Hmmm...as a former artist, I can at least answer some of your questions :3

1.) When I worked on my posters, it took me about 6 to 8 hours, at least. However, I have seen artists here, on FA that take way longer than that...as in, 6 to months. Reasons range from being ultra perfectionist, real life problems, maybe lost the drive, etc.

2. and 3) Inspiration for backgrounds AND subject matter come from EVERYWHERE...if you know where to look! Nature is a background isnt it? What about your dreams? Sure there's online (google "backgrounds" and youll see what I mean :P) but there is also research (books, magazines, etc.) history, art, etc.!

4.) FurBuy...FurBid? Your own journals, or in FA, "commission information"?
DA as well, or other art blogs...I know theres plenty out there :P

Just make sure that while you might "give people what they want", you dont do anything YOU dont want to do- and theres a LOT of weird stuff that certain furries are into :P

Skipping 5 and 6, cause Im "retired" from drawing...:P

7.) Its been said before, and said again: The best way is to KEEP DRAWING and PRACTICE.

Also...take a break every once in a while! Stretch your legs, take your drawing pad / sketchpad with you! It doesn't matter what, just the stuff you find interesting!

With that...
I regret, and I mean truly regret, that I lost my drive...but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to help another artist! So who knows, maybe I'll get it back.

There you go bud :3

Haha thanks so much for your feedback, I appreciate your time. :) So a retired artist.. did you find some other way to express yourself? How'd you become retired? :) I hope some day you find your drive again!

Other way would be writing, of which, Im also not doing too much of (its the retail holiday coming soon)

As for becoming retired...i give you this advice:

NEVER LOSE YOUR OOMPH.

Your oomph...I mean your drive, your muse, etc.

Yeah, eventually, you can pull yourself out but its a BITCH to do so.

1) When I'm actually trying to make a picture look good, I usually spend anywhere from 4-20+ hours on something.

2) I rarely have much inspiration for backgrounds. I'll just come up with stuff that might fit. I just don't put to much thought into my backgrounds as of yet.

3) Um...I don't know. Sometimes I get inspiration from things I read, music, or my own beliefs. But most of my inspiration comes from my own emotions.

4) Eh, well I don't consider myself all to successful in commissions even though I do get (what I consider) a lot of them. And I won't consider myself as such until people decide to commission me for more than porn. But I just draw different kinds of things so they don't really cater to one specific group of people. Whatever people like they'll commission me for. Plus like Chrismukkah said, Furbid and Furbuy are also good sites if you want to auction off some pieces you've already done or commission auctions. I'm of the belief that people rarely check the "Commission Info" part of this site, so I'd say to use journals to advertise your commissions.

5) Eh...I don't draw to relax really. I sing to relax. XD

6) (Um...I'll pass on this since I don't really feel like I've reached this point in my art yet)

7) I'm with Chrismukkah on this...plus I should take that advice as well...^^;

Haha I'm horrible at coming up with backgrounds.. Usually I'm just like okay I'm drawing a ___.. that's it. :P You're commissioned only for porn? That's sad.. you're such a beautiful artist in other [and cleaner haha] areas..

Yeah.. I know practicing will help, obviously.. but that doesn't provide any guidance for improvement. Know what I mean? It's like telling a basketball player to go "practice". Practice what? In what way? etc. ;P