I’m going to tell you guys straight up, this is a long and kinda(?) mean confession. Right from the get go, you know. So if it’s not your thing to read this, then you don’t have to. And it is about “Kawaii” artists.
There was a post, not too long ago basically teaching you how to become a Kawaii artist. Well let me just say, I went down that path about a year ago. That is to say I had an original account where I posted my… I don’t want to say actual art because the moe blobs were technically mine too… but well, art I really enjoyed making (look at the stupid opening picture, I didn’t know what I was doing when I was making it). But the thing is, while I had that account (and I still do) I was in need for money, you know, for textbooks and such because I had just entered university. So I opened commissions and that was a huge mistake, I spend so much time on them that I didn’t have time to study and I wasn’t even getting enough money for the books anyway (because I put to much detail in the work, a piece would take me about 3 weeks. And for 20 dollars, excuse me but I just didn’t have the time or the effort.)
So I closed commissions and thought about what to do. I had a job as a cashier too, I needed to save up for next years 8000$ tuition. I had an awesome idea then, it came to me as I was scrolling the tumblr of my worst enemy (Yea I know, “immature” blehh). She was/is one of those “desu” girls who thinks that everything should be “super kawaii-uguu” (yes, she’s in second year university too, some people don’t grow out of it.) She had commissioned a chibi drawn of her, and she paid a good $20 for it, basically it was a flat colored blob with big eyes drawn by some novice. I should do that too, I though. I took my fall break and practiced, it took a week to learn an acceptable “cute” style, and made a new DA. It was named some stupid cutesy name with ‘chan’ stuck at the end. It took me about a half hour to crank out a pink haired blob, complete with some sparkly-shiny coloring. I posted it and added it to a shit-ton of groups. Within a week I had 30 watchers and 7 commissions done, I charged about $10 per one. They only took about an hour to draw, they also tended to be the same looking and well… ugh. But I made $70, thats a textbook right there (cherish high school and the books they let you borrow.)
But holy shit. holy shit on a sparkly pink stick. The majority of “kawaii” artists are the biggest turds I’ve ever met. I had private messages telling me how they wanted to be “~~best friends~~ <3” and overly used “plz” account icons everywhere. There were some who asked me to commission them (excuse me?). And then my favorite were the ones that when you begrudgingly answered yes to their friendship bullshit would ask you for a free picture. No. Requests are closed, can you not read?
Then they would pull the “But we’re dA friends! >///<“ card and I would proceed to not give two horses asses about it because I’m not attention starved, the harsh reality is I just want their money.
Anyway, I started getting fan art, you know, those licks on the ass when they want your attention or something for free. Some of it was bad, but I never really criticized it, I just took it with a “:)”. All the while I was still doing commissions, sometimes for the same person I’d be doing four, where they got the money, I do not know. But here’s something very valuable I learned, you can’t account for people’s taste, let them spend their money as they please. One girl bought the same OC from me 3 times and positions that barely changed, but hey, $30 bucks.
Ok, on to the biggest grievance of all. The actual art. I can’t even… I tried to make my shit as good as I could (for someone who usually draws suits of armor and swords anyway). But some of the people in that community, even if you give them tips, such as the formation of the common face (which does indeed work for chibi too), they wouldn’t listen. And when you told them that even professional mangakas followed rules in regards to chibi and kawaii shit, nope. You could basically tell them to use a ruler and measure the dimensions of the face so they can find out that there was some method in professional kawaii, nope. The way they did it was the right way. Lets not forget that these people were going; “Your art is so much better than mine.”, “I wish I could draw as well as you _______-chan!.” WHY DO YOU NOT TAKE MY ADVICE THOUGH? WHY?
So it was nearing final exams in April, and I had paraded around in kawaii world for a few good months and raised about $400. Awesome. Then I put up an announcement that basically told my followers to save the crap I drew for them because I would be leaving 2 weeks time. I made sure everyone got saved their things (honestly I drew about 12 drawings for the same person so it wasn’t that hard) and deleted my account.
Here is my confession. I am not sorry I did it. I’m going to do it again one day. And if you need easy money, this is going to sound super harsh, but this is a good way to get some.
submitted by -Anonymous
fucking fuck!! You know, being here on tumblr lately I realised a couple of things:
1. you don’t have to be a good artist to be famous (and get money)
2. people wil reblog the shit out of your drawings as long as they’re fanart or some kawaii shit.
so I’ve been thinking about doing the same too, creating a stupid account to submit this shit or some porn and open commissions….I realised I draw for people who pay attention to effort, I try too hard for nothing so fuck it, you anon sir are a fucking genius and I will marry you.
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futtture: artist-confessions: I’m going to tell you guys straight up, this is a long and kinda(?)...
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