/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

>>2094119
bump because curious if anyone here actually makes a living if there art

>>2094119
Im working in a videogame industry. Sometimes i make 300$ per month and sometimes 1300$.
However im not satisfied at all because all i do - some generic casual stuff in "match 3" style of gaming.
im really really really really jealous of those furry porn or just any popular Patreon/Da artists that do nothing but drawing all kinds of autistic stuff they want to draw.
When im done with this current project im working with (another Ipad game), i will try to be more productive on an online galleries and open comissions and see where it will lead me...

>>2094163
>However im not satisfied at all because all
i forgot to add - it's mostly because im horribly unpopular. I feel lonely and unwanted even if clients want some stuff from me. But i feel like i'd rather have some friends and fans and do funny stuff at the internet insted of sitting alone in a dark room 24/7 and seeing how other artists having all kinds of crazy fun uploading random shit at tumblr and getting 10 000 likes and 20000 private messages that say that they're special...

>>2094119
Just about 60 a month through commissions. Enough for gas and a night or two out.
Main money comes from a real job.

>>2094119

>made between 800 and 1900$ per month for the duration of around 4 months
>sfw
>a handful
>send emails to companies and ocassionally respong to the least horrible ca.org ads

Just some commissions here and there. $60-100 usually. Sfw.
Not popular at all. Maybe only 160 fans on my Facebook.
Obviously I'd have more fans if I didn't suck, but that's the journey.

I'm not a particularly popular artist on the net. I kind of abandoned my other moniker and operating under a new one. Though, I did manage to snag a $4000+ job thorugh a friend and am working on another one where I will get less money, but that's ok.

A lot of my job consists mostly of hustling for new jobs until I can get a much bigger gig...one day.

When you first started out, did you reach out to clients or did the clients reach out to you?

>$1000 - $3000/month depending on the month.

>SFW

>Several thousands across many platforms, with Tumblr being the strongest (~5500). Instagram is growing faster though, and while smaller there is more engagement from people. Facebook is the absolute worst.

>The best money comes from the freelance commercial commissions, if I'm able to land one. Selling prints and stuff is a small guaranteed income, and helps out when no work is coming in.

I knew being a freelance illustrator would be hard, but there is nothing that can really prepare you for how tough it is to find work. The day I stopped focusing on being an illustrator an instead focused on being a freelancer is the day things started to run better. The skills involved in being a freelancer - especially finding and retaining new leads - are something that need to be practiced extensively.

>>2094170
If you want to get in the tumblr/DA scene I suggest drawing what's popular (pokemon, Steven universe, legend of Zelda, etc). It also helps if you have a cute/girly art style since autists eat that shit up.

>>2094212
>Instagram is growing faster though, and while smaller there is more engagement from people
is there any secret of how to promote on instagram?
I found nothing but just posting "Hey here is my instagram account go follow me!".

>>2094216
>It also helps if you have a cute/girly art style
this is the problem. I hate this thing.
> I suggest drawing what's popular
i agree - this is the only that keeps my accounts alive. Sometimes when im not busy, i upload fanarts on my favorite things and it gets like 20-30 likes on Tumblr or 30-80 favs on Da and i feel special.

~ more than $100/month so far.

>>2094119

i'm convinced most people who claim to be living the freelance dream are full of shit and the fakery of success is part of their business plan. once they are somewhat known online they cannot risk speaking the truth because it will them look like weak professionals so they are forced to keep lying and pretending and putting on a show in order to keep up with all the other people lying and pretending and putting on a show.

>>2094216
Where would I go to get a following if I don't want to go out of my way to make shitty fanart and turn it into kawaii bullshit?

>>2094218
I spend a chunk of each day going through and 'liking' posts under certain hashtags. I find it to be a great way to get targeted visitors to come to your page.

It's useless though if you don't have interesting and engaging content.

>>2094236
Ok i see. thanks!

>>2094233
Reminds me of Bateman and his friends inflating their wages and the prices of their suits/tanning beds/restaurant bills to appear successful to eachother.

>>2094236
That sounds like a pretty tedious way of spending your time.

>>2094247
It is. Alternatively, you can buy an integrated Instagram app that will do it for you.

>>2094218
always tag you work

>>2094225
If you want to be popular that is basically what you have to do. When I first started out on tumblr i would draw realistic stuff and would get 10 or 12 notes. Then I started drawing adventure time fan art (this was when adventure time was really popular) and I would get 300 to 400 notes.

