Changes! [please read]

So for the past months I have been thinking a lot about this Patreon. The following text will be long, but it’s important for everyone to understand what is happening and where I’m coming from.

Let me start with saying, during the years I ran this patreon, I was overwhelmed with the amount of support and kindness my patrons showed me. I don’t think I can put into words how much you have helped me, how happy you’ve made me, and how glad I was to draw art for you all. You were a source of inspiration, you helped me so much, and I have been having fun! Which is always good.

But times change, like Bob Dylan once sang.

I started this Patreon when I was unemployed. I wasn’t eligible for unemployment funds due to never having a job (an official one, they hardly consider freelancer artist a job) and so I focused on art. Patreon always helped me to have some funds at the end of the month, and they were also consistent, which freelancer work sadly isn’t (I can make 200$ this month, and only make 100$ next month, but Patreon always gave me those specific funds) – which is a HUGE relief when you are unemployed. But basically, I dedicated my whole time to art, and so I offered my Patrons as much as I could offer because I had time to offer all of it.

I made due, but clearly art will never pay my bills and I was starting to go into debt, which forced me to take all sort of shitty jobs I hated. I eventually did find a good full time job as a zookeeper. I currently work 8 hours a day, sometimes more (it can go up to 16 hours a day, sometimes), 5 days a week. Along with this, I spend 4 hours a day on art as that’s the only time I truly have; I also draw during my two days I have off, so that means I’m currently working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day.

I’m paid the minimum Irish salary and then I’m paid extra in Patreon and commissions. But I have realized how Patreon has taken over those 4 hours I have after work to draw and how this escalated to something that is unbearable to me. I’m currently doing 15 quick pictures for patreon, 2 full illustrations and 3 comic pages (plus the bi and trimonthly picks which I won’t add into this). If each picture takes me 3 hours to do (very roughly, clearly comic pages take MUCH longer – but, in average), it means I’m spending 60 hours doing art solely for my Patreon. That’s 15 days, which means half of my month is spent on Patreon alone, drawing solely for Patreon.

When I was unemployed, this did not bother me because I wanted to give you my all. But I’m not unemployed anymore, and it’s impossible to give you my all. I don’t have that much amount of energy. 

Realistically speaking, currently I’m giving half of my month to earn 200$. Commissions are left behind because I don’t have time to take more. I don’t have time for personal projects, because I’m constantly working to give my Patrons what I promised them when they pledged. I do not have new art to offer those who don’t follow me on patreon, because I’m only doing Patreon-exclusive art. I’ve 22 wonderful patrons who have supported me for AGES, and to whom I’m so grateful, but right now I’m your drawing machine. I’m doing everything only for you. 

And that’s something I can’t do anymore sadly, because I do not have the time nor the energy, and honestly I don’t have the funds either. By focusing on my Patreon so much, even though I have that steady source of Patreon income, I’m losing money by simply not having time to earn it outside Patreon. 

My Patreon started as a need for funds. I was willing to give my Patrons everything I could because you allowed me to survive when I didn’t have any other source of income, and honestly, I had TIME. But now I have a full time job, and that means this Patreon’s original objective has to change. 

And I need to turn it into support only, or close it. 

So before we go into the next month, I’m now laying things out to you, and anyone currently pledging can cancel their pledge, no hard feelings and it’s okay. Because this Patreon is about to change a lot, and it’s going to be very different from what it was and I understand if that doesn’t please you. 

WHAT WILL THIS PATREON BE

• Tipping Jar. A way of tipping me as an artist, under your own terms and for as long as you want.

WHAT THIS PATREON WILL NO LONGER BE

• A reward system. I rewarded Patrons based on how much they pledged, offering them exclusive art and raffles – that’s no longer going to happen.
• Not goal or tier oriented. Those goals will be absolutely and totally gone. 

WHAT IS NO LONGER PATREON EXCLUSIVE

• No more 15 pictures a month. None of my art will be patreon exclusive anymore.
• Comics included. They never truly were Patreon exclusive since I always posted them online after they were finished, but it could take months to happen. 

WHAT IS STILL (KINDA) PATREON EXCLUSIVE

• Larger files. Patreon will always have larger files, mostly because all the other galleries resize the art which is a pain in the ass, but Patreon still gets the larger versions of the art. 
• Works in Progress. Simply because PSD files are actually extremely important to artists (well, they are to me. I consider them to be like blueprints of art). 
• Speed painting. Some, not all. I’ll share videos of personal art, but commissions/paid art/etc, the speed painting will be patreon exclusive (and the commissioners will also have access).
• Free art for my supporters. Patreon picks, Wing-it, those will be still available under certain limits. This to say, I might pick up some of your characters (if you want) and draw them, maybe add them to comics, but these will not have a specific time of being delivered and I might spend three months without drawing anything for anyone. So don’t consider the free art as a reward, it’s like a random raffle I throw here and then. 
• Commission discounts based on your pledge. Those are staying. 

If things don’t work out, it’s alright! I don’t mind closing this Patreon, it was a wonderful time in my life, and again, I am so happy to have all of your support and so happy I was able to meet you all and draw for you. So if this Patreon does close, please know all of your support wasn’t for naught. You did help me, you helped me survive when I most needed it. And I do hope to see you around, I really mean it. 

So final words, consider if you do want to continue pledging or not, feel free to delete your pledge! This Patreon will be changing next month into a tipping-jar system, the changes above will apply, there will be no goals or tiers, and then we can move on. Let’s see how it goes, I’m excited.

Thank you so much everyone. For everything.