A quick thank you
Added 2024-04-10 17:05:51 +0000 UTCHello, hope you're having a fine morning/afternoon/night!
I don't want to take too much of anyone's time, but I still want to express my gratitude to all of you who have pledged here and opted to give away your hard-earned money so I could continue to pursue and invest time and resources into my art. I'm a fairly private person and I'm sure you can all be respectful of that, but I do want to say that my venture into BG3 and fantasy as a genre this year has unfortunately had a lot to do with life just taking a bit of a toll on me.
Comic work and commissions (my main income source for many many years) had become difficult to do with everything that's been going on around me, and I had to make the choice to either keep pushing through the stress or sacrifice a good chunk of income to take a step back, focus on these personal matters, and also do something low-stakes and for me, If that makes sense.
So I can't begin to express how unreal it is that circumstance led me here, with a 600+ dollar Patreon that is not only a huge boost to my income and my peace of mind, but makes it feasible that I can finally address the aforementioned personal life stuff that caused me so much grief in the first place. Thank you so so much for your kindness, support, and charitability, I'm feeling very hopeful for the future and hope to keep entertaining all of you in return for that with the stuff I have planned :)
Ta-tah!
Comments
I’m so sorry that you’ve been dealing with so much and I send you all my love! I love your character so much and I’m so happy to support you 🫶🏻🫶🏻
fox
2024-05-05 17:21:19 +0000 UTCMan, BG3 has had a positive effect in my life that I could have never predicted. I'm so glad it's introduced me to so many talented folks, this community is great and I love how the source material is basically built for people to transition into working on their original content. Shout out to larian, the mad, passionate lads. And thank you so much for your support, I know most people right now are struggling in one way or another and honestly, I couldn't even be mad if art fell completely by the wayside of everyone's priorities - but it's really reassuring that it didn't, not just for my sake but, yknow, everyone's and everything lol I see a lot of kindness and interesting discussions taking place around this IP, after all. Thank you again, hope you have yourself a lovely day as well!
MEANBOSS
2024-04-11 18:49:19 +0000 UTCYou know, as someone who has very much accidentally fallen into this "social media is my job" thing, parasocial relationships have always felt like this looming threat. It's weird, because I *am* very much intimately grateful for the people who support me, and I *do* appreciate them and wish them the best - its the very least I can do to be kind and amicable in return (which is in my nature anyways. I've never liked the ever-present internet sardonicism some """content creators""" adopt.) but at the same time I'm aware of how that might get me in trouble for the aforementioned reasons lol I suppose that's an issue we all have to navigate nowadays to some degree or another, with social media being what it is. And with art it's especially tricky because, yeah, like you said a part of you will always rub off on the page, and people are inherently curious about the creators of the things they enjoy. It is then a matter of personal respect I guess for each individual to draw the line of how far they will choose to dissect what they see, and how public they want to make said dissecting. Likewise, I think it's the creator's responsibility to fight the urge to correct every little piece of mischaracterization, be that of their work or themselves. In my experience of seeing this out in the wild, it rarely ever benefits anybody - not to mention that it very very rarely is *actually* about you, as the author. People use art as a means to interrogate themselves and the world they live in, a creator is most often just the decoy for... Well, themselves. So you can't take it personally, even though it may seem very much personal. Anyways, I do think there are ways to enforce healthy boundaries while being in a mutually beneficial relationship with your audience. It's just tricky, and a non-linear process. We'll both figure it out, slowly, haha. Also, you always leave extremely thoughtful comments on my stuff, and I would like you to know that I love interacting with them (whenever it seems like I have anything valuable to add, at least) so thank you so much for that kind of feedback - it is highly thought-provoking and entertaining for me, not to mention creatively fulfilling to know even the silliest of my drawings have given someone something to mull over. Point is, happy to have you around, and thank you for everything!
MEANBOSS
2024-04-11 18:28:20 +0000 UTCAbsolutely. I know MOST people are likely wanting in the financial department nowadays, one way or another, and art isn't a necessity - so the fact people choose to support me anyways has been absolutely reinvigorating. I'm glad it's done the same to you! Thank you so much for your support
MEANBOSS
2024-04-11 17:48:05 +0000 UTCNo worries, I'm very much in fulfilling place art-wise, and hoping that life catches up soon. Thank you so much for your kind words, support and patronage 🙏🙏🙏
MEANBOSS
2024-04-11 17:44:50 +0000 UTCThank you!!! And don't you worry, I'm creating exactly because I want to, and what I want to, I'm just happy that it seems like people enjoy it for what it is!
MEANBOSS
2024-04-11 17:42:45 +0000 UTCIt's important for me to help and support artists and i'm happy to know that i was able to contribute (like the others) to making your daily life a little easier. Stress speaks to me and I know how difficult it can be coupled with other problems so i sympathize and i hope that things will get better for you quickly. I like your drawing style, your way of embracing your ideas and your passions and I try to help in my own way so that you can continue. I think i can say that Bg3 brought me a lot by introducing me to talented artists. Keep it up and count on me to continue to support you. Sorry for the long message and have a nice day/night ✌🏻.
