Sometimes artists shoot themselves in the foot, though. I know a couple who left parts of their portfolio with people "for approval" who later howled that, "It was GIFT! You gave it to us as a sample!" As a full time artist, I don't work for free. Ever.

Yeah, same thing with musicians. As one of them I constantly hear people saying: "ohhhhh it must be very nice for you to connect hobby with work. You have to be very happy!" No, people. It's a job like any other. Of course, it sometimes gives pleasure but there is also very very much hard work which isn't funny.

This artist, and all artists really, should work up or find a general contract that can easily be adjusted to a given project and not do any work for these entitled jerks until there is a meeting of the minds in writing. A contract is professional and says in no uncertain terms that what you are doing is work that must be paid for. It also gives you a leg to stand on after the work is done to get your money out of said entitled jerks.

"...well now you brought up about the money, I have to think about it." "I need them ASAP!" *Payment comes over a couple of months. "...and this way if it'll make some money you'll get some too." - All the things I heard so far.

This will get you lots of exposure. Yes, that's ironic. However, putting a bunch of these up as profile pics and on your website, if you have one, will have the beneficial side effect of driving away any number of non-paying potential "customers." There are a number of old-fashioned words for these people: Leech, soak, freeloader, sandbagger. Also: con artist and thief.

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This is funny considering Bored Panda NEVER gives credit to the people who make their background music for their videos. Word is spreading...

The worst is people with other jobs who do what the artist does as a hobby [I am talking about professional photography in this case] and do it for a pittance or free, because [it's their hobby], thus bringing down the market in the area. If plumbers or hairdressers would do this it would be devastating. Just imagine some rich bltch opening a salon for the lulz [it's her hobby] and charging next to nothing. They are basically saying "get a 'proper' job like mine." Insulting and patronizing.

I relate so much to this! As a photographer there is no end to the request for freebies

I was a translator with my own limited company when before I went on pension. Don't ever let anybody take advantage of you. The tax authorities will be on your side if you report the free loaders. "You owe me a favour" is nonsense on any language.

My landlord wanted me to do a mural so I can feel at hime… 😂

I'm all over this-I have reached a very ripe old age and STILL get these sort of answers-and a wall of silence/butthurt when I dare to mention money...yet ,of course they would never consider doing anything for free....I really hate it-in NZ,we are conditioned to feel uncomfortable speaking about money;so it makes it even harder....

Draw a hat. Is a baseball cap that has blue lines with black stripes on the rounded crown and black and white checkered pattern on the S peak extended front.

Was Emmie Tsumura paid to be showcased on this site or was it just for exposure for her?

See this on Upwork.com a lot. "Expert wanted. $5/hr."

In my years as a commercial illustrator I heard a lot of similar comments from potential clients. I always remember a quote, the author of I can't remember but he had gone to interview Picasso and saw a sketch in the trash, picked it up and asked if he could have it. I also forget the amount of money Picasso said he could have it for, but it was in the thousands. I got it.

https://youtu.be/6h3RJhoqgK8

We the artists have to draw the line and know our limits. Sometimes we certainly can offer pro bono work but repeatedly asking for pro bono work is an abuse of professionalism.

Did Bored Panda pay the artist for these cartoons? They're great, hope the website got the point...

I am not a graphic artist. I am an IT professional and I get this all the time. People want me to "look" at their computer or mobile device. For nothing of course.

Hi guys. I'm more of a part time freelancer. Once my boss at work asked me if I could draw portraits of all the supervisors including hi self. When I asked how much would he pay? He looked at me and chuckled "pay?" it's for the department, be a team player." I then chuckled and said $2000 or forget the whole thing. He looked annoyed and said $2000? Are u nuts? I just walked away and said forget the portraits boss just hang pictures lol

This is funny considering Bored Panda NEVER give or list the credits for people who make the background tracks for their videos. SMH. Just found out the word is spreading....

Lots of people in other industries also get asked to do unpaid work. It's not just in the creative industry. I've been asked to run analysis beyond the demands of the project, or even to do collect additional data for free, with the client justifying it as "an opportunity to try an analysis you wouldn't usually do". There are too many people who think that just because a product / service does not have a intangible end result, it costs nothing.

So many of these drawings speak to me. I am being asked to do work for nothing and to give away a few things is fine but when demands are made an no mention WHAT SO EVER of sharing profits is discussed, I am making myself less and less available now. They cannot get what is in my head on their own and they cannot take photos like I can... Im sure if shoe was on other foot, they would be upset. I need to put food on my table and a roof over my head. How do you all stop the madness? I should be compensated for my work!

It's not just artists who are asked to work for free! I'm a digital marketing consultant and I get "offers" almost every week to work on start-ups for a share of future profits. Seriously?

These people are a******s...

The reason people think they can get away w/o paying is because there are so many poor artists willing to do it. Same with any cheap labor.

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So the artist imagined what those rude people would look like? It's interesting he didn't imagine any of them as being african american. Yes, one might be mixed, but if you combine his eyes, with the fact that he's saving for a trip to Japan, it's clearly the artists intent to focus away from him looking black. Compounding that were the clients that appeared very Jewish, and one that was definitely CBS's Ugly Betty. I hope one day the artist can have more diversity in his work. Black americans play an important role in this society, and it hurts their accomplishments when you exclude them like this. We had a black president but yet a black man can't even play a burglar on a ADT security commercial. This racism must end.