Let me give you art in return for money!

[Kinoko]

I've recently started creating my own webcomic. I've spent all weekend on it, staying up til 5:30am learning PHP, fighting hoardes of monsters with only a toothpick and having to overcome emotional hurdles such as a crippling fear of buttons.

I am dedicated to this, and I've been working hard for it.

One of the things I'm dedicated to is getting word out to all my future fans, and I'm doing that at the moment with Project Wonderful - a site that allows webcomic atists to all share advertising space.

It's pretty ... well, wonderful. I like it.

Basically, you hook it up to your paypal account (which I have) or credit card (which I don't have) and you can bid tiny amounts of money or large amounts of money on advertising space on certain pages. You can also make money by providing advertising space.

My problem.

My paypal account is hooked up to my Australian bank account. I live in Japan. There is no money in my Australian bank account nor do I have internet banking enabled. I am a forward thinking person.

I have in the past tried to make a new paypal account connected to my Japanese bank account, twice I believe. I can't remember why but it was impossible.

Basically I have no way of getting money into my paypal account of my own volition.

Why this doesn't matter to you!

Because I'm not going to ask anyone to take pity on me, it doesn't matter! My problem is of zero concern to you.

Why you're even reading this?!

Because I would like somebody to commision me for some art that I can draw for you and send to you.

(side note) I'm actually a really good artist!

I would like some interested person to basically agree to throw some cash into my paypal account, in exchange for which I'll draw you a picture that I feel is worth about that amount.

I'm not asking for hundreds of dollars here - but don't let that stop you from GIVING me hundreds of dollars! If you do so, you'll get a fine commisioned piece that'll take genuine time and effort. But it will take time.

Even if it's $10 (which, to be honest, is better for me time-wise), I'll send you a little something that, while not being a fully coloured A3 piece of amazing, will still be neat and full of love. I actually do quite neat postcard pictures, and I can do them on normal postcard card or on this very lovely neopiko board which is thick and
fabulous.

That's my offer, I hope noone has a problem with me asking. I just really want to make this work, and I want to work for it!

My existing art for your perusal.

You can check out my DeviantArt page or my Livejournal page.

Of course, yours will be a completely unique piece all for yourself.

EDIT: I actually have a couple of commissions now so there's no great urgency. I'm still happy to take anymore if you so desire!

[Nikolas]

I really, honestly, sincerely don't understand. Sorry Kinoko.

I'll try to break down my understanding of the situation, and since it's evening in Japan, you'll see the post and reply, right?

1. There is this project wonderful site, which is about advertising solely. Fine.
2. You need a paypal account, or credit card (which you don't have) in order to start "working" with project wonderful.
3. You don't have money in your paypal account, since it's linked with your Australian account and you can't (for some reason, which I can't really understand) link your Japanesse account to paypal.
4. So you need someone to give you some money, in exchange for work, in order to get money into paypal and kick off that account again, right?

If so, I would be rather interested to help out ( = take advantage of your situation and steal some beautiful art, for nexty to nothing, since you are SO desperate ). So I'll PM you for more... financial questions.

If you need a few suggestions:

Not everybody knows you over here anymore... Maybe a bit of introduction would be appropriate? Maybe a few samples of your art?

Also, since project wondeful is about advertising "only", why not link your webcomic here and everywhere and see how it goes before you start using project wondeful? Maybe you won't need it after all? Maybe it will be your strong hidden ace, that you can use to actually earn money from project wonderful? Or maybe you can just put adsense and see how it goes? If you get plenty of hits daily, then why not? YOUR webcomic will be worth it.

Time for the PM then.

[Kinoko]

Hey, you know, I'm an idiot. I shall indeed link to some of my other art.

I specifically didn't link to the webcomic because I'm planning on doing a proper post about it maybe early in the hours of tonight/tomorrow morning when I feel it's ready to plug. I'm still working on it as we speak.

I actually do hope that eventually I can earn enough money from selling advertising space that I don't need to put any of my own money into advertising for myself, but that's not going to happen right now. I need people to learn about this place first.

Anyway, thanks Nik! I can always count on you to make good suggestions and sense ^_^

[Vince Twelve]

There are lots of ways to transfer money from your japanese account to your australian account.  I keep my American account afloat with occasional transfers via GoLloyds which transfers your money to a foreign account via Lloyds of London bank. 

