Patreon Updates :: June 2020

I've decided to make some pretty hefty changes to my Patreon page, some which I hope will provide more art to you more frequently. The current layout and timetable feels a bit too rushed, in the end, and I felt the need to improve it. So...this is how it's gonna go down... 

Good-Bye Character Suggestions, Hello Master List!
I'm doing away with the monthly character suggestions and replacing it with a master list, of sorts. Patrons can still suggest characters, but they will be added collectively over time rather than during those one-week intervals each month. Completed characters will still be added to a lock-out list and cycled back into the master list every three months. 

Character Selections
Before the polls, there's the question of character selection. My first answer was some form of random number generator. Each character on the Master List will be given a number as they're added. Then, in turn, a small batch of characters will be selected through the random number generator for the polls for patrons to vote on. While the list will be comprised of characters patrons would like to see, the poll will provide a a list of unexpected or surprising selections.   

Character Polls
While the polls have proven to be quite useful, a week-long run just seems too long, especially when it can cut into more productive illustration time, time that I would like to utilize to push out more artwork and goodies. Polls will be cut down to a vote time of 48 hours, but they'll still have at least six characters for patrons to vote on. The winning result will be the character illustration for the following month; July's results means August's illustration.   

Patron Goals
I'm cutting down the patron goals I had set up back in April. The numbers seem like they're too unobtainable at the moment, and I'd like to see if it'll help bring in more patrons. When I say “cutting down”, I'm basically cutting the patron goals in half or more. So, as it stands, here's the current goal numbers and newer ones that I've added...  
5 Patrons – Transformation Sketches
10 Patrons – Transformation Illustrations (Full Color)
15 Patrons – Comic Strips & Pages
20 Patrons – Prints
40 Patrons – Quarterly/Yearly Sketchbook  

Extra Bits
This category will remain on Patreon and still retain the same formation; completed line art will be posted and voted on by patrons. The winning selection will then progress to the next color phase. Pieces submitted in Extra Bits will feature more original works rather than fan art this time, though. I'd like to keep a good rotation of original works for Extra Bits and monthly winner for fan art...keepin' things fresh.   

Monthly Themes
Each month will have its own theme, but it won't be the usual holiday affair associated with certain months. Themes will have a little twist, of sorts. For example, we all know that February is a month of several holidays and observances but one of the holidays that sticks out, in all of its pink and glittery glory, is Valentine's Day. Now, Valentine's Day, for some, is filled with candy hearts and overpriced character cards. Here, for a Valentine's Day theme, it would be something along the lines of the winning character trying to fit into the outfits popularized by Jill or Faye, both Valentines. See where I'm going with this?   

More NSFW
Yeah, we're going to get a little dirty...maybe not adult film star dirty, but...an R-Rating or “M for Mature”. I need to break that wall...more on this in the future.   

So, Why the Changes?
I felt like there was too much work to do based on my previous schedule. The first week was dedicated to character suggestions, second week was for polls and that left one, maybe two weeks left for rough sketches, finished lines and colors. Mixing in my current day-to-day job, that really didn't leave me with a lot of time to get things done by the end of the month and, while short, it started creating my backlog. I'm looking at you, Grace Choi and Red She Hulk.  

So, doing things a little different should allow me to provide some more work; more sketches, more perks...more caffeine?   

The Schedule
So, to start off, I'm opening up the Master List for suggestions. Characters that were previously on the lock out list will be available to add, with the exception of the characters that have already been completed. Suggestions will always be open, so feel free to send them in anytime.   

If enough characters are added to the list, I'll do a selection and have the poll up by July 6th. The winning character for July's poll will be featured in August. The theme for that month will be revealed during the voting period.   

That about sums everything up. Thoughts on all of this?