The Future of Erotibot-Art
Added 2017-11-05 03:37:45 +0000 UTCHey everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to speak from the heart about some shifts I’m going through and what I want to do with my art heading into the future. Maybe I can get your feedback too. If you’re not interested in any of this stuff then you’re not obligated to read it (there’s a TLDR at the bottom), but there is some information regarding this Patreon and some changes I’m looking to make in the near future. This might be a long read, so I’ll try to be as concise as I can.
The truth is, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been caught in a slump for the past few months. Although I still try to make the best possible pictures that I can, the illustrative work has left me feeling completely unsatisfied lately. Coloring has become a tedious chore with little joy, and creating a steady stream of fan art has left me feeling empty inside.
After I finished the first chapter of Hot Shit High, I told myself I’d take a little break from comics and just focus on creating illustrations before jumping back in again (because, well… comics are a lot of work!). But my time away from comics revealed something major to me – and that is uh…. I really love making comics. Nothing I’ve done has felt as satisfying as the process of writing and drawing characters who come to life and live out stories that I created. It is utterly fascinating to me, and I can’t stop thinking about it pretty much every waking day. This feeling is a bit unusual to me because I’ve never really considered myself a “comics” guy, I pretty much figured I’d be creating illustrations forever, but lately I just feel like drawing fan art over and over has become so meaningless to me. I feel like I’m never actually saying anything that I want to say, that I’m never creating anything of value. Sure it’s a great way to get attention, and yeah… it’s just porn. You don’t need to say anything when it comes to porn. But I need to feel invested, and my work really needs to matter to me in order to be happy with myself as both an artist and a person. Out of all the things I’ve done so far that comic was the thing that I’m most proud of. It’s what gave me the most motivation and energy. It’s what made me feel the most creative... It’s what made me the happiest.
I’ve had to confront these feelings and I think I’ve realized that my future as an artist lies in focusing on comics almost exclusively, allowing illustrations to take a back seat. I know this will come as a disappointment to some fans and supporters who prefer my illustrative work to my comics, but I still intend to create illustrations - just not as frequently. In the future I’ll need the ability to focus on comic work for extended periods if I’m to create anything in a timely and consistent manner. Right now I’m putting together the rest of the script for Hot Shit High Chapter 2, and I can already tell that it is going to be bigger, better, and more complex than the first one (and it really needs to be this way). But I don’t think there’s any way I can get it done while also taking lengthy breaks of time to create illustrations every other update. There are also other stories on the back burner that I want to get to eventually, and I feel like I’ll die inside if I can’t see some of those stories come to light.
Regarding my Patreon setup, I think it would be ideal if I could focus on comics and just release each page as they are completed (rather than waiting and posting two at a time). I don’t really feel like one page is worth the update price I’m asking, so a monthly subscription model makes more sense to me. With that kind of setup supporters could pay a single rate for the month and I’d just upload as many pages as I could. This leads to some complications though. Either I change how this Patreon page works by switching it to a monthly subscription (possibly creating more problems), or I start a new Patreon for comic work, and slowly prioritize that one while I try to move my supporters over. In that scenario there would be a transition time, where I’d work on both Patreon pages until the new one is financially stable enough to focus on it. Either way seems risky since my actual income is involved here, but I feel pretty strongly about moving in this direction, so risk is just something that I’ll have to accept.
These changes are still a ways off though. I think they will come sometime early in the new year, most likely around the same time I start working on HSH chapter 2. My hope is that most of you understand and support my feelings. I know that some might not, but for me to have longevity as an artist I feel like I have to start doing something for myself. Something I feel passionate about. I have so many fun and interesting erotic stories to share with you, and sometimes I feel like I’ll just never get there unless I take this risk and fully embrace what I want.
Anyways, things will continue as normal for now. I just kinda wanted to get this stuff off my chest early while it’s on my mind - and believe me, it has been.... a lot. I’ll keep everyone in touch about any potential changes going forward, but don’t expect anything until after the new year at the very earliest. Thanks for listening, and I hope you look forward to seeing more stuff soon, and as always, if you have any thoughts or advice (or even just an opinion!), I'm all ears.
TLDR – I think I am going to transition into working on comics full time in the near future and let the illustrative work take a back seat. Considering changes to my Patreon to facilitate this move, but unsure of how yet.
Comments
Thank-you very much for your reply, and for all the support you've given me. As a semi-anxious person, risk taking is probably bad for my health, hahah… but I feel alleviated to have supporters like you who say those kinds of things to me. I will try my best to always impress you with something fun and exciting!
