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What can I do...
13 years ago
General
"We live in a world that creates impossible standards... I say to all of that, 'Screw you and die.' We should celebrate imperfection, because that's the one thing all of us can achieve."
-Guillermo del Toro
-Guillermo del Toro
Now first off, Im not whining, I love the people who watch me. They are both my friends and people to look up to. Nor do I want to be a 'pop' fur as its termed, I like the sort of family comfort you get from a more close knit group than just a rampant lousy collection of people who I dont know :B.
The thing is though-I still cant work. Im still on medical leave, and as thus I need money to eat, take care of my cats and pay for my medications. So I need a more heavy base of people, things that will catch more commissioners and so forth.
So my question is, what can I do to get this? I realize my note on my commission sheet that I do not enjoy drawing porn is a big punch in the gut for this. But please be aware, its not because Im squirmy or dislike sex or anything to do with it. If it floats your boat, by all means-go ahead and do it. I just don't have to watch. I just prefer sensual over sexual. This does mean I will draw past pg-13 situations, but if its random hardcore with no emotion-I wont do it.
Preferences.
Also, is it possibly some of the genres I decide to draw? I wont point out which that would be just rude. But I will happily draw pg-13 esque pictures of almost any fetish, and this includes my own personals, gore, horror and etc. Am I losing fans because of this? It must be said, I don't care what floats someones boat-as long as you follow my 'will not draw' list, if everyone is over the age of consent and willingly into what ever your doing-by all means do it. I dont gotta watch.
So most of this is rambly, but any points on what I can do? Things I can offer? Perhaps pin up in flashing lights that I will do fan art, except generally speaking it WILL be in my style and there for things like my little pony wouldnt really work...
The thing is though-I still cant work. Im still on medical leave, and as thus I need money to eat, take care of my cats and pay for my medications. So I need a more heavy base of people, things that will catch more commissioners and so forth.
So my question is, what can I do to get this? I realize my note on my commission sheet that I do not enjoy drawing porn is a big punch in the gut for this. But please be aware, its not because Im squirmy or dislike sex or anything to do with it. If it floats your boat, by all means-go ahead and do it. I just don't have to watch. I just prefer sensual over sexual. This does mean I will draw past pg-13 situations, but if its random hardcore with no emotion-I wont do it.
Preferences.
Also, is it possibly some of the genres I decide to draw? I wont point out which that would be just rude. But I will happily draw pg-13 esque pictures of almost any fetish, and this includes my own personals, gore, horror and etc. Am I losing fans because of this? It must be said, I don't care what floats someones boat-as long as you follow my 'will not draw' list, if everyone is over the age of consent and willingly into what ever your doing-by all means do it. I dont gotta watch.
So most of this is rambly, but any points on what I can do? Things I can offer? Perhaps pin up in flashing lights that I will do fan art, except generally speaking it WILL be in my style and there for things like my little pony wouldnt really work...
Commissions: OPEN
Commission Queue
alphashepard simple commission pack-not yet started-fully paid
===>Commission Prices<===
===>Chromo Co
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
Commission Queue
alphashepard simple commission pack-not yet started-fully paid===>Commission Prices<===
===>Chromo Co
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
Make a poster style submission with the general quality you can expect from such commissions. People love a visual guide of what they can get for their money.
Secondly, categorize and keyword your art. If you DON'T, it will not be possible to find if someone doesn't watch you already after it's off the front page.
And categorization is just as important as keywording, gotta fill in all those drop down boxes.
Maybe like... pin ups? People tend to like pin ups, as they're sexy, but they can be clothed -- in cute lingerie/undies.
Something like... colored sketches (something relatively quick to do, so you can do several a day) for a set amount of money (+$5 for complicated characters or something for example).
Something you can put out rapidly, draws eyes and open wallets.
And the sketches could work, the issue is I dont actually sketch, I go from a doodle stick figure to inking. Its hard to explain ;---;
Maybe it could be like... inks, and if they wanna 'buy up' you can do flat coloring for an additional amount.
So, for example, if a simple inked piece (key word simple), would be $20 via IA, they could upgrade to basic coloring for $25 or $30, and you could do 2-4 of them a day.
Just takes time budgeting.
And you can work in as small or large batches as you want, so you don't have to get burnt out.
/rambling.
1) Do cool art
2) Tell people
3) ???
4) Profit
You'll do fine! Just maintain the awesome you've already got ;D
I was actually thinking of making a second account and starting 'fresh' as it were, more so because this is an old ass account and I hate the nae now ;-;
As for starting elsewhere, I mean, if you want to be totally new, you'd have to be prepared for a lot of nonsense ("Hey, your style is creepily similar to that Murikami person's..."), but I assume you mean effectively a name change, in which case you'd just have to be absolutely sure your target demographic knew where you were going, and then, yeah, it's certainly not uncommon for artists to have two accounts - a personal one for personal art and journals, and a "business" account, for commissions, advertising, etc.
As an example, I've recently noticed several high-profile furry artists whose majority of work is hardcore/fetish can run an auction that nets them hundreds but an industry professional who charges that same price but doesn't (not won't but just doesn't) draw porn is virtually invisible.
Of course, I don't want to not help. What you may want to consider is trying a webcomic approach. By that I mean, on a separate site (such as Tumblr or Wordpress) you could publish a comic series, even if it's just a few pages a month (preferably something whose appeal isn't strictly limited to the furry fandom). That will earn you a stronger following than just what you'd get on FA/Weasyl. It's a bit cruel but you don't necessarily have to let your readers know that said comic is "limited" (as in non-ongoing) but you can promote commissions on the page itself.
A few notes: you'll want to make sure you have a big backlog of the comic already drawn or at least done in thumbnail/storyboard form as it will ensure that, should you end up a massive commission load, you'll be prepared. You'll also want to make sure you engage with the readers so they don't get soured on the "hey you like my comic give me money" approach.