Um.. no.
I don't support the idea of patreon after i learned exactly what it is.
As good as your art is, if you can't earn a living professionally on it then you need to get a job elsewhere while you keep it as a hobby.
Don't go begging people to give you money on a monthly basis with little promise for anything in return.

No offense just my opinion.

but the definition of professional is "engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime". if someone is making their entire income off art, whether its through individual commissions or through patreon, doesnt that make them a professional?

patreon users arent offering little or no promise in return for the monthly contributions, by and large. theyre offering behind the scenes access to their process (which can be super helpful for those learning at any skill level, and fascinating for art appreciators), early access to content (which can be a plus, especially for webcomics and the like), access to things they dont post normally, raffles for art, monthly commissiosn, etc. in Sciggles' patreon specifically, she's offering physical items mailed out to you at the $10 level. at $15 you can get custom art. thats a hell of a lot cheaper than a commission.

patreon isnt just some scam or an easy place to beg. its almost as beneficial to fans as it is to the artist! you can support someone who's work you enjoy for as little as a dollar a month. and if an artist has 50 fans who only pitch in a dollar, thats still fifty bucks they can rely on.

crowdfunding in this form is a damn blessing, and its only making it easier for artists to make a living off their work and become professionals instead of hobbyists, and for fans to support them to whatever means they have. its a win-win, honestly.

no trouble at all! i am so all about patreon and it makes me angry to see people writing it off like this, and it makes me even angrier to see people taking it out on artists who decide to use it. i hope your campaign on there goes well :D

I have not experienced that.
What i have seen from many of my favorite artists who use the site is a sudden drop off of just about all kinds of content so please excuse me if it garners the impression that it's basicly.

'Hey, like my art? give me a monthly donation and i promise to give you more! *wink*' kind of site.

It especially gives me this impression if the artist in question is not that prolific in the first place before saying 'hey look at me i have a patreon page too!'.

I am sure there are people on the site that use it as you describe where the artist lays out a thoughtful and well made plan on what supporters get depending on how much they give and how long and who actually deliver on said promises.

I just don't think it's the majority and I find disheartening when I see artists i like joining up to a system that to me will fail in a few years if even that long due to the freeloaders.

And yes I know this sounds hypocritical coming from someone who is now out of work and then tells someone to consider normal employment rather than donations to support themselves.

I'm not usually one to comment on stuff like this, but in this case? I've gotta say 'wow'. I mean, I understand if you have problems with the website, but to take the time to dump on an artist because of it? Why would you even bother being so negative? Are you that bitter a person that you have to dump on someone else who's really done nothing to you?

Sciggles is a damned good artist just trying to make a living, and this is an avenue for her to do so. If you have issues with Patreon, then I would suggest you take it up with them and stop trying to make the artists feel bad about themselves for earning money for their craft.

well, every artist ive seen setting one up has had perfectly fine and thought out contribution tiers, and has continued posting on other sites normally, so i guess thats just a difference in experience. ive browsed around the site on my own time too, to see what other people were up to, and it extends far, far past the furry fandom. its being used by artists of other communities, musicians, photographers, podcast and vlog producers, game developers, etc.

also, what should it matter if the artist is visibly prolific or not? they still deserve something for the work they do, and thats one other thing- you cant entirely judge how much they do by what they post- and thats where patreon can come in handy, because nearly every furry artist patreon ive seen included "access to work not normally posted".

and i... really dont understand how someone could even freeload off of patreon in the first place.

youre working from a very limited experience with the site, from what i can tell. and i dont think its unfair at all for artists to say "hey, if you like my art, heres a way you can give a little back". lots of artists on FA have tip jars on their pages; its much the same thing, except patreon makes it easy for the people giving tips to get something in return.

I can understand where you are coming from, but I have to chime in my two cents.

I myself have a Patreon, and am using it to try and help me gain a bit of breathing room so I can both do art full time without piling commissions n top of commissions, and also find a balance between art for hire and spending time with my family.

