Story illustrations · 4:36am Jul 9th, 2016
It has been a long-standing practice of mine to provide illustrations for my stories, since long before I started writing pony fanfic. I often get compliments on them, and I'm particularly grateful to have a regular artist whose style suits my vision of the pony stories. However, it does not come cheaply, and I'm far from a rich person. I'd actually like to get more art, but I can't afford it. To be truthful, I am overdoing it already, but it really is my one big indulgence.
It has been suggested to me that I should try a Patreon account to finance more art. Frankly I am nervous about the concept because of the obligations it imposes, although lately I haven't had a problem putting out more stories. Aside from that, what should I offer for contributions? What levels would they be set at? Would you like to see extra illustrations for the completed stories? Would you be interested in getting discounted or free paperback publications of the completed stories?
I've had suggestions such as really high-level donors can choose to have a scene illustrated. Lower tier donors can vote on a scene to be illustrated. Any other suggestions? Is a Patreon a good idea at all? Please send me your comments.
You could let your patrons read the chapters a bit early. It's something I've seen a few people do, as long as they have the buffer to do so. Put up the chapter a couple days early there before publishing here.
Another idea would be to show examples of what different illustrations cost. Then fans could determine what level they wanted to sponsor.
Instead of Patreon, you can use Paypal if you have an account with them. Contributors can pay whatever direct to you through that, I've done this with Goldfur, he doesn't use Patreon.
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Well, if someone wants to do a straight donation, that would be nice also, but I would enjoy getting some feedback on what people would like to see. https://paypal.me/Goldfur
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Basic art cost for my standard level of complexity (shaded color) from Foxena is (US dollars) $60 for a single character with simple background, $90 for two characters, and $120 for three characters. More detailed background adds to the cost.
4079657 Sorry I can't give more at the moment, funds are tight.
4079667 No worries. I'm grateful for anything, actually.
I also like Foxena's style, but another option is to use a different artist.
One character, simple background, full body illustrations by fantazyme start at $20 and for GrayPaint (no backlog right now) they are $40-50.
Plus the arrangement AlaskaIsCold has, where he sponsored co-writing a story with you. You could advertise yourself open to collaboration.
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Another factor is timeliness. Graypaint's beautiful cover art took the best part of two months between first inquiry and final product, whereas with Foxena, if I have a slot booked in her art stream tomorrow, I get the art tomorrow. I can have two or three chapters done in two months. That's fine for long-term projects, but not for chapter illos.
BTW, AlaskaIsCold no longer sponsors me. That this collaboration worked was a happy surprise to me, but I don't know if it would again. Not that I would leave it out of the realm of possibility though.
>> That this collaboration worked was a happy surprise to me, but I don't know if it would again. Not that I would leave it out of the realm of possibility though.
Aha! So money talks, does it not? "I have my principles to maint.....wait. Is that what a thousand dollar bill looks like?"
>>BTW, AlaskaIsCold no longer sponsors me.
Does that mean that the previously announced story after Quantum Gallop involving the Chakat Universe is on or off?
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That is still on.
Cool! Looking forward to it!
Hmmmm. I wouldn't mind having paperback versions of the cogsverse stories added to my library sometime in the future.