E-mailed by Ms. Syeri Baet. Great tips for artists who are just starting out.

Taken from Painter Creativity

Top 10 Lies told to Naive Artists and Designers
Mark W. Lewis

1 "Do this one cheap (or free) and we'll make it up on the next one."
No reputable business person would first give away their work and time or merchandise on the hope of making it up later. Can you imagine what a plumber would say if you said "come in, provide and install the sink for free and next time we'll make it up when we need a sink." You would be laughed at! Also the likelyhood is that if something important came along, they wouldn't use you.

2 "We never pay a cent until we see the final product."

This is a croc, unless the person is leaving the door open to cheat you out of your pay. Virtually every profession requres a deposit or incremental payment during anything but the smallest project. Once you have a working relationship, you may work out another arrangement with a client. But a new client should not ask you to go beyond an initial meeting and, perhaps some preliminary sketches without pay on the job!

3 "Do this for us and you'll get great exposure! The jobs will just pour in!"

Baloney. Tell a plumber "Install this sink and my friend will see and you'll get lots of business!" Our plumber friend would say "You mean even if I do a good job I have to give my work away to get noticed? Then it isn't worth the notice." Also the guy would likely brag to everyone he knows about how this would normally cost (X) dollars, but brilliant businessman that he is he got if for free! If anyone calls, they'll expect the same or better deal.

4 On looking at sketches or concepts: "Well, we aren't sure if we want to use you yet, but leave your material here so I can talk to my partner/investor/wife/clergy."

You can be sure that 15 minutes after you leave he will be on the phone to other designers, now with concepts in hand, asking for price quotes. When you call back you will be informed that your prices were too high and Joe Blow Design/Illustration will be doing the job. Why shouldn't they be cheaper? You just gave them hours of free consulting work! Until you have a deal, LEAVE NOTHING CREATIVE at the clients office.

5 "Well, the job isn't CANCELLED, just delayed. Keep the account open and we'll continue in a month or two."

Ummm, probably not. If something is hot, then not, it could be dead. It would be a mistake to *not* bill for work performed at this point and then let the chips fall where they may! Call in two months and someone else may be in that job. And guess what? They don't know you at all.....

6 "Contract? We don't need no stinking contact! Aren't we friends?"

Yes, we are, until something goes wrong or is misunderstood, then you are the jerk in the suit and I am that idiot designer, then the contract is essential. That is, unless one doesn't care about being paid. Any reputable business uses paperwork to define relationships and you should too.

7 "Send me a bill after the work goes to press."

Why wait for an irrelevant deadline to send an invoice? You stand behind your work, right? You are honest, right? Why would you feel bound to this deadline? Once you deliver the work and it is accepted, BILL IT. This point may just be a delaying tactic so the job goes through the printer prior to any question of your being paid. If the guy waits for the job to be printed, and you do changes as necessary, then he can stiff you and not take a chance that he'll have to pay someone else for changes.

8 "The last guy did it for XXX dollars."

That is irrelevant. If the last guy was so good they wouldn't be talking to you, now would they? And what that guy charged means nothing to you, really. People who charge too little for their time go out of business (or self-destruct financially, or change occupations) and then someone else has to step in. Set a fair price and stick to it.

9 "Our budget is XXX dollars, firm."

Amazing, isn't it? This guy goes out to buy a car, and what, knows exactly what he is going to spend before even looking or researching? Not likely. A certain amount of work costs a certain amount of money. If they have less money (and you *can*) do less work and still take the job. But make sure they understand that you are doing less work if you take less money that you originally estimated. Give fewer comps, simplify, let them go elsewhere for services (like films) etc.

10 "We are having financial problems. Give us the work, we'll make some money and we'll pay you. Simple."

Yeah, except when the money comes, you can expect that you will be pretty low on the list to be paid. If someone reaches the point where they admit that the company is in trouble, then they are probably much worse off than they are admitting to. Even then, are you a bank? Are you qualified to check out their financials? If the company is strapped to the point where credit is a problem through credit agencies, banks etc. what business would you have extending credit to them. You have exactly ZERO pull once they have the work. Noble intentions or not, this is probably a losing bet. But if you are going to roll the dice, AT LEAST you should be getting additional money for waiting. The bank gets interest and so should you. That is probably why the person is approaching you; to get six months worth of free interest instead of paying bank rates for credit and then paying you with that money. Don't give away money.

