Brellom
patreon
High-Quality Illustrations vs. Quickly-Produced Sketches
🕑 Added 2018-10-15 21:45:52 +0000 UTCJust touching base with you all.
As many of you know, whenever I'm considering plans for the Patreon, especially if it involves a shift in direction, I try to involve you and get your feedback. Your thoughts are very important to me, and you are a very big part of the Patreon experience.
For a while now, I've mentioned wanting to create more impressive works of art, such as high-quality illustrations, landscapes, and even comics. However, as I'm sure you know, all of those endeavors require a massive time investment.
I've slowed the rate of my production on Patreon as of lately, but I'm still spending most of my work hours towards the same kind of content, following a similar strict & regular schedule, but the content quality hasn't necessarily improved as a result of it, and it's tiring.
In order to shift towards creating better artworks, I'm going to have to get comfortable with the idea of taking longer than a handful of hours on a single project. Illustrations of higher quality sound like an amazing idea, but it's an admittedly scary one, especially since it'll likely mean a change in the frequency of major posts. That's not to say that I plan to go long periods of time without uploading, but the reality is that "finished" products will take longer, and this will likely affect the upload schedule.
So... how do YOU feel?
Would you prefer my focus shifted towards creating bigger & better artwork?
Or do you prefer how it is now; with simpler work that's uploaded faster?
High-Quality Illustrations:
- Slower to produce, but higher quality
- Less static imagery on blank backgrounds
- Comics (Ongoing, Short Comics, CYOA)
- Greater environmental detail
- More dynamic NSFW artwork
Quick Sketches:
- Faster to produce, but lower quality
- More frequent uploads
- Pretty much what the experience has been thus far
HOWEVER, FEAR NOT, DEAR PATRON:
Keep in mind that should I shift the Patreon direction towards high-quality illustrations and longer production times, I still hope to maintain activity and produce sketches.
Obviously, I still have to sketch my concepts before fully realizing them. Additionally, I still love to draw quick, spontaneous content, and I'll still have to practice my skills through sketching. I still want to offer Patron Sketch suggestions too, as I love involving you whenever I can.
Changing direction with my Patreon means that my work can offer more depth, however, and there will then be much more to fall in love with to justify supporting me. It means I can spend more time creating & sharing what I'm passionate about, and provide a sustained interest in what I'm creating.
It also means that my personal direction can go beyond "Uhhh... What do I draw today?" If my cognitive fuel tank can have more freedom throughout the week by not having to worry about forcing a sketch that's "just good-enough," I can actually spend that time more wisely.
I expect that the reward tiers will have to be adjusted in order to make up for such a change, and I'd have to do a good job of maintaining contact, involving you in the creative process, and providing consistent value across the experience.
Please share your thoughts with me:
I really want to know how you feel about these ideas so I can determine how people would ultimately respond to the change if I do decide to commit to it.
If you have any thoughts in regards to how I can make the Patreon experience I offer more worthwhile to you, especially if I do change directions, please let me know.
I can't know how to make the experience work best for YOU unless you talk to me.
Comments
ShujiAtatacha
Well in my opinion I'd like to see some high quality works. I like what you do with the quick sketches but the comics you do are honestly more entertaining!
brellom
Is there any particular subject matter that you'd be excited to see? Do you think the patron tiers need to be adjusted to make the experience more enjoyable for you? Are there any qualities you'd like to see present in either the reward perks, content presentation, or how I go about interacting with you in regards to that content?
BytesizeGrizzly
I've mentioned it a while back, but most of what you're doing now is essentially comfort food. Easy to deliver with low time investment/commitment. You mentioned wanting to do high quality illustrations before but fell right back into the comfort food, lmao. I understand tho, it's easy to fall into. But I've already mentioned how I'm interested in full on illustrations from you. But I understand tackling them can be intimidating because of the general increase in time investment, in comparison to what you deliver now.
ZBL
I would adore seeing more stories/comics with your concepts.
JM
I'd love to see more of your characters expanded on through larger illustrations and comics and I have no problem waiting a little extra time to see such projects. You've always had an impressive update schedule and turnover rate for art since I subscribed, and if you feel you can make more fulfilling art that YOU'RE more satisfied with, I have complete faith in you. If your Patreon structure changes, I completely understand. I'm very excited to see you push your art in directions you want to explore.
brellom
I don't mind simpler/quicker art, and I don't plan to completely remove it. It's more about what's my primary focus, and what is the bulk of my work. Right now, I'm focusing on quick work that's uploaded frequently, which doesn't leave a lot of energy & time for a solid, bigger piece, is all. Be sure to consider how the frequency of uploaded posts might affect your stance.
DcM
I feel like the more refined works will leave a larger, richer and longer lasting impact. In the long run, i think those will be more memorable.
Space Robot
Honestly I don't really mind either way? Even your quick sketches tend to be pretty good. I have minor issues with certain artists who only do really rough stuff and never clean it up, but you've never been one of them, and having simpler/quicker things to post on off days is never a bad thing. Of course in the end it depends a lot on what you want to do and find interesting to do, so hey!
brellom
The way I'm currently doing is the "quick sketches" approach. A week doesn't sound long enough for a trial run, but I expect I'll go back to quick sketches if it simply doesn't work out. I still hope to keep Patron Suggestions, so I'll still be able to scratch that itch people might have. I may have to consider how it fits into the schedule though.
brellom
That is very much the idea. I've grown extremely tired of "here's another character standing on a white background having some kind of expression." It hasn't been creatively fulfilling, and I don't feel as if it leaves much of an impact on viewers.
SuichiTanaka
Characterization through images, comics, and other mood-establishing media is always something I prefer to a series of one-off images that don't add a lot to the narrative of the subjects within. If more refined works results in more development of your characters then I'm all for that. As far as I'm concerned that entertains me more than anything else. It's why I enjoy the comics you do so much.
MelodyBunneh
I'm voting for high quality with one important caveat. From the description, that seems to be something that would be more interesting and enjoyable for YOU. If that's the case, then absolutely do it! I would be much happier with either option knowing that it was more fun and less stressful for you. If you aren't sure, perhaps give it a trial run and/or alternate between the two ways of running things? Spend a week or two on detailed art, then a week or two on quick creations, and see how you feel?
