Hans.Trondheim
Low energy is king!
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2021
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It's been getting traction lately, this issue with 'artists' sending out 'unsolicited' advertisements to authors they think are unsuspecting enough to hire/commission them. As I'm also a writer, I get my share of these annoying messages from ScribbleHub (emails, PM, or chapter comments), Wattpad (in the form of comments), and even in Pixiv.
However, for budding artists who might've come across some of these posts and thought to themselves, "Why are these guys getting mad?", allow me to give a few explanations on why these practices are frowned upon.
1) THESE PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO FOOL YOU INTO THINKING THEY ARE YOUR MOST AVID FANS, then try to mooch off you for their 'affordable art prices'. Basically, they are trying to appeal to your 'goodwill' because, hey, who doesn't want an adoring fan? It's downright annoying, and disrespectful because of the lies (they claim they read the work, yet they just made the account a few hours ago, and you got tons of chapters you wrote for a year now).
Honestly, I haven't replied much to these peeps, other than to tell them I can also do what they do (the drawing part; I'm also an artist/illustrator, with a number of story covers done here in ScribbleHub), and that is when I'm in the mood to reply. So, I really don't know if the services they are peddling are legit, or just trying to make a fool out of you by giving you AI art. But hey, get up with your lazy ass, and do the AI art yourself instead of getting duped into availing 'affordable AI artists'.
2) AS WITH MY PREVIOUS POINT, THEY ARE DISRESPECTFUL. I'm an artist/illustrator and an author myself. As such, not only do I take commissions, I also draw my own artwork to accompany my stories. These idiots, in their quest to get you to commission them, would often ignore that you already shelled out money to have a legit artist do your work's art. Hell, do they even take a look at the covers you have? Or do they think that their AI art is superior to a hand-drawn work? Depending on your perspective, you may prefer AI because honestly, it's a damn clean effort. But hand-drawn artworks still have that 'emotion' a lot of AI generated art didn't have.
Okay, so let's say these fellas aren't AI prompters, but rather, 'legit' artists, too. Well, that's even more disrespectful to the artist you already hired, and to you who already gave money for the commission. A simple, unsolicited advert from these idiots can mean, "Your story's art, and your artist, are trash."
3) THEY WASTE BOTH OUR TIMES. When you want someone to hire/commission you, SEND A FREAKING PORTFOLIO OF YOUR ARTWORK. "But Hans, they might use my artworks without my permission!" THEN USE A FREAKING WATERMARK, OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW, LEARN HOW TO CREATE ONE! This will give your potential client an idea that you are a serious artist, and you have artwork to back up your 'affordable, nice artwork' claims.
4) UNSOLICITED ADVERTISEMENT IS LIKE THE POP-ADS OF THE AUTHOR WORLD. Last time, I was waiting for an important email that can make or break my career as a teacher. Lo and behold, a notification comes in, I was elated. Then, once I opened the email, all that I read was someone advertising their 'affordable services to draw artwork for my novel that has my own artwork.' So yeah, this kind of self-promotion IS ANNOYING AS FUCK, and is counter-productive to your goal to get a commission.
Anyway, as a budding artist looking to get yourself some commissions, don't emulate such practices.
So what can you do?
We got ways to self-promote our services. One is to post your services here, in the forum thread called "Looking for Work." Put up a few samples of your artwork, show your prices and conditions, then wait if someone takes a bait. As an artist, have self-respect for your craft and don't do suspicious practices like fooling authors with 'I read your work, and it's great! Now give me money!' WE ARE AUTHORS! WE KNOW AND CAN READ THE INTENT BEYOND THE WORDS SAID TO US! Not all, but yeah, we can see through the fakeness.
Second, you may see some authors post commission threads. This is where you can give 'unsolicited adverts' about your services. Again, show your portfolio via DM, talk about your prices and conditions, and hope that the client takes your pitch in.
