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Tired Of Being Asked To Work For Free, This Artist Started Drawing These Client Requests
@forexposure_txt is a Twitter account dedicated to compiling quotes from artists who were expected to work for free. It was created by artist and writer Ryan Estrada, and we previously wrote about it here.
Well now an artist has decided to take some of those quotes and use them to inspire various portraits of what she imagines those people look like. They're part of a series titled "For Exposure," and they were created for Format Magazine by Emmie Tsumura, a Toronto-based illustrator and graphic designer. Check out some of our favorites below. If you're an artist then chances are that more than a few of them will resonate with you!
More info: Twitter | Instagram (h/t: juxtapoz, format magazine)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Mark Jaress 7 years ago
Will you please take your smileys down to the supermarket and buy me some groceries? Thank you for the support
#2
Scully 7 years ago
As someone who draws traditionally and is trying to learn the digital medium, it's not as simple as clicking a 'do art' button. You have to learn brushes and if you don't have one of the pricier tablets you have to really figure out hand eye coordination. It's pretty difficult and I respect anyone who excels in digital art making.
#4
Michel M. Prins 7 years ago
And in the end the end the artist doesn't receive a single penny out of the hard work he/she might've done, while the business makes thousands of dollars BECAUSE the artwork helped with it. That's "business" for ya!
#5
Michel M. Prins 7 years ago
People who say this always think that artists live from stuff like hopes, dreams and unicorn magic. They don't realize that the artist is actually a human being who needs to buy food in order to live.
#8
Carl Frank 7 years ago
Are these to be good-a*s pics, or good a*s-pics? Either way, better pay some good-a*s money, or get to grabbin' your selfie stick.
#10
Dan Weldon 7 years ago
I'll do it...for 10% of the gross profits from your company...forever...
#12
Tamia Müller 7 years ago
If you don't have capital, you don't have a business. Hope is not a strategy.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Michel M. Prins 7 years ago
I love the idea that he's linked the words to faces, great job Ryan! The amount of people who still ask artists to work for free is insane. Artists love their work, sure, but there are many cases where we just have to make money. And this costs time, focus and energy. Whether people want to accept it or not: Being an artist / designer is also a job and it's not always fun.
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
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.
John Ashley 7 years ago
There's a website dedicated to these situations. It's called Clients from Hell. This kind of stuff gets posted there all the time. I can only attribute these client notions to two attitudes in the general population. 1) Doing almost anything creative (art, writing, etc.) is not "real" work... you know, the kind of work that drenches you in sweat when you do it. 2) If you enjoy it, it's not "real" work. If either of these two conditions are present (and Heaven help you if both are), you should be embarrassed to be paid for what you do.
Mack 7 years ago
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.
Anne Robbins 7 years ago
If you make crochet items or knitted ones for sale it is not uncommon for people to object to the price of the item because it is more than the cost of the yarn. They expect to get your time and skill for free. I have told several people that if they just want to pay for the yarn then go buy some and make it yourself. This is not generally well accepted and has led to hatemail.
Cassie 7 years ago
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.
Aditya Gopar 7 years ago
OOT: As IT Programmer: People think I can teach & edit data in offices program, photoshop, hacking, stalking online profile, fix computer, handphone, laptop, fridge, dishwasher, etc... *and for free of course, coz they use "help, please.."
Sherry Straus 7 years ago
Like anyone in business it is up the them to ensure both parties understand what is expected. In the day of computers everything can be documented so I would just send off a little agreement and work out everything. A deposit should be asked for and if they don't give one then I wouldn't do any work, little time wasted. There is no shame in asking or expecting to be paid for any work someone does, no matter who is doing the asking. My dad was a painter and a drummer and always worked out the details beforehand and always got some upfront money, he had 6 kids to feed.
Phil Sevetson 7 years ago
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.
Jonathan Ross 7 years ago
We get at least one request a month to play bagpipes for "exposure". If I want exposure I'll lift my kilt....
Charlton Wilson 7 years ago
the issue is that (whether print art or musician) people will continue to have no esteem and show up with free art. when we put our feet down and tell them to pay us, we will be paid. i went to the juilliard school of music and it was demanded of me often (still is) to play for free. i was offered a "job" about 10 years ago with the Loveland (CO) "opera company". there were over 30 services (1.5-3 hours each - rehearsals and performances) and the pay for 70+ hours was about $250.00. i told the director that i would not be able to make 4 services and was summarily told that my pay would be docked. now, in LA or NY (where i had been a union member, a service is compensated about $250/service. when i told her that i would not be able to play for less than $3.00 an hour - i was afterall a juilliard grad, she told me - screaming - "you'll never work in this town again" a week later i booked jobs for $150/hour. so... have some esteem folks. don't work for nothing.
Antoine Pentreath 7 years ago
This is funny considering Bored Panda NEVER gives credit to the people who make their background music for their videos. Word is spreading...
Tabitha Trevino 7 years ago
Can we please put what others say about how much they loved PAYING for ur work That would be so uplifting!!!!
Little Menace 7 years ago
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.
Melina Pothier 7 years ago
I relate so much to this! As a photographer there is no end to the request for freebies
SuperCoolDesigner 7 years ago
Fun and gut wrenching all at once. Nice work Emmie, cool brush and ink work.
Pamela Jungbeck 7 years ago
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.
Clare Elliott 5 years ago
If I had $100 for each time I did something for the "profile"...I'd be getting paid.
Clare Elliott 5 years ago
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....
Gina Evatt 5 years ago
"I won't share it unless we work together. Otherwise it's your property". Thanks Roland you sure know how to make me feel special and work for free.
Kyan Dexter 5 years ago
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.
