cool beams @dissonancelies@dragon.style

Morning folks. Don't forget to do something nice for yourself today.

It's an essential skill to have several streams coming in at all times, if you're someone who makes a living independently. Mine are digital online merch, physical online merch, site advertisements, conventions, sales from my distributor, side freelance, commissions, and patreon. Some of you may also have royalties from past projects which can also add up over time, or adjacent side jobs like editing or consulting, or just a normal part-time job (or full-time if you're able to juggle haha)

Will be talking about this in my next tutorial but in general, once you have a free product (like a webcomic) out there, expand to a physical product next. Make it available digitally and physically. Diversify, if comfortable, into adjacent products with lower overhead/ high selling point (pins are a good one). Learn to sell in person and learn to pitch. Open yourself up to larger markets if your work is at that level. Etc.

For creators tho, this Patreon thing is the same I've been saying for a while in regards to any service you depend on: it could go down the tubes at any time. In the same way that you should host your own work to prevent it being wiped or made irrelevant (a la Vine when it shut down), you should be looking to diversify your income streams as much as possible.

here's a past piece, a background based on paloma's hut from the eleventh hour arc of taz!

#art #mastoart #creativetoot #taz

The beast was thinking recently
On "be the change you wish to see"
And how imagination brings
A million billion kinds of things
So if the world seems dull and mean
It's up to us to change the scene
To tell the world of what could be
And let the worlds inside us free

It turns out that the polar ice caps are melting because Santa's elves are running a 500-megawatt bitcoin mining rig

https://mastodon.art/media/JFQDf4THnjaDW4zfrxQ

someone commissioned me to draw this and I was delighted. Such a cute idea!

I made this using traditional screentones. it's quite the process but so rewarding when done.

#mastoart #creativetoots #thezonecast #taz #theadventurezone

Some more stuff? Okay. I drew thist Taako some time ago and I'm still really happy with him. This disaster child would wear ALL THE COLORS
#mastoart #creativetoots #arttoots #taz #theadventurezone https://mastodon.art/media/ZwuR4RUmuBIThEjzXiM

More TAZ fanart, circa Wonderland

#mastoart #creativetoots #taz #theadventurezone

And finally, the one everyone could have predicted.
https://mastodon.social/media/jhbUEJf5FfkTQmz6Tsw

Something for the folks new to Mastodon. It's generally considered polite to put politics behind a CW. It's honestly a depression and distressing topic these days.

https://mastodon.art/media/z3NpvavRW6uPPs3-2nc you know. i dont think i ever posted this one. i just dont really know what i want to do with this one honestly. its been sitting untouched for like a month.