Thanks for the nice messages, I’m fine guys, really! I’m just under a lot of stress right now but it’s the last week of the semester and I’m gonna make it.
I’ve gotten some good messages about hobby artists vs. professional artists and yes, that is true that some people DON’T like to take money for their art and that is totally legit too! Hell, I’ve got a webcomic online that is totally free to read and I work really hard on it, and that’s because it’s something that I really enjoy doing and it’s not about the money. I don’t feel the same way about drawing a birthday card for someone’s Aunt Susan, so if I’m going to do that I want to be paid for it (unless it’s my own Aunt Susan of course). All I’m asking you to do is THINK (or ASK) before you presume ANYTHING about an artist or ask for something for free. If there’s an artist out there who gets a kick out of drawing stranger’s faces for free, by all means go to them and request a portrait! Just don’t assume that every artist is like that.