garthft
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AMA — “Do You Have A Day Job?”
🕑 Added 2023-01-16 01:22:30 +0000 UTCQ: “Have you reached a level of success that you can support yourself? Or do you have a side gig, like home inspector or Olive Garden host to get you by?”
I’ve been drawing comics online for almost twenty years now. I have technically never had a side gig during that time…but only technically.
Being an online artist is a job that wears many hats. In the beginning I drew comics and sold t-shirts. Later I drew comics and drew commissions. Later I drew comics and was a micro publisher selling books. Then I drew comics and drew commissions again. And all the while I was also a web developer and marketer and retailer and social media handler and writer and layout artist and graphic designer and accountant and any other number of jobs necessary to make being a freelance artist entrepreneur work.
There’s also the matter of “getting by.” When I started out I was a college student, and then I lived with my parents for many years. My expenses were few. I could get by on relatively little.
It’s only recently that I have reached the point that I don’t need a “side job.” At this point I am making a true living from just drawing comics, and it blows my mind when I think about it too hard. I still have some commissioned work—like Glory Bowl—that I need to finish, and I’ll probably still take some commissions from time to time. But it’s no long something I have to do to support my comic-making habit. I can just draw comics—good comics—and I make a living doing just that.
And I couldn’t do it without you.
Not to sound too much like a PBS special, I am able at long last to make a living drawing comics because of the investment of my Patrons. You all make it possible. And for that you have my endless gratitude and the best damn comics and art I can make!
If you have a question for me, put it in the comments and I’ll do my best to give it a thorough answer!
Comments
Razorbeast
hooray! let the horny games begin! Now get to work making my NSFW dreams into vivid drawn realities!! lol. But in all seriousness, your art is wonderful and I am always glad to see someone be able to find fulfillment in the thing they love. Physical, emotional, and financial
Garth Graham
If anything it means that there will be MORE pinups and comics (SFW and NSFW alike)!
Razorbeast
How will this impact the work you have been doing here? Will there still be the pinups or the NSFW comics?
Paqs
Sorry if this is too personal, just ignore it if it is.... Since you draw smut, I think everyone wants to know: Are you yourself kinky? Queer? Poly? Does your partner ever do her makeup to look more 2D? Etc etc. What is the sex life of a sex cartoonist?
Paqs
I loved the examples the questioner gave 😂
Tannerbot
What brings you the most happiness to draw?
