Changes Coming to Patron Sketch Request Process (Plus, Telegram Stickers!) (Patreon)

Starting January 1, I’m changing how patrons submit and receive sketch requests so that it’s easier both for you AND for me. Also, patrons $100+ will now be able to choose between a sketch or a custom Telegram/chat sticker each quarter! That’s right, Telegram stickers are here!!!

Why the Change?

My current tool (Trello) is making some changes to their platform that makes certain features I rely on to be out of my price range. I’ve shopped for a solution that is not only within my budget but also offers more features and will allow me as much automation as possible. These changes will require you to use the Google Form to submit your requests instead of directly into Trello like some folks have been doing, but it’s the same form you’re familiar with so not too much different than how it was working before. 

For the tech geeks out there, I will be using a combination of my current Google Form to submit sketch and sticker requests, AirTable to track progress in a Kanban style visual format (like Trello!) and individual PCloud folders unique to each patron so you can upload and store reference sheets as well as receive and download your completed commissions.

How to Submit Sketch (and Telegram Sticker) Requests

• You’ll still fill out your request via a Google Form. Note: the name and email you provide in your request submission should match your name here on Patreon.
• As of January 1, you’ll have your own dedicated folder in PCloud which will allow you to upload your reference files and receive/manage your completed art. You’ll be prompted to upload any references to this folder. Note: You’ll receive a Patreon message from me when your PCloud folder is ready.
• Your request will be listed via AirTable, complete with status and any other identifying tags
• You’ll receive an email when your art is complete and uploaded to your PCloud folder

Here’s an example of what your custom PCloud folder will look like where you can upload your references and receive/manage your completed art:

One (Small but Important) Rule Change for All Sketch Requests

Previously, you were not eligible to submit your first sketch reward until 3 months had passed, which was difficult to manage and resulted in some awkward moments. Now, you will be able to submit your request within your first month of pledging to an eligible tier!

However please note, because I complete the drawings in advance and have had some unfortunate scenarios happen in the past, if you’re a $50 or $100 patron and drop your pledge BEFORE the full quarter after submitting your sketch/sticker request, that will result in being blacklisted from my Patreon/doing business with me in the future. However, mistakes happen and financial situations change, so if there’s a concern, please please please get in touch with me directly and we can work something out.

Sketch/sticker requests are delivered quarterly (3 months) on a set schedule (January, April, July, October), so by submitting a request with no intention of following through with a quarter’s worth of pledges you’ll be causing more work for me in the end, so please be mindful that this is an honor system built on trust.

Other Things to Note

Here are just a couple things to keep in mind with this new process.

• Editing Requests: While you can edit the details of your request via the Google Form, there’s currently no way to move a previously-submitted request to a new month. If you need to make a change regarding the order in which you want your art to be completed, please send a duplicate submission with corrected information and I’ll manage the rest on my end.
• Be Patient: It takes about 15 minutes for request submissions sent via the Google Form to be visible in AirTable. If you don’t see it right away, check back in a bit and it will show.
• Submitting Multiple Months: You can submit up to 11 months of requests in advance if you prefer to do them all at once. Not a full year, but pretty close!
• Growing Pains: This is a new process/set of tech for me, so there’s undoubtedly going to be bumps and glitches along the way, but I’m pretty confident that in the long run this will be easier in general. Thank you for your understanding and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns!
• Outstanding Requests: Any previously submitted requests will be manually ported over to the new system by me, no need to do anything!

Wait, You Said Telegram Stickers

That’s right! I love drawing Telegram stickers, and in an effort to keep custom art options interesting both for you and for me, I am now offering the ability for $100 patrons to choose between a custom telegram sticker or a sketch as part of your quarterly art reward! As a reminder, here’s a breakdown of how these rewards work:

• $50: 1-character sketch, every quarter
• $100: 1-character sketch OR color a previous sketch OR 1 large-format sticker, every quarter
• $250: 2-character colored sketch OR 2 large-format stickers, every month

To save your eyeballs and prevent this already long update from being even longer, more details about Telegram/chat stickers can be found in this entry here or my Patreon Reward Index & FAQ (there's lots of very important, helpful information there-- I suggest you bookmark it!).

What’s Next?

I will be setting up everyone’s PCloud folders manually (this is the only major downside but this bit of work up front will save me loads of work later), so you’ll receive a Patreon message from me when your PCloud folder is ready. That’s really it! I just wanted to inform you of this change so you can know what to expect. I’m really excited to hear what you think of the interfaces when we get to using them more regularly!