toxicstarstudio:

First of all let me just say, for like five minutes, I thought this was a joke and started texting people to see which one gave me the laugh this morning. Turns out, that no one did so I’m going to assume that this is real. Which in that case….

Alright in all seriousness.

Thank you anon for your interest in our professionally laser cut acrylic charms, specifically out new Super Mario RPG charms with colored acrylic. The one you are specifically referring to, turned out lovely with a shimmer in the pink acrylic!

It seems however that you are in a certain amount of distress over the price for this charm and felt that your particular distress was A) Indeed so overwhelming that you felt the need to be nasty and offer colorful langue to extenuate your point but B) not important enough to message us with your user name so that you could be laughed at publicly for these… messages.

I would like to start out by saying that our financial situation is none of your business nor is it any other artist’s business. I will however throw you a bone, as I can see you are CLEARLY put out by paying for ‘a piece of plastic’. After time, labor, shipping, cost of materials, listing prices and at times unexpected expenses that arise when it comes to any of our charms, after all is said and done, we make about $2 per charm for every charm sold online, roughly. Sometime it’s more closer to $3, other times it’s closer to $1.50. We do encourage people to come find us at conventions that we regularly attend, where we offer our charms for $8 (or 2 for $15, 3 for $20). This way we remove the listing prices/credit card transaction fees and can offer a much better deal! But for those who are not able to come and see us in person, we do put most of our product online.

We hope that those that are looking at our products, all of which took time, and effort to make, will understand that this is a job for us and is how we manage to pay rent and buy toilet paper. We also hope that they will be mature enough to know these prices are not meant to bleed people out of their money, but more they are taking in the consideration that these items that we sell, are made by us or we are paying someone else money to make them and send them back to us (like our charms and pencil bags). We also hope that our clientele are mature enough to realize that an artist is worth only as much as she pays herself. The artist for Toxic Star Studio (co owner and my wife) is worth about $20 an hour for her art. All of our products are prices as such. True, there are some artist that do not charge what we charge for items, but how other artist choose what their time and effort are worth, is not our business. 

And thank you for your concern about our customers as well! We actually accumulated enough interest in pre-orders for the Mario charms  to put them into production! It was very exciting and we were very happy to see them finished! It is very obvious that someone wants them!

One last thing. Dear dear Anon. Congrats on actually managing to get not one, BUT TWO messages through before I had a chance to turn off anon. I was unaware that it had not been disabled! I find that I have a better online experience when anon is turned off. That way cowards that like to hide behind anon tend to be a little nicer or silent all together. But I would like to give you a little piece of advice when it comes to dealing with artists that are trying to pay rent and buy food.

Try being a little nicer. If you had sent us a message and said “Hi! I wanted to buy one of your charms but I can’t justify spending $10 + shipping for something so small. Is there a way I could work something out with you? I would really appreciate it!” Then we could have worked something out. If the $8 convention price was still a little high, we could have sent you prints or buttons, all under $5. Hell, we would have thrown in extra prints or buttons of another character, as those products have cheaper supplies then then charms do. We would have worked with you to get you what you wanted and at a price you felt comfortable with and one that we wouldn’t take a loss on. We understand that some of our prices are a tad high, mostly due to the high quality of the materials that we use (premium photo paper, vinyl sleeves, professional acrylic) and the worth of our artist’s time. And also understanding that money is an issue for some people, we can offer cheaper alternatives or work out a deal.

However, you chose to be nasty and dismissive of the artist and all the work and time it took to make those products in the first place. You devalued her as a professional, devalued her as a person trying to make money enough to EAT and do something she loves, just so you could pitch a fit over a charm. These products are not mass produced. They are not made in a factory for two cents each with cheap labor. They are made by a professional artist that had to take time to create the art, then send it to other professionals that handle machines to cut the art, all who have to play their people and their material costs, then send it back to us, and for us to use even more time and materials to put them together and create a product that is something to be proud of. You dismissed all of this, cheapened all the hard work that goes into making these, selling these, and you did it all by hiding behind anon.

Next time, be nicer, be kinder, and don’t be a coward. The results may surprise you.

ON A SIMILAR NOTE! WE BROUGHT THE SUPER MARIO RPG CHARMS TO OUR FIRST CONVENTION! THEY DID VERY WELL! We also regret to inform everyone that we are SOLD OUT of many of our charms for the next few weeks but will be restocking them soon!

Reblogging because this is important. Do not ever, ever devalue an artist. If something is too expensive for you, say that, in a mature way, do not come at us with this “too fucking expensive” bullshit, and don’t you DARE come at us with this “I talked to other artists who offer their stuff at this price.”  

Here’s a not-so-secret secret: many artists already undercharge for their work. Because they want it to sell and don’t think they can charge the true amount they should be charging for their time. It takes a long time to reach a point where we actually charge for what we’re worth, not only taking into account our creativity and time, but the fact that we need to MAKE ENOUGH TO LIVE so we can continue what we do. And comments like this are the reason why some artists are undercharging, because other people are devaluing their work. “It’s so small,” we think, “It is just plastic,” we think, and so we lower prices and end up not paying ourselves at all. 

