demicoeur
patreon
July News
🕑 Added 2020-07-02 10:22:22 +0000 UTCNew month means new news! This is a bit of a long one so be sure to check the tl;dr if you're short for time.
AUGUST REQUEST STREAM
By August I will have run out of thumbnails/script for my comics and will need to build up a backlog so I can carry on in the months to come! As with last time, in lieu of the perks I would usually post, I will instead be running 2 request streams throughout the month where I will sketch your characters/requests! These will likely be single character waist-ups like last time, but I may try and push the boat out a little for something a little extra if it's possible! That said, I'd like to get to as many people as I can, so keeping it simple is usually best in that regard ;) I'll post a reminder about this at the end of the month.
JULY STREAM DATES
- July 7th 2PM BST - The Sword of Souls
- July 14th 8PM BST - Sketchbook Drawings
I am considering, on top of doing scheduled streams, having a few random ones whenever I'm working on something! Just for fun/to help me keep focus since I'm struggling for brain power in quarantine, and it's easier to keep clear-minded with an audience.
PERSONAL UPDATE - POTENTIAL CHANGES
This is the long bit so be sure to check the tl;dr if you're short for time!
I've come to a point where I feel like I need a change of pace in my work. I'll try my best to explain where I'm at because I value you guys so much and want to always remain transparent as possible, especially where my work on Patreon is concerned.
Unfortunately, I've been really struggling and I feel it shows in that I'm lagging behind on perks and failing to accomplish as much as I need to each month. I won't lie, quarantine has gotten to me in a big way. I've been struggling a lot more with focus, low moods, exhaustion that goes well beyond regular sleep/nutrition. This month it all just seemed to hit a peak, and I've been regularly breaking down. My therapist had to quit her practice in November, so I've started sessions with a new one in hopes I can put some stilts on my sinking mental health. It's possible that some of you can relate since the pandemic is a global situation we're all going through.
Financially, the changes I made in March did bolster me a little. For that I have you guys to thank. However, the changes involved adding some new perks. Though I'd hoped they would be low-maintenance, I failed to account for the fact that I'd already hit a cap on what I could handle in one month in terms of perks, so virtually anything requiring more work is too much.I feel like I'm not putting out enough content to justify the price, and what I am managing is burning me out.
To be completely plain, I don't know how much longer I can keep going with Patreon. I feel like that line Bilbo says in Lord of the Rings about being stretched thin, like butter over too much bread. I've hit a plateau in terms of what I can reasonably expect of myself to produce each month, and how much money I can make at it. The Patreon was created mostly with my comics in mind, and additional perks were added to broaden the attraction for my followers. The excess in perks has long begun to wear me out though. No matter how hard I work, or how many long hours I pull, I am always behind on commissions, Patreon perks, responding to e-mails/comments, everything. Posting my content publicly gets all but forgotten in the slew of other priorities.
Another reason I'm craving a change is that I feel very stagnant in my furry work. I've done (in the literal sense) thousands of commissions, and over 200 pages in comics. As an independent creator, it's a lot, and I'm proud of these accomplishments and love the fandom for supporting me with them! But I have started to feel stale after doing so many.
I also just don't know if it's a sustainable job in the long-term. I don't know if I still want to be making porn (as a career) ten years from now. While I obviously have no issue with NSFW art, I'd like to try something new, and see where else I can apply my skills. I want to plot a different course for myself.
Regardless of all this, the plateau is an issue I can't avoid. I need to reach a place where I'm making enough to substantially save, and I hate putting the onus of that on my partner. So I've come to the rough conclusion that it might be best I start cutting down on perks here and devote the freed up time to doing alternative work. I could then focus on finishing the comic, my backlog of commissions, and building up a different career: the priorities which matter most to me.
This might result in financial instability for me. Actually, reword that, it definitely will. People who prefer sketches/pinups and aren't as invested in the comics will understandably drop their pledge. My hope is that patronage doesn't dip so low that I can't work on the comics at all, and I'm fairly certain it won't. I'm not going to lie, the idea is risky, which is why I'm only discussing it now and not setting it in stone. Either way, I have some new goals, and that's exciting even if a bit scary! The goals are: finish Cinderfrost/my furry comics, search out alternative work, query one of my novels, and eventually move back to Canada with my partner.
