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Considering to quit art
3 years ago
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I posted this on my Patreon page. I wasn't sure at first if I should post it here too, because I don't want people to think that I'm asking for attention, but my friend suggested that I should post it here as well to tell about my current situation, so I did.
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Well... I don't know where to start. I think some of you already knew that I've had a lot of problems over the past year and one of them is my financial problem.
After five years of drawing TFs and almost two years spent on Patreon, I think I can't lie to myself any longer and have to really admit that I can't work and make money as an artist. My income over the past year has been around the same as minimum wage and Patreon doesn't seem to work out for me and I'm running out of ideas to help my Patreon page work.
And according to my Twitter and FA stats, my work hasn't grown much. The number of followers has increased, but the feedback and share stats remain the same and sometimes less than in previous years (I know some people have told me not to care those numbers, but if you need to make a living out of it, then I guess it would be something that you can't really ignore)
I'll not quit being an artist now, but I'll give myself one last chance until the end of August 2022 (or could be until the end of this year depending on the situations). And when the time came and it didn't really work, then I would have to accept the results, give up, and finally move on to something new.
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Here are all the plans I've come up with that I hope will help me get through it
• Might have to focus more on NSFW content
I guess everyone knows and can't deny that mostly of NSFW content get more recognition than SFW.
• YCH auctions
I haven't done this one before. I'm not sure it will help any more than making regular commissions, but I like that I can use my own ideas so it's possible that drawing will be done faster than using someone else's idea.
• Full focus on doing commissions
Full focus on doing commissions after dealing with all the rewards and other drawings that left over.
• Might try creating another non-TF account
Create another account to post bara stuff or other contents to see how it turns out
Taigar
• Making my own small indie video games
I've been thinking about making my own small indie games for a long time. I can do both art and programming, so it's possible for me to make a small one. I don't expect my game to be successful, but I just want it to be a way to earn extra income.
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I guess that's all I want to say for now. I still enjoy doing art and want to keep doing it, but I'll starve if I keep doing it and the situations continue like this.
Thank you for taking your time to read this until now and thank you so much for your support throughout the years that has kept me up until now. It may or may not happen, but I just wanted you guys know in advance.
_________________________________
I posted this on my Patreon page. I wasn't sure at first if I should post it here too, because I don't want people to think that I'm asking for attention, but my friend suggested that I should post it here as well to tell about my current situation, so I did.
_________________________________
Well... I don't know where to start. I think some of you already knew that I've had a lot of problems over the past year and one of them is my financial problem.
After five years of drawing TFs and almost two years spent on Patreon, I think I can't lie to myself any longer and have to really admit that I can't work and make money as an artist. My income over the past year has been around the same as minimum wage and Patreon doesn't seem to work out for me and I'm running out of ideas to help my Patreon page work.
And according to my Twitter and FA stats, my work hasn't grown much. The number of followers has increased, but the feedback and share stats remain the same and sometimes less than in previous years (I know some people have told me not to care those numbers, but if you need to make a living out of it, then I guess it would be something that you can't really ignore)
I'll not quit being an artist now, but I'll give myself one last chance until the end of August 2022 (or could be until the end of this year depending on the situations). And when the time came and it didn't really work, then I would have to accept the results, give up, and finally move on to something new.
_________________________________
Here are all the plans I've come up with that I hope will help me get through it
• Might have to focus more on NSFW content
I guess everyone knows and can't deny that mostly of NSFW content get more recognition than SFW.
• YCH auctions
I haven't done this one before. I'm not sure it will help any more than making regular commissions, but I like that I can use my own ideas so it's possible that drawing will be done faster than using someone else's idea.
• Full focus on doing commissions
Full focus on doing commissions after dealing with all the rewards and other drawings that left over.
• Might try creating another non-TF account
Create another account to post bara stuff or other contents to see how it turns out
Taigar• Making my own small indie video games
I've been thinking about making my own small indie games for a long time. I can do both art and programming, so it's possible for me to make a small one. I don't expect my game to be successful, but I just want it to be a way to earn extra income.
_________________________________
I guess that's all I want to say for now. I still enjoy doing art and want to keep doing it, but I'll starve if I keep doing it and the situations continue like this.