Now, this list wasn't meant to make anyone crazy or paranoid, but is designed to inject some reality into the fantasy.
You are GOING to be dealing with people who are unlike yourself. Their motivations are their own and their attitudes are probably different than yours. There are going to be demands, problems, issues and all the hassles that go with practically ANY work/job/money situation. Too many times I see the sad example of someone walking in to a situation with noble intentions and then getting royally screwed, because what they see as an opportunity and a labor of love, the other party sees as something else entirely, not at all romantic or idealized, but raw and simple.

How can you deal with this stuff and still do good creative work? Good question. THIS is why an education is important. You learn, out of the line of fire, how to deal with the art at it's own level and also how to deal with the crap that surrounds it. You may have tough teachers and think that it can't be worse, but wait until a business person has a hundred grand riding on your art! Then you will know what "demanding" means. You will then thank all those tough teachers for building up the calluses that enable you to enjoy the job rather than just feeling like it is all a big waste of time!

In the end, working commercially, being a terrific artist is about 25% of the task. If that is the only part of the task that you are interested in, do yourself a favor. Don't turn "pro."

Comment ko ito sa blog ni Randy Valiente, gusto ko lamang i-post uli dito. Reaksyon ko ito sa mga negatibong puna ng ilang anonymous commentors doon ukol sa bagong henerasyon ng mga komiks creators ngayon. Pinuna din ang Komikon. To quote...

"Ang henerasyon ding ito ang nagtatatag ng isang di maintindihang "Komikon" sa Pilipinas gayong patay na ang industriya ng local komiks. Ang gamit nilang salita kadalasan ay Ingles, ang mga tao sa drawing nila kadalasan mga caucasian o japanese anime', wala silang pakialam sa suliranin sa paligid nila kaya panay escapism at apathy ang tema ng kanilang mga gawa (at salita), dahil dito todo at abnormal ang pagka-masayahin silang tao at higit sa lahat, may mga sariling mga mundo. "

Here is my reply...

I was just wondering, does the new, young crop of indie filmmakers get this type of flak from others? Why are the new generation of komiks creators getting this?

And why the negative reaction to the Komikon? If there was a Komikon during the heyday of the komiks industry, would it get this same reaction? And isn't the point of any convention (komiks or otherwise) to be a gathering of like-minded people and have fun and discuss things they have in common?

At masama bang mag-target ng specific market? Kung hindi ba masa ang target market mo, huwag ka na lang gumawa ng komiks? Sa marketing, isang malaking no-no ang gawing "ALL" ang target market mo. Kailangan may specific parameters. Oo, maganda kung makuha mo ang lahat (tulad ng nangyari noong panahon sa komiks), pero hindi praktikal ang mag-cater sa panlasa ng lahat.

Kung nais ng ibang publishers na maglabas para sa class A, B at upper C, nasa kanila na iyon. May target din naman silang print run na nais nilang ibenta. Karamihan sa mga iyan ngayon, di na hinahangad ang numbers ng readers noon (which count in the millions). Mabenta nila ang kalahati ng print run nilang 10,000 copies, ROI na sila. Kumita na sila. Masaya na sila doon. At yun naman ang point ng bawat business... ang kumita.

I was browsing around the newsstands recently, and was surprised to see MR. & MS. magazine priced at P100. Noon ay mumurahing babasahin lamang ito. Sobrang iba na ang format nito.

Bakit nagkaganoon? Bumabalik iyan sa sinabi ni Gerry (Alanguilan) na CHANGE OR DIE. I'm just speculating, pero malamang napagtanto ng publishers na hindi na bumebenta ang lumang format ng magazine nila. Hence, they felt the need to "improve" upon it.

Parang mga Showbiz magazines. Dati pulos hanggang mga 20pesos lamang ang mga ito. Ngayon, wala nang bababa sa 50pesos, which is just a little above the range of the "masa." Ang tanging magasin na nakita kong 20pesos ay LIWAYWAY.

Sa ngayon, di pa natin alam kung anong format o klase ng komiks ang kakagatin ng karamihan. Kung kaya't sinusubukan ng iba't-ibang publishers at creators ang iba't-ibang paraan upang makuha ang kiliti ng mambabasa.