>>2094225
it doesn't have to be girly necessarily i think what the guy meant was it be catoony and not hyper realistic. if that makes sense

>>2094170
do what you like

>>2094119
>how much do you make?
enough to pay my meager bills
>is it sfw or nsfw?
sfw, though occasionally contains nudity, violence, or controversial themes
>how many followers do you have?
what
>how do you monetize your art? (commissions, patreon, etc)
sell paintings and prints, paint murals

>>2094119
>>2094163
>>2094205
How do you find jobs? what websites are you most active in? do they contact you first?

I know of odesk and elance, and then the job forums on dA and CA.org but that's about it. I have almost no fanbase...

also do you keep a page with all your commission info and prices? I've seen some people on dA make journals with the process and rules etc but I don't know if that's considered professional.

Sorry for all the questions.

>>2094170
that sounds like my dream job. i hate drama, and i could live nicely with that money. gonna try to steal your work, anon.

when would be the right time to start a patreon? I know it's for free but i'm afraid of looking like a greedy jew.

I have around 2500 on tumblr and around 200 daily pageviews on dA. I draw mainly nsfw which means people will need a credit card to support me because paypal is not an option.

Can anyone share some tips on marketing your art on tumblr etc other than draw alot of fanart and do art trades which i already do.

>>2094469
Make sure to tag your work so people can find your blog. I started using tags about a month ago and it's a really big difference in the number of notes I get.

>>2094119
I make $5-10 a month, does that count?

Vent incoming.

Wanted to be a freelancer, but I'm undisciplined, so I've decided to do one year of art school and then get a job in a studio untill I learn to manage myself (which I'll prove when I actually earn four figures freelancing in my free time).

If only I had applied myself...
>I wouldn't be a poor cunt blasting his savings

>>2094404
>How do you find jobs? what websites are you most active in? do they contact you first?
I never tried odest or elance.
i started on Gamedev sites (just google them-they all have ART-forum parts) and Conceptart.org (they have job searching forum too).
When i did enough freelancing, i got some people who started to contact me more often.
Like this guy im drawing for right now - i did 3 games for him already. Drawing 4th now.

>>2094548
thanks although do nsfw blogs even show up? I was under the impression they don't so that tagging it is pointless and you rely solely on reblogs.

Is there a way to promote your work on the more popular boorus or hentai foundry? I've seen artists that aren't even decent but still show up in the list of popular posts. Can you bribe them?

I dont understand how furry artists can make such thousands of money without getting in trouble with paypal

I make a little bit on commissions - combining sfw and nsfw - usually ranging from 50-100 a month, 200 or more on a good month. Most of my income comes from my job drawing collectible cards for a local card game company. I'm not making enough to live completely on my own just yet, but I'm going to be applying at some places this summer.

>>2094170
I tried that and it was awfull

>>2094673
I am surprised too, especially considering the possibility that one butthurt furry could possibly report your shit to paypal and it'd all be over.

But the main thing is just keep as little info going as possible. Send invoices/money requests, don't let people send you money and risk the chance of them going "HERE'S MY MONEY FOR MY YIFFMURRY ANAL EXPLOSION ORGY WITH MY GREEN AND BLACK GOTHKITSUNE'S PENIS EXPLODING INTO CONFETTI"

>>2094673
>without getting in trouble with paypal
because they not receiving the payment like a slutty bottom.
they asking for money like a manly top so the client can't write some autistic crap "Lolz thx for pic of 2 horses fucking each other! I luv it!! XD".

>>2094655
That's really great. I've been looking to get into drawing UI for tablet/mobile games.

I'd love to hear more about it. Do you draw all the assets in Photoshop? Or are vector illustrations preferred?

Anything that you could share would be helpful. If you're willing to help, could I email you or something?

>>2094683
>Do you draw all the assets in Photoshop? Or are vector illustrations preferred?
always in photoshop. just draw on a big canvases and vector will not be needed at all.
Also...shh...but flash is slowly dying so vector doesnt matter that much.
>If you're willing to help, could I email you or something?
just ask everything here. (also im going to bed. so write as many questions as you can - i answer when i get up)

>>2094119
>how much do you make?
A tad under $3k / month after tax
>is it sfw or nsfw?
It's work.
>how many followers do you have?
Essentially none.
>how do you monetize your art? (commissions, patreon, etc)
I'm full time employed. Plus freelance projects, mostly for fun.

