Appreciate the Little Things
Published February 23, 2011 | 
Life is chaotic. Let’s face it, as now we’re facing economic collapse, governments are being challenged, people are facing unemployment, it’s a scary time and so easy to get caught up in it all. I know I do sometimes, and that’s when I gotta sit down and remember that God is there. When I start feeling overwhelmed with it, or getting sidetracked with how much stuff is going on, I talk to Him. Now some may think it’s a waste, that I’m talking to the wall, or “How could God be there with all this going on?” But I don’t and I believe wholeheartedly He listens and wants nothing more than for us to ask Him for guidance. It’s not God that makes bad things happen, it is men and the one who influences them, Satan. Or a natural cycle of earth, as in the case of hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. God allows for them to happen, just as he allows us all a free will. But I’m getting sidetracked… back to my point. God has never let me down, when I’ve been at some pretty low points in life He has always come through. Always provided, when I thought it was almost done and over He shines through the darkness to light a path for me to follow.
Sometimes I forget to appreciate what is going on now in my life. I get swept away and distracted by money problems, job trouble, and whatever else. I sometimes forget to be happy with what I’ve got, rather I start thinking of all the things I cannot do or cannot get. For the longest time I’ve been stewing over the fact I cannot afford a car and that I’ve never been able to own one. Lately I’ve just decided it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ll buy me a bike when I can, and when it’s time to get a car, I’ll get one. I know that now is just not the right time. Sure a bike won’t work so well in the winter with icy roads, but come spring all the way through till mid-fall it can be very useful and heck I’ll get exercise to boot!
As all these negative thoughts swirl about my head, I have to stop, look around me and appreciate life for what it is. Listen to that small voice that’s trying to get through to me. And to listen to what God is trying to show me and what others are too. He doesn’t always go through the most direct route, sometimes it’s just small things, little nudges or hints. “Be content!” I am rich, not with material things or money, but with love, my family, friends and God. I may never have much money, but ya know, I’m cool with that. Heck even if I can never afford a car, at least I have two things that will last, Love and faith. Nothing can take that away.
Underpaid and Overpriced
Published February 11, 2011 | 
Title contradicts don’t it? :B
Well I’m going to cover two things that really irk me about the small time art world on the interwebz. I find A LOT of artists online are way underpaid. Granted they undercharge, but that’s to keep up with the competition. They have to keep their prices lower than a sandwich at subway just to try and make a buck. Nobody wants to pay for the actual worth of the art. Regardless of whether it’s digital or not, it takes just as long to do it. I’ve had people quibble over a measly five dollars. That will not even buy me a full lunch for a day. At least not where I live. I wish it did!
Now I do realize that most people cannot pay “professional” prices. No worries, but my gosh don’t get your panties in a wad that your favorite artist charges $30 for a color image. This is really rather reasonable compare to what they would be getting in the professional realm for something of the same quality. Consider yourself lucky that they might even be open for small private commissions like that. They take the time to work at such a low price just for you, when they could be making much much more commercially, or maybe they do and they just do this for fun. Who knows!
A lot of people like “badges” that display their character and its name. They wear these things to conventions etc, a lot of artists will laminate, mail, put clips etc on these things, if digital print them out but most of those artists will charge $30+. I find that quite reasonable considering all the time, effort and materials that go into making one of those. That’s why it irritates me beyond all reason when someone whines that I’m selling a badge for $10 because I cannot print it out or laminate them due to not having the right equipment. I don’t make a living from badges, nor do I sell enough to actually require purchasing these and my pricing certainly doesn’t cover the cost of gas to get to a store that does. I get a lot of nose turn ups because I won’t do that, but you pay for what you get. I find $10 really reasonable for anything that’s drawn, fully colored and shaded to your specifications.
Most people want something for nothing. As someone once put it, and they said it rather well, it’s basically like you going to work, working for a few hours, then having your employer say you don’t get any pay for that day. Regardless of if this person you are working with draws for a living or not. It’s still work. I’m sure any of them would enjoy drawing something for themselves rather than drawing something requested, I know I do. Yes I’ll admit it, but it’s true.
Another that kills me, are people wanting movie quality animations for under $20. Regardless of whether it’s an icon or not, it’s not worth spending a week of work on an animated commission for $20. That is less than minimum wage, not cool. If you pay that little for an animation, definitely don’t expect it to be the world’s smoothest most astounding animation. Unless that person is really quick at animating or doesn’t mind almost giving away their skills for peanuts.
A lot of people complain an artist is overpriced, well they charge what they think they’re worth, or as I said earlier undercharge. The only time I find that a person might not be worth the money is if you can see a LARGE gap in quality between what they produce for themselves versus what they make for others and are trying to squeeze $50 out of a quick sketch. And by the gap in quality I mean “half-assing” art drawn for others just because they don’t enjoy it and just want the money. Though! Also consider what it was that someone paid for, if it’s a $5 flat image, it’s going to naturally look different from a fully colored image with shading and a background. You also get what you pay for, the higher the price, the better the image. That goes for most everything. You buy $10 shoes, those shoes will be less quality than some you spent $50 on, typically.
When you commission someone, it’s only fair to pay what they ask. After all they’re taking time out of their day to work for something you want, not something they want. Don’t haggle over the price. Maybe this is their only source of income at the moment, or maybe it’s helping alongside another job. Some do it for fun, but most I know do it because they have to or they’d be in trouble financially or already are. When you get annoyed at the pricing of private art commissions, keep all this in mind.
And History Repeats
Published November 10, 2010 | 
In the 1920′s Germany’s economy was falling to pieces. Their debt was monumental. To combat this debt the government started up the printing presses. The printing presses for money. The German mark lost so much value people started using it as wallpaper, burning it as fuel in their fireplaces because it was cheaper than wood, and use it it as toilet paper.
Sadly the US government has decided to do this same mistake by monetizing the debt. There is no other outcome to this decision than hyperinflation and then collapse.
Notice the price of food is going up? Not just a little, but quite a bit. Some of the estimates on how much it might go up in the next couple years is actually pretty scary. The Obama administration wants to increase taxes, rather than cut spending. Where they said they would NOT monetize the debt, they have gone back on that promise.
Isn’t that grand? It’s true what they say, history is repeats itself. I think if our forefathers saw how corrupt the government is becoming, how powerful and controlling that we have let it become, they would weep for us. They gave us a democracy and we haven’t held to the basic principles. We have let the government slowly start to strip our freedoms away. It starts small, with something that seems innocent, and then it grows. The man that holds the title president won’t even quote the constitution correctly, how much more do you think he will hold to it? The very foundation on which our nation was built is being taken away “brick by brick”.
I find it really sad. The government needs to be shook up and this last November it has a little, but not enough. There is still hope that we won’t go down the same path as Germany and many other nations, but it requires cutting government spending, ending the mass printing of our bank notes, and returning to a gold standard. I only hope the newly elected will listen to the people, who have started to wake up and see the dire straights we’re in. All of that takes time, I know. It’s not something that can happen overnight, but it can be done. It’ll be a pain, but it would be worth it in the long run. Either route will cause pain, monetizing so we can keep spending and causing debt, or cutting back on our massive spending. In my opinion, it would be better to have a big pain now that won’t last as long with a quicker recovery; than a longer slower pain that will lead to collapse and a possible dissolving of our democracy.
Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended,
Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”
With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Maybe I’m just blabbing out into the interwebs, and whether someone find’s this informative or not at least I got some of my thoughts down about it. Anyone else have thoughts on it, feel free to share.
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