Erotibot
2017-11-10 08:14:27 +0000 UTCLate to the party, but do what releases your creativity to new heights you didn't know you could reach. Do what makes you want to get up everyday. Do what makes you happy most of all. Almost with any medium, there will be those that are going to support you with this new vision and those that might not. Count me as a supporter for the foreseeable future! It can be daunting when you have to take risks with your livelihood, but without any risks, would you be able to know if you could reach your best state creatively? I am one that does not like risks but sometimes you have to take them in order to keep moving forward. You were one of my very first creators that I supported when I first got to Patreon and I love your work illustrations, comics, updates, everything. Can't wait for this new direction and seeing Chapter 2 of HSH! You rock!!
Just Passin By
2017-11-10 05:31:45 +0000 UTCDude i cant wait for some more comics by you! Just do your thing and have fun doing it!
ika
2017-11-06 08:03:05 +0000 UTCGood luck)))
2017-11-05 22:59:42 +0000 UTCIn all honesty, I was way more excited seeing your comic page updates than the fan art. All in all, I love all of your work bruv but the fact that you want to concentrate on making more stories and comic pages makes me even more excited! I love seeing people being happy with their current situation to the point that I think I annoy my friends when I try to help them be at that place XD. So yea man, you got my support hands down.
Ninja1011
2017-11-05 22:29:55 +0000 UTCGo for it, man.
The Future Fragments Team
2017-11-05 21:59:19 +0000 UTCThank-you Tim. You've supported me for so long, and you've been doing comics for longer than I have too. I really admire your dedication to your own work, and your comment means a lot to me. Cheers friend.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 20:06:55 +0000 UTCI can see myself doing that for sure. I think I just need to have a primary project that's entire my own to focus on. That will also make the occasional fan art or personal illustration fun for me again when I need to take a short break.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 20:03:21 +0000 UTCHAHAHAha... it's true. I was talking with a friend about this not too long ago, and he said something like "I was wondering when you'd figure that out". Introspection is a funny thing as it can often lag behind the observations that other people make of you. Anyways, whether it's comics or illustrations, the work is labor intensive either way. Doing what makes you happy is what makes the labor worth while.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 20:01:33 +0000 UTCThe slump isn't really effecting the effort I put in or the results... it's more about my day-to-day feelings and general mood. I'm unsatisfied with the type of content I'm working on... and that's no good for an artist. Eventually it will catch up to me. This is me trying to plan ahead.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:57:12 +0000 UTCThat's how I feel too... I've felt like I've been stagnating with illustrations. Even if I get a little better each time, eventually I'll plateau. I've been asking myself "where am I even going with all this?" a lot lately. I need a medium in which I can continue to learn and grow. I think comics is going to be just that medium for me.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:55:08 +0000 UTCI appreciate it! I hope we see Enza too. Maybe this switch will finally allow me to do stuff like that.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:53:48 +0000 UTCHehe.... well HSH2 will continue the weirdness... but hopefully this time it'll make a little more sense. It'll be similar in structure, but perhaps a bit more thought out this time.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:53:18 +0000 UTCAwesome! I'm really excited to share the next chapter with you. It's gonna be fun!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:52:37 +0000 UTC*salutes*
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:52:03 +0000 UTCI appreciate you saying so! cheers!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:51:51 +0000 UTCThanks! I'll reply to you in youtube! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPVHoD__6CI" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPVHoD__6CI</a>
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:51:29 +0000 UTCThank-you so much!!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:49:53 +0000 UTCHmmmm, I'll have to really think this one through. Part of the problem with that is that I'll immediately lose revenue. Since I usually update 2 or 3 times a month, a $5 pledge becomes $10 or $15 for that month. If I switch to monthly and leave the pledge amount as it is it would be equivalent to me updating once a month, and with my expenses that's not enough to live on. I could up the pledge amount, so that people who pledge $5 per update now pledge $10 per month (assuming I can even do this), but I feel like messing with people's pledge amount is a bad idea - and it could also upset anyone who has a cap. But you are right. It will be difficult to move my support base over to a new page. I still have to assume there are those not speaking up who prefer illustrations and won't bother making a new pledge. It seems like a tricky situation either way. I'll be sure to post about it again soon once I've considered my options. Thanks for your feedback!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:47:42 +0000 UTCThanks! And hey, I don't wanna make any promises, but maybe some day I can create a mini-comic with Ailith doing something naughty. She is just the cutest!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:44:26 +0000 UTCThank you very much. Whatever happens with the Patreon page there will still be tiers of varying affordability that are similar in price. I'm not sure how it will work yet, but there will be options and I will be upfront about them. Regardless of the pledge I really appreciate your support! Thanks for the comment as well!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:42:24 +0000 UTCWell I've already decided this, hehe... I just wanted to talk about it with all of you here. There will be more Sharlene for sure, in fact HSH2 is gonna be a little different from the first in that it will focus on her in an interesting way. I still wanna do an Enza comic. What I had planned was a colored mini comic, maybe 6 to 8 pages of her competing in the XXX-games. Perhaps I'll use it as a stretch goal when I figure out my Patreon setup.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:38:37 +0000 UTCThanks. This is really encouraging for me to hear. Sometimes I undervalue my work, and I don't understand what people like or expect from me. I think I've always assumed that people just wanted fan art. Maybe I've been trapped in this bubble for too long.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:35:52 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it. Thanks!