That piece of art you’re looking at? Is NOT just plastic. Plastic does NOT have the colors and art and quality that an artist puts into it. That plastic has become an item you’re interested in because someone took the time to create something with it. They took time out of their day to make these characters you love. They sketched. They colored. They did that, someone did that! And that someone deserves to be paid for their work, and if you don’t agree with it, then just move on, but do NOT be some rude little so and so and attempt to crush their creativity. An artist’s creativity is their livelihood, it’s how they keep going, it’s part of their job so don’t EVER try and belittle them.

Ever.

To continue off the post my friend made yesterday about people asking for things for free when it comes to your art, and how I said that you realize you have two types of friends (and family, actually):

1.  The kind that’s like, “Oh man that’s cool that you can do that you should give me something.”

2.  The kind that’s like, “Oh man that’s cool that you can do that how much is it I should buy it.”

The frustration also lies in the fact that it’s not like we’re making a bunch of money, you know?  Not right off the bat, anyway.  This is a career path that you constantly work at, because you have to keep putting yourself out there, and you have to keep trying to make something out of it.  And you’re constantly worrying about what price you should set your product to and if it’s too much, or too little, or how to get it to sell, how to pitch it to people, how to make it stand out, and all sorts of things.

It’s nice to have friends who see that.  It’s nice to have family that gets it.  

Example being:  my books.

I had two types of reactions from people in my family.  One was this:  "Hey your book just came out that’s great when do I get my copy?“

The other was this: "Hey your book came out it’s already on my kindle.”  

Which one do you think meant more to me?

I mean hell, my own parents didn’t even ask for me to give them copies.  They weren’t like, “We expect to get our copies on day one from you,” they were like, “Already reading it.  When’s the physical copy so I can buy that and get you to sign it.”  But I have family members and friends who were like, “When are you going to send me your book so I can read it?”  Uh… I’m not.  Go on Amazon and get it yourself like my own mother and father did.  Hell, my mother won’t even lend out her copy to anyone she tells them to go and buy it.

It’s about showing support, you know?  Sure when I was little and I wrote something or drew something and someone was like, “Wow can you draw me something?”  I was like, “Sure!”  Because back then it was just neat that someone liked my art enough to want it.  But now it’s different.  This is me trying to make a career out of what I love to do.  It’s not nearly as flattering to hear, “Damn that’s cool let me have it,” as it is to hear, “Damn that’s cool how much is it?" 

If I decide on my own to make you something, that’s fine.  This generally happens around birthdays or Christmas, or if I just think you’re awesome (i.e. voice actors and that sort of thing, people I admire and people I’m just a fan of).  

It’s nice to have friends and family who can respect that this is a career instead of being pissed that "I haven’t gotten my coaster yet.”  No, you haven’t, and you probably won’t, stop treating this like some hobby.  I’m not 13 anymore, I’m not just doodling in my notebook for the hell of it then willing to rip out the page and hand it to you.  

Not only that, but this is my partner’s business too.  Just because she makes me costumes doesn’t mean she’s going to make costumes for everyone we know for free.  Like, “Damn girl I should have you make me something,” no.  No.  You can certainly have her make you something, here’s how much it would cost, we ask for half the payment up front.  That’s hundreds of dollars, no, we’re not just giving that away.  Even my own cousin came to me with a costume AS A COMMISSION!  As a, “how much would this cost,” sort of deal.  Then again he’s got his own business too that he’s trying to do so he gets the frustration of those family and friend calls of, “Hey why don’t you give this to me?”

No.

The thing that really irks me though is that any other profession and people would understand.  If my best friend was a doctor, and I walked into the office like, “Hey I know I don’t have an appointment but I need you to check this out for me.  Oh and no I’m not going to pay for it, we’re friends right?”  That sounds ridiculous, right?  (not saying that this doesn’t happen to doctors I can’t speak for them, just making an analogy).  But you get what I mean.  For some reason I feel like with the creative field it’s like, “Now you know you can make him that thing and just give it to him,” and that’s not cool at all. 

This is so true.  That “creative” part is so me and I need to get better at believing that it’s there.

snowtigra:

brichibiwritesthings:

mirandaadria:

pigeonredd:

hobbitfeminism:

blowhan:

potatobeenz:

You get home from a long day at work and turn on the TV. It’s been a long week, so you think to yourself- maybe i’ll take the family to a movie on Saturday. Maybe we’ll even go on a vacation soon! We could visit museums and go to plays and see all sorts of fun attractions. 

When you turned the TV on, nothing happened. There are no actors to entertain you. 
When you went to the movie theater, nothing was showing. There were no advertisements to tell you that anything was showing, so you went to the theater to find out. Nothing playing. There is no one to film and create movies for you. Well at least your vacation will be fun, right? Not like there will be any plays to see and there won’t be anything in the art museums. 
Well at least you have the shack you are living in that you made out of cardboard and sheets.

