Welcome to Gaia! ::

XD Cute, sierra.


Hmm. Does anyone know anyone, gaia or irl, that does really nice character sheets and is taking commissions? I really want to get a character sheet done for one of the characters I commission the most. I think in a style layout similar to michelle84's, if you're familiar. But I'm kinda at a loss for people who do them.

I'm already waiting on a bust from frozenlilacs, have been for a while. So that doesn't seem like it would be too timely. I'll check out the others though, thanks. <3

I can't say how we catch them beyond that it involves examining their account activity, which is nice and vague, I realize.

And with botting reports, it doesn't really come up if someone reported them or not, because there's no discussion that goes on between them and the moderator. I do think that they might logically infer, should they wake up one day and see that they've been banned for botting, that someone might have reported them, but that information wouldn't be verified. Plus it's not necessary that someone be reported for botting for us to find them, necessarily.

As for the moral delimma, I can't really help you. sad I've banned good friends before because they've broken the ToS, and it would have been wrong of me to overlook it due to personal preference. But you don't have the same obligation regarding ToS violations since you're not a moderator, so it's really entirely up to you.

They're the top recommendation people have been giving me, so assuming my sources in the city turn out to be completely poxy, I think they'll be at the top of my list of suppliers (; Thank you (:

As for your dilemma - it's a difficult call to make. I suppose it comes down to what is more important to you, really. Having said that, you shouldn't have to put your values on hold to protect people who are doing wrong. If I were you I would probably make my position on the matter very clear (including disapproval of what my friends were doing), and hope that they decide to do the right thing.

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On an unrelated note, has anyone noticed the increase of commission-related discussion on deviantART recently? Specifically, that artists underprice their work?

Related to that, a patronage scheme has been proposed:
http://one-vox.deviantart.com/journal/8482546/
http://one-vox.deviantart.com/journal/8515632/
(the first link is to the initial proposal, the second to concerns etc.)

I'd be interested to know what anyone thinks of it all - I think as artists and commissioners (and artists who are commissioners) it's an interesting subject for us.

they actually aren't expensive in my opinion, and for people like me who live in the middle of nowhere [meaning no pearl, plaza or mom and pop supply shops] dickblick is god. surprised

most of their selection is at a discounted price from retail value, it's just the same as going to any art store during the begining of the fall or spring semesters when they have their sales. of course, in perspective ALL good art supplies are expensive, but dickblick isn't anymore pricy than any other source. it's definately the cheapest online art store and the most reliable.

is money really that tight that bringing in 40 dollars from a commission will make or break you?

honestly, i think a lot of artists on da are way to whiney and spoiled, if you ask me. if they're in school they can always get regular jobs on or off campus - even if it's scrubbing toilets - they do need the money don't they?

when i was in college, that's what i had to do - not whine on an online community about my bills and how people have to help me pay my rent and food/expenses. it all just seems a little absurd to me. i'm really tired of seeing it. the other day i saw someone [who usually asks for commissions to help her rent] whine about wanting an ipod. and ipod, like you really need that to survive.

i don't see why i would have to sponsor someone who is too lazy/has too much "pride" to get a real job while they're in school when i am busting my a** to go back to school for my masters. i'm all for helping artists, but only if they take time to help themselves. i think this whole sponsorship thing won't help much with their bills either way. a dollar here and there will not pay your rent.

I pretty much agree with what Woe said. Arshes has a much better idea, I think - she used the old saying, "Give me a fish and you feed me fo a day; teach me to fish and you feed me for a lifetime." I think this other idea may see some results initially, but it'll most likely lose it's popularity and end up dwindling. I couldn't ever accept money like that because I would feel indebted and I hate feeling like a charity case. I don't know...it'd just feel weird to get money like that. I'd much rather someone commission me so they're at least getting something personalized in return. It's a pride thing, I guess. And since money on my side is pretty scarce, I probably would never participate. I can't just dish out money to every good artist out there and I don't think I have any that just completely wow me to the point where I'm dying to see something new from them. In a perfect world, we'd all make money with every little thing we put out. But there are so many deserving people who work hard and who probably have the need, but how could I say one person is worth more than another?

I worked many hours while going through college - around 20-30, generally. And while it may have been more fun to not have to do so and to have more time to do whatever, I don't regret it one bit. It taught me the value of both time and money and I still went through, graduating magna c** laude in a tough degree. I think skills just need to be taught. Time and stress management, for instance. And also, when money becomes tighter, learning to cut out some unnecessary things. When we lost an income, we stopped all our going out to eat, for instance. And yeah, I miss it, but at the same time, I don't. And I couldn't tell you the last time we went on a major vacation! I've known many people in the past to seem so desperate with their expenses only to, in the same breath, talk about the brand new laptop they got or the trip they're taking or whatever.

But back to the partonage thing...one thing disturbed me and that was the comment that people who don't have the page views need to put out better art. I know some phenomenal artists who don't have the views, but definitely have the skill. I'm afraid this sort of thing is just going to widen the gap between the populars and the rest of us little guys.