Thank you for taking your time to read this until now and thank you so much for your support throughout the years that has kept me up until now. It may or may not happen, but I just wanted you guys know in advance.
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• Full focus on doing commissions - That might bring more income but at the same time you might get burnt out alot faster.
• Might have to focus more on NSFW content - Great for porn addicts but at the same time some SFW content stilll gets traction (not as much though)
Regardless whatever you choose. I still wish you the best.
I'd love to work with you sometime, but in a situation like this, having other avenues as backup plans might be able to help.
In my case, i have a job to help me financially while i work on my art skills, so that's how i'm doing things currently.
Regardless, i still wish you all the best *hugs*
One thing that always has been, work is work, anyways. It'll got a stressful side of it no matter how much love and inspiration you have. Top with financial problem isn't a thing easily to overcome anyways.
Well, I though you got some salary work at first > . >
However, if you think your programming side aren't clunky or tormented to coding. What I can tell you is the programmer is quite scarce here. So many open position to register.
At least that will be one default path to cover your life expense. In case maintain doing art only is too strict.
I am not going to tell you that I have not been able to commission you for x reason. I simply support the idea that you can expand your horizons and that if you see it necessary, it was a great path that I could see from you. :3
You are great Tai, and in what remains of time, then give all the effort possible.
- I can say that your main source of artist income will most likely come from direct work for clients (commissions), and possibly from patrons if your Patreon catches on
- Themed commission series/slots usually do well
- I've seen that running ads (on FA for example) can also boost demand
- If you're able to stream, I'd suggest looking into that as well (Picarto supports donations, and Twitch can work too for SFW) and perhaps do stream commissions
- Ko-fi is a fantastic platform for SFW
- If you feel you're earning too little for the work you put out, don't be afraid to increase your prices (your detailed work is most definitely worth a good penny)
And most importantly: if you enjoy creating artworks, I strongly suggest you keep at it, even if that'd mean less of it next to a day job for instance. If you'll end up truly not enjoying making art anymore, that's a different story, and I hope you will find your passion then.
Yeah, I really do enjoy making art a lot.
I really hope I don't have to give up in the end. It's really hard to admit that I couldn't do it any longer and posted this journal.
I think you can find a balance that gets you a consistent job brings while still maintaining both art and your job as sources of income, but it is difficult. I don't know your personal situation or your goals with job hunting. Personally, I recommend doing both job hunting and art when you can in the short term. You'll figure it out from there.
Meanwhile, you have growing skills and talent in art that you could probably find work with, though I doubt it can sustain on TF art (and bara) alone. You'd have to do art for clients you don't normally enjoy (advertising, etc) and build a portfolio.
Like I said, I don't know your personal situation. Do what makes you happy. At this point, that's getting some income first. :)
I think what makes me happy is drawing. I still enjoy doing it. But as I said, I have a problem with making money from it.
You may just have to get a job to make ends meet and then move art to a side source of income. At least until things work out a bit better.
1) If you choose job, do not agree for any "overtime". "just for one day". Remember, your wage is always a sum just enough to live. If you do not want to make career, do not try to catch a carrot-on-a-stick. Anri Russeau is an example.
2) If you choose art as profession, try to find something outside Internet. Ads, holidays, banners... For example, Tove Janson once painted walls on a child hospital.
3) Porn market is big, but is is full. To get higher money, you have to find some unusual application. And yes, thi is a very fast burnout.
4) You do not need an non-TF account. Just put your samples here. Artist is famous for his style, not topic.
5) Game design is hard, of course you can try. But what about animation? I have seen "Away", it was one-man feature movie, made in Flash and screened on Annecy program. There are indie artists, Ivan Maximov, Oleg Kuvaev for example who live from it. You can try to ask them for details.
You said that artists are famous for their style. Yes, but that's not enough. And what I've been doing over the years has proven that it's not enough.
So what I haven't done like creating a new non-TF account or getting into NSFW is something I haven't tried. You can't tell it won't work yet until I've really done it. I'll not admit and I won't give up yet until I haven't done it.
And about animation, I'm familiar and know the basics of animation quite well, so it's not something that is beyond my ability.
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