[Patron-Only Feed] We're doing November now

Howdy! Welcome to November, the month that's slightly cooler than October but not as cool as December! That's a... It's a weather joke. Get it?

A Minor Scare

We had a bit of a slow start into this month, because not only was I still recovering from last month's work, but because there was a minor scare this month. My grandfather had to go to the hospital, and since I'm the only one around here reasonably capable of forgoing sleep, I had to spend 24 hours at the hospital to keep him company.

Long story short, he's okay enough. This entire experience did pose a serious concern, however. Should something ever happen to him, which is inevitable considering his age, I'm not making enough money to be completely self-sustained (you can see from my Patreon page that I am making less than minimum wage).

So I think I need to start being a bit more mindful of my income and try to make more of it. A premise I don't have an affinity for, because I just want to make things -- not necessarily make money.

Extra Thicc Re-booty

As we're approaching the end of the year, it's time to start seriously analyzing the Patreon experience and determine how we can improve it. What's working, what isn't working, and what can we do to make the experience more enjoyable?

I really enjoyed the focus we had in October, and I think I might want to shift the Patreon to be more in favor of that style of work -- focus on a particular set of creations rather than trying to squeeze out as much content as I can for the sake of a routine. I want to make the things that I want to make -- something I've struggled to make happen for nearly 2 years.

As we move forward, I want to revamp my Patreon experience. I want to improve it how ever I can, and I'll want to spruce up its presentation too. The overview page is a bit bland.

The Era of Decline

Although I customarily spend this time each year to reflect on the Patreon experience, I'm also feeling a bit pressured by the fact that my Patreon is in a state of decline.

Look at the line graph. Notice how the lines are subtly shifting downward?

Perhaps it's just bad timing. Finances are hard on everyone. Still, it is a scary situation to be in considering the minor scare from earlier. The Patreon has been a bit stagnant, so I'd like to get it rising again. I'll have to determine the best way to accomplish that, hence why your feedback is so important.

Sketchie Book Brellom #4

As an aside, I've also begun working on a new sketchbook to sell. Long-time patrons might remember my Sketchie Book Brellom series, which were digital collections of my sketches in the form of a PDF. Like a book.

Of course, I am aiming for a higher production value so it feels a bit cooler than the previous installments. That means I'm being mindful of my page layouts and using positive & negative space much more efficiently.

Remember, patrons pledging $7 or more can access the previous sketchbooks via the Dropbox Archive. Though Sketchie Book Brellom #4 will be made available to ALL patrons when it is completed. You can choose to purchase/donate via itch.io later if you want.

What to expect this month?

As you know, I feel like drawing Legend of Zelda content this month, but when it comes to illustrations, I really just want to breathe and improve the content I produce -- prioritizing quality over quantity. 

I am also playing with the idea of introducing a Monthly NSFW Illustration to the Patreon, as something more refined than my usual work -- and explicitly pornographic.

I'm still producing sketches though, so keep your eyes peeled. I recently introduced the #sketchbook channel to the Discord server, and I'll be sharing SOME sketches there. It's just a quicker way of seeing them without having to check the Dropbox Archive every day. Patrons pledging at least $7 will have access to it.

As far as Concept Art & Discussions go, I have two ideas in mind right now. 

• Page-by-page commentary for the October Beaumont comic.
• Legend of Zelda concept art. I feel better prepared to tackle comics, so I want to explore my Legend of Zelda comic ideas a bit more. 

Anyway, that's really all there is to talk about right now. Thank you for all your support.

Don't forget to eat & sleep.