Have you run your questions past other artists who are using patreon? Is there a channel, or forum you guys frequent where you can share ideas on how to develop greater success using such platforms? I know webcomic artists have their forums for this sort of thing, why not furry artists?

I've checked some reddit post about it and they offer general advise regarding content creators in general, not as specific as furry artist but I've browsed other similar artist's Patreon pages to see how they handle rewards and if it is something I could adapt or make my own version off based on my own work methodology.

Almost every successful patreon I've seen around here either gives a commission or a 'raffle ticket' for a commission at their higher tiers. It's a more insidious way of soliciting commissions or setting up paywall, really. :/

Sadly a lot using Patreon as a paywall -w-

Which is counter productive as less people get exposed to your art so less people get to know about your work. Paywalling doesn't work as content, sooner or later, gets leaked.

yea gotta love those "pay to get a chance to pay more money" people.

I've seen that but it is not something I see doing, not a bad thing if it works for them but it is not for me.

That methodology was definitely not a suggestion. ;)

Basically just pointing out that the only ways I've seen Patreon generate anything livable is when it's either a gateway for their commission process, or they've already put in the years of work getting stupidly popular, and they're milking it for their own gain.

I'm a newbie as well. I offer people a free sketch every month.

I'll see what kind of special rewards I can offer as well, thanks for the input.

This is probably something you might not want to hear but you may want to poll how many of your followers are willing to commit in the first place, to see if Patreon would have been viable at all. Ask if there's something your followers want some kind of perk or option you think you can commit to. Also maybe look into how many are interested but cannot commit for some reason. Nobody will doubt you have great artistic talent but it sounds like you lack exposure.

A bit of a tangent but have you considered streaming your drawing on Picarto or Piczel? It could not only increase your exposure but also grant more immediate, smaller commission opportunities. Some folks would enjoy just watching you work on your commissions.

This just came to me after I posted: consider expanding your presence as well. Plenty of artists are on Pixiv since there is an English language option.

I hate to say this but try opening a tumblr page, along with soup.io. Keep it to Pixiv at first. And look up any friends on these places so they can alert their followers to your presence.

I understand the issue of exposure and I'm working on it, the reality of the matter is that this is something that I just need to persist and work on everyday, fulfill goals and upload content frequently. There is no easy way to it. As per streaming, that is something my current RL circumstances make it nonviable.

Administering my presence on Deviantart, Furaffinity, Inkbunny, Twitter and now Patreon already takes much of my time as it is since each site has its own rules to abide by and posting methodology, investing more time on yet more art sites that aren't devoted to the type of art I produce isn't going to attract any more audience, Pivix's main audience is anime fans, not furry, plus according to their guidelines, any pic depicting genitalia in any way is forbidden. Deviantart may not be as lenient when it comes to certain erotic depictions but at least aren't as censor demanding as is Pivix.

Sorry, I don't want to sound callous but I'm not interested in Tumblr.

As for the perks for patrons; that is something I'm already considering and already have been given ideas as to what to offer, I need a couple of days to evaluate the pros and cons of the proposals I've receive and see which are viable for me.

Thanks you for your input, I appreciate it.

Pivix's main audience is anime fans, not furry, plus according to their guidelines, any pic depicting genitalia in any way is forbidden.

Some prominent artists like Michiyoshi/MatoSpectoru (http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?id=6421274) and HotRed (http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?id=2206722) are constantly putting up uncensored furry artwork at Pixiv. Their artwork over there also lacks censorship. If anything, Pixiv seems be unusually lax about it though I don't recall why. I am almost certain they don't enforce it for anyone outside of Japan but that doesn't explain why a Japanese artist like Michiyoshi gets by no questions asked.

Out of curiosity, I skimmed other artists I follow who have a significant Pixiv presence:

Aeolus06
bigdad
brekkist
coolblue
doxy
joelasko
joerandel
lvl
maxblackrabbit
Miu/miupix
mystical/PlantPenetrator
slugbox
sonicboom53
Roger Bacon
teckworks
tojyo

Although most of whom I listed have posted furry content, all of them seemingly have uncensored artwork. If they're finding it worthwhile to put up their work at Pixiv, then I get the impression there is an interest for furry.

Unless I'm overlooking something, you may want to reconsider your stance about Pixiv. But I understand you not having the time for this as well.

I really don't understand how a site that lists on its guidelines that genitalia or depictions of sex are forbidden simply disregards its own rules, that has the risk of a mass ban of user once someone in management does decide that the site's guidelines are to be followed. I know some of those artist as they have presence in IB, DA and FA but as I don't have a Pivix account I had no knowledge of their accounts there, some of those other artist I don't know. Furry in general tries to have a presence everywhere, but I rather focus my presence on sites that specialize on it.

I appreciate you taking the time to list the examples of furry artist present there, perhaps I could reconsider in the future, but honestly I just don't have the time now. Fitting Patreon into the mix and finding a way to make it work plus working on creating content and fulfilling commissions is already taking more time and attention from my schedule than I wish, the thought of adding yet another site and start from zero yet again it is simply something I don't contemplate doing right now.

I really don't know what to tell you about the lack of enforcement. You could ask a few of them to see if they know anything.

Anyway, no problem with listing things out. Your plate is full enough as is. Good luck.

No problem, and again, thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts on the matter.