I don't draw for free, even if I draw for fun

[Android Kaeli]

When I do jewelry for people, the only times when it'll be free if the people who want the stuff done PAY for the materials or it's a GIFT. Otherwise, it'll be expensive -- especally if I have to go out and buy more materials to cover what they want. It doesn't happen that often, usually it's family that gets it for gifts.

Want Swarovski crystals? The cheapest *I* can get is $5 per 30-32 crystals and that'll reflect in the price, by a WHOLE lot if I use the Crystazzi crystals instead. And, no, I'm not going to go out and buy some piece of crap transite wire to do a necklace or bracelet, especally when I can get actual FISHING LINE that's more durable then that stuff [and, yes, I've used both].

I can't draw to save my life, but I know how much artist supplies are. The Prismacolor pencils are NOT cheap, especally if you buy the bigger packs -- those run no less then $150.

[spark]

Quoth Kisa

No no no, that was way too high for a portrait. After all, it's just a drawing and someone as talented as me could churn it out in a few hours.

Even if you could, that argument is moronic. Somebody as talented as you should be PAID for those few hours. In fact the more talented somebody is the more they charge for something! Saying because you're good enough to do it fast you're... not good enough to be paid? I mean really?

What a twit.

[Seraph]

Holy mother of entitlement! I'd have ripped her a new one on the spot, you're much, much nicer than I would've been.

Also, charge more. Seriously.

[XCashier]

Quoth Kisa

No no no, that was way too high for a portrait. After all, it's just a drawing and someone as talented as me could churn it out in a few hours.

"Annie Lennox! I was wondering if you could sing at my birthday party?...How much? No, no, no, that's way too high for a party. After all, it's just a party and someone as talented as you can churn it out for a few hours."

See how ridiculous it sounds in another context? You wouldn't expect a singer or athlete to perform for free, why should she expect you to?

[Seshat]

Quoth raudf

I've ran (Hrm, I wanted to say rant for some reason) into people who thought that art was something people are just born with the ability to do, no practice required.

My therapist discovered that I do amateur art; and because I'm semi-professional as a speaker and professional-grade as a writer, we use art as a way to get straight to my psyche without my trained self-editing getting in the way.

Anna's therapist admired one of my pieces, and said something about not being able to do art. I just gave her a 'you know better than that' look (hey, she's a therapist!), and asked her how many hours of practice she'd put into it.

She thought about it, then laughed at herself and granted my point.

Quoth Kisa

I'm not a very confident artist ahaha there are plenty of people who draw better than me

And there are plenty of people who draw worse than you.

Value the skill you currently have: don't denigrate yourself because you're not yet Picasso.

[gremcint]

I know how you feel, I'm not an artist but I do know a lot about computers.

[Lachrymose]

I work in IT. It's amazing how many people at work (not in IT) think I want to take their computers home and work on them in my spare time for free.

I name my price (waaay below "retail" prices). Sometimes they get back to me. Sometimes they don't.

[gremcint]

I've had people I haven't seen for years walk up to me and start asking about how to fix their computer.

[Lachrymose]

We need this:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-app...trations/388b/

(Well, maybe not. I do like the extra money from the ones who will actually pay. Strangely enough, they seem to be the ones who manage to virus their computers up every month even though I completely remove the viruses and install a good antivirus program. Usually it's because they're basically asking for it by going to torrent sites...or clicking things they shouldn't.)

[Pixilated]

Quoth Micer

Tell her to take a photo of herself, take it to a Kinkos that has a copy of photoshop on it, and Filter -> Sketch. Bang, picture of herself that's in a sketchy style and if she's fast enough, she'll only have to pay eight bucks, can claim she did it herself and therefore is now an art wiz (lol) and she can go fuck herself while she's at it.

*snip*

First thing that crossed my mind, LOL. She can do AWESOME things with Photoshop and she can do all of them if she just buys the program!

And she can do them allllll for free ... provided she can convince Photoshop's makers that since they can just whomp up programs like this in not time at all, she shouldn't have to pay for it ...