New Reward: Monthly Patron Choice Drawing (Patreon)

On account of a recent change in Patreon policies, raffles are no longer allowed as patron rewards. As a result, I'm being forced to replace that reward with something different, but that hopefully will still be engaging and appealing to all of you who have so generously decided to support me this way.

Introducing Patron Choice illustrations. Based on a three month long cycle, this reward will allow patrons as a whole to choose the subject of a monthly illustration!

This is how it is going to work:

Month 1: Pitching

Each month, each patron on a newly created $10 tier (as well as those on the $30 tier) will be entitled to pitch me an idea, concept or theme for an illustration. Cool thing is, unlike the old raffle model, this idea is not limited to a single character - it can be a description of a scene with multiple interacting characters, a mechanical design, or even a landscape. Go wild and use your imagination to tell me about something that you would really like to see me draw! Of course, you may want to take into consideration that your idea will be judged and voted upon by other patrons, so you're advised to think up of something that has some degree of widespread appeal. ;)

Also, please keep in mind that if your concept is chosen, I may adjust the level of detail on it to keep the execution time at a reasonable level (usually a maximum of 3 days or about 20 hours). I will also retain a veto right over each pitched concept - but if I reject your idea for whatever reason, trust that I'll explain you what that reason was, and give you the chance to suggest a different idea.

I'll prompt this pitching action at the beginning of each month. All along that month, the entitled patrons can send their ideas to me via a Patreon message, or through any other messaging system where they can reach me, as long as I can identify them as patrons on the $10+ tiers.

Month 2: Voting

During this month, all patrons on the $5+ tiers will be entitled to vote on which of the ideas suggested during the previous month they would like me to work on. Along with all these new ideas, the 2nd most voted idea from the previous month's voting will be included in the options, getting a second chance to be selected.

I'll prompt this vote at the beginning of each month. All along this month, the entitled patrons can send me a message with their vote through Patreon, or any other messaging system where they can reach me - once again, as long as I can identify them as patrons on the $5+ tiers.

Since this cycle works as an "assembly line", during this month I will also be also be taking pitches for ideas to be voted upon on the next month - and so on.

Month 3: Execution

I think this is self-explanatory! During this month, I'll create an illustration based on the most voted idea from the previous month. This Patron Choice drawing will be posted here on Patreon as soon as it is finished, and at least 48 hours before I share it anywhere else!

At the same time, the voting will take place for next month's Patron Choice drawing, as well as the pitching for the one after, and so on.

Small Print

Please be aware that only patrons who have been in the appropriate tier since the beginning of each month will be allowed to take part in that month's interactions regarding the Patron Choice selection.

Launch Promotion

Since I don't want to make my patrons wait more than 2 months for the first Patron Choice illustration, a special launch promotion will take place during the next couple of weeks:

- Up to the end of November 2015, I'm asking patrons to send me their pitches for the first Patron Choice illustration. Exceptionally for this launch promotion, every $5+ tier patron is allowed to send me a pitch.

- From the 1st to the 15th of December, voting will take place for the December 2015 Patron Choice illustration.

- From December 16th up until the end of 2015, voting will take place for the January 2016 Patron Choice illustration. This voting will use every idea not selected on the previous voting. At the same time, I'll execute the selected idea for December.

- All along December, I will already be taking ideas for the February 2016 Patron Choice illustration, this time already using the regular model described before.

I'll repeat this promotion information later in another journal for those patrons who did not have the patience to get this far. 

Final Word

As usual, I am open to consider all and any suggestions that you may want to make in order to turn your patronage of my work into a positive, exciting and fun experience. Don't be a stranger; If you support me, then I am sure that you know where to find me. ;)

Finally, a word for my current patrons for whom this new reward initiative just isn't good enough to replace my previous model. My most sincere apologies to you for this unexpected change which was forced upon me. I want to believe that this change will ultimately be for the better, allowing for plenty of interesting and fun interactions between me and you, bringing us closer, and contributing to the creation of even better and more appealing art. However, I also understand that you might not share this opinion, and I understand perfectly if you wish to withdraw your support on that basis. Should that be the case, please send me a message before you do, and I will draw you a special goodbye sketch of a character of your choice. I most certainly wouldn't want to part with you on bad terms, and I would like to believe that your departure won't be a definitive farewell, but merely a "see you soon".

Once again to all my patrons, thank you all so much for your generous support of my artistic endeavors. I sincerely hope that you'll never become disappointed in me, and I work towards that goal every day. I believe that your incentive has had a real effect in the improvement of my skills over the last few months, and I hope this improvement shows to you too. Keep on rocking!