMIE, NORMIE, NORMIE" - This! This so freaking much. I have so many friends who talk about how much they love how sanitized and transactional the commission process is. They like when artists just ask for the info and get it done and that's it's, they don't want extra communication or even like WIPs from artists to see how things are going and it fucking BREAKS my heart!!! Its literally one of the most depressing parts of the furry community to me. I love when artists I comm like to talk, there's so many amazing convos I've had with artists while we had a comm together and a very big majority of friends I have in the community are actually artists who I connected with from these convos. I don't understand how commissioners can't understand how much reducing art to a business transaction hurts an artists, it aids so much in burnout and loss of passion...
I can completely understand all these hon, and I hope you still can find joy in drawing personal stuff cause I just love seeing you making things you enjoy (I love seeing all artists enjoying what they're making and that's the most important part of art to me personally)

Young furries just... so many of them do not understand community.

So true. All of the ones I see act like this are under 30, usually mid 20s. It's sad how disconnected they all are.
I've actually tried to instill more positive and warm attitude with the ones I'm friends with but it's a losing fight

I find that normally if people that age want community, they already want it before I meet them.

Yeah that's so true 😞