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On the subject of requests - A Dear Artists article.
6 years ago
General
Dear artists.
If someone comes to you requesting art of someone else's character, in terribly broken, barely understandable english.. You should not give them what they ask for.
- If your art is worth requesting, your art is worth paying for. Don't sell yourself short by giving away free stuff to people who make no effort to deserve it.
- If they are requesting you draw someone else's character, it's likely because that someone else has told them no, and some people can't take no for an answer.
- If you don't know them and they've made no effort to be your friend (and most of the time, even if they have), then you have no obligation to give them your time for free.
If you find yourself in doubt over whether it's okay to draw something for free for someone who is clearly using google translate, the best course of action is to ask the character's owner.
In general, though, your kneejerk reaction to the words "Draw me X" should be "Pay me."
This PSA has been brought to you by cunts who keep behaving like thirsty 13 year old boys whot just discovered tits for the first time and now juST HAVE TO HAVE MORE OF THEM OH GOD GIVE THEM TO ME!
Edit: I apparently need to clarify some things, because people are misunderstanding this post and putting words into it that aren't there.
I'm not encouraging artists to be assholes. I'm not saying you should never take requests. I'm not saying you should always charge for everything. I'm not saying "Pay me or get the fuck out" is the way to go.
What I AM saying is that your time is worth money, and if you don't know the person making a request, you should be critical of their motives and do some background checking. There are a lot of people who spend their days chasing down free stuff from every artist they can find, and don't actually value your time at all, only the product they can gain from it. If you're fine with that, then by all means, feel free, don't let my opinions stop you.
The background for why I'm making this post in the first place is that certain people have been going around harassing a lot of different artists to draw Mis'Alia for free, and I'm bothered by this not because they're abusing my character, but because I feel that they are abusing the artists by fishing for free stuff with a trawler instead of a fishing rod. Again, that is just my feelings on the matter, and not me saying that they're absolutely 100% feeling abused by it, I'm sure the artists are fine with it, that's not the point.
If someone comes to you requesting art of someone else's character, in terribly broken, barely understandable english.. You should not give them what they ask for.
- If your art is worth requesting, your art is worth paying for. Don't sell yourself short by giving away free stuff to people who make no effort to deserve it.
- If they are requesting you draw someone else's character, it's likely because that someone else has told them no, and some people can't take no for an answer.
- If you don't know them and they've made no effort to be your friend (and most of the time, even if they have), then you have no obligation to give them your time for free.
If you find yourself in doubt over whether it's okay to draw something for free for someone who is clearly using google translate, the best course of action is to ask the character's owner.
In general, though, your kneejerk reaction to the words "Draw me X" should be "Pay me."
This PSA has been brought to you by cunts who keep behaving like thirsty 13 year old boys whot just discovered tits for the first time and now juST HAVE TO HAVE MORE OF THEM OH GOD GIVE THEM TO ME!
Edit: I apparently need to clarify some things, because people are misunderstanding this post and putting words into it that aren't there.
I'm not encouraging artists to be assholes. I'm not saying you should never take requests. I'm not saying you should always charge for everything. I'm not saying "Pay me or get the fuck out" is the way to go.
What I AM saying is that your time is worth money, and if you don't know the person making a request, you should be critical of their motives and do some background checking. There are a lot of people who spend their days chasing down free stuff from every artist they can find, and don't actually value your time at all, only the product they can gain from it. If you're fine with that, then by all means, feel free, don't let my opinions stop you.
The background for why I'm making this post in the first place is that certain people have been going around harassing a lot of different artists to draw Mis'Alia for free, and I'm bothered by this not because they're abusing my character, but because I feel that they are abusing the artists by fishing for free stuff with a trawler instead of a fishing rod. Again, that is just my feelings on the matter, and not me saying that they're absolutely 100% feeling abused by it, I'm sure the artists are fine with it, that's not the point.
I'm gonna print 'em up poster size and put 'em on the back of my room door so Mom 'n' Dad will never see them!
Fapulous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-footed_booby
I don't get people who can't offer such basic decencies.
mo Sha Vida
(obvious sarcasm)
Good to know!
As for free request? I think its up to the artist to do what he likes. Some artist like getting ideas throw their way others dont.
