How can an artist make money on Pixiv?
Of course, just uploading pictures wouldn't generate any income.
Pixiv is just a community for uploading pictures, not a charity. The system doesn't pay you just because your views increase.
Sure, you can gain fame, but that's all—it won't fill my hungry stomach.
So, how do artists actually make money?
There are various methods, but the most common one is using the sponsorship system.
You gain fame on Pixiv and use that fame to secure sponsors on a separate sponsorship site.
For example, let's say I draw a comic and want to make money from it.
First, I upload only part of it on Pixiv. I might mosaic the important parts or cut the work in half.
Then, I provide a link saying the full version is available on the sponsorship site. People who like my work will pay to see the full version.
The viewer gets high-quality content, and I get money. It's a win-win.
This was a typical way for artists to make money.
I also used this method in my previous world. It was quite lucrative; some well-known artists made over 30 million won a month.
The best part was that once you set it up, the money kept coming in.
As long as the account was maintained, the work remained forever, and there was always some inflow.
That's why most experienced underground artists had accounts on sponsorship sites.
Once set up, even a few works could generate side income, so there was no reason not to have one.
...But this method required a certain level of experience and fame.
For me, who had only uploaded four pictures, this was a tough route.
Who would know my name and come to pay me?
Moreover, it took a long time.
Works receiving sponsorships needed a certain level of quality. It was common to upload comics with a story rather than just a single picture.
Even if I quickly sketched a work, it would take at least a week. For me, who would starve in a week, a sponsorship account was too premature.
So, the second method I chose was taking commissions. Also known as commissions.
I draw what the client wants, and I get paid for my labor.
This method didn't require experience; if you had a certain level of skill, you could make money.
Plus, it didn't take too long.
I just had to implement the client's request into a picture. In my case, I could finish a work in two or three days.
No, with my current desperation, I could do it in half a day!
"Alright, let's do this!"
I immediately made up my mind and boldly posted.
The community where I posted was BC.
Posting a notice on Pixiv alone wouldn't get me recognized. Moreover, I was an amateur, so I needed this kind of promotion.
---
Hala:
Hello, nice to meet you. I'm taking commissions.
https://paxiv.net/·········
This is my Pixiv address, and as you can see, I can draw to some extent.
It's 90,000 won per piece,
and I'll draw it within a day.
If you have a picture you want, contact me at the link below.
https://open.kakao.com/······
---
I intentionally set the price a bit high.
Well, I was confident in my drawing skills, if nothing else.
Even though I didn't get into the university I wanted... that's all.
In the original world, I was quite a famous erotic artist.
In fact, my drawing skills improved significantly during the year I drew erotic pictures.
At that time, I often received more than 200,000 won per piece.
So, 90,000 won was a very cheap price compared to my level. Therefore, I was confident.
...However.
[Oh my god! F***!!! My eyes!!!! I accidentally clicked and got my eyes terrorized, lolololololol]
[As soon as I entered, I saw a dismembered body in front of me; holy sh*t;]
[An amateur with no experience charging 90,000 won? lolololol Have you lost your conscience? lololol]
[I tried to find this guy's conscience, but there was none left, lol]
[Look at that arrogant tone, lololol]
But the response was cold.
"Huh?"
Why? Objectively, it's a well-drawn picture!
Clean and thin lines, detailed and attractive shading, even the fluid dynamics of blood. It was a semi-realistic style.
If I just added a proper background, it could compete with any illustration.
I typed a chat with the keyboard.
It seemed true that it looked arrogant, so this time I added polite language.
[Hala: No, everyone, 90,000 won is cheap for a picture of this quality; moreover, it's an erotic picture. Can't you invest that much in your happiness?]
[Oh..]
[That seems to be the case..?]
[With this quality, it's worth the price, yeah]
Fortunately, my tearful appeal seemed to have worked.
The deteriorating public opinion began to recover gradually.
Indeed, appealing to sexual desire is effective. There's nothing better than sexual desire to lift the mood.
But the next comments came right away.
[No, I know the quality is good, but honestly, 90,000 won is a bit burdensome; you're not a famous artist or anything]
[lol, that's true. 90,000 won is four chickens, lol]
[Where do shut-ins like us have money, lol]
[You're not a virgin, are you?]
[? I am, though?]
[Wasn't the 1,000 won sticker on the desk a sex partner?]
[You bastard]
"Hmm..."
I sighed.
That's why I didn't want to take commissions hastily.
Even if you're skilled, if you don't have a reputation, you often don't get the price you deserve.
