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An easily offended world is easily offended
7 years ago
I'm not a P.C. person by any means. I never mean to offend anyone because I feel like it's a waste of my time to purposely do so. I feel that it's an even greater waste of time to mince words and to slow down your train of thought just to make sure you use all the current hyper-sensitive community requires. A recent study was concluded (apparently) determining that those who swear a lot are more honest, because they tend not to hold back what's running through their minds. I would agree with that statement, but rather than being a potty mouth I suppose I tend to speak more realistically and more honestly. The burden of the Horn Bearer is that we can be brutally honest, but unlike Sagittarius who fail to understand the wounds they cause by doing so: Capricorns recognize it but know that it must be said/done.
I'm actually bringing this up, because recently a very reputable artist unveiled a YCH as a four digit figure, buyout. I'm sure everyone is aware I'm speaking of
Miles-DF and boy, did people pitch a fit. I even saw some fairly common/famous/reputable names that had a thing or 2 to say about it. Like most, sticker shock definitely made me torque a jaw as well when I saw the price. Like most situations, a lot of things run through my mind and I always do my best to filter my thoughts into a cohesive response, not to mince words, but to adequately approach a situation from a neutral position.
Yes, the price was/is shocking and I know that the majority will take 1 of 2 sides: "hey, if people are willing to pay it the artist is within their right to charge it" or the other common response is: "$#T#$HGEGNORHFLEFGH!!!!".
The best way that I can qualify this incident to anyone attempting to wrap their heads around it is: if you go onto Miles-DF 's page, you know for a fact that his prices aren't cheap. It's like when you walk into a maserati dealership. If you're walking into that dealership, where there isn't 1 vehicle in their inventory below $100,000 and if you expect to find something a quarter to that price, well you're the idiot: no the dealer. Same thing here with this Miles-DF if you go onto his page thinking you're going to find a starting price for ANY of his work lower than $200, you're kidding yourself.
"But Mr. IX Spokes, the price was 6 times that amount!"
Correct, and when you go into a high-end, luxury performance dealership: you're going to find a Base model and their highest end "Customer MUST order with money down to add to Inventory" kind of vehicle as well. It just so happens that this artist unveiled their highest-end model to date.
Now just like automotive brands, sometimes they unveil these high-end, very niche models and discover that the demand really isn't there and so they shoot themselves in the foot; find out the demand just isn't where they thought it would be, happens all the time.
Honestly, Miles-DF has set a standard for himself and I genuinely hope that he's accurate in his prediction that someone will value his art to such a degree.
Lastly, I want to be clear: this is not a kiss ass attempt to earn a thanks from Miles-DF in defending what he's doing. He doesn't need anyone to defend him and he shouldn't be grateful for someone who sees that he places value in his own product. I'm just sort of flushing this out to help myself come to a peaceful and positive understanding to this new experience and hoping that perhaps it helps others as well. We need to stop being so easily offended by something that we're not used to or familiar with and learn to see the good and the positive as often as we can. I'm lucky that I've been able to acquire a few pieces from Miles-DF back when the prices were cheaper and I'm content with just having those experiences and feel lucky that I saw the value in his work back then like others are seeing now.
(just to clarify, I'm defending Miles' right to price how he sees fit and perhaps because of my neutral approach you may take it as being in opposition to your own; but I genuinely hope people come to understand his work and stop giving him flack for it)
I'm actually bringing this up, because recently a very reputable artist unveiled a YCH as a four digit figure, buyout. I'm sure everyone is aware I'm speaking of
Miles-DF and boy, did people pitch a fit. I even saw some fairly common/famous/reputable names that had a thing or 2 to say about it. Like most, sticker shock definitely made me torque a jaw as well when I saw the price. Like most situations, a lot of things run through my mind and I always do my best to filter my thoughts into a cohesive response, not to mince words, but to adequately approach a situation from a neutral position.Yes, the price was/is shocking and I know that the majority will take 1 of 2 sides: "hey, if people are willing to pay it the artist is within their right to charge it" or the other common response is: "$#T#$HGEGNORHFLEFGH!!!!".