The last thing I would want is to burn out so badly that I can't finish Cinderfrost. I think, even if this might mean some financial risk, it's worth it to finish something that's been years in the making, and to give myself the chance to try something new. Sorry for how long that was, but I hope it makes sense and that you understand!
tl;dr I've been struggling with my mental health due to the pandemic and the trajectory of my career. At the moment I feel stagnant. I've hit a plateau in terms of how much content I can produce and how much money I can make at it in the furry fandom, and that plateau has me on the constant edge of burnout. I don't want to quit outright because I really want to finish the comics. So in keeping with that, I'm considering cutting all perks except comics/discord/streams. I'd use the time freed up to search for other work and build upon skills I haven't had as much time for.This would be financially risky but hopefully help get me out of this rut and change the course of my career.
EDIT: Feel free to join the discussion on this at our discord server (in the darling-deer channel). I'll post a Q&A later that summarizes some of the things people have asked or discussed. Thanks so much for your input <3
Comments
Omi and Lucas
Mainly here for the comics! The pinups are nice, but I am honestly only drawn to specific characters. I think more focus on the comics would be beneficial to you for all the reasons you stated, and hey nothing to say you can't toss the occasional pinup into the mix! But be it on your own terms, and because you wanted to draw it, vs feeling forced to <3
theredhare
No one knows the path you need to be on better than you, and I’m certain you’ll find success no matter what. I’m happy you’re paying the attention needed to your health and happiness as part of that choice. <3
Thingymabob
Certainly feel the work rut. Been in it more than once. But even if you roll back some content you'll keep my support. Your health is more important than a comic page.
Isolfr Ironfang
Was just thinking. you have So many characters that your always trying to draw....maybe cut back on a few? like put a majority of your characters into a folder for another time. Idk that helped me with my writing and getting back into it.
Isolfr Ironfang
I hope you don't drop out of the fandom completely. And yea I'll be sad if you don't post anymore sketches and pin-ups. But I'd be heart broken if you burned out completely and walked away from it all. Focus on yourself getting better and doing what you need to do. I do love your commission work so much I'd be happy to see more of it. I'll be one of the few who will keep supporting you no matter what! you have such a beautiful and elegant art style and I hope no matter what you do you'll always draw (even just a little bit) of art for the fandom whether its SFW or NSFW
Cole_RS
I think it´s good if you feel for yourself that in some way things are going to be to much and to cut it down a bit bevor falling apart. Your health is most important. And i can accept to see a bit less than to see nothing. <3 Looking forward for the streams ^^
Volpethrope
Make whatever changes you need to keep enjoying your own work. That's more important than anything. Supporting you on here doesn't do much good if it just makes you overwork yourself until you burn out! If it means you have to cut some of the structured content to give yourself more room to breathe, then by all means do so. I enjoy the world you've been crafting and want to see that story continue - the sketches are a nice bonus and I love the pinups, but you need to work on what YOU want to do. I'll be sad if you ever drop out of the furry fandom completely - you've been one of my favorite artists for over a decade, one of the first answers I give for examples of great creators - but I definitely understand feeling like your career potential is diminishing. Because of the highly individualized nature of character expression in the fandom, there's a massive preference toward commission work for generating and maintaining popularity, so I think it's pretty normal to lose some steam when you shift away from that. But I love your art, so I'll keep following what you do regardless. :)
Chicken Tendy
Don't push yourself too hard now. You'll always have my support no matter what path you choose to take. <3
I found you because of the comics and am loving them. The other perks are nice because I really enjoy your art but in this time, please look after yourself. I am working on getting my partner to Canada so boy do I understand that. If you don't know Stjepan Sejic, you may want to check him out. He did the opposite of you, did a personal NSFW comic because he was burned out. He is doing more with his Patreon but he posts panels and pages of in progress stuff, sketches from prep for comics, does pinups of his comics sometimes as alternate covers, etc. Might give you some ideas of rewards and how to do them as part of making comics. But look after yourself and your mental health. We are all struggling so be kind to yourself.
Demicoeur
Thank you ganendreas <3 Can't express how much I appreciate the understanding and support. It's probably going to be a hard year for everyone but I know we'll get through it!
aigami
I understand where you are coming from and I wish you the best of luck ^^ I will still be here to help as much as I can, I love you pinups but I love your comics better. But art takes time and your art is worth waiting for. Overall your health is priority number one.