I wanted to gain more experience and then take commissions, but I needed money.
"There's no choice."
Indeed, 90,000 won was a lot of money.
Unless someone is really into pictures, it's rare for a general person to pay 90,000 won just for a glance.
So, I typed a chat again.
Specially, it's a bleeding service.
[Hala: Alright. Then I'll take it for 70,000 won.]
70,000 won was the exact standard price. They couldn't complain that it was expensive.
[Oh, lol]
[This kid knows how to do business, lololol]
Good. Satisfying.
With 70,000 won, I could survive for about a week.
Extending my life while also gaining public favor. It's a great value that can't be achieved with just 20,000 won.
Satisfied with the result, I smiled.
As I was about to open the Kakao chat with a smile...
Another comment was posted.
[Huh? Wait a minute, isn't this the picture that the kid who did the spam attack a few days ago uploaded? lolololol]
As if it were the karma of the past, a memory surfaced.
At the same time, a few users posted additional comments as if to remind me of that memory.
[Huh? It really is, lolololol]
[Ugh.. my head.. ugh... you bastard!!!!]
[I thought the drawing style looked familiar, it was that kid's drawing style, lolololol]
Huh?
[You bastard! Do you know how fucked up we were back then!!!]
[No, I'm still curious, why did you draw a woman in the first picture? Are you a lesbian?]
[This person is bisexual. Please take down the post.]
[It could be a man]
[Unless you're mentally ill, why would a man draw something like that;]
The public opinion... the public opinion was plummeting!
They remembered the spam attack incident from a few days ago. Numerous curses were updated in the comment section.
A boycott movement started, saying they would never give me a commission no matter what.
It's all because of that terrorist bastard. I remembered that guy from early morning who alternated between posting gore and nude female characters to attract attention.
Damn it, who was that nuisance who spammed?
'...It was me.'
It was me.
I was the one who spammed, saying it was for promotion, to see the reaction. I even used the clone technique to spam vigorously.
Damn, I let out a hollow laugh at my actions from a few days ago.
This won't do.
"I need to regain public favor."
Click, clack!
I moved the keyboard to plead my innocence.
[Hala: No; it wasn't me who did the terror, why are you doing this. I'm also in an unfair position;]
In reality, there was nothing unfair about the terrorist being me.
Anyway, it was unfair!
Since I did the spam with a detour IP, these guys might not know it was me. In front of anonymity, the terrorist and I are complete strangers.
Without evidence, what I said was the truth.
Anyway, in this damn world, the truth isn't important.
Therefore, I needed to genuinely plead my innocence.
[Hala: I don't know who the hell did the terror, but I swear on my conscience. I really never did anything like spam ㅠㅠ]
Now, I'm an innocent artist who was also victimized by the mysterious terrorist. Just one innocent victim.
I hoped this sincere appeal would work.
However,
[lolol, there are too many victims of your drawings]
[Anyway, it's karma that someone has to receive. Accept it gracefully, lolololol]
[From now on, we boycott your drawings]
"Ha..."
A sigh.
Comes out automatically.
The action I thought was the best move came back like a boomerang and became a complete blunder.
"Tsk... you idiot, Se-won..."
There was no choice. To appease the angry users, there was only one way.
Lower the price further.
[Hala: Ha... Then for a while, I'll take commissions for 50,000 won. Please calm your anger with this...]
[Oh, lolol.]
[Hmm... Your sincerity is commendable, so I'll show some leniency]
[50,000 won erotic commission is awesome, lololol]
Only then did the fiercely burning public opinion gradually cool down.
I decided to think positively.
"..."
If the public opinion has recovered, that's enough. Right now, even 50,000 won is a blessing for me. If I maintain the discount price for about two weeks and then return to the normal price, the kids will be satisfied. After that, I can gradually increase the price.
I roughly drew a future plan there.
[lolol, but if it's an erotic picture, can I really request anything?]
...So, I might have answered that question carelessly.
Because I was thinking about other things.
[Hala: Yeah, I accept most things]
[lolol]
[Yeah, lol]
Now that I think about it... I shouldn't have done that.
I didn't know yet. How abnormal desires manifest in a gender-reversed world. What kind of abyss lies there.
Soon, people entered the open chat room.
[IAmAScatMania has entered the open chat room!]
[WildNightWithTofuMonk has entered the open chat room!]
[ShotaconJujiFixation has entered the open chat room!]
"...Huh?"
At those profound nicknames, I lost my mind for a moment.
_______________________________________________
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