>artist
I do a lot of design work also. By /ic/ standard it's probably not related.

So isn't it much safer to have commission linked to the reward tiers of your patreon? You could use a credit card for that and dodge all the paypal trouble.

>>2094693
You're daft if you think vector is just for flash. Clearly vector is huge.
Although the style of that app is obviously best suited for raster.

>>2094672
if they have the safe search off it will show up and most people looking for porn would probably have it off

>>2094404
I have blog, a tumblr, twitter, and instagram, but all of my jobs were through friends, meeting people, and just plain submitting my art to any openings I find.

In comics there's 2 important things that you need to do:
1. Draw comics
2. Make friends, especially with other artists

Attending comic cons and whoring out ashcans is essential. Finding the right friends, it helps, immensely with procuring future work. When you are freelancing, you gotta get that hustle on.

>also do you keep a page with all your commission info and prices? I've seen some people on dA make journals with the process and rules etc but I don't know if that's considered professional.

I used to do commissions before I went solo. I got some commissions online, but a majority of them came from going to anime conventions. Having your process, rules, and terms out in the open for people to read is not unprofessional at all. Giving people more information about your services is a good thing. Also, having more information makes someone feel more comfortable and makes you seem more trustworthy.

I also used to have prices up. Doing this does scare away people who might be too cheap. Inversely, you could be scaring away people who might have been willing to pay you more money, because you are too cheap. Having prices up does make it easier for clients to understand what's going on and then make their decision from there.

Yet, not having prices up helps you to create custom pricing for each client too. One client you may charge more than the other, because one may have a bigger budget than the other. So whether or not you have prices up is up to you. If you are going to do commissions please find some contracts and invoices for your clients. Don't be like some of the dopes here that just don't utilize these forms and then get fucked over.

>>2094719
So you're a filthy hobbyist?

>>2094903
>make friends
Oh boy

>>2095063
>getting paid 3K a month
>hobbyist

I make a few pennies doing nsfw commission on furaffinity. Not even nearly enough to live on.

/ic/ keeps telling me I don't deserve my commissions.

>>2094735
>You're daft if you think vector is just for flash.
>Although the style of that app is obviously best suited for raster.
Of course it is. Because like 90s of casual gaming market prefer this style in most of times.
How many good games done in flash have you seen? (as far as i remember - Binding of Isaac but that doesn't count)
Flash games left back in early 00s. Nowadays its all about Ipad/Iphone/Android with all that cool rastr pictures that is just easier to do in regular rastr.
>Clearly vector is huge.
most of artists with common sense draw stuff on high resolution. So it's like having vector...

>>2095158
> hi-res is like having a vector
I tought you knew what you're talking about until you said that.

>>2095223
I'm not that guy but seriously, shut up. Anger is a sure sign of ignorance and you have both in abundance.
The major benefit of having a vector image is that it can be scaled up and down without losing any detail or quality. If you draw an image at a high enough resolution, as long as you save it as a good file type that'll preserve it, you can do the same thing. Sure if they decide they want to go insane and put one image on a blimp or billboard or some shit, maybe they'll have it done as a vector, but when it comes to making an image that's big enough to put on a poster or a shirt or a phone screen, a hires will do just fine. Fuck, I drew a logo for the side of a truck and all I had to do was make it hi res enough and they had no problems.
The only one who doesn't know what they're talking about here is you.

>>2095158
>So it's like having vector
Except the part where it's not a fucking vector. Try scaling that and see how it goes.

>3mb PNG
>Not 10kb SVG

>>2095230
>Try scaling that and see how it goes.
Are you a moron? I told you that ALL artists draw on high resolution. Most of regular picture from psd files can fit to ANY screen.
I guess you are just a newfag and never actually did any stuff for games who also used to draw shit on 100x100pxl canvases.
Even t-shirts and other stuff dont need vector anymore.
Im working in industry and also selling shirts from sites and noone using vectors except some old farts with stupid concepts like "flower and kitten" like that did back in early 00s.

>>2095223
>I tought you knew what you're talking about until you said that.
Im working with games sinse 2006. Nobody never ever did any vector drawings. Nobody uses vectors nowadays if it's not some kind of a quick cheap game with very basic graphics, but they mostly left in Negrounds Era.
Almost everything on mobile platform done in rastr.
>resizing.
There is no problem with that as i said. If i have 1 character on a canvas that is 3000x3000 or 4000x5000, nobody will ever have any problems with fitting it to different device screens.
And any artist of a quality better than sonic recolorsings drawing on canvas similar or bigger size.

