8.1.2003 :::
 
SURVIVAL

Hello again all!
I hope everyone's summer has been as great as mine has been! I
would like to take a moment to squeeze off some hot shit right here,
about certain art related things that have bugged me throughout my
art life, but has been gaining steam more recently in the past year.
For some reason, there are folks out there that think that because
I LOVE to draw, that my passion somehow equates to me drawing for
free! Now, how can I say this so that it doesn't come across as being
mean.....um, you must take me for some new kind of fool. Now, understand.
Have I done freebies? Sure I have. Usually it's of my own choice and
not done because someone just comes up and says, "hey, can you hook
me up?" Please understand, that if one were to take into account, exactly
what goes into my drawings, or hell, into any artists drawings, designs,
illustrations, from conceptual thumbnails, to searching through reference
files for hours or even days, or going back and forth with that conceptual
design before the client finally says, "yes, that's the way I want it",
whatever, and that was you doing it, you'd want to be payed also for
your efforts.

The thing is, I'm not without a heart. Some of us are just barely above
water in the Bush Economy, and if you'd like a discount or something, or
even a fair exchange, I can do that and I will work with you. Not everyone
can afford a painting by me or some other artists out there. But quite
simply, as a fellow artist named Steve Stanley wrote, "you pay me, I eat."
Hell, how hard can that be to understand? Some of my illustrations take
as long as several weeks, and can you imagine doing and creating something
for several weeks, only to give it up for free? I'm sure the person would
be appreciative, but come on. How far can a "this is beautiful" or "I
can't believe how great this looks" comment go? Things came to a head
a few months ago, when 2 years ago, a sister of 1 of my closest female
friends asked me for a picture. As a good will gesture, I offered to do
it for the sister for free, but I stressed that paying customers come
first. As long as my customer pallette was free and open, I would do her
picture.

Turns out that she was a bit impatient with that deal, even
though when I proposed it to her she clearly said no problem and that
she understood. The e-mails began rolling in, subtly hinting at first
where was her picture, but increasing in a manner that I can equate as
bordering around rude. I came close to telling her to pay, but since
it was me that offered the "freebie" I didn't want to renig. Long story
short, I finally completed her picture and sent it off to her back in
March or so and I had a post it on the picture saying "thanks for being
patient." Well, that whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth, and even
though she was very appreciative of the effort, everything that transpired
before was shitty. In 2000, I went on a freebie drawing spree and giving
folks pictures to get my work out there. And it worked, but I wouldn't
suggest this to anyone unless you have a primary financial backup plan. Right
now, my art is not my primary source of income, but it sure is a hefty
supplement. Like myself, all artists value their time and abilities.
I am a struggling professional. I love what I do but I love to be
compensated for it as well. Would you work for free? Probably not.
While I'm up working at 2 in the morning on some hot painting, you're
in bed getting your beauty rest on. Now, I think my effort should be
worth something for that. After all, I'd like to be able to sleep
sometime this year as well. Ahhh, I feel so much better now that
my chamber is empty and smoking. With that in mind, I bid you
all happy trails, until next time. * ONE *



::: posted by Frank at 4:34 PM