What do people say about you?

[SirGutsalot]

When you've told people that you draw webcomics, how do they respond? Do you ever sense any underlying stigma about our kind or are people really encouraging? Do they take you seriously?
For me, people will be like, 'Uh that's cool I guess... but... why and how do you spend so much time on it?...' ( I do a daily comic so people wonder where I get that sort of time from...) and then they see my work and get kind of creeped out (I do surrealist horror, so yeah...)

[J.Z.Castillo]

I usually get "OH MAN that's so cool! Can I check it out??" I haven't gotten any negative reactions... or maybe I don't realize because I honestly don't care. The way I look at it is, are you paying my bills? No? Then shut up. Simple as that, I don't ever get hung up on what strangers think about me or what I do with my time because it is MY time, you know?

But yeah, most of the time they subscribe to the comic on the spot or ask me to make a newsletter or something like that to notify them, and sometimes they ask to see some more of my stuff so I show them my illustrations and other things I do and I have scored a couple of big commissions that way or gotten clients who ask for stuff from me every now and then.

Just keep doing you! Ignore all those negative comments that add nothing to your experience as an artist or as a human being (I know that's hard to do sometimes but really try to)

[artsy_oleander]

@mrjonzap Yeah, I get the same response as well!
My family and friends support me and they really do like my stories. Right now, I'm talking with one of my close friends into making her own comic. Annnddd I technically go to an art school so.... automatic kudo points.

In the end though, if creating comics make you happy, try ignoring the haters and keep doing your thing

[ahhvecadoes]

I usually get some interest, usually asking for the link and people do follow up on it.

I do also get that "Oh, so you draw anime?" bull from people since it's not a printed comic and usually telling someone I make a webcomic goes hand-in-hand with being asked what I use to make art. Not always fun. Wish that stigma of 'all digital art is anime/manga copies' would go away.

[KoreanTacos]

most people don't really care, they just assume I draw pictures and post them on the internet in the hopes that I'll be some kind of pewdiepie or something, honestly nothing I write about even reflects that (if anything my series discredits me more than anything). The only family who support me is my wife and daughter which honestly is enough for me. I wish I could get something more than a "That's neat I guess." I think the only real genuine compliment I've received was a "Must be nice to do something you like."

[shazzbaa]

I've not received much negative response! Sometimes you can tell folks don't get it or aren't really into that scene -- though I have a lot of buffers before I describe webcomics specifically, because I think there's some value in being careful of whom you trust with your passion.
"So you do art?"
"Yeah, I'm a cartoonist!" (the first point where people can go "oh that's cool" and end the convo)
"Oh, what kind of cartoons do you do?"
"Actually, I draw my own comic books!" (the second point someone can say "oh that's cool" and leave it at that)

and if they ask additional questions, then I might explain how webcomics and patreon and self-publishing work, but at that point it's usually someone who's at least a little interested. I've had people who are really stunned/impressed? by the amount of time involved in creating these things, people who think that any kind of money for art is "lucky" (I mean, I guess, but when you say it that way it sure sounds disparaging) but the majority of people unfamiliar with webcomics are like.... intrigued by it, as a look behind the scenes? Like almost a "whoa, that's cool, I didn't know that's how it works" kind of reaction.

For coworkers and other folks I interact with more, they would want to check out my work, and it would often just result in "I looked at your art and it's really good." I had one coworker buy some books, convinced that they'd be valuable someday when I'm rich and famous. I think just one guy at my old job actually read my journal comic and really enjoyed it (but I was a lil nervous about giving out my journal comic at work since my workplace featured prominently in my journal comic). My fantasy comic tends to be a little more intimidating, and folks who aren't really into that scene don't tend to try to read it, they just express that it's pretty and leave it at that!

[AnnaLandin]

I get a lot of "Oooh, cool! Can I see it?", followed by "so do you make a living on this?", which, uh, means I have to at least partly disappoint them. ^_^;

I haven't ever gotten any negative responses, I don't think? I've gotten a few assholes at cons critiquing my art style, but they don't really count, imho.

[hushicho]

A lot of people either think it's cool or don't understand how it works as a profession. I don't always get a lot of respect from everyone for my career choice, but if someone doesn't respect me, I figure I don't really need them in my life.

The people who get to know me after being exposed to my work tend to think, at least for a little while, that I'm either crazy, some sort of bizarre modern-day Casanova (or just a far more amorous person than I actually am), or some kind of freak or monster! I understand I can give a difficult first impression, but I do generally try to make myself a bit more knowable as I become more acquainted with people. It's also very different from text to voice, of course!