Rainstorm
2024-04-10 22:45:22 +0000 UTCyour art is worth that hard-earned money, and your mental health is more important than anything! I'm happy to be here, and glad to hear you're in a position to better yourself/your situation. ❤️
Tavi
2024-04-10 21:49:46 +0000 UTCthank you for sharing your art with us! i only just discovered you a few months ago, and i love your style ♥
tyshalae
2024-04-10 20:44:31 +0000 UTCAs a general note, I’m glad you are getting the space you need to address challenging things in your life. I’m a huge believer that, when given the resources they need, people are fundamentally self-healing and able to plot a course towards self-actualization. The note about privacy in this made me think for a little bit. I believe there are careers (art, social work, politics, etc.) that put us in the position of sharing/ talking about things that are traditionally considered “private” as part of our day to day. Sometimes that is in a passive sense (that is there is no way to escape it) or in the active sense (that its permissible and socially appropriate to take the mic and talk about it). I am in one of those, and I know I struggled greatly with it early on. I am an incredibly private person myself, and it rankled me that people mistook my work and targeted honesty as scraps of intimacy. It’s to be expected really, and I don’t think there was anyone to blame. In fact, looking back it’s not shocking that the people who latched onto me were often the most vulnerable. I think the last decade has intensified this, and parasocial relationships are becoming increasingly common. (To be clear, I don’t consider this post/ the many comments to be parasocial. I think humans have a huge capacity for caring. If you showed me a picture of a bat in a rescue sanctuary and said “This is Bob. Bob has had trouble eating for the last few days, but ate a whole slice of banana today.” Well, of course I would be proud of Bob! My love for Bob’s ability to get what Bob needs will not uncumber me, because Bob learning about my existence isn’t the point of my love.) This is especially true for people who don’t have a traditional employment scheme of “boss hires you”. Usually, in my area, parasocial relationships are looked at through the lens of their potential harm to the person and not “the persona's” creator. (Which, to a degree, fair. Very few people will have a client that has a massive media following. It’s just statistically unlikely.) But as I think about this, it’s perhaps short sighted. Because I think the focus on parasocial harm to the masses, is stripping us of good art. Calvin & Hobbes’ creator is famously private. But his art is some of the most impactful I have ever seen, and to do so, he had to put an intense amount of himself on the page. If the counterbalance to that is that we know next to nothing about him personally, and we presume that he is content with this arrangement, I think that is a fine thing. We should be concerned that the group’s inclinations towards unhealthy parasocial concepts is stripping us of that. Because I think being introduced to a walled garden of ideas & emotionality that rich is a rare thing. And that is why I enjoy your content as well. I have spent multiple hours at this point toying with a little idea you introduced. (Also to be clear, this includes Barbatus, as well. On his end, he is someone who is personally pushing my idea of what I enjoy in an art style. I’m usually drawn to people with more of your style but, for example, Attackdog really provides a beautiful counterpoint to that.) And that is valuable. It’s not a replacement for personal relationships, anymore than air is a replacement for water. So as always, in the role of an audience member, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for expressing clear boundaries, for offering us wonderful ideas, and for somehow managing to engage with us so much in a professional context. I love seeing all the little comments and how so many people seem to have the same experience with your art. The economic model we engage in is bizarre and in need of improvement *and* I am also glad to see that this little stab at solving an aspect of it is working. And if it hasn’t be clearly understood by the end of this tangent, on a personal level, thank you. This post helped me work through a few of my own concerns about being a “private” individual in a “public” position, and that’s going to make my day a little lighter. It’s funny how seeing someone you enjoy being an audience member to say this can solidify thoughts.
Fern with Googley Eyes
2024-04-10 20:24:22 +0000 UTC❤️❤️
FoxyToxx
2024-04-10 18:47:01 +0000 UTC🫶🏼💕
Sol
2024-04-10 18:43:24 +0000 UTCI found your art (and BG3) while in a difficult, stressful place, and it has been a source of joy and comfort as I work to dig myself out. I think Astarion was right when he said none of us are alone in this. I'm happy to be able to support your amazing creativity, and, if I can be frank, it is doubly heartening to see folks show up for each other after these last few hard years; it has helped me have faith in people again. I'm so glad you're making something meaningful for you! Your work is incredible and you have mad talent.
Nora
2024-04-10 18:36:20 +0000 UTCahh buddy ALL THE LOVE for you and the Drow. :D
Kitty Dorkling
2024-04-10 18:21:53 +0000 UTCYour talent and art deserve to be celebrated and so do you!! Thank you for blessing us with your beautiful work. I personally hope things start looking up and getting easier for you. Don't feel pressured to keep providing for us, we'll keep being here regardless. In my opinion, what you do is well worth the few dollars I can contribute monthly. May you continue to grow in every positive avenue of your life. ❤️✨️
Gobstoppable Goose
2024-04-10 18:02:40 +0000 UTCSorry to hear you're dealing with so much! Just wanted to say I think your art is succulent and full of life and I love the way you interact with fans because it's so!! Genuine and passionate. Pls don't feel pressured to create for us and take care! ❤️❤️
Raven
2024-04-10 17:46:47 +0000 UTCthank You for sharing your art with us in the first place! and be kind to yourself!
Rhia
2024-04-10 17:33:23 +0000 UTCim glad you're able to give yourself a little bit of the peace of mind you deserve!! wishing you the best 💃💃💃
J L Kepler
2024-04-10 17:15:28 +0000 UTCYou are amazing and bursting with talent!! We are all proud of and happy to support you 💜
TimeKnife
2024-04-10 17:15:00 +0000 UTCthank you for sharing your art with us !!! i hope things get easier and i’m wishing you the best !! 🩷🩷
lena
2024-04-10 17:13:21 +0000 UTCThank -you- for sharing your funky lil dudes 🧡
A R M S
2024-04-10 17:12:38 +0000 UTCso happy to be here!!
Shannon
2024-04-10 17:12:26 +0000 UTCYour art is amazing and so are you! Treat yourself. 👍🏻
Marten E.
2024-04-10 17:12:15 +0000 UTCTotally agree!!! You deserve it and I hope things start getting better!
Nerkie
2024-04-10 17:11:45 +0000 UTCYou deserve all of the support and more 💜
Holl 🧚
2024-04-10 17:07:25 +0000 UTC