You can also do transfers straight from your bank, but I find that using GoLloyds takes a smaller fee to make this transfer.  This is because instead of making an international transfer from my little bank, I'm making a domestic transfer to a giant bank and letting that bank, which can do it cheaper, make the international transfer.

GoLloyds takes less than 48 hours to clear, so it's pretty fast.

[Kinoko]

The problem is also that I left only a piddling amount of money in my Australian account when I last left Australia, about a year and a half ago... that money would have been eaten up pretty fast by bank fees. I don't even know what state my account is in now. It could be overdrawn, it could be closed. I'm afraid to touch it until I get back there in person.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Have you considered checking out some different jobsites?  I'm not really sure the ags forums are the place for you to really 'make it'.  I would also suggest sites that focus more on the art side of things to peddle your skills (look in particular for jobs that need concept art or stills).  I have less money than most 7-11 bums so all I can do is wish you luck and suggest you consider my advice!

[Kinoko]

That's fine advice, but I'm not looking for a job as such. I really didn't do this to get large commissions.

I'm predominantly after one or two people to throw a few bucks they have lying around my way and I can oblige them with a little art.

[monkey0506]

Well, I've already told you in the PM I just simply don't have the monkey. The money. I don't have the money. I have $1.50 I could chuck at you...hmm...actually...yes. I think $1.50 would be a fair price to exchange for an avatar. PM me your PayPal information and I'll just send along that $1.50 (USD). Then you can send me an avatar and I'll share it with the world. Everyone wins.

[Kinoko]

Haha, sure. Thanks!

[Ghost]

Not everybody knows you over here anymore... Maybe a bit of introduction would be appropriate?

What? She made Cirque de Zale! Who could forget that game!!

Kiniko, this is coming from someone not too experienced in these matters, but could you not put some ads on your homepage (or art page) to raise some money? As far as I know web ads are paid based on page hits, and a friendly call round here would surely give you those hits. Most people will readyly click a page one or twice a day, while giving money often gets refused for some reason.

[Dualnames]

I would pay you..if I couldn't draw a mushroom...Really start logging in more often.. Also some people in here make commercial games you have the skills to work..

[Kinoko]

Dualnames: Huh? English, please!

Ghost: Ah shucks. Thanks for the kind words.

As for your suggestion... well, yes, that's why I addressed that in my response to Nik but basically, I completely agree, it's just that I -want- to pay for advertising to start with because that's how I get hits to the page to begin with. Once I have exposure, who knows how far off in the future, then I can start using the money I make from advertising space to pay for advertising, or whatever. Maybe puppies. Maybe I'll want to buy some puppies with the money.

[Dualnames]

Well,why don;t you take part in a commercial AGS games?

[Kinoko]

...

There are possibly a thousand answers to your question.

What's your reasoning that I should do so? I just don't get why you're even asking.

It's like asking, "Why don't you try eating a banana upside down?".

[Ghost]

I completely agree, it's just that I -want- to pay for advertising to start with because that's how I get hits to the page to begin with.

I respect that (as a sign of pride). Hm... But since you are already offering art for money and since you mention DA, have you tried to tap (financially) for money there? The place is full of commission makers and seekers. A friend of mine- well, eMail-friend- actually makes half his living with such DA comissions.

[Dualnames]

...

There are possibly a thousand answers to your question.

What's your reasoning that I should do so? I just don't get why you're even asking.

It's like asking, "Why don't you try eating a banana upside down?".

Ok, why don;t you?

[FSi++]

It's like asking, "Why don't you try eating a banana upside down?".

Ok, why don;t you?

Because it's possibly the least convenient way to eat a banana?

[monkey0506]

Thanks for the avatar btw Kinoko. I rather like it.

For those who haven't paid any attention to my avatar thus far, it's the monkey-cactus one that's been added into my randomly selected avatar:

[Stupot]

I might take you up on that, Kinoko.
Let me think of something I really want and I'll get back to you.
Also, you could flog prints of some of your work on your website.

Good luck, anyway.

[m0ds]

$20 for a drawing of Trilby.

Seriously

Maybe. When you're running low on comissions, mmkay? :p