Ko-fi: The struggling artist's best friend??

By now, I'm sure you've probably heard about Ko-fi and how it allows anyone to tip you for any reason (or no reason!) without any obligations to the tip-ee or the tipper. If not, well there you go. It's very simple and I'm super into it. You can check out my Ko-fi page here and see for yourself. 

I really think everyone should have one, whatever kind of creator you might be. As the market gets more and more saturated with artists (and the current state of moneys with most people) it makes more sense to find other ways to give value to folks that are into our work. 

Maybe someone wants to buy your prints but just doesn't have the wall space to display them right now, they can just throw some change your way on Ko-fi and basically give you a high-five. That might seem like small monetary value but to me, that's an enormous emotional boost. 

Like 'hey I wanna support you and your work but I can't afford what you're selling, spatially or monetarily, so here's a few dollars - keep making great stuff!'. To a struggling artist, that can mean so much. And if we break it down, if only 20 people did that, this creator could then get food for that week! So I don't want to downplay the importance of the fact that there's real money involved.

For me, I tend to jump in when I see artists I follow on Twitter doing shout-outs for help. Usually they open up commissions if they can and ask for any kind of monetary help folks can give while they get through that rough spot. I feel like I've watched miracles happen there. Everyone comes together (by everyone I mean fans and other struggling artists alike) and pitch in whatever small change they can manage. Some can drop enough for a commission but alot just toss some dollars in the Ko-fi and it really seems to make big differences. 

So while I think Patreon is a great resource for some, right now I'm going to stick with the simple approach. I'm hoping to start doing some small conventions later this year/next year so I'll have a shop up in the next several months. But I like having the option for people to support me without any strings attached for either party. Like if I was playing a guitar in a park for change from passersby. Except in this case, I can now know who you are (if you want) and there's room for relationships to grow there. Once more, you can check out my Ko-fi page here. xoxo

with love - M

P.S.

I want to be clear that I have a day job, I'm not in dire straits or anything like that. I even enjoy my day job most of the time. However, this job is full-time and can get stressful so I don't have much spare time to spend on my creative endeavors. It's a struggle but if my art starts paying for itself more, that would allow me to lessen my day job or get rid of it entirely. I would be able to work full time as an artist. What a dream that would be...

You can draw, I promise... also Graham Shaw says so

Why people believe they can’t draw - and how to prove they can | Graham Shaw | TEDxHull

If you aren't a big fan of TED talks, that's totally fine, but if you're a fan of drawing, learning, or gaining new perspectives then give this video a shot. It's interactive so have paper and pen ready.

When I came across this video, I was looking for other artists to watch for speed painting and drawing tips and tricks, etc. I was in a bit of a rut (this happens with some regularity) and in order to recharge my creative juices, I have a long list of things I can do. 

If I'm restless physically, I might dance or sing or go for a walk at a park. If I'm tired and downtrodden, I might watch a good movie with lots of color and vibrancy (literally or figuratively). If I'm sitting there staring at my sketchpad and the inspiration just won't come, I turn to videos like the one above as if it were a giant bowl of fiber that I needed to consume in order to unblock my creative tubes (haha imagery). My point is, I don't have a single cure-all for my creativity droughts.

You may have noticed that I've been trying to be a bit more regular with my sketching. I tend to post in week long chunks on this blog but in person, I've been actually getting closer and closer to my goal of 'a sketch a day'. This isn't a 'creativity binge' or anything like that. My goal is not to sketch every day for a month or a year and then stop or slow down. This is simply a life goal. I enjoy drawing. It brings me peace. Why then shouldn't I at least attempt to experience it every single day?

The real reason I want to share this video, however, is because I want the world to know that everyone is creative. Everyone can draw, everyone can dance, everyone can sing. These are not special talents given by the grace of God or whomever to a select few people. Yes, not everyone can be a master painter but just like there's only one Michelangelo, there's only one you. You are the same as everyone else in the sense that you also possess that creative fire but you are also unique in that your fire is yours alone. A master artist is simply someone who's taken the time and energy to hone their craft. 

It just makes my heart hurt to have people look at my art and say something like "Wow that's so cool!" followed immediately by "I could never do that..." as if they think they're complementing me further with that second comment when in fact they're merely debasing themselves for no one's benefit. You can love an artists work while still loving yourself and your own accomplishments. 

Story time: I was babysitting a 5 year old once that understood this concept wholly and completely. We were drawing together with crayons (dragons if I remember correctly) and when we were done, we showed each other our drawings. She loved my dragon, especially the pretty scales, she said. She showed me hers and of course I said it was very nice, that I enjoyed the vibrant colors and so on, and because I took her seriously, she beamed and seemed to love the drawing even more. To be clear, she loved that drawing before I said anything. She didn't need my approval to love that dragon she had just created. It was her creation and perhaps for that reason alone, it was worth cherishing. 

But as an art teacher (in that moment, that's absolutely the role I or any other parent takes on when spending time with their kids, you're their teacher) I had to make a decision to critique her drawing or to praise it (or both). I decided to praise it alone that time because I had not real criticism to offer that I thought would benefit her that time. Other times, I offered advice with my praise and sometimes she took my advice and sometimes she didn't. She liked it just the way it was and that, for me, was the most wonderful part. We should all strive to grow as individuals but it's ok to stand by yourself, your creations, your achievements and say I'm proud of it as it stands. Of course, you can still value the criticism being offered, that person obviously cares about you in some way otherwise they wouldn't waste their time saying anything at all. 

Whoa long post today. Anyway, you do you. And be open to trying new things or new ways of doing old things. You never know how much it could help you grow until you try it. 

See below for my results from the video. The real results are still echoing every time I put pen to paper. 

With love - M