I'm sure there are plenty of insane things people say about me. I shudder to think!

[punkarsenic]

i find people are usually supportive and thinks its cool. most of my friends are writers or art students, so obviously to them its really cool

[Wishjacked]

In my daily life I pretty much interact solely with retirees, which gets me some fun reactions. Generally folks are very interested and want to know all about it… "do you want to be a comic artist as a career?" is a question I get a lot, and usually they want to know what it's about. I'm always so surprised and pleased by how supportive and excited they are about my work.

Not a whole lot of interest in actually reading the comic, though, and I get a lot of "oh, my cousin wrote a picture book, could you illustrate it???" questions.

[azureXtwilight]

"How do you find time between your doctor practice and making webcomic?"

Uh, no sleep?

[indagold]

I do animation as my main job and comics as a hobby so people stopped asking me about my comics thank god. Though it's worse with animation. Like my dad hounds me whenever he sees 3D and expects me to give a technical rundown of the whole film asking me "how do they make them move? are they photos?". He also thinks comics and animation are the exact same thing so he tells me to pitch my comics to animation studios. My friends are encouraging at least, they love my work.

[Shanny8]

I usually try to steer away from that convo, coz it's usually followed up by people asking me can I draw them something- and most of the time it's some bullshit I dont even care to draw or do; i.e. "Do you do murals?", "Can you do a mural in my kids bedroom?", "Can you draw a tattoo design for me?"- fuck no.

Last week I was inking a piece during my lull at my day gig and a co-worker sees me & is like. "What are you drawing?" Since I was zoomed in, and she couldnt tell what it was, I was like "I'm just scribbling"...and of course here comes the "will you draw me blah blah blah" pitch afterwards.

[Chopythes]

People generally get SHOCKED that I draw, make cosplays and is overall active within the creative spectrum, haha!

Convo usually goes like: Omg, you can draw really well! Are you making any money off it? is it going well for you?? Wow, it's really cool! Do you have a store??

I'm actually VERY private at work (not online tho, I spill the beans all the time and it's often tmi xD) so I guess people get surprised by it?
I don't feel comfortable talking about myself, I feel too egocentrical so that's one of the reasons I don't say I make comics on my spare time. That, and the stigma about drawing being "childish" I guess?

[Kayke]

I'm pretty shy about my work with people I don't know for whatever reason. I guess I'm kind of quiet in general when I'm around people who I'm not friendly with. I live in a pretty creative town where almost all the people I encounter have some creative hobby (writing, music, painting, etc) so I've found that a lot of people don't think I mean I do comics professionally when I say I'm a cartoonist and are just like 'Oh yeah, I draw too!' and then show me some sketches they did and I'm like "oh cool" and just drop it.

It's usually not until people know me for a while that acquaintances realize I am serious when I say I'm an artist either by finding my websites or because I'm missing events/parties to go to a gallery show or comic convention.

I have a friend who is basically my hype man because he knows I don't talk about my art, so if he hears someone around town talking about me he whips out his phone and pulls up my blog to show off my latest work or just starts blabbing about my upcoming projects and events. Whenever he reports back to me about stuff that people say it's usually something along the lines of "oh she's ACTUALLY an artist" or "this is ACTUALLY good" lol

[idontevenkn01]

That I'm moody cranky, a bit of a bitch

sensitive, hard-headed, big-headed, insecure, narcissistic, grandiose

sexy, funny, silly, crazy, adorable, innocent kind-hearted.

Basically I've been everything under the personality rainbow O_____O

[SpavVy]

People think it's really cool that I make webcomics, my mom however, wishes I wouldn't post it online because she thinks I should publish it. She doesn't think my comic should be free to read lol

[GreenSpleen]

Lol nah….drawing shouldn't be disrespected! I'm yet to come across someone who kinda spats on what I do (even if webcomic-ing is a hobby). Mostly, the reception is quite enthusiastic/positive! To people who have no creative bone in their body, we're considered "COOL" to them.

The Earth without art is just "eh."

[WakaXO]

My family is pretty supportive of me making comics, but I don't think any of them have actually read my comic. (Comics aren't really within their interests.)
Most of my friends also make comics and the rest are just generally nerdy, so they are all very supportive!
As for strangers, I'm fairly shy and don't make it a habit to approach people so I've never had a conversation with someone I didn't know about my comic.

[aszabla]

lol my parents are the same way, they can't understand webcomics at all! They're pretty competitive lawyer types and always want me to be making money and "beating" the other comics artists. I'm like, mom..it doesn't work that way! I just wanna draw!