ratcha
patreon
On working from home.
🕑 Added 2020-04-23 14:29:16 +0000 UTC
Drawing is one of the jobs that can be easily done from home. If you work a regular day job, working from home sounds like a dream.
Several years ago I was working from home all the time and it was fine.
First, I was working from our bedroom at night because most of my stuff was onstream commissions. I live in Russia and people who buy commissions are in Europe and USA so I had to work at nights to be in the right timezone. My wife was angry at me because not only was I interrupting her sleep but we have barely seen each other as I was sleeping when she was awake and vice versa.
After some time, I set up a studio room in our apartment and was working from there, mostly in the evenings. People from the US could still attend streams and it was ok.
Then the comic happened. It was fun and people have supported it on patreon. It quickly turned out that I really need an intimate atmosphere to draw the stories. I can't do it on the stream because I have to run the characters in my head and make them talk and interact with each other and that requires all the focus. The stream chat is too distracting to do that.
I've started to do less streams and went back to a regular people's schedule. I've quickly learned that there's such a thing as an "afternoon slump". Roughly 12:00-16:00 I turn into a sleepy mess that can't really do any creative or technical work. I've tried waking up early in the morning and working from 7:00 to 12:00 but that means I've had to go to sleep at 21:00 and it is kinda fine but I've either had to miss all the social life with my friends or ruin my schedule here and there. It was a really unsustainable lifestyle.
Two years ago a baby appeared in my life. First two months I didn't work at all. It was really difficult to get used to a completely different life with new routines. My wife had a postpartum depression and it was twice as difficult to navigate this new landscape.
After we've figured out how to be parents, I came back to working in the evenings.
There is a problem that comes with working from home. After some time, you get into the zone of always being at work and simultaneously always being at home. I could get angry that I don't work when I help at home or I could get really guilty that I work when I should be spending time with my family. It's a huge mess. But that's another story.
My son Leo grew up enough and now wants to play and communicate with parents. If you have small kids, you probably know, it's really difficult to make them understand that daddy is home but is working. I love Leo and he loves me and we love to play and watch cartoons and draw and build Legos and go for walks. The problem is, I can't tell a 1,5 year old that daddy is working and he can't interact with me for 5 hours. Even if I do, when I start working, there is always a distraction of a kid who wants to play, wants me to read him a book, etc.
My wife was helping a lot, but still, you just can't get into the porn drawing mood. Because porn and kids are two completely different worlds, that can't be mixed together.
And I was unable to work for months which led to me getting into depression as it also meant I was barely able to support my family now. The patreon donations were the thing that really carried us through this.
Then I've learned about co-working places. This was like being reborn back into drawing. I could go to work in the morning, draw all day, then come back in the evening and spend time with my family. It worked wonders. I've quickly finished the Rick and Rina comic, did two more comics, finished several huge commissions that helped me close the debts and stockpile some extra cash.
And then the COVID situation happened and everything was locked.
I have money to carry me through this. But I made a promise to myself that I will not work from home, no matter what, because it quickly turns ugly for my mental health and creativity. Initially the lockdown was supposed to be one week long so I didn't worry too much. But then it was prolonged for a few weeks more, then a few weeks more.
So here am I, writing this to a patreon where I haven't posted anything for two months. I feel guilty about it and the pressure to put out something is real but this is just the way it is going to be for some time.
I am writing this from a small room I've rented in an apartment block nearby. This room is clearly rented as a love hotel place and the owner was surprised I came here in the morning and alone :)
This is the first day I am here. It's twice as expensive than a day in a coworking space but it allows me to do some work. I can't promise I will put out much, if any, content in April or May. I'll try. I understand the economy is bad so it's perfectly okay if you choose to unsubscribe and take care of your family first. I can also refund the April pledge, since I didn't post any content here, just let me know in the PM.
I hope you all stay safe and healthy!
Love you all.
Ratcha.
Comments
Ratcha
Thank you for it! It really helps a lot :3
Eternals' Information Technology Group
Hello, I am glad to hear you and your family are healthy during these times, and i thank you for the update, do what you think is right, and let no one tell you that you are wrong, (except the wife, a wife can be scary) Anyways, i understand where you ace coming from somewhat, as i have family obligations as well, however, i always have money set aside for those i support on patreon, so i will always stay subscribed to those that i like. Here is to hoping the little i can provide help you and your family during these hard times.
Ratcha
Thank God, no. I am social distancing and trying to stay heathy.
Gildor
Thanks for keeping touch with us. I was worring you could be sick.
Ratcha
Thank you! I do my best <3
Ratcha
Thank you! I really hope it will end soon and regular days come back.
Ratcha
I am currently on both platforms. Keeps me secure in case i get booted from here.
Thanks for letting us know.. you do what you must do and keep your mental health and family's health a priority. We will be around.
Ember The Fire Burd
I think the key to keeping Patreons thru dry spells like this is communication. Explaining your situation as you did, in thorough detail, makes a world of difference and instills confidence that things are still going on behind the scenes. This Covid mess has screwed everyone up so I think I speak for everyone when I say I wish you and yours the best thru this insanity and certainly look forward to a return to a more regular rhythm of arts again ^>^
I still stand by you. I have been subscribed on Subscribe star, thinking you've moved there, but if you moved back to patreon, i'll bring it back here. I love your work, and cant wait to see it :) stay strong and i'll be here for you :)
