Respect the Arts

I recently found out about youtuber artist Stephen Silver and his motivational/advice videos. The guy's words are gold and for me it gives me confidence for the future. I myself know how it feels like to have someone come up to me and ask for me to spend my time and talent as if I can dispense pretty pictures on the fly for them but now I realise how important being an illustrator is, there are charities and people whose causes I believe in and would gladly do them the favour of putting my time, effort and thought to them or donate my art willingly but when people start to assume things of me is when when things get disrespectful. I as like many others need to eat and if people want me to service them proffesionally then they better damn well expect to treat me as a proffesional.

I know people will do their best to get anything free and artists should not feel any pressure towards the demands of a client but if for a second I feel like I won't be rewarded in my work for others then I won't do it out of respect of my time and the client's time. Anyone who would call themself a "starving artist" please listen to Stephen, respect yourself and the artist community. Also remember that free exposure and payed for work are two different things, anyone who denies this are most likely exploiting you.