But whatever. It's not like your autism will make you believe facts. Keep drawing in vector, if you feel like it is your future (except you are not a vector artist. you just talking about it for the sake of debates)

>>2095227
>Sure if they decide they want to go insane and put one image on a blimp or billboard or some shit, maybe they'll have it done as a vector
No it's fucking not.
I actually made a picture for a billboard - it was showing on streets of Germany last summer.
All i needed to give them, is PSD file with big image that was big from the very beginning.

It's year 2015. Calm down about resizing problems guys.

>>2094170
Just try to get your name out there.
You don't need to completely pander to the tumblrian autists, but some fanart of things you personally like with a unique style that comes from yourself won't hurt.

>>2094721
if you're a nsfw artist yeah but I heard people are using Google wallet instead of patreon

>>2095259
>>2095276
>>2095277

Remember, it's ultimately a total waste of time to argue with strangers on the internet. You're right, and you shouldn't feel the need to convince these idiots that they're wrong. Let them be wrong.

I was the one that wanted to email you, but I can totally just post some questions here:

1. When you're designing an app, are you creating ALL the assets for it, or are you often part of a team of designers/artists?

2. What are the most common deliverables for most things? Do people need transparent PNGs? Are simple JPGs used for background images?

3. Do you do any animating? Even simple manipulation stuff in After Effects? Do you even use After Effects?

4. Are you on Dribbble? I see a LOT of user interface designers on there.

5. Are you mostly using Photoshop for the entirety of your projects, or are there other programs you need?

6. You don't have to answer this - how much do you charge? Your monthly income seemed low for doing this kind of work. I'm sure you could be pulling in much better money with this. Are you just working with low budget teams as you build a better portfolio?

I'm sure I can think of many more if you're willing to answer them. I appreciate you taking the time to talk a little bit about these, so thanks again!

>>2095317
>1. When you're designing an app, are you creating ALL the assets for it, or are you often part of a team of designers/artists?
As a freelancer, im doing all stuff. From menu, to "icon of a golden coin", characters, backgrounds and everything else.
Like - right now im working on a project i started to draw back in November. I probably will finish it in the middle of summer.
>2. What are the most common deliverables for most things? Do people need transparent PNGs? Are simple JPGs used for background images?
If you about work - then im just sending PSD-files to my client when its done. He gives it to programmers.
However when im doing animation - im converting character parts to transparent PNG for animating in program.
>3. Do you do any animating? Even simple manipulation stuff in After Effects? Do you even use After Effects?
Never used after effects.
My animation skills are "2d games animation" level when characters move like this.
>4. Are you on Dribbble? I see a LOT of user interface designers on there.
never heard of it but will check out
>5. Are you mostly using Photoshop for the entirety of your projects, or are there other programs you need?
Photoshop only. I tried to move to Paint tool Sai and other stuff but Photoshop gone too deep into my brain and also it really doesn't matter that much because all that matters is the final product - so whatever you use - it just has to look good and thats all. What you use-noone cares.
>6. You don't have to answer this - how much do you charge? Your monthly income seemed low for doing this kind of work. I'm sure you could be pulling in much better money with this. Are you just working with low budget teams as you build a better portfolio?
Well it depends on many things.
Like for example an illustration of a map with "levels" on it probably would be 300$.
One simple character is 60$. A bigger and more detailed character 80-100$.

continue

>>2095317
>working with low budget teams as you build a better portfolio?
this. i work with those "a guy with an idea of a game" and small companies. I want to start working on a better portfolio site and finally start sending my stuff everywhere but always think i need to be a little better and get may be 2-3 new skills and theeeen...
However when i will be done with this current project im planning to go "offline" and work on myself.

>>2095063
I don't understand what that means. I work at a company doing design and illustration, I don't do a lot of /ic/ fantasy though.

>>2095425
That is one throbbing hot tail he got there.

>>2095610
>throbbing
are you british?

>>2094119
2 years ago I worked as a street portrait artist and made 1300€

15€ live portrait, 30€ B&W, 50€ colours.

Considering I live in a pisspoor country, it was my first job and under 2 months that was nice money.