Third, there are sites where you can advertise your services, too. FIverr is one, along with Patreon and BuyMeACoffee. If you're legit, you'll have no problem setting up shops in these sites.
So yeah, hope this helps, budding artist!
However, for budding artists who might've come across some of these posts and thought to themselves, "Why are these guys getting mad?", allow me to give a few explanations on why these practices are frowned upon.
1) THESE PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO FOOL YOU INTO THINKING THEY ARE YOUR MOST AVID FANS, then try to mooch off you for their 'affordable art prices'. Basically, they are trying to appeal to your 'goodwill' because, hey, who doesn't want an adoring fan? It's downright annoying, and disrespectful because of the lies (they claim they read the work, yet they just made the account a few hours ago, and you got tons of chapters you wrote for a year now).
Honestly, I haven't replied much to these peeps, other than to tell them I can also do what they do (the drawing part; I'm also an artist/illustrator, with a number of story covers done here in ScribbleHub), and that is when I'm in the mood to reply. So, I really don't know if the services they are peddling are legit, or just trying to make a fool out of you by giving you AI art. But hey, get up with your lazy ass, and do the AI art yourself instead of getting duped into availing 'affordable AI artists'.
2) AS WITH MY PREVIOUS POINT, THEY ARE DISRESPECTFUL. I'm an artist/illustrator and an author myself. As such, not only do I take commissions, I also draw my own artwork to accompany my stories. These idiots, in their quest to get you to commission them, would often ignore that you already shelled out money to have a legit artist do your work's art. Hell, do they even take a look at the covers you have? Or do they think that their AI art is superior to a hand-drawn work? Depending on your perspective, you may prefer AI because honestly, it's a damn clean effort. But hand-drawn artworks still have that 'emotion' a lot of AI generated art didn't have.
Okay, so let's say these fellas aren't AI prompters, but rather, 'legit' artists, too. Well, that's even more disrespectful to the artist you already hired, and to you who already gave money for the commission. A simple, unsolicited advert from these idiots can mean, "Your story's art, and your artist, are trash."
3) THEY WASTE BOTH OUR TIMES. When you want someone to hire/commission you, SEND A FREAKING PORTFOLIO OF YOUR ARTWORK. "But Hans, they might use my artworks without my permission!" THEN USE A FREAKING WATERMARK, OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW, LEARN HOW TO CREATE ONE! This will give your potential client an idea that you are a serious artist, and you have artwork to back up your 'affordable, nice artwork' claims.
4) UNSOLICITED ADVERTISEMENT IS LIKE THE POP-ADS OF THE AUTHOR WORLD. Last time, I was waiting for an important email that can make or break my career as a teacher. Lo and behold, a notification comes in, I was elated. Then, once I opened the email, all that I read was someone advertising their 'affordable services to draw artwork for my novel that has my own artwork.' So yeah, this kind of self-promotion IS ANNOYING AS FUCK, and is counter-productive to your goal to get a commission.
Anyway, as a budding artist looking to get yourself some commissions, don't emulate such practices.
So what can you do?
We got ways to self-promote our services. One is to post your services here, in the forum thread called "Looking for Work." Put up a few samples of your artwork, show your prices and conditions, then wait if someone takes a bait. As an artist, have self-respect for your craft and don't do suspicious practices like fooling authors with 'I read your work, and it's great! Now give me money!' WE ARE AUTHORS! WE KNOW AND CAN READ THE INTENT BEYOND THE WORDS SAID TO US! Not all, but yeah, we can see through the fakeness.
Second, you may see some authors post commission threads. This is where you can give 'unsolicited adverts' about your services. Again, show your portfolio via DM, talk about your prices and conditions, and hope that the client takes your pitch in.
Third, there are sites where you can advertise your services, too. FIverr is one, along with Patreon and BuyMeACoffee. If you're legit, you'll have no problem setting up shops in these sites.
So yeah, hope this helps, budding artist!
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