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:32:54 +0000 UTCThank-you.. and yeah, I agree... with the comic I was able to put a lot of my personality into it and seeing that reflection of myself in certain ways is... how can I put it, extremely rewarding. It feels like a product all my own, whereas creating fan art can sometimes feel like I'm co-opting another person's creation. It's still fun for me to do sometimes, but I'm at the point now where I'm ready to focus on my own thing for a while.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:32:17 +0000 UTCThat's so great to hear. I'm so luck to have supporters like you. It really makes all the difference to me. I create art mostly for myself, but the reason why I do my best with every picture is for you. I also agree with some of those ideas. Especially trying out shorter stories in between the longer ones. I think trying doujinshi could be fun in the future too, but for now I'll be focused on my own creations. Thank-you very much for supporting me through all of it <3
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:29:04 +0000 UTCActually not so much. I always have clear ideas heading into stuff like this. I guess that's just another sign that this is what I should be doing.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:23:09 +0000 UTCI don't think it's burn out. At least not yet. But I can see that coming, and I can see how I feel about it already.
Erotibot
2017-11-05 19:21:47 +0000 UTCI'm proud of you for making this decision, and I support you 100%.
Tim Fischer
2017-11-05 17:32:01 +0000 UTCPretty much agree with the majority here. We are all following and donating because we enjoy your work, whether illustration or comics. As for changing to monthly over updates I'd prefer that as it's easier to track.
2017-11-05 17:25:29 +0000 UTCA happy artist is good, an unhappy artist is not! Patreon as a platform is here to let people support what you want to do, so go for it. Not sure if you would enjoy it anymore, but perhaps the odd illustration of your own characters as apposed to fanart would be more fitting for this new direction, thinking like some mangas that I've read (Evangelion one comes to mind) where there are random coloured illustrations throughout the volumes. But regardless, if comics are what you want to make and they make you happy then damn well go for it dude, support wont waver!
Inquisitor
2017-11-05 16:20:15 +0000 UTCDude I literally just posted the same update, but I want to move from comics into game design. Here’s to 2018 changes for the better, I hope it works out for you!
Sneak
2017-11-05 15:28:29 +0000 UTCI found your art through HSH, and have been anxious for chapter two. I look forward to seeing this transition. Good luck!
2017-11-05 11:46:50 +0000 UTC*snickers* Dude, maybe half your patrons found you due to HSH in the first place. You're apologizing for getting back to it instead of taking a "break" to work on labor-intensive fan art? Silly artist, there's no bad here. You've *always* wanted to do comics, we've just been waiting around for you to figure it out. >:=8)
Asterion Del Toro
2017-11-05 11:34:54 +0000 UTCBy all means, go and do what you really want. I found your last work very good so to think you were in a slump making them. You've got my full support for your change.
DIO
2017-11-05 11:19:53 +0000 UTC(Regular posts, especially public posts with teaser art, ensure that potential new patrons have confidence their money will be well spent, so more of them sign up!)
Todd Whitesel
2017-11-05 11:14:47 +0000 UTCA big reason for Patreon even existing is to provide a funding source for creators to have the freedom to do what they want. So if comics is where you feel most inspired-- doo eet. As for the monthly model, I'm fine with that too as it just makes billing more predictable. Just remember to do status posts (early versions of stuff is great!) so we know you're still alive lol
Todd Whitesel
2017-11-05 11:12:23 +0000 UTCSounds like growth and looking to the future to me. Do your thing. Find your bliss.
Slevin
2017-11-05 10:43:26 +0000 UTCYour comic was great. Looking forward to more stories from you.
Patreon fan
2017-11-05 09:45:45 +0000 UTCI will miss the fan art greatly to be honest, but with that said I full endorse your decision to move in a direction you are more passionate about. I hope to see an Enza comic in the future. I am happy about the monthly charge change also. You do you man, your work is great, HSH1 was incredible so if the move into comics make you happy then go for it.
demiboss
2017-11-05 08:21:50 +0000 UTCThis is exactly what I wanted. Comics are a lot more fun. Loved Hot Shit High despite the weirdness.
Dantels
2017-11-05 08:16:56 +0000 UTCPorn that can make you laugh will always be welcomed in my book. Hot Shit High was my reason for supporting you, and I look forward to seeing more of it in the future.