Saying noon deserve a "free" request or you should alweys throw "pay me" at people who just comment "hey any chances we can see you draw XXX more?" is just as toxic as people spamming you with requests.
I know few artists that its even hard to comment anything under their drawing without getting "PAY ME/commission me" throw at you. Simple saying in comment "I like this art and that character you just draw and hope you will do it again" and getting spammed with "if you wanna more commission me for it!11!!1!" is just sad.
Like i said there are A-hols that can be annoying and spamming the same idea over and over again. But there are also A-hole artists.
We are all people and being able to do something that another person cant dont make your opinion alweys correct.
Even here in this comment section i know everyone will agree with you just because they wont risk getting on your bad side for having difrent opinion.
I think being an artist or a writer have in its description that people will wanna see you make stuff that appeal to them. Its normal and your right to refuse it for any reason, but hating people for it is like saying "You like my art you trash-panda? THEN PAY ME or get out!".
There are artists that have my respect for being polite and understandable toward they fans but there are artists that are so toxic that despite me loving their art i wouldn't lift a finger if i saw them getting any sort of trouble.
P.S. I often disagree with Feretta on many things, but I respect the artist and their wishes, because they are human, not a xerox machine.
What I AM saying is that in general, your time is worth money, and if someone's asking you to draw someone else's character for free, when you don't know the person requesting it, you should probably consider the validity of it. I have no intention of dictating what you as an artist spend your time on, but it's important to be critical, especially when I know of several people who are borderline maliciously running around requesting free stuff from every artist they can find, specifically asking them to draw Mis'Alia. I have seen entire twitter feeds packed with posts of nothing but my reference sheet for her, being sent to various artists asking for free stuff.
Of course there are asshole artists too, there are assholes in every walk of life, I would never argue otherwise. I don't encourage being a dick, or rude, or telling them to "pay me or get out", I said IN GENERAL, artists should be charging for their art. Clearly I need to change my wording, though.
Also, if you're worried about getting on my bad side for having a different opinion, you're in the wrong neighborhood, son, Imma scoop you up and hug you! My bad side is hard to get on, disagree all you want. But don't put words in my mouth :)
Ooookay.
I understand what you're talking about.
I can't understand how guys can like tits, what's so interesting with two lumps of fat on your chest?
I am myself a guy, but come on guys.
From a scientific perspective: When a guy sees a woman, he wants to see larger tits.
Larger tits means more milk to their offspring. It's a natural biological response.
But sometimes, it's a bit odd that guys want larger tits just because they are horny and are too much of a loser to get a partner.
Everyone is different because everyone's DNA is different from yours.
some like their women with dicks
Reaction: "Where is the logic behind that?!"
Some guys must be careful with what the wish for.
"Pay me"
Jokes aside, pretty much that, yes.
Each artist has their own needs, goals, and they have different values placed on their time and energy, and some artists don't mind being charitable. I don't think every artist has to go cold and refuse to do requests outright. I feel that's a bit cold and uncaring.
I would have to agree wholeheartedly about verifying that a commissioner/requester own the rights or permission to a character that is being requested, though. That absolutely needs to be verified through reasonable means, especially with a request, but I would argue that even a paid commission needs to be verified too.
I'd say even paid commissions should be checked to make sure the person making the request does in fact either own the character or have permission from the character's owner.
And yes, it's always a good idea to check with the character owners before anything, regardless.
With raffles extra caution is advised.
But that's just me.
(due to the fact I'm flat)
but I still attempted to do commissions
(even do no one ask me to try nor ask me for what i draw)
so yeah story of my life
As an artist myself, when someone is being gifted, I specifically ask if I can contact the original owner to verify they either A) own the OC, and or B) know the person gifting them
Yes this ruins the "surprise" but I know someone who has personally lost his OC due to google and pinterest. AND people were commissioning art of HIS sona since "if its on google its free game" logic happened.
Its been a struggle and they even switched back and forth between that sona and a new one since they felt conflicted about whether their sona was actually "theirs"
I'll keep an eye out for "you know who" and let you know if I see anymore of Mis'alia from some rando following me again (seriously what are the chances with that???)
And I hope that "Mr Requests" gets a life and starts to appreciate artists instead of asking for shit that doesnt belong to them (we know they wont, but we can hope)