FA+
Shop
Rambling Thoughts Following Dissapointment (Pony Related)
11 years ago
So just recently I asked an artist I liked if they were alright with drawing a pony character since they were open for commissions. Their answer was that they didn't draw ponies. Now some part of me wants to be upset, to fling so much shit into the air it turns into a storm, but I don't want to be the type of person to fill the internet with any more hatred and vitriol than it already has. So just to keep myself calm and express my thoughts, I'm going to make a list:
Why an artist may not draw ponies for you:
1. They're just unable to draw them, or can but don't think they can draw them well.
This is pretty self explanatory. An artist is not going to agree to do a commission that is beyond their scope of abilities, as sometimes there are some body-types that they are really good at composing while there are others that they just struggle with. Maybe they can draw an equine body, but they feel that it doesn't look as good as the rest of their work that they pump out on a regular basis, and thus they don't want to disappoint someone who expects the same quality for an MLP-style commission.
2. They just don't like ponies: the style, the show, the fandom, or any of the above.
In a world where you're lucky to find a way to make money that doesn't feel like torture, even luckier if the method involves doing something you actually like, it remains true that there is a limit to what a person will do even if they're getting paid for it. The job I currently work involves interacting with a lot of people, both in person and over the phone. Despite the occasional instance where someone just isn't having a good day and something I do sets them off, or I make a mistake that gets someone upset at me, the vast majority work goes smoothly.
But if I was working a job where I could choose who to serve and know ahead of time who I would get grief from, you'd bet I would only choose the people things would go smoothly with.
3. The people they do regular business with don't like ponies.
The last thing anyone who's looking to make money wants is to alienate the very people that they do business with. This doesn't just hold true for people who don't draw ponies and are scared of upsetting the people who watch them by drawing them. This goes for a lot of things: I've seen an artist who usually draws vore make a few really good diaper pictures, but with massive disclaimers in the descriptions saying that they didn't usually do that sort of thing and wouldn't continue to do so, pleading for people in it for only vore to not unwatch them. The inverse is true also: people who usually only draw ponies are afraid of drawing anything else they like.
It's a sad but understandable state of affairs that we're all dug into our own territory and don't always have the courage to step out of the box and get some fresh air.
I remember reading the comments of one of my commissions from an artist that doesn't normally draw ponies. There was one person who basically said: "I like what you did with this, but I don't like ponies." There's no point in arguing whether or not their dislike is warranted or appropriate to mention in comments, it just proves that even people who like an artist will make a fuss when something they don't like pops up under their work.
I've actually been very fortunate up to this point. I've been choosing who to commission based on not just whether or not they draw ponies regularly, but whether I admire their art. This is the very first time someone has told me they're not willing to draw what I want in exchange for money, and it probably isn't going to be the last.
Why an artist may not draw ponies for you:
1. They're just unable to draw them, or can but don't think they can draw them well.
This is pretty self explanatory. An artist is not going to agree to do a commission that is beyond their scope of abilities, as sometimes there are some body-types that they are really good at composing while there are others that they just struggle with. Maybe they can draw an equine body, but they feel that it doesn't look as good as the rest of their work that they pump out on a regular basis, and thus they don't want to disappoint someone who expects the same quality for an MLP-style commission.
2. They just don't like ponies: the style, the show, the fandom, or any of the above.
In a world where you're lucky to find a way to make money that doesn't feel like torture, even luckier if the method involves doing something you actually like, it remains true that there is a limit to what a person will do even if they're getting paid for it. The job I currently work involves interacting with a lot of people, both in person and over the phone. Despite the occasional instance where someone just isn't having a good day and something I do sets them off, or I make a mistake that gets someone upset at me, the vast majority work goes smoothly.
But if I was working a job where I could choose who to serve and know ahead of time who I would get grief from, you'd bet I would only choose the people things would go smoothly with.
3. The people they do regular business with don't like ponies.
The last thing anyone who's looking to make money wants is to alienate the very people that they do business with. This doesn't just hold true for people who don't draw ponies and are scared of upsetting the people who watch them by drawing them. This goes for a lot of things: I've seen an artist who usually draws vore make a few really good diaper pictures, but with massive disclaimers in the descriptions saying that they didn't usually do that sort of thing and wouldn't continue to do so, pleading for people in it for only vore to not unwatch them. The inverse is true also: people who usually only draw ponies are afraid of drawing anything else they like.
It's a sad but understandable state of affairs that we're all dug into our own territory and don't always have the courage to step out of the box and get some fresh air.
I remember reading the comments of one of my commissions from an artist that doesn't normally draw ponies. There was one person who basically said: "I like what you did with this, but I don't like ponies." There's no point in arguing whether or not their dislike is warranted or appropriate to mention in comments, it just proves that even people who like an artist will make a fuss when something they don't like pops up under their work.
I've actually been very fortunate up to this point. I've been choosing who to commission based on not just whether or not they draw ponies regularly, but whether I admire their art. This is the very first time someone has told me they're not willing to draw what I want in exchange for money, and it probably isn't going to be the last.
I work in a very similar environment - and, seemingly, business - to you, so I know very well what you mean there and feel your pain (even if it does go majoritively smoothly) *hugs*
That last point is a very sad truth :/
Yeah, everyone is so used to things going smooth that it's hard to remember how easy the rest of it is when things go wrong.
It's a very broad problem, although one can argue if it's a problem in all cases. Familiarity breeds comfort, but can also foster hostility towards what is different than usual.
Aye.
Indeed. I consider (the impulse leading to) negative treatment of whatever is different to be one of humanity's most detestable traits :/..