Point Commissions: Why I don't do them

Thought I'd leave a couple days before writing this - take time to think over the main points and try not be too harsh. Though I'll be full of sarcasms, I'll try to be frank as possible.

First of all, I want to make it clear that what I'm gonna write applies to me and myself only. Some may agree, some may not, but I'm not asking for anyone to do so. We all have our own opinions right?



Since dA started this "point" system, many artists here started taking "point commissions". There were quite a number of people asked me for a commission in payments with points for the past couple of months, but as I have replied to all, I'm not accepting any. Still, I would like to thank  those who have sent me notes/commented asking for them - I really appreciate that you have some interest in my art, and you are willing to pay something for it. I really do, please don't have any doubt about this.

However, although most of us have settled this among private notes and comments, I had to bring this up on the journal and make emphasis on I don't do point commissions because - though I won't post any names - this person in particular made this matter into a sort of war with me. She (or he. Doesn't specify the gender.) said I'm too greedy to draw for money, and i'm selfish for not accepting any point commissions (Almost funny, no?).
Complaints are understandable, but I do not tolerate insults.

Anyways, getting the main part. I'm going to use the "Question and Answer" method my friend did on hers to make life easier for both me and the readers. (But some aren't even questions, just statements LOL) Here it goes:


Why don't you do point commissions?
I guess the main objective of this journal lies here.
Please note that i'm not trying to offend or hurt anyone who takes points as a commission themselves nor people who offered me one in the past - that's the last thing I want to do.

So, these points are special currency that can only be used in dA. It's cute and fun at times (no doubt about that), and it allows many young users here to interact with others with the use of them. If you have enough, you can purchase dA shirts, stickers, etc. too.
But let me re-emphasize: it's nothing more than dA's currency. Though you must purchase with real money, it doesn't let you convert it back. What would you do if you're working at a company and said "Your salery is going to be this special currency that can ONLY be used for purchasing products from this compnay". I bet the majority will quit.

The bottom line is this: Points are useless for me.

I don't need points, really... I do enjoy commissioning wonderful artists by points (might as well as add that it's really fun), and extend my premium membership with them, but it's not something I desperately need to collect from others in order to do these things. If I really need it, I can just purchase them on my own.

I'm aware some people here are not old enough to have their own credit cards or have a paypal account, and these points are the only thing they can use in dA; but I don't need them. Therefore, I don't have a reason to do a commission for them.

Does this make me selfish? Maybe I am: for turning down people's offer to pay them for a piece of drawing that I do. I'm honored to have many people who want me to draw something for them - it's more than I hoped for when i'm not even a pro. But I just don't want to do something I don't want to do or find any good reason to do so.

I don't need people to agree with me - just please understand.


Your commision prices are too high.
Well, I don't think so. I think it should be a little more higher, personally.

Since we ALL have our real lives, I think it's easy to understand that "time" is valuable, and it's worth something (Don't we say "Time is money" lol).

Although I hope to become a pro and make living in the field of art in the future, making money is not the main objective for me here on dA right now: I'm here to draw what I want, have fun, and make great friends (which I'm blessed with already ). I'm not an art student (unfortunately, I couldn't go to an art school), which means i'm not professionally educated - still, the list of prices are what I charge minimum for the time I devote myself into the work I recieve.

Still not a good enough reason?
Ok, well, even though I'm not pro, I don't use bases, nor I pick a random manga and copy off the poses just like *click* that. I would like you to know that I think of the characters, the concept, colors, etc. the best I could to give a piece that would satisfy both the commissioner and myself. Even in the sketching stage, it takes hours, and for the majority of my works, I spend at least 12+ hours - that's the time from my free time and note that I have other things to do such as school works. Each piece will take days - I feel guilty for taking long time and making the commissioner wait. But I don't want to give any crappy work. I think my prices are well deserved for the amount of effort I put into them.

I absolutely don't care if you think i'm "too greedy to be asking for money". If you think my art is not worth the price I've set, there are plenty of better artists out there in dA who may come to your liking.


Then why do you sometimes take this "S.P.C"?
As I mentioned in the journal, my ultimate objective was to extend my premium membership.

Originally, the first round was supposed to be a practice for me (which is why it's called chibi "experiment"); but it doesn't mean that I'm gonna do it randomly - I put as much effort like my other works.

I'm doing the second round because number of people showed interest of it after the first one - which is another reason why I opened it again.


But you did point commisions for *** (name)
Yes, I took few point commissions back in Feburary... but that was when I had them opened officially. I didn't take them "specially" just because they're my friends.

Besides, they're closed now. It's done. Please stop asking, and don't bring this up as a threat saying that "You're being unfair".


You shouldn't point commission other artists because you're not doing it.
Hopefully, i'm not the only one who's finding this reason lame, because to me, it's like one of most retarded reason to retort back.
Thought I'd share because there may be some who may be wondering the same thing.

These artists who I've point commissioned, unlike me, have their "point" commissions opened. If they don't, I wouldn't ask. I respect their art, and I pay the amount of points they've set.
Besides, just because you didn't get what you wanted, don't take that as a token to start affronting me with pathetic reasons like this. It's just too childish. YOU shouldn't commissioning people because your morality is not worth any artists' time. Period.


Do you plan to do point commissions in the future?
If you're talking about the types I did back in Feburary, I doubt it.

We all know that the currency for dA points is 80 = $1, and if I convert the prices into points, full body, for example, will be 80x20= 1600 points. That looks... a lot in points. =_= I mean, seriously, I bet no one would want to spend that much. And as I already mentioned earlier, I don't need to collect the fake currency that has limiting use, at least to me.

If I decrease it to something to like, 100points, what's the point of keeping the normal commissions. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Yet, if some think that I should have the p.commission anyways in this form, I may do it.




I hope this will clarify some things up. Sorry if this may offended anyone who's taking point commissions themselves or those who offered me one in the past. They're just my reasons.


Thanks for reading