Please Think Before you Write

6 min read

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K-Koji's avatar
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 Ok, so just throwing this out there,  perhaps this will be an unpopular view, but  I don't think I'm being unreasonable.

I'd just like to mention publicly, that I, as well as artists in general, are not art vending machines.

You don't type suggestions in, and then have a slot where artwork comes out for free :meow: .

   Important to Note: I am not addressing any individual in particular. If you think this is about *you* specifically ( whoever you are)- don't. This about the private notes I get, with alarming volume, where people feel they can simply request artwork from me for free. I get a *lot* of these.  Which prompted me to post something about it. I usually just ignore them, or, if I feel particularly polite that day, I send them a note back saying I don't do requests.

But they never stop o_O. And it's not that I mind suggestions in comments under artwork, such as: "Oh, I hope one day you will paint _________." or, " I'd love to see ________ in your style. "

But a lot of people are sending me private notes, (that I like to use for more important things- like money :iconpervplz:) and the sheer entitlement in some of them can be a bit daunting.  Maybe it's a difference in interpretation, or cultural differences, but I find some of the tone of these notes a bit rude :/.   i.e:

 "I don't like that you don't draw my fandom! You know what you should be painting? You should be painting what I like! Because if you did that, you would get more popular than you are now! People would like your artwork a LOT more!!"

or

" I'm writing to you because I need a painting done for my fan site! But I want it to be like *insert thumbnail of a commission I did where someone paid me a few hundred dollars*. Also, could you do a few character paintings for my descriptions?  Thx k. Let me know when you'll be able to get it done! I'll be waiting!"

of course, no money is involved.

No. :stare:

I have no idea who you are, and I have to say, I'm just curious why you think I would just produce free artwork for you on your command, when other people (individuals, companies) pay me for that?

I have a stamp on my profile page that clearly states I don't take Requests. I take commissions (sometimes..when I think I can fit them in). I put that stamp on my profile a year ago, and it seems to have no effect lol.


So whenever you think about writing an artist (writer, stock model, ANY artist), please think before you hit send. Ask yourself a few questions:

1. "Would I walk into a dentists office and expect him to give me 6 free veneers, working on my mouth for 2 weeks, for absolutely nothing?"

No? Oh. Well maybe an artist wouldn't work for nothing either.. :o.

2. Ask yourself, "Do I pay bills?"

If your answer is no, stop writing that note to that artist you don't personally know. Just close that browser window. It's safe to assume, that even though you don't have any bills, that perhaps, the artist who's time you think your entitled to, MIGHT.  In fact, it's notoriously difficult to be an artist :[ . So paying bills is a very real concern for us ( as it is for most people who live on their own).

Also, there are MANY working artists out there.  Deviantart popularity doesn't always mean an artist is either not working in art, or not dependent on art for livelihood. I know of people here that don't have a ton of watchers, but regularly work in art industries, or just use it as a means to supplement income.

If people like doing requests, that's great! If you don't mind when people note you demanding freebies, all the more power to you. But this is just a little journal, suggesting people think a bit before writing a complete stranger to give them their time, efforts, skill etc for free.

I do not need anyone to write me apologizing either. So please don't. I'm really not speaking about anyone in particular. This has been happening to me ( and I bet, others) for a long time. That's all.

So perhaps look on an artists page. Look for indicators if they do requests. Some people do them for fun, it's true.

Writing people assuming that they have been waiting their entire lives, have gone to school just to provide you with artwork that other people pay for- probably not going to be well received.

Just saying.

Thank you for listening :iconfabulousplz:.

© 2014 - 2024 K-Koji
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kawaiiroll's avatar
I totally understand this. It doesn't even have to be artwork, it can be stories too. On my Quotev account, I write in size 12, bold and in italics, red color and in the beginning of every story: REQUESTS CLOSED. Do people listen to me? Nope. Luckily, my readers don't criticize me for it. But it's just super frustrating, I feel so bad to wonder, "do you know how to read?" FT NFL - grumpy Natsu's birth father emoti