I've posted something. I did some sort of art trade with a person. We drew each other. Go look at @Fish-likes-bread's drawing. I like it. But here's mine. Usually I'd go on to write some long strings of text for a project, but I'm not really sure if that's needed. Will I end up doing it anyway? Probably. I'm writing this as I go. We'll see how long it is by the end. I dunno, I guess I sort of just started talking to this person and it turned into an art trade type thing. She likes to be called Bread. I never really make things for other people. I guess the fact that i would get something out of it seemed appealing? I don't know what I'd do if I was just given art out of nowhere. Would I just say something like "wow thank you this is cool"? Should I just move on after that? I mean like, I don't receive art often, so I don't think it matters. Do I say thank you to something like this? Or is the art I give back a way of saying thank you? If I didn't give art back, would a thank you be enough? Well, in something labeled as an art trade, it probably wouldn't be. You have to hold up your end of the deal. If I make art for someone, is it selfish of me to expect art back? I guess it depends on the context. If an art trade is pre-established on both parties, then it should be fine. But giving art first and then asking for something back is probably bad. Would it in that case be based off of selfishness instead of the kindness of giving? I don't really know. I think so, but I'm not sure. I've seen people do requests and stuff. Is that different? Is it really out of the kindness of the artist if someone asks for it? Does the kindness come from having your requests open, or the actual art part? For the requester, does being told your request is accepted compare to receiving the actual art and going "Wow, they actually made it" What about commissions? When it's a paid commission, does ANYONE feel good about it? It's just business. People do what they're told and expect what they should. Do you still say thank you then? What about denied requests? Is it mean of an artist to accept some and deny others? Well this wasn't a request or a commission, it was a trade, so maybe I'm overthinking it. But there's another thing about trades. Equality. What about differences in skill? If someone is kind of bad at art tries to trade with someone who is clearly more talented, is it really a trade? Not a fair trade that is. But if the trade goes down anyway, both people probably have to compliment each others as equals, because if one of them says anything other than that: Uh oh! YOU'RE AN UNGRATEFUL SWINE. And nobody wants to be the mean one, so they'll accept it with no critique. Because critique is mean? Not really, but it probably hurts people anyway. I'm realizing now that saying this might come off the wrong way. Bread, I swear I'm not implying anything bad about your artwork. I love it and nobody can tell you otherwise. Or have I just fallen into the same example that I had just thought about? Really though, Bread, it's good, don't doubt yourself too hard. I doubt myself all the time. As an artist, you notice more mistakes in your own artwork and then shame yourself. In all reality, Bread, I feel like my artwork pales in comparison to yours. I feel like that's a bad way to compliment someone actually... Just insulting myself. Would it really make them feel better? "Oh, yours is so good! It is so much better than mine!" Sure, it seems like a compliment, but they'll probably respond with: "Oh, no, yours isn't bad!" or "Yours is better!" Would they be lying? Regardless, they don't want to sound mean, so they'll probably object to it in some way. And in turn, won't mentally accept your compliment. And then maybe start insulting themselves to make you feel better. Now you seem selfish. So do you retract your statement? "Mine is better than yours!" No! That one is just obviously bad! So what do you say? Do you say thank you? Do you say nothing? Do you stop overthinking it and just give them a genuine compliment? I don't know what to say Is it just a transaction, or something bigger? Do I mean anything to the person? Does the person mean anything to me? I need to shut up. Just post this already.
Character by @Fish-likes-bread of course Art my me. Music by me. Bread can use it.