Addendum:

At mukhang hindi naman nagpunta sa Komikon ang taong pumuna dito. Kundi'y makikita niya ang variety ng mga komiks na naroon. May mga anime at US style, pero maraming ring hindi. Marami ring seryoso ang tema ng mga gawa nila, at di lang escapism at fantasy ang nakita kong mga komiks noong ako'y nandoon. Kung nagpunta man siya, pareho kayang Komikon ang aming napuntahan?

Maskarado fan art! This time by the talented John Becaro...



View the full version here.

Thanks, John! Hoping to see your comic on the stands soon!

It's Thursday. Visit the other webring guys...



Jonas Diego
Edgar Tadeo
Ariel Atienza
Jerald Dorado

Noong nakaraang Lunes ay death anniversary ni Ninoy Aquino.

Tuwing ako'y nakakabasa o makaririnig ng mga negatibong generalizations tungkol sa Pinoy, 'di ko maiwasang mainis. Lalo na't kung ito'y nanggagaling sa kapwa Pinoy din. Kesyo ang Pinoy daw ay puro siraan, puro awayan, puro inggitan... etcetera etecetera...

Doon lamang sa isang blog na pinupuntahan ko. Nag-aaway na ang mga tao sa comments section tungkol sa kung ano ba talaga ang "Pinoy Komiks." Ayos lang iyon. 'Di naman maiwasang magtalo-talo sa iba't-ibang bagay. Ang ikinainis ko, may nag-comment na "Pinoy nga kayo! Puro awayan!"

Sa tingin ko'y unfair ang mga ganitong comments. Sa tingin niyo ba'y hindi nag-aaway at nagsisiraan ang mga Amerikano? Ang mga Hapon? Ang mga Kastila? Mga Aleman? Lahat ng bansa, mayroong ganyan. Iyan ay likas sa ilang TAO. Hindi lamang sa PINOY. Katulad din na likas din sa tao ang maging MABUTI.

Mahal ko ang aking bayan. Ilang beses na akong nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na mangibang bansa ngunit pinili ko pa ring manirahan sa Pilipinas. Noon ay nagkaroon ako ng Green Card sa US. Ito'y dahil naging immigrants ang mga magulang ko, kaya't damay kaming mga anak nila. Ngunit makalipas ang ilang taon, gi-nive up ko ito. Marami sa mga kailala ko ang nagtaka at nagsabing ang tanga ko daw. Opinyon nila iyon. Ngunit para sa akin, wala akong pagsisisi sa pasya ko.

Nagkaroon din ako ng pagkakataong magtrabaho noon sa Singapore. gunit kasabay noon, nagkaroon din ako ng ibang job offer sa 'Pinas. Malamang nahulaan niyo na kung alin ang pinili ko.

Tunay na minsan ay nakapanlulumo ang sitwasyon sa ating bansa. Ngunit hindi tama na sabihin nating walang kuwenta ang Pinoy. Bakit kapag nasa ibang bansa'y namimitagan tayo at kadalasan ay pinupuri ng mga banyaga? Ngunit sa sarili nating bansa ay hirap tayong makaahon man lamang sa kahirapan? Hindi ko alam ang mga kasagutan, ngunit alam kong kaya natin.

Sabi ni Ninoy, "The Filipino is worth dying for." Iyan ay aking pinaniniwalaan. Bakit, 'ika niyo?

Heto ang isang magandang halimbawa ng magandang ugali ng Pinoy...

May kaibigan ako. Isang araw ay nilapitan siya ng batang babaeng nagbebenta ng sampagita. Beinte pesos lang daw ang isang bungkos. Inabutan niya ng isandaan ang bata, at sinabing kukunin na niya lahat ng paninda nito.

Medyo nataranta ang bata sa paghahanap ng panukli, ngunit sabi ng aking kaibigan ay "Sa 'yo na 'yan." Malaki ang ngiting inabot ng bata ang panindang sampagita. Hindi tinanggap ng kaibigina ko. "Okey lang. Sa 'yo na rin 'yan. Baka maibenta mo pa sa iba."

Lalong lumaki ang ngiti ng bata. Bago kumandirit palayo sa tuwa, Isang tuwang-tuwang "Salamat po!" ang binigkas ng kanyang bibig.

Magandang araw sa lahat!

Birthday ngayon ng bespren ko, si Archie Poblete.