Not like you could find an architect to build you a house with all the money you’re making as an engineer. 

bless

THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY TO ME

THERE WOULD BE NO ROAD SIGNS OR INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES

THERE WOULD BE NO GODDAMN KEYS ON YOUR FUCKING LAPTOP

I WOULD PUNCH YOU IN THE FUCKING FACE BUT WITHOUT GRAPHIC DESIGN HOW WOULD I LEARN TO DO THAT

lol I guess that community college that was completed fairly recently by my dad a county down built itself

thanks nbc

I just sent this tweet to NBC.

@NBCNews If these majors are so useless, then who designed the graphic used to announce this on your show?

This.  All of this.  I am so tired of people thinking that creative fields are a waste of time.  While we’re at it, I’m also tired of people thinking that said fields are “easy.”  

Actually, as I’m writing this I realize that this is a huge contradiction.  Going into the field, we’re told it’s “easy” and “simple” because “all you have to do is draw/write/act/whatever.”  Then, when we get out of the school it’s reports like this.  Fine.  Now, let’s say you actually make it in your field.  Then it’s, “So and so gets paid all this money just to do this thing.”  By definition of this report calling it useless, you’d think it’d be great to see it proven wrong, like, “Hey guess what I made it as an entertainer/writer/artist/ect.”  But no.  Then people get mad if you make “too much money” because “all you do is this.”  

There is no “all you do” to a creative field.  It’s hard.  It’s hard as hell.  The hardest thing you can do is try and keep someone entertained.  The hardest thing you can do is make someone feel the emotions you want them to feel in certain situations.  Especially for fictional characters because then there’s this idea of, “Are you really upset over this fictional character dying,” and things like that.  

People need to stop taking these things for granted.  

Randomly, how is “Architecture” even on this list?  Who do you think made the studio you’re sitting in giving this report right now?  And what a slap in the face this is to the camera crew while they’re filming this.  

So much, all of this.  Artists work hard and damnit, people need to realize that.  It’s hard work and it’s even harder to communicate to people every piece that goes into it.  It’s an area with no boundaries, but that means that classes can’t show you how to do it, people can’t teach you, all they can do is show you how to use the tools and HOPE that you find the creativity in yourself to make them sing.  I mean seriously, really stop and consider the movement from some lead on a pencil to the building, sketch, play or story that you have in front of you.  That is some SERIOUS transformation shit!  It’s not useless, it’s fucking hard!  

I see the list above and I bet I know why those are at the top.  Money.  Those five jobs are probably there because it’s really hard to make money in them, so they’re deemed useless.  Art, in all its forms, isn’t useless.  It’s a job and a craft, yes, but for those who are truly in it, it’s a  NEED.  You need to sit down and write.  You need to sit down and sew.  You NEED to make things.  Sure, no one might ever pay attention to it, but it’s still a need and you still do it.  When we mention ‘muses’ that’s what they are, that little voice in the back of your head that whispers at you to sketch a picture or write a story.  Even if no one ever reads it, you still have to write it.  Artists give into that voice and wrap a tight grip around the thought that maybe, somewhere, someone will notice and like this.  Because that’s all you have.  

I submit a new name for this.  Instead of “Top 5 ‘Useless’ Majors” how about the “Top 5 Majors That Were Too Scary to Pursue”  because they’re damn hard and if you make it, that’s fantastic.  But only the people in those majors can tell you exactly how much WORK it actually is.  It’s emotionally draining, it will suck the life out of you, but we keep going because we need to, because we believe there is something inside us that we can create that’s worth sharing. 

I choose to see this as a challenge.  I’m an artist and I’m not useless.  And no matter what you say, I have this amazing feeling that my life, full of all the ups and downs and low payments, long nights and low reward are so much more fulfilling then the digits on my paycheck and the worth of my house and the number of cars in my driveway.  My harddrive full of half finished projects and my brain full of blooming ideas is worth so much more.  

And you’re welcome, because you’re damn lucky that I’m bearing my soul to you.  You’re damn lucky that any of us dare to share what we create. 

Reblogging for the last comment from my wifey  :)

I was showing a girl at work some pictures of the things I make, like the woodburning and stuff. She said, “Wow that’s really cool. I wish I had a talent.” I let that process in my head for a while and I realized… I wish people wouldn’t say that. Just because I know how to do something doesn’t mean you’re not talented. Everyone’s talented in some way, shape, or form, I just happen to be a creative, artistic person. That doesn’t make anybody less talented than me in any way :) I know it was said as a compliment, it usually is, but next time I think I want to say, “You are talented in your own way, I’m sure of it.”

And that is your randomly sappy/inspirational post of the morning? Ugh that’s what happens when I don’t get much sleep -_-

I think I may have figured out how to make Persona 4 arcana wine glasses  O.O  Making things ahead of time for cons = fun  :)

Things accomplished tonight:  Togepi wineglass, TMNT Michelangelo shotglass, random writing things for stuff I want to submit to places soon, discussion of new item to make for the shop

Things not accomplished:  sleep

… oh well, can’t win em’ all  ^^