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How can I make money?
9 years ago
Bullet lists are always easier to read...
- There are never any active grabs at conbadges when I'm open. There never really has been, but I've been posting about things everywhere and offered discounts and no one bites.
- I've been out of work for two months (which should be starting up again this month, so I'm not completely jobless, just at a standstill/waiting game).
- When my tax refund came in, my parents and I agreed that starting last year, I would give them a chuck of the return as a minuscule payment of life because they still let me live in their house and pay for nothing except gas for my car, toll bridge money, and whatever food or cigarettes or whatever fun stuff I want. So that's fair.
- But this year was Sakura Con right at the same time, so I asked to keep the money and I would eventually pay them back once I started working again. Also last year's SC I still have to pay my friend back for her covering my part of the room split.
- Now the cooling fan of my computer is dying and I'm scared of it overheating my laptop and ruining everything. Of course my warranty is expired and of COURSE I go to look up what I can do about it on the HP website and: "This product is no longer serviced by HP."
So with the total of everything I owe and potentially needing to buy a new laptop, the entire cost is almost $1500.
With how Furlandia went last year, I had a really good turn around, so that'll hopefully give me a little money boost at the end of the month if all goes well, but I'm looking for other way to make money. Traditional ideas, digital ideas, adoptables (which i know are pretty dead now), YCH ideas, anything. What do you like seeing in general? What do you want to see from me? I'm not super skilled with using a tablet (I never have been), but I'll make things work if I have to. I have a feeling portraits are going to be the things people want.
But ideas or suggestions would be really helpful. Even if you know you're not going to buy from me, just let me know what you like seeing. If you sell commissions, what works for you? What do you see other artists sell a lot of that you enjoy?
All digital art will be posted to
Eluned and not here, so if you're not following that you should, but I will forewarn you that it's almost never updated because my focus is conbadges.
I'm just not in a good place right now and could really use the guidance.
Thanks guys.
- There are never any active grabs at conbadges when I'm open. There never really has been, but I've been posting about things everywhere and offered discounts and no one bites.
- I've been out of work for two months (which should be starting up again this month, so I'm not completely jobless, just at a standstill/waiting game).
- When my tax refund came in, my parents and I agreed that starting last year, I would give them a chuck of the return as a minuscule payment of life because they still let me live in their house and pay for nothing except gas for my car, toll bridge money, and whatever food or cigarettes or whatever fun stuff I want. So that's fair.
- But this year was Sakura Con right at the same time, so I asked to keep the money and I would eventually pay them back once I started working again. Also last year's SC I still have to pay my friend back for her covering my part of the room split.
- Now the cooling fan of my computer is dying and I'm scared of it overheating my laptop and ruining everything. Of course my warranty is expired and of COURSE I go to look up what I can do about it on the HP website and: "This product is no longer serviced by HP."
So with the total of everything I owe and potentially needing to buy a new laptop, the entire cost is almost $1500.
With how Furlandia went last year, I had a really good turn around, so that'll hopefully give me a little money boost at the end of the month if all goes well, but I'm looking for other way to make money. Traditional ideas, digital ideas, adoptables (which i know are pretty dead now), YCH ideas, anything. What do you like seeing in general? What do you want to see from me? I'm not super skilled with using a tablet (I never have been), but I'll make things work if I have to. I have a feeling portraits are going to be the things people want.
But ideas or suggestions would be really helpful. Even if you know you're not going to buy from me, just let me know what you like seeing. If you sell commissions, what works for you? What do you see other artists sell a lot of that you enjoy?
All digital art will be posted to
Eluned and not here, so if you're not following that you should, but I will forewarn you that it's almost never updated because my focus is conbadges. I'm just not in a good place right now and could really use the guidance.
Thanks guys.
Sucks I don't live there still cause I could replace your laptop fan for free.. I have a bunch lying around =C my HP is one I got at black Friday and is made to not easily be taken apart for service but I wanted to up the RAM and had to figure out how it came apart with no guides. Other then my particular model HP laptops are relatively easy to work on.
I hope your work let's you back soon anyways =C
If it was me I would try, the worst that could happen is they deny you, Just be truthful and you wont have anything to worry about. Filling out the paper work for the first time took me about an hour and a headache plus your first week applying you wont get anything, but after that you will get the money 3 days after applying and filling after the first time only takes 10 minutes.
I'd say ref sheets would be a good option; I'm picky on artists, and there's only a few I like for them, and I could see you doing some nice ones.
If you want to stick with head/upper bust stuff, maybe telegram stickers? I've seen more and more people want those now (I don't use it myself, but I was debating it), so those might not be too bad.
Also, different styles of badges might be worth trying. I bought a badge at a con specifically because I like the theme: Clue-style badges (you got your color (or two), and your murder weapon, and some detailing on the edge based on the room you wanted). There's playing cards, tarot cards, boy/girl scout style badges (round and scratchy, to make it look more 'sewn' if that makes sense). Ones based on board game character sheets might be interesting (Or it could be mixed with the ref sheet idea above too)
Themes that match the next con (or just monthly themes!) might draw people's attention. Since it's the "Age of Industry" For Furlandia, maybe sepia tones with appropriate clothes accessories? I can imagine people liking having themselves be a chimney-sweep style, or a dapper gentleman, or some of the dress options that were around.
I've tried coming up with ideas for themed badges every year for RF. I just suck at putting them onto paper and making a commission form out of it. I feel like if I did digital, premade designs that would be easy to alter and customize, then perhaps. But I always offer preorders which include a theme option.
And yes Telegram stickers are hot right now. Art of yours of say the below linked style and finish would make great stickers and should get snapped up if you think you can kick out a lot at the right price. I might even grab one or two :3
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5305440/
good luck!
It has a built in system for larger format emotes (256x256 to around 512 x 512 images with alpha background) That users can upload fairly easy, then share extremely easy so well made packs to really get spread around. And then you can use your stickers for the basic ":), :(, =O, >:O" etc. It is fun to have your own furry character displaying the emotes then ugly faces. So lots of people commission busts or full bodies, simple transparent background pieces usually of chars displaying a very specific emotion. And unlike with badges which people usually want to try out different artists for, it makes more sense to have all your stickers from the same artist. So lots of repeat business.
Kenket has made two popular packs if you're interested in seeing examples:
https://twitter.com/tessgarman/stat.....78158769434624
https://twitter.com/tessgarman/stat.....62923915915264
Here's one of the artists I follow, and all her telegram sticker commissions:
http://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/.....egram-Stickers