Dont ever do it for the money... Well, you can flip burgers for the money. And thats a situation many of us find ourselves in...But if you are going to spend years of talent drawing... do it because you enjoy it. Don't make it a chore, thats just wasting passion.
Every time you make anything, you're just going to resent that more people didn't pay your for it if all your are drawing for is money.

I can't work, I am unable to due to my health... I am waiting on SS to come back to me, till then I have been trying to pay for my food and games and what not via art.

I have enjoyed doing commissions for the most part, but since I am getting sicker I need to slow down and figure out a way to keep me going since I am not sure if SS will help me or not...

If you are as unhappy and unable as you say, I would just drop at least the games aspect for now. We've all hit that wall of "wtf can I do with this amount of intake" some sooner than others. But there is always a solution, weather it be low income housing or just breaking our spending habits. You have the ability to break down great drawings so you clearly have the brainpower to make it thru whatever struggles you are currently in. Just dont sell yourself out and dont do anyting that makes you feel "not worth it"

http://i.imgur.com/L5KKlZq.gif

We all have tough times and bad times of health but a determined person can overcome most of that and more, I believe you have just struck a rutt and you feel you can't get out of it, while I don't know what you're sick with- you feeling disgusted with your art is normal or maybe you think you can't make anything.

The best thing to do is 1 take a break, do something for you. It doesn't have to be art just do something fun. 2 draw something you've never done before, experiment with new ideas ,techniques etc

I'm sorry to hear you feel this way but most of this stuff is usually temporary. I support your idea for patreon!

I have over come a lot of things to draw, there were a few times in the last 2 years or so I was nearly blind but still took commissions cause I needed money.

I have high blood pressure, diabetes type II, osteoarthritis and my kidneys are failing really bad.

And as for art, I draw for fun, but I feel disconnected and jittery, also I can hear my pulse which is giving me a lot of anxiety so I have been trying to take it really easy and play Fallout 3 again on Xbox... problem is I will need money again and it is getting harder to make it the legit way of commissions... and I still owe 3 commissions right now =x=

You are very very very much worth it puppy. And always will be

I keep wonder that myself...

i'm not sure that patreon would be a very good fit for you, DeD. not that i don't think you're worth it, you definitely are, but because of how patreon works. the main incentive for people to pledge is the various rewards tiers. of course, you could offer different commissions at different amounts, but that would pretty much defeat the purpose of finding something outside of commissions. granted, some people might follow (or whatever it is) at a level without any additional incentive than helping to support your art, but unfortunately there aren't all that many people that can afford to do that, at least in my experience. also i don't know if patreon itself is all that good; out of the 4-5 artists i've seen that used it, only one of them still does, and all of the reasons i saw for leaving were issues with patreon itself that they didn't care for.

an idea that i think might work for you (or you could completely hate it) would be something like a digital coloring book. you could make (x) amount of inked pictures and sell them as a set for people to color, adding whatever rules you needed. though, i don't remember if your dislike of people coloring your art is because so many people are so rude about it and don't even ask, or if it's because you just don't like people messing with it. (either of which, i definitely understand.) but if it's just because people don't ask, then a coloring book could be beneficial to you and to the people who want to color your art.

anyways, good luck figuring something out, DeD! i wish i could come up with some magical way to easily make money, but if i could then i'd be a millionaire already x3

That all depends on you. Given the disruptions your health is creating for you so far, the patreon model for artist support will be a bit challenging for you. You'd have to draw more, promote yourself a bit, network with folks, produce content exclusive to patreon as well as create rewards. It's definitely for the best you focus on improving your health, adjusting your diet and recovering from the current crisis to get better.

In general I agree with Honeebunny - Patreon is a lot more work than just doing commissions, and if commissions are getting harder and harder on you, Patreon is not going to be your solution.
Obviously your art would be worth setting up a Patreon for, but that's not the issue here.

I would say it's a bad idea in your condition. I think at this point, you need to have a talk with your brother and work on improving your health as much as you can - that's the fastest way to help him and yourself (yes, I am aware it's slow and possibly looks near impossible, but I don't really see any other feasible options).

^ What they said.

Don't lose faith in yourself DeD, lots of people suffer from the same like conditions all around the world, and a supprising number of people overcome it with just good diet and exercise. I witness my grandmother do it, I'm sure anyone can...
The most I can say is try. If you give up, then you simply lose. If you try, you could overcome it, no garantee's but it's better than nothing and to me, when it comes to things I love, no matter the odds I would rather try than give in, even if it means putting downt the brush for a while.

I don't see Patreon as helpful in this case. I'm also very unsure about it so you never know. I'd have to say I agree with what the guy above me says because that sums up what I know about Patreon.

My personal feeling matches up with Honeebunny up there.

Patron requires rewards and I think you'd end up doing more than your usual. Although I know a lot of people would love to support you, you'd likely have trouble bringing in outsiders who don't know you, just because they're there for the rewards and you'd struggle with that aspect, I think.

I do think you're worth it, but Patron is competitive, and I don't think you're in a place to compete.

I don't think I have any suggestions either. :( Sorry Puppy.

Definitely more worth it than I, DeD. And my health problems are just limited to losing this dang weight.

If I had the money I still would contribute but I think you need to put yourself first.

bubba... you are moving to Oklahoma >.>

You ARE worth it... and I will do all I can to help you, you know that. Start a Patreon... I will help advertise and help doing whatever I can to help... I love you, I love you so damn much and I hate seeing you in this state of mind

I don't commission a lot on FA or anything, because 1) I don't have a lot of spare cash, and 2) I tend to make art more than I buy it, but I just want to say, I am consistently in admiration of your work.

Especially your line work. Your lines and inking are consistently fucking brilliant.

I probably don't Favorite stuff as much as I should, but I just want you to know that I do look at your stuff, and I *always* think to myself, "fuck, I wish I could do linework like that".

You are good. Very good.

I couldn't post here before because it looked like there was no comment box, but I think you're worth it. If you can't draw, you can still set up a Patreon to show off work-in-progress stuff for your older art as an incentive for people to donate. I know I'd be up for it, I really like seeing behind-the-scenes stuff on my favorite works (popular media AND artist art) and would like a chance to pitch in for some from you. (Hugs)

I hope you don't give up drawing all together. You are on the list of artist I want to get art from. I currently do not have a job and hopefully getting one soon. I love how you draw flat faced characters. So, yes, I do think you are worth it. I am just a ninja watcher..