>>2095084
Means that you're doing it right

>>2095535
I thought you had one of those "day jobs" and didnt do art for money and did designs when you got off

>>2095671
Damn, those are some uneven eyes.

>>2095230
> Implying you can make non-shit art with vectors in a competitive timeframe

>>2095277
Whoa dude, you're telling me to calm down when I was on your side. I only said that MAYBE that would be a case for using a vector image but the whole rest of my post was saying a high res file is fine.

>>2095669

>>2095680
>tfw we've been working with ideal figures for so long, we start to notice how ugly irl people are

>try to force myself drawing
>mind goes blank and can't do anything
>completely unscociable
what the fuck should I do

>>2095736
Most humans have uneven eyes.

>>2095768
Watch movie
Read book
Or draw from dick power

>>2095736
I'm glad it's not just me who thinks that 99% of people are ugly

>>2096017
It's even worse when you've masturbated to trap porn for so long, you're no longer attracted to grills or twinks because none of them have the right combination of boobs + cock

>>2094673
Does PayPal have some rule against using your account to receive money from pornographic content?
I used to do furry porn commissions for funsies and used PayPal, and had no issue.

>>2096039
Paypal definitely has it in their TOS that you can't use their service to sell adult material. I'm not too clear on this second thing, but I've seen a couple people mention that if they include nsfw content on their Patreon, they also can't use Paypal, even though technically the money isn't directly for any adult content. The rules are there, but many people say they use it without any issues, for one thing if you send invoices rather than allowing customers to send payments themselves, you have more control over the words used in any given transaction, which seems to pretty effectively keep Paypal from looking into it too much.

>>2096035
Dumbass nigguh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSF82AwSDiU

>>2095671

what is with these people and that soft, super-low testosterone syndrome "cuck" face.

literally every time I see a tweet like that, it's some ultra-dweeb white guy.

>>2095612
I think throbbing is the right word here.
It looks like a dick.

How do you get your stuff out there properly? I only have a few followers on tumblr and instagram and I can't figure out how some people who are not that good are incredibly popular.

One day I want to sell prints of my shit too.

>>2096156
This. I struggle even getting views . I'm not good yet, so it's not a big deal, but still, I see people much worse than me with lots of attention and even getting commissions.

>>2094212
Is this the one you're most proud of? Because it looks like garbage

>>2096156
What have you done so far? The first step is to actually try, which is where most people fall flat.

>>2097836
I've been trying to post consistently, tag them, etc. made fanart from time to time that clicked with tumblr but i dont want to be known for just making fanar or your run off the mill pretty girl drawings.

>>2097855
Then just post your studies moron.

"But I don't study" then you're not a fucking artist.

>>2097874
i do that already and simply posting sketches all the time can only get you so far

>>2097879
then git gud bitch

>>2097882
doesnt really answer my question but yeah, im always goddamn trying

>>2097855
In terms of Tumblr, you can submit images to other larger blogs. I can't be bothered to name some right now, but do some searching. This is like having a person reblog your work to thousands of people.

If you make fan art, you can submit it to many different types of blogs. There are many great gaming related Tumblrs to submit to. Submit all your work to all of them.

Make your tags count. The first 5 are they only ones that get indexed in Tumblr searches.

Go through and 'like' hundreds of posts each day. This takes no time if you use an iMacros script.

You can also follow loads of people.

>>2097855
In terms of Tumblr, you can submit images to other larger blogs. I can't be bothered to name some right now, but do some searching. This is like having a person reblog your work to thousands of people.

If you make fan art, you can submit it to many different types of blogs. There are many great gaming related Tumblrs to submit to. Submit all your work to all of them.

Make your tags count. The first 5 are they only ones that get indexed in Tumblr searches.

Go through and 'like' hundreds of posts each day. You can also follow loads of people. If you're smart, you can find ways to cut out the tediousness.

>>2097901
thanks for those tips, ill try that out next time.

new question, about what point could you monetize yur work?

>>2097926

When you have a fandom/following that's active enough to support your work. If people approach you for commissions, that's a good indicator that there's at least a small market for your work. It'll probably take a few years realistically, but less time if you take the advice given and market yourself aggressively.

Sakimichan gets a ton of hate, but she hustles like few other artists, most certainly more so than /ic/. Doxy's a good porn example of an artist who with hustle/pandering/attractive stylization makes a killing.

Any argentine here?
i want to ask some question regarding payment since in this country we have many restrictions and i don't know if i understand them very well.