Year 3: Quarter 2
- Branden Singletary
- Oct 15, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Hello!
Another three months have passed, which calls for another quarterly update! A looot of things have been made, and things have been discovered - which seemingly is going to be a reoccurring theme for these updates and at this point, I'm certain these are going to continue!
Let us review what has transpired.
Goals of the Previous Quarter
[✓] Complete 'The Axis' series.
Perhaps the most time-consuming and painstaking of these three series, considering I had to utilize raw design knowledge on top of illustration. The process of creating sets of shirts for these, as well, added even more time and may have totaled up to about a month of work, but boy was it worth it! This series was more of a learning experience than anything else and it will make future projects like this eveeeen smoother. I do have a feeling when I'm going to be using similar workflows in the future and I honestly can't wait until I get there. Though, that could easily just be my excitement for the next part of the Astral Triptych!
[✓] Complete 'The Topology' series.
The easiest and least time-consuming of the bunch, considering that I created all three realms together and theeen separated them all. After that looong period of working with graphic design for the previous set of drawings, this was a greatly appreciated return to form. With these, I mostly only used a default, circle brush and was honestly rather satisfied with the results. The use of other, fancier brushes are a means of speeding up the process of creation (for me, at least), but I've found that a slower approach is the way to go, and it further encouraged this smooth, organic and simultaneously weighty style!
[✓] Complete 'The True Aspects' series.
And here, we've reach the pinnacle of that aforementioned style. Well, perhaps not the "pinnacle," but we've certainly pushed it even further and I particularly fun time creating this set. For the most part, anyway (Niil and Tnil were the most annoying). There is more to unearth in regards to this style and I can't wait to see how everything unfolds.
[~] Generate additional, miscellaneous scenes from the Cosmos.
I was more than capable of creating a few scenes already, but by the time the 'True Aspects' series was completely done uploading (October 10), there would've only been five days until I had to post this very update that you're reading. Instead of maximizing my workload (and disrupting the flow and harmony of the drawings above with obscene amounts of color), I've decided to just take it easy. However, giving myself this time has enabled me to generate a lot of mental images of what I would want to do with the next several batches of drawings, so transitioning into creation is going to be rather effortless! That is, until I run out of mental images!
Revelations
Understandings of "value."
With the help from - and frequent chats with - my first (and currently only) patron, I've slowly been coming to understand the importance of value, specifically, the value of my own work, and looking around at other artists (especially those starting out), I can certainly see that I'm not the only one suffering from this problem.
When I made the announcement for the Support page on my website, I only had two tiers: a $1 tier that was used as a simple tip (and giving them a single-use 10% off coupon) and a $5 tier that included a bunch of other rewards (hi-res images, PSDs, a special 10% off coupon code that can be used for as long as you remained subscribed) - and before that, on my Patreon page, I only had that single $1 tier, but you didn't get a coupon at all (very much only to be used as a tip). I was just following the model that other artists on Patreon used and considered that to be "fair." And considering this is the status quo, it may not look all that bad, but looking at it now, I can see how absurd it is and why it drew the ire of two friends of mine, one of them being that single patron. However, they took two completely different approaches.
One from a consumer standpoint and the other from a self-value standpoint.
The consumer standpoint was "no one's going to pay $1 for what is essentially nothing - you have to give them something." Which is fair, but he didn't seem to understand that it was "just a tip jar." Tip jars are not the same as paying for something; you're essentially donating to them. I dismissed his criticism, thinking that if they liked my work, they would want to support it, without caring about getting something in return - if anything, they would then be paying for my living and getting artwork in return (which does takes time and energy). And if they don't value my work enough to support me, then they don't have to pay for anything - it's not like everything I created up to that point would be going anywhere. An perhaps incomplete understanding of value, but convincing enough to myself at that point in time to disregard his advice. For a time, anyway; I did eventually add in that $5 tier.
The patron, shortly after becoming one in the first place, presented a self-value standpoint, and while there was a similar degree of resistance in the beginning, her argument was far more convincing. She gave me the price a single PSD which could easily go up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, purely because of the information they're able to provide. Hi-res images can certainly be the same, especially if they're made to be reproduced by companies. She not only took issue with how I was just handing a bunch of these out all willy-nilly for just $5, but also that I placed such low-value on my own time, effort and accumulated knowledge.
It was strictly a viewpoint of how I valued my own work, and not necessarily what others may think it would be worth. And she also pinpointed a reason why I may be devaluing my work, too, when I only had a vague glimpse of "why" myself. If one's work is constantly showered in praise when they're just doing what naturally comes to them (and thus, they don't put any real degree of effort into it), that type of support has a chance of completely losing its meaning and even potentially lead to extreme devaluation of their own work. Which was exemplified by own surprise when someone actually decided to support me directly! My initial thought was "What? Why would you do that? I wouldn't have supported me!"
And that mindset just doesn't make any sense! How could I spend all of my waking hours thinking about, and actively working to expand upon, a massive project and not have it hold any degree of value to myself? Madness.
So, I broke up the $5 tier, added a $10 tier and now it's less conflicting. Upon doing that, too, I realized how flawed the typical Patreon model is for creators, as it inherently devalues the work of the artist. It's only exacerbated if the artist's understanding of value is skewed (like with most artists only just beginning their business ventures), as it often caters specifically to the consumer, without taking into account the value of their work and everything that goes into it. Appealing to the consumer, of course, isn't inherently bad, but in this case, it leads to the artist devaluing their own work, which leads to a host of problems - financially (not getting any money and becoming a "starving artist") and personally (misplaced/weak self-esteem).
It's been an ongoing battle to begin valuing my work and I believe I'm making reasonable progress. About a month ago, I came to the decision to make my content completely exclusive once Part Two of The Astral Triptych begins, whilst keeping part one - Desire - free and open to the public. The sustainability of this in the long term will work great and I would more than likely be able to keep it going for yeeeears once Part Three begins, but of course, that's a long ways from now. And only just recently, I've begun to place greater value on my own time and the relationships I'm a part of, and discerning the value of these relationships, which are two things that are very important for a calm, happy and peaceful life.
Why spend your time on those that don't value you and/or any other aspect of your own existence, internal or external? Or worse, why spend your time around those that actively try to devalue those things, yourself included? Why not instead find those that are willing to help and support you, whilst also reminding you of what you're truly worth by placing great value upon you and those extensions of your existence?
My conclusion is this: Time benefits those that possess a virtuous and developed sense of value. As for those that seek devaluation, their fate resembles that of self-sabotage, self-loathing, and eventually, self-destruction. A tragic fate that they can only blame on themselves.
Goals of the New Quarter
Generate additional, miscellaneous scenes from the Cosmos.
Now the fun can begin. The creation of these different scenes will be the backbone of the video presentations that will be created in the future, which should hopefully make my work that much more accessible to all audiences. I did just recently make the lore pages far more digestible by doing a huuuge overhaul in terms of presentation, too, which you're able to view here!
All of that being said, there is faaar more on the horizon - many, many exciting things - and I genuinely hope you're all there with me to see it.
For all those that show their support by frequently engaging with my work, actively seeking to understand and reflect upon its meaning, and most importantly, place great value on all that I have to offer to the world, know that you are appreciated and cherished deeply and you will always have my admiration. You truly, and sincerely, mean the world to me.
Until the next one,
January 15th!