Most freelance artists in general barely scrape by on the equivalent of minimum wage. Many commissioners or watchers have no idea how many hours and how much work and sweat and effort goes into creating the things we do. I know when I get into a groove sculpting its easy to look up at 2am and go 'OMG I've been working on this for HOW long?!?!' Some fans and watchers do understand this, and want to help us continue to create, but might not have the means to outright commission. Becoming Patrons allows them to contribute, when they can, at whatever amount they feel comfortable with, with no obligation. And it allows the artists to keep track and offer rewards as a way of showing our appreciation for the support.

I can't speak for all artists, but personally, I do freelance art because

A: it's my passion and something I enjoy
B: it allows me to contribute financially to our household
And C: it allows me to stay home with my three year old daughter, and watch her grow up. Day care or reputable child care would cost enough to pretty much negate any office job I could get, so going back to work a 'normal' job would be rather pointless and after buying all the work clothes and gas to and from end up actually costing me money.

Not trying to say you aren't entitled to your opinion, because you 100% are! I'm just trying to offer insight as to why some artists are engaging in the Patreon platform. It's less begins and more 'If you enjoy the work I post, and would like to show your support, here is an option. As a way of showing my thanks, here are there rewards for differing levels of donations.'

These comments are not only uncalled for and rude, but they're being made under the assumptions that 1, the artists using Patreon aren't "real professionals", and 2, that Sciggles is trying to "scam" her contributors by promising things and not coming through. Not every artist is lucky enough to land it big and be handing billions of dollars for their hard work. All great artists deserve to be compensated for their work but if you don't feel as though it's "good enough" to pay for then all you have to do is look at the Patreon and choose NOT to contribute. It's easy as that. This little commentary on your part was not needed.

But regardless! I hope this goes well for you, Sciggles. I love the stuff I've seen from you and when I get the chance I want to be able to contribute more to you and your talent :>

I think thats what I find most ironic about the complaints. Back in the Rennasiance age, wealthy families or patrons supported artists, so they could afford to eat and have a roof over their heads while mastering their art. Which took a lifetime. And even then, on many occasions the artists tended to spend more on their supplies than on luxuries. Good paints were considered worth their weight in gold, particularly the harder to acquire pigments. Artists spent YEARS buried in their studios, honing their talents by doing art. All day long. For hours upon hours upon hours. And those citizens who could afford to buy the art that actually saw the light of day, or got to view it in churches and the like, felt privilege getting to view something the artist had put so much time, sweat and labor into. And that's not even going into the fact that many supplies were actually toxic. Lead in paints, stone dust breathed in without the benefit of respirators or masks....some absolutely brilliant artists died young because they basically poisoned themselves doing what they loved.


Fast forward to the Internet age. Now, art is cheap, prolific, and can be viewed on any number of online platforms. And anyone with an Internet connection and a scanner, or in some cases just a cell phone, can create an online gallery and post their art. Its a double edged sword, because now with art of all levels being so easy to find, people feel entitled to view it with the click of a button. And while no, most modern artists aren't locking themselves in a studio working from dawn to sundown and into the wee hours of the night working by candlelight, existing on bread and cheese and cheap wine.....we are still working. Often much longer hours than if we simply got a regular 9-5 job. But we continue to do so, because art is our passion. It gives us purpose, brings us joy, and for those lucky enough to make a living at their craft helps pay bills and feed ourselves and our families.

So really......Patreon is not a new concept, but the revival of a very OLD one, brought back for the modern age. And as people have said repeatedly, for those who don't like the idea, it requires absolutely no effort to simply not take part in that website.

D only you could spin this into a whimsical tale of medieval artistry.

LoL, I maaaay be slightly addicted to the Discovery and History channels. ;3

Add to that there have always trough history who have given money to artists just so they can sit there all day and do art.

exactly! its not a new concept by any means, it just has a new look.

On a side note. ssj lizard amuses me.

Your a very ignorant fur arnt you

I for one love this and have supported a few artists who have set them self up this way :)

The first pic on the left looks familiar. Is there a full version of it here on FA? The character looks familiar as well.

I thought that looked like Fox Amoore. Lol