The best way that I can qualify this incident to anyone attempting to wrap their heads around it is: if you go onto
Miles-DF 's page, you know for a fact that his prices aren't cheap. It's like when you walk into a maserati dealership. If you're walking into that dealership, where there isn't 1 vehicle in their inventory below $100,000 and if you expect to find something a quarter to that price, well you're the idiot: no the dealer. Same thing here with this Miles-DF if you go onto his page thinking you're going to find a starting price for ANY of his work lower than $200, you're kidding yourself. "But Mr. IX Spokes, the price was 6 times that amount!"
Correct, and when you go into a high-end, luxury performance dealership: you're going to find a Base model and their highest end "Customer MUST order with money down to add to Inventory" kind of vehicle as well. It just so happens that this artist unveiled their highest-end model to date.
Now just like automotive brands, sometimes they unveil these high-end, very niche models and discover that the demand really isn't there and so they shoot themselves in the foot; find out the demand just isn't where they thought it would be, happens all the time.
Honestly,
Miles-DF has set a standard for himself and I genuinely hope that he's accurate in his prediction that someone will value his art to such a degree. Lastly, I want to be clear: this is not a kiss ass attempt to earn a thanks from
Miles-DF in defending what he's doing. He doesn't need anyone to defend him and he shouldn't be grateful for someone who sees that he places value in his own product. I'm just sort of flushing this out to help myself come to a peaceful and positive understanding to this new experience and hoping that perhaps it helps others as well. We need to stop being so easily offended by something that we're not used to or familiar with and learn to see the good and the positive as often as we can. I'm lucky that I've been able to acquire a few pieces from Miles-DF back when the prices were cheaper and I'm content with just having those experiences and feel lucky that I saw the value in his work back then like others are seeing now.(just to clarify, I'm defending Miles' right to price how he sees fit and perhaps because of my neutral approach you may take it as being in opposition to your own; but I genuinely hope people come to understand his work and stop giving him flack for it)
Quite baffling.. but a treat no less.
It's nothing new at this point but whenever a new YCH goes up there's always people banging on about it. Yes, we know his prices are high. Nobody truly cares. You're just kicking up needless fuss over something that we all expect by this point.
If nothing else it makes for some hilarity watching people whine and complain about it.
Nonetheless, I didn't want to deal with the consequences and hid my comment, even if it was neutral and constructive.
The comment section is just... hell.
The artist has the right to charge how much he/she deems his work amounts to and most good furry artists tend to earn less than say a contemporary artist / graphic designer.
I too believe artists should be able to price their art but... I think there is a difference between a well earned price for the amount of work and the skills infused in an art piece and outright greed and abuse of fame and power. Obviously, some people will pay that amount and that's alright... You have money? Spend it! But such an amount could have been split into 10 different commissions and made 10 different artists incredibly happy, giving them some much needed money and a little bit of visibility. Such an outrageous price tag will only gather those who like to show they are rich and for what? A single art piece that gives nothing more than what 10 artists could offer aside from the immense amount of viewers and attention one such rich buyer would gather to himself once the artist post it. It is pride and greed fucking one another in a sea of cash while some other artists rot alone with nobody to buy they inferior but still very valuable art!
Although your comparison to a high-end car deal holds logic, that artist offered none of that. What I saw was a regular car but the seller is telling me this one is 6 times the price and I -only- get bragging rights if I buy it. Obviously, I'll be insulted. You don't just sell a regular car for 6 times the price and one sightly better that his main concurrents at that... I fail to see the reason other than attracting a clueless rich person and give him an occasion to flaunt their money while you make a crazy profit on it.
That's my personal take on it.
I wish I could afford to pay the prices that artists actually think their work is worth. And if I won the lottery I probably would. But I never understand why people voice their outrage when an artist prices their work to what they think it is truely worth. Why do you need to voice it? It's rude, for a start. No one is telling you that you have to commission the artist!
People who are complaining about him charging living wages for his time seem to forget that life costs money. Most artists in this fandom have other sources of income - I've talked to some of the big names over the years, and a lot of them pull in mainstream freelance jobs in addition to their income here.
If an artist can just make money off furry work, and wants to price accordingly, why shouldn't they?