Your goal or payoff?

[Rhonder]

Hmm kind of multifaceted.

The main reason I pursue art (and as a result, the pay off) is because I feel terribly unproductive when I'm not drawing or working on something related lol. I had a big break from drawing between graduating highschool and graduating college where I did a little drawing here and there, but not much. And then after I started working my first couple of jobs out of school I just kind of stopped altogether for like 8 months. It was like fine, and I would just go to work and most days come home and play video games (or occasionally meet up with friends or whatever) but I felt a big gap in my soul where my other big hobby used to be. So I got back into it and have been a lot happier since lol. Even if I only draw sporadically, it's still enough to help me feel like I'm being productive in my off time, and thus content.

That said why comics specifically? One part is because I've always been drawing comics, even since I was little lol. I'm not really sure why, as I didn't even really read that many comics when I was really young (I got into Manga big time in middle school when lots of my friends started discovering it, but prior to that not much... but I had been drawing comics since I was easily 4 or 5). So like just as an artform, it's something that's always resonated with me and that I've been interested in making.

But there's also a part of me that's admittedly into the whole "internet fame" aspect. The idea of building a sizable fan base is like... super desirable somehow haha. I don't like stress over my progress on this "goal" though since it's partially out of my control, and can also lead to really toxic mindsets really fast if you focus on it too much. The communities and people you can meet and opportunities you can find as a byproduct are all things that one can start getting involved with with even meager "followings" (and I feel like I've already been able to become a part of some of these types of things, which is great )

Finally, while I don't really aspire to turn art or comics into my main full time job I guess my most "concrete" goal at this point is to get to a point where I can try out tabling at conventions here and there. I'm not at the point yet where I feel like I have enough content to warrent trying to sell it in that way, but I think I could get there in the near future~

[VibrantFox]

I definitely am among those hoping to make comics full time and alongside that I'd like to dip into animation though that's more secondary. Heck I even hope to be in a position to lift up other creators and give them and their stories a voice or platform or what have you because I know my own struggles and those I've heard of from other.

I understand working in a creative field isn't always easy nor is it always profitable but it's something I've been dedicated to my whole life becoming more certain about not just my interests but passions over time. It's hard to see myself anywhere else and honestly that really stuck the more I dug into comics both in traditional and online publishing, though it was primarily webcomics.

It does get tiring having to hear it called a hobby when for me it's not but i also understand every individual has their own unique path that they're following; I just hope mine can be just as respected as I would others.

[beta1042]

I'm pretty much doing this for myself. My goals are to become a better artist and a better story teller. I also just want to complete something. I think it'll be amazing to look back at this when I'm done and binge read the whole thing and see all my progress and just be like "I made this!" And yes it's super exciting to have readers and supporters. They certainly help me push through when I have times where working on the story is a drag. I like to think I could do this without any outsider support, but tbh I think it would've been hard to continue something with no readership. And also having those extra eyes look at my stuff really is a key component for improving.

[faisalhussein394]

Oh, how I wish I could have a career for comics but consider where I am living in, that's not gonna happen unfortunately.

For now, I work as a full time graphic designer and I continue to draw a page whenever I have free time.

I know that sounds unhealthy but my goal aside from being a comic artist is to publish my project "Mukhtar" for everyone to read and see.

So, me making a comic is my relaxing moments, despite the fact that I have to spend extra energy on it, but it makes me feel happy.

If your feeling stressed and drawing pictures doesn't help, then take a few days break. It helps.

[jurinova]

Truth is, my life isn't that great or exciting and there isn't much for me to do or many people to hang around with.

But drawing my comic sparks joy in my life. I've always loved drawing and telling stories, so it's something I do out of the love for creating. Seeing other people enjoy reading what I love creating is like a bonus for me and keeps me wanting to post online. If I was only doing this for other people I would've stopped years ago because I've never been a popular artist in anyway.

Sometimes it's stressful balancing real life duties with drawing the comic, which is why I would like to someday make some money out of the comic. Not much but a bit extra, so the time I spent stressing about my finances could instead be spent drawing. I know I don't have what it takes to be a full-time artists and that's fine by me, but I don't ever want to stop drawing because it is so important to me.

[ivanskilling]

I guess my goal is similar to a lot of people here! I want to complete my planned novels, put my work out there, and know that somewhere in the big Internet, there is a group of people who enjoy my works as much as I do.

Earning by creating is a very very nice plus, won't lie.

[OttoGruenwald]

Make the story I want to tell, get it to people that want to read it.

[Azifri]

I want to get better at drawing and storytelling. Drawing a comic forces me to draw scenes and poses I would otherwise be too lazy to draw in standalone illustrations. I have other short comics I have created, but don't post them on the internet because they are too personal or look terrible; the current one I'm posting online as a way of giving me extra pressure to improve. If I manage to draw a page, call it done and not cringe, I call that victory.

Another goal is to find out if the stuff I come up with is interesting for someone else and if it's interpreted the same way I intended it to. Also, because it's fun to talk about the stories I create with others and hear what they have to say about it, besides, comics are easier to translate so I can share them with friends who don't speak the same language.

