So, in the past week, I've been solicited twice for request (read: free) art, and now I'm going to make it your problem.

If you feel guilty about what you're about to read,

If it don't apply (to you), let it fly.

I wanna address this in four points. Both for TL:DR purposes, and so I can keep track of where this rant is going. Buckle up, Buttercup.

1. If you're want free art, you want the artist to care more than you do.
2. You have offer MORE than fun/creativity, because those can be obtained without you.
3. Who are you, do you support the artist?
4. Someone who gets free art from an artist has earned that gift in ways you may not have.

1. (If you're want free art, you want the artist to care more than you do)

You know why they say "ideas are a dime a dozen?"

Its because they're easy to create.

They don't cost the person having them anything other than time, and maybe some ink, paper or mb on a computer.

You know what it takes to create an illustration?

Let's be cheap and go digital.

• Computer
• Tablet input device/screen
• tablet device
• illustration software
• minimum 3+ hrs of time

When you ask for free art, you ask someone else to pay those costs while you offer nothing in return. You're asking someone to pay more for your idea than you're willing to spend. You want someone to care about something that you don't want to care about.

Remember, ideas don't cost anything.

And note:

1. I said "digital." Imagine how much of a jackass you'd look like asking someone to buy materials to make free analog art
2. I said "illustration." Those costs skyrocket for comics, animation, or 3D.

And you want me to spend on your idea while you don't care enough to offer a dime.

But Saunter, you say:

1. It would be a really cool drawing/idea!
2. I don't have any money!

To #1, I have a BACKLOG of ideas I want to draw. I've had this backlog since BEFORE I started drawing BECAUSE its WHY I learned to draw. And in the process of learning to draw, I've drawn/seen so many things you can't imagine.

So, no, your idea is probably not so unique I haven't already conceptualized it and rationalized why I'm not doing it. If I haven't done it already. And if it is,

1. get in line. behind my own brain, and my patrons who are paying me.
2. Fuck you pay me.

As for not having any money? Suck it up, Buttercup.

I need money too.

you know how you need to work to pay for food/lodging/transportation/internet/communication?

So do I.

And every hour spent doing your idea is money lost not working on things that could make me money.

And when I make money, it gives me more freedom to make art, instead of worrying about where enough money to live is coming in. Making more money gives me freedom to be creative and try new things, instead of only doing the things that I know will make me money, but are played out and uncreative.

So bringing it back to TL;DR #1:

When you ask for free art, you want me to care enough to pay to make your idea happen in your stead. Your idea is NOT that good because you don't care enough to risk anything to make it happen.

Which brings me to TL:DR #2:

What does doing your idea get me?

Specifically, what does doing your idea get me that I can't do on my own?

(this one's not gonna be as long, cuz I feel like I covered a lot of it)

If its just because it'd be neat/fun?

Cool. I can do that with my own art/characters/ideas.

If it brings in more patrons/clients?

Well, its not good enough for you to pay me to do it,

so it's probably not good enough for other people either.

Now, if you were a big name, who's audience will do what you tell them, and support me because you tell them to, that's different. But if you were that big, you'd probably be able to pay me. You don't get that kind of big without having or being able to spend that kind of money.

Which brings me to TL:DR #3:

Who the fuck are you?

Who the fuck do you think you are?

And how come I've never heard of or seen you before you thought asking for free labor and lost money was a good idea?

Cuz here's the thing.

On social media, you not only have a profile, but a history I can check. Not only can I checky your follower count to see if your request-for-free-labor will boost my standing, I can go through your likes and see if any of my stuff is in it.

And, of course, I get notifications when you "liKe, cOmMeNt, sHaRe, sUbScRiBe!" So even if you're shy, I can tell if you're a true supporter who's trying hard to break out of their comfort zone and shoot their shot. Or if you're an opportunist who thinks I'm young/dumb enough to take advantage of.

And with someone who's shy, but put in the work, I'm likely to be more lenient than someone who came out of nowhere asking for a freebie. If you wouldn't ask a random person on the street for something on their person, you shouldn't ask a random person on the internet for free art.

And, again, if you're big enough for your promotion of your request-for-free-labor to be worth my time?

You're BIG ENOUGH TO PAY ME.

"But Saunter! I've seen you do free art for others?"

Yeah, which brings me to TL:DR #4: That person has EARNED that privilege.

Remember what I said about people coming out of nowhere? These people didn't do that. And they don't do it now.

These people made the effort to BE MY FRIEND.

To talk about things OTHER than PORN.

To care about ME, and not just what I can do for them, or for me to be their venting wall/kindly parental figure.

And, of course, they share my work with others, throw food/money at me, and pester me for comms (even though they could "ask for a favor"), because they actually FEEL BAD for trying to get free art out of me, since they KNOW what it COSTS.

They have entire folders of my art saved (which they bring up routinely) in their likes/favorites tabs, when they're not commissioning art of my characters/ideas as gifts. And, of course, they didn't roll up out of nowhere asking if I do free labor for others.

And that's to say nothing of the bigger artists than me who have rolled into my DMs with free art just wanting to make a connection. Free (GOOD) art is the easiest way to get on my good side, and guarantee that I WILL get you back. When you're least expecting it.

So yeah.

I don't do requests.

My opinion of you instantly plummets the second I read "Do you take requests?"

Because you think I'm dumb enough to make something you don't care enough to make worth the time/supplies/money I'M spending on it for you.

And that's a fact, no matter how bad you feel.