Stephen Penney
2017-11-05 06:42:42 +0000 UTCI'm so much more excited to see you do more comics and maybe change to 1 monthly charge for your Patreon. Hot Shit High is one of my favourite hentai comics, so more comics from you is going to be so good! ;O;
2017-11-05 06:33:56 +0000 UTCI love comics. Bring on more Hot Shit High!
ArdenW
2017-11-05 06:31:52 +0000 UTCI love all of your work, but as somebody who likes to be told stories, and who value original work over fan art, I am 100% hyped for your focus on comic work. Looking forward to 2018!
Chirutai
2017-11-05 06:20:03 +0000 UTCTake your time on getting to the ideas and projects that you wanna get started on. You'll do suppa well. You're the best. Ass n' titties 🤘🏻
SHOCK
2017-11-05 05:31:03 +0000 UTCYour comics great 👍 great in every way!!!!!!!
Arachan
2017-11-05 05:29:24 +0000 UTCWorking against the grain will only end up poorly. Considering your ability, I think we'll be happy to stick around for the comics! :D Good luck with your decision on how to progress with Patreon; my 2c would be to just use this page with the supporters you have and flick over to the monthly subscription. If there's one thing I've learnt, getting people to go out of their way to click another link/sign up for another page will only risk losing some along the way who can't be bothered - Keep the user base you've got on this page and just change the subscription model over.
2017-11-05 05:25:51 +0000 UTCMore comics is great news, and monthly is my preferred method anyway.
Nicoya
2017-11-05 05:05:50 +0000 UTCThanks for being transparent in your thoughts. Feeling burnt out can really start to show in your work, and thankfully you've not had that happen. I support you either way, as I really enjoyed Hot Shit High and would love to see more of that. Love your art style in general to be honest. Best of luck in your choice going forward. I'll try to stick around so long as you don't price me out when you go monthly.
Lonig
2017-11-05 04:46:14 +0000 UTCI'm okay with it, whether it's an illustration or a comic. People work better when they love what they're doing. Your the guy with the skill so I think you should decide where to use your talent. Glad we're gonna see Sharlene again. Are you gonna make a comic about Enza as well? I'm just curious.
Naj
2017-11-05 04:35:04 +0000 UTCAgreed. Follow your passion.
Daikaiju
2017-11-05 04:32:07 +0000 UTCWhile I love your illustrations, I think the thing that really pushed me to join your Patreon and made me hype was Hot Shit High. You should totally go forth with going into comics full-time!
Seno Mante
2017-11-05 04:30:25 +0000 UTCAs much as I love your illustrations( by god I wish I could commission you), you comic work so far has really shined above them. If that's what you want to focus on, I think its a net gain for us!
Mithos56
2017-11-05 03:58:04 +0000 UTCThanks a lot for opening up to us supporters. Honestly from what I've seen from the comic and also the character redesign of Enza, feels like the best move. Not saying that fanart is bad or anything like that, cause it's absolutely great your work, but in your original creations feels like there's a lot more of you in them. I can't explain myself too well, but I'll support you in any decision you take (obviously if my financial situation allows for it xD). Cheers.
jirs
2017-11-05 03:56:58 +0000 UTCHey man I'll support you through whatever. You've drawn two illustrations from my suggestions and I love them both. Even HSH was great. If I'm being honest there is one more I'm hoping to slip in but even then I understand. It's pretty selfish of me to expect anything. I agree HSH probably the most satisfying work you've done. Maybe switching over to something more akin to doujinshi might cure the crave(as in drawing a story and scene based off characters from another work). Or maybe take it a step further and create a specific character or set of characters that can go between other universes and mess things up that way. This way it can satisfy both your creative side and people who still want you to do work on already established character. There are some work out there that are only 5-7 pages so you could switched between big stories and small ones. Of course I bet it feels good to completely do your own original ideas and designs. Like I mentioned I'll be with you wherever you're going. I follow you because you take things a step further than most artists. I hope I can help at least as an individual you can pawn ideas off of to get your mind working.
TakuAmazuki
2017-11-05 03:55:34 +0000 UTCIts not the same when you do something that you don't like compared to the stuff you enjoy yourself. Comic or whatever your art is good
2017-11-05 03:52:02 +0000 UTCI love the characters you made in HSH and i know that its pretty hard to show a characters personality in one illustration so i can get behind this decison, plus i cant wait for enza to get a comic for herself
2017-11-05 03:51:57 +0000 UTCIt's nice you had a heart to heart with yourself and found what you wanna be invested in, I guess you never know what you like until it's gone, also, I wondered whenever you were making HSH did you ever have a time when you got stuck and needed suggestions or somethin' like.
Taj Ren Akupheli
2017-11-05 03:48:35 +0000 UTCNot getting burned out is a good thing. And I'm always happy to see another good NSFW comic.
Simiusmagnus
2017-11-05 03:47:06 +0000 UTC