I don't expect to make money with my art, but would love to print my comics some day, and similar to what Rhonder said, I'd also like to show/sell my stuff at conventions

[baasinsimple]

Well, that's quite a good question. I use to want to be a manga artist, but that's not something I want to do anymore. There's so many things to learn including a new language. No way I can do all of that in a reasonable time frame. Then I wanted be a just a comic artist and that's not the case anymore. To be honest the world my main project is based in is one I am super passionate about so I want to continue that. I just want to finish my main comic, and after that write a few books or something based of the same world in a different time frame.

[liann]

getting better at drawing and getting this story out of my system.

maybe i wanna be recognised too (and earn money) but atm I don't feel like I'm good enough for that... like mentally. I don't wanna fall into that "let the readers win" category where I discard some plot points I want because it may upset people or something. So i'm trying to mature lol. I don't wanna half ass the story and add so much fillers and scenes that don't make sense.

[ZatchZ]

I have stories, I wanna tell them.
Comics seems to be the way to go as they're bite sized bits you can read while on the trams.

[azzy-m]

Not only do I like telling my own stories, but my current comic serves as a learning tool to learning about creating comics.

[keii4ii]

I wanted people to see the beauty in this story, the way I see it. The characters are beautiful, their relationships are beautiful, and I want other people to see that. And to that end, I want the story to be the best it can be.

I don't like how vague that is. Like, if 1 person Sees The Beauty™, does that mean I've reached my goal? 10 people? 100 people? ...? ? ?

[Pandastrophic]

To be honest I really don't think I have a goal...
I started it because I've always loved comics and as a way for me to get story ideas out of my head.
I really didn't expect to still be doing it 4 years in. While so much has changed in my life during this time the comic has been this consistent thing that kept me grounded and it's become one of the few things I really enjoy working on right now.

While I make a good amount on the side from patreon/webtoon/etc it's nowhere near a living wage and for the most part I've just been making the comic because it sparks joy lol.

[nostalgicroxas]

I'm in the odd duck boat. I don't really have a huge long-term goal, but that's because I'm very shy and apprehensive about seeing if things can "work out" or not. While I'd like my novel and stories to make enough to at least pay for themselves, I'm not too sure how realistic of a goal that is. Right now I'm focusing on smaller goals - make things for practical objects for RedBubble and Zazzle, maybe try making some fabrics of my own (waiting for that to come in the mail), and maybe just apply to a few of the conventions to see if I get in to sell. It's definitely more of a brick-and-mortar look at the problem but another problem I feel I'm facing is I don't like the idea, or I don't have a thing to, lock behind a paywall like Patreon. I've actually decided to move entirely away from Patreon and instead will accept donations strictly as donations on Ko-Fi. Since I have a new laptop I'm looking at what kind of software I need to do some videos to record for youtube - not to become youtube famous, but to get my stuff out there into a different realm. I saw a girl from almost 8 years ago posting her art and v-logs together and she'd narrate it kind of like it was a journal. I don't plan to go that same route, but maybe narrate it and talk about the stories I'm working on, and why that inspired this xyz art. Maybe. I'm not sure. The cost of a webcam + mic that are decent kind of terrifies me hahahaha

I guess long term my goal is to have it make money to pay for itself, but overall I just want to be able to share my writings with people. I don't think my art is that great- and haven't for YEARS- but that's why I don't "work" in comics. I can barely do story boards!

A lot of "this" is just what you plan to invest your time and money, and where. I have a tiny house so I can only invest in so much. If I want to invest in something more, like a more dedicated drawing space, I'd likely have to rent a studio and that's income I just flatout don't have right now.

[Anthien]

I try to work in a slightly higher standard than my own abilities. Even though it takes forever.. I learn more that way. And I think it also keeps me from wanting to redo the story from the beginning again cause art can drastically improve overtime to where you eventually cringe at your first episodes, haha. Because it takes longer, I don't have a schedule... but it keeps me mentally at ease. I simply just try for the best version of my story as I can possibly produce, without ever thinking I have to finish it one day.

The present is what matters to me, the progress of making the comic should somewhat be more enjoyable than stressful. Basically, just draw and learn, no real goal of wanting to get featured or something. Frankly I don't have the talent and that's not being modest here.

[CarolRiverArt]

[CarltonIsaac]

What are you looking for? Do you have a goal or you just in for the ride? What keeps you going and what will satisfy you?

Money in the bank, every time, all the time.

[CodeMonkeyArts]

Ultimate Payoff: An animated series with my characters...or even a video game. That is like pipe-dream level of Payoff.

Semi-Ultimate Payoff: Being a published Light-novelist O.O

More realistically Payoff: Having enough of a audience to make my art and writing passion a successful side-hustle. It won't necessarily be a full job replacement and I will still need to continue being a CodeMonkey during the day, but having a successful stream of people wanting my work, enjoying the commissions I make for them, enjoying my stories and giving me sweet sweet validation.

[samguyjones]

I want people to enjoy what I made, and i want that work to endear them to me. I think a lot of it comes with loneliness, that first gave me this loop of making fictional people who have endless conversations in my head, and then made me want to put those conversations down in a medium.

I make up stories because I can't help it. I've got an urge to tell them also because there's this big part of my life that's otherwise only mine.