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One Year
11 years ago
I believe it was exactly a year ago today that I quick my crappy call center job and became a full-time artist.
And to think, I was afraid to leave the stability of the call center. But I gotta say, that was a pretty good decision. I've still got at least one friend still stuck in there, and he's told tales of how it's gone downhill, like how they instituted a "no paper" policy, on top of getting rid of notepad stuff, making you turn in your phone, and in general becoming more and more of an artist's worst nightmare. It happened not too long after I left, as well. I got out just in time. That job literally woulda killed me.
But here I am, actually doing better than ever. I'm down like, 60lbs, the doctors are saying my blood sugar is showing the most improvement they've ever seen in such a short time, I'm steadily rockin' the art thing, and despite my increased medical costs, still keeping my head above water, financially.
It's kind of weird, y'know? I told myself for years that one day I'd live off my art, but I never really truly believed it would happen, and secretly, I found myself bound in limbo between the terror of going for it and the horror of just being another working stiff for the rest of my life. Yet here i am, one year later. Still alive. And I really have to thank the whole community for it. I mean, I owe you guys my life, in a sense, cuz without you, I would probably have had another heart attack, and wouldn't have been so lucky as I was last time.
So, I just wanted to say thank you for this year you've given me. And there will be MUCH more art on the way. I'm coming out of the winter funk, and starting to pick up speed again.
(Also, to the peeps on the list below, I haven't given up on the work I owe you still. It's just that surviving is a bit more effort than I expected. It'll get done! That's why the list is here, so I'm held accountable)
COMMISSIONS (the fullsize huge ones)
1/ Rogern (inked, restarting colour)
2/ 9Lion (pencilled, plus one other)
3/ Mechaman
4/ Chazore (pencilled)
5/ Sandalf
6/ yutrah (inked)
7/ rageki (inked)
8/ Twitch The Dragon
9/ Kipeo
10/ Opeoaslam
And to think, I was afraid to leave the stability of the call center. But I gotta say, that was a pretty good decision. I've still got at least one friend still stuck in there, and he's told tales of how it's gone downhill, like how they instituted a "no paper" policy, on top of getting rid of notepad stuff, making you turn in your phone, and in general becoming more and more of an artist's worst nightmare. It happened not too long after I left, as well. I got out just in time. That job literally woulda killed me.
But here I am, actually doing better than ever. I'm down like, 60lbs, the doctors are saying my blood sugar is showing the most improvement they've ever seen in such a short time, I'm steadily rockin' the art thing, and despite my increased medical costs, still keeping my head above water, financially.
It's kind of weird, y'know? I told myself for years that one day I'd live off my art, but I never really truly believed it would happen, and secretly, I found myself bound in limbo between the terror of going for it and the horror of just being another working stiff for the rest of my life. Yet here i am, one year later. Still alive. And I really have to thank the whole community for it. I mean, I owe you guys my life, in a sense, cuz without you, I would probably have had another heart attack, and wouldn't have been so lucky as I was last time.
So, I just wanted to say thank you for this year you've given me. And there will be MUCH more art on the way. I'm coming out of the winter funk, and starting to pick up speed again.
(Also, to the peeps on the list below, I haven't given up on the work I owe you still. It's just that surviving is a bit more effort than I expected. It'll get done! That's why the list is here, so I'm held accountable)
COMMISSIONS (the fullsize huge ones)
1/ Rogern (inked, restarting colour)
2/ 9Lion (pencilled, plus one other)
3/ Mechaman
4/ Chazore (pencilled)
5/ Sandalf
6/ yutrah (inked)
7/ rageki (inked)
8/ Twitch The Dragon
9/ Kipeo
10/ Opeoaslam
Here's to another amazing year.
You left befor the trap door fell
You're one of the first furry artists I discovered and loved back on DA and certainly one of the most impressive. Here's hoping you do even better for yourself in the future!
That said, hoping you find your path and walk it well.
Sometimes the best decisions in life wind up being the ones one is, initially, uncertain about, but that ultimately prove to work out in the end.
I have always liked your work, I think you have a talent for it, but that talent is also one backed up by an extraordinary passion, a passion not always found among career artists who lose the spark of interest in their work and just have it turn into another job.
It is, admittedly, all too easy to forget that there are real, living people responsible for the great works we all enjoy, and I wish to thank you for posting something as uplifting and heartfelt as I find this to be.
Have an absolutely wonderful day, and many more to come
Argos and I will be keeping our eyes out for when you open again, it's always a pleasure doing business with you - and we get to help out with the economics as well. :DD
Congrats, bro, and here's to an even better year!
There's countless of artists out there who really look up to ones such as your self who make the leap and now sustain themselves on their own personal work. I hope to someday follow in such footsteps as you've paved. Thank you for inspiring me and continuing to do so!
I've always inwardly told myself "Yeah, this is one of those people could easily make a living off just his art alone" when I look at your stuff. So I certainly think you've made the right choice. Being able to do what makes you happy and getting PAID for it is essentially everyone's dream in modern society, and very few people get to actually live it out. So, you're indeed a pretty fortunate guy, in spite of the mounting medical issues.
That said, take care of yourself. I know a handful of artists who have rather crippling health issues (like messed up hands/wrists that REALLY impede their ability to work regularly), so I imagine the prospect of not being able to keep drawing for whatever reason has to be one of the most terrifying fears an artist would have to endure.
So, in short, keep on rockin' man. Every (and I do mean every) pic of yours I see in my in-box is like a delectable buffet of eye and brain candy for me. So the fact you get to devote yourself to your craft more or less full time makes me a happy panda. X3
And now that I'm doing art, I don't feel horrid. Taking that first step is always the hardest, but you're an amazing artist, and to be able to live off your art is pretty amazing :D *high fives* Good thing you took that step :) Glad to have ya around :D
Although it took forever, and man oh man did life suck the highest degrees of ass during those years, I was able to get my veteran's compensation for injuries while deployed.
At first I thought "Oh goody I'm gonna get to play games all I want now and just do nothing but what I want." That got boring within about 6 months.
Then I started writing again, and then I started drawing again, both something I hadn't done in over 4 years on a serious scale.
While things have been stressful sometimes, or when the funk comes along my motivation drops, it's also given me a much more constructive and creative outlet that's done wonders for my mental state.
Glad to hear you got out of that place though, monotony and repetition like that can drive folks over the edge.
Also hope to get a commission from ya at some point in the near future, have I ever got a doozy of ideas for ya. x3
I wish I had the guts to go for it, but I'm too afraid. So I'm still stuck at my job.
...
hrm.
I'm in a similar place, but without the skill that you've got. I hope that I can push myself to improve enough to leave the monotkny of the call center behind someday...
It's good to hear that you got out!
Stay awesome, my friend ^_^
Either way, I'm genuinely amazed you're able to live fully off it - at least I imagine (and sometimes hear) it often not paying quite enough for that.
Anyways, always good to hear someone's doing fine, even if we don't know each other at all, even. :P
But yeah, i bet you feel a helluva lot better, and you can say you are working for your self now, that's a powerful statement these days. Your work is pretty inspirational too and its great to see you work when i can (as i am way to busy it seems >.<), here's to hoping the next year is even better for you!
I dont get why you were so unsure if you could live off the drawing tho :p
We have to play Titanfall again soon! fuark!
Congratulations, and best wishes :)
It's nice to hear some good news, for once.
May the good years continue...
Furry art CAN be a job if you work hard enough at it.
I did agree when he told the furry that she should get a GED and try to live on her own instead of relying on her mother for everything. Independence is an important thing to learn.
To life, long lived and healthy!