Hoy, gago! Happy Birthday! Nagbabasa ka ba ng blog ko? Malamang hindi.

Sana mabasa mo ito. Laging nagba-bounce back mga email ko sa 'yo! Magbukas ka naman ng yahoo paminsan-minsan!

Happy Birthday na din galing kay Kuki at Jade. At pati na rin kay Ariel.

'Di kita ma-text wala akong load.

I haven't been participating much in the Thursday Comic Webring, so I think I'll make a contribution this week. Yeah, I know, it's only Wednesday, but I'll jump the gun a little.

And, truth to tell, I think the only one in the webring who's been actively posting new strips is Jonas. He he. Sorry Jonas!

Anyway, this is the aborted EXODUS comic book adaptation. I don't know if EK (that's Enchanted Kingdom, ya know) will still be pushing through with this project with another creative team, but this is what it would have looked like if we (that is, Bong Leal and me. He did the backgrounds and colors) had done it.

Bong has also posted some of these images in his blog, sans dialogue. So I thought I'd post it here WITH dialogue (HA! Nasapawan kita, pre. hehehe.)

Click on the links below...

Print Ad
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5

And, check out the other guys in the webring!



Jonas Diego
Edgar Tadeo
Ariel Atienza
Jerald Dorado

Nung bata pa ako, tuwing hapon ay may nagdaraan na magtataho sa neighborhood namin. Kilala namin siya bilang Mang Lando. Walang paltos. Kahit Linggo, dumadaan siya, nagbebenta ng taho. Halos lagi naman niya kaming nakikita, kasi noong unang panahon, ang mga batang tulad namin ay naglalaro sa labas. Di tulad ngayon, nakatutok na lang sa TV o computer.

Pero balik tayo sa panahon ng aking kabataan. Ito ang dekada otsenta, na may halong late 70's na rin. Mabalik na rin tayo kay Mang Lando. Walang paltos din na bumibili kami sa kanya ng taho. Kahit araw-araw, 'di kami nagsasawa. Hindi ko na rin maalala kung magkano ang taho noon, pero ang isang portion ay katumbas ng isang malaking "tumbler," 'di tulad ngayon na limang piso isang lagok lang. Napaghahalata ang edad ko, 'no?

Pumasok lang recently sa utak ko si Mang Lando, na kahit papaano'y naging bahagi ng aking kabataan, at nakapagbigay saya rin siya sa akin at sa aking mga kalaro.

Lumipas ang panahon, at lumalaki na rin kaming mga bata. Nang tumuntong ng High School, 'di na mnasyadong tumatambay sa labas. Pero si Mang Lando, patloy pa rin sa paglalako. Hindi na ako araw-araw bumibili ng taho, pero paminsan-minsan, bumibili pa rin.

Isang araw, may kasama siyang binatilyo. Ang hawak nito'y basket ng lumpia. Napag-alaman namin na anak siya ni Mang Lando. Doon ko lamang napuna, medyo pumuputi na nga ang buhok ni Mang Lando. At mukhang nagba-branch out na siya sa pagtitinda ng taho. Pati pagbebenta ng lumpia, pinasok na rin niya.

Lumipas na naman ang panahon. Kaka-graduate ko lang mula kolehiyo nang may nakasabay akong lalaki sa dyip. Pamilyar ang mukha niya, at pagkatapos kong makapag-isip-isip ng kaunti, nakilala ko rin siya bilang anak ni Mang Lando. Dala pa rin niya ang basket ng lumpia. Kinumusta ko siya. Sabi ko mula nung maliit pa ako'y bumibili na ako ng taho sa tatay niya. Kinumusta ko si Mang Lando. Sabi niya'y medyo matanda na, at 'di na kayang magbuhat ng taho. May mga ilan-ilang sakit na rin dulot ng katandaan.

Tinamaan ako ng lungkot nang malaman ko iyon. Ang naaalala ko pa rin kasi sa balintataw ko ay ang matipunong lalaking araw-araw na nagbubuhat ng mabigat na taho, na laging nakangiti kapag nakikita niyang masaya kaming kumakain ng tinda niya.

Bago kami maghiwalay sa dyip, bumili ako ng lumpia. 'Di siya katulad ng taho, pero nagbigay saya pa rin siya sa kumakalam kong sikmura.

Saan man po kayo, Mang Lando... maraming salamat.