Sandra Chung 7 years ago
The ones above that I have personally experienced: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Bali, not Jordan though), 7, 9, 10, 12
Nea Wiseman 7 years ago
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.
Karl Newman 7 years ago
this is the same attitude that insists that teachers don't need to get paid. I'm sorry if you hate your job, but just because someone loves their job doesn't mean that they do it for free.
Rujanee Mahakanjana 7 years ago
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.
Donna Conklin King 7 years ago
All contractors (in construction esp) submit proposals, then, if approved, submit a contract with 30%/30%/30% payment schedule. This seems reasonable to me for artwork. Either way, written contract is mandatory. Emails count.
Kat Summerbell 7 years ago
Did Bored Panda pay the artist for these cartoons? They're great, hope the website got the point...
Kurt Cook 7 years ago
Hey, mr. Gas man, how about you fill my tank for free, and I will tell everyone what great service you give? Or you, mr. Grocer. Hook me up with some free meat out of the goodness of your heart? Or you, mrs. Landlady. Let me live here rent free out of support for the artistic community? No? Then..DON'T ASK FOR ANY FREE ART!
John Galbraith 7 years ago
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.
Brian Dooley 7 years ago
Artists, yes, but writers have been in this particular stew for centuries! I have a client who has owed me over $10,000 for YEARS!
Jose G. Garcia 7 years ago
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
Antoine Pentreath 7 years ago
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....
Death Metal Kitty 7 years ago
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.
Keith Carney-Engle 7 years ago
I do hope that the artist is being paid for boredpanda's use of their art to generate advertising revenue
Shanon Sleigh-images 7 years ago
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!
Shanon Sleigh-images 7 years ago
I think this is amazing. Right now, several of those drawings speak to me. I dont mind giving a few things away but when people start demanding my time and not offering me a DIME.... Im beginning to be less and less available. Favors dont pay my bills. Shanon
Sherree Mongrain 7 years ago
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?
Eric Vanaalen 7 years ago
great work but hard to accept these kind of people... no more talking ever...
Juana 7 years ago
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.
Jim Small 7 years ago
I think the artist is racist. I see only drawings of white people there.
Michel M. Prins 7 years ago
I love the idea that he's linked the words to faces, great job Ryan! The amount of people who still ask artists to work for free is insane. Artists love their work, sure, but there are many cases where we just have to make money. And this costs time, focus and energy. Whether people want to accept it or not: Being an artist / designer is also a job and it's not always fun.
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
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.
John Ashley 7 years ago
There's a website dedicated to these situations. It's called Clients from Hell. This kind of stuff gets posted there all the time. I can only attribute these client notions to two attitudes in the general population. 1) Doing almost anything creative (art, writing, etc.) is not "real" work... you know, the kind of work that drenches you in sweat when you do it. 2) If you enjoy it, it's not "real" work. If either of these two conditions are present (and Heaven help you if both are), you should be embarrassed to be paid for what you do.
Mack 7 years ago
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.
Anne Robbins 7 years ago
If you make crochet items or knitted ones for sale it is not uncommon for people to object to the price of the item because it is more than the cost of the yarn. They expect to get your time and skill for free. I have told several people that if they just want to pay for the yarn then go buy some and make it yourself. This is not generally well accepted and has led to hatemail.
Cassie 7 years ago
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.
Aditya Gopar 7 years ago
OOT: As IT Programmer: People think I can teach & edit data in offices program, photoshop, hacking, stalking online profile, fix computer, handphone, laptop, fridge, dishwasher, etc... *and for free of course, coz they use "help, please.."
Sherry Straus 7 years ago
Like anyone in business it is up the them to ensure both parties understand what is expected. In the day of computers everything can be documented so I would just send off a little agreement and work out everything. A deposit should be asked for and if they don't give one then I wouldn't do any work, little time wasted. There is no shame in asking or expecting to be paid for any work someone does, no matter who is doing the asking. My dad was a painter and a drummer and always worked out the details beforehand and always got some upfront money, he had 6 kids to feed.
Phil Sevetson 7 years ago
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.
Jonathan Ross 7 years ago
We get at least one request a month to play bagpipes for "exposure". If I want exposure I'll lift my kilt....
Charlton Wilson 7 years ago
the issue is that (whether print art or musician) people will continue to have no esteem and show up with free art. when we put our feet down and tell them to pay us, we will be paid. i went to the juilliard school of music and it was demanded of me often (still is) to play for free. i was offered a "job" about 10 years ago with the Loveland (CO) "opera company". there were over 30 services (1.5-3 hours each - rehearsals and performances) and the pay for 70+ hours was about $250.00. i told the director that i would not be able to make 4 services and was summarily told that my pay would be docked. now, in LA or NY (where i had been a union member, a service is compensated about $250/service. when i told her that i would not be able to play for less than $3.00 an hour - i was afterall a juilliard grad, she told me - screaming - "you'll never work in this town again" a week later i booked jobs for $150/hour. so... have some esteem folks. don't work for nothing.
Antoine Pentreath 7 years ago
This is funny considering Bored Panda NEVER gives credit to the people who make their background music for their videos. Word is spreading...
Tabitha Trevino 7 years ago
Can we please put what others say about how much they loved PAYING for ur work That would be so uplifting!!!!
Little Menace 7 years ago
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.
Melina Pothier 7 years ago
I relate so much to this! As a photographer there is no end to the request for freebies
SuperCoolDesigner 7 years ago
Fun and gut wrenching all at once. Nice work Emmie, cool brush and ink work.
Pamela Jungbeck 7 years ago
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.
Clare Elliott 5 years ago
If I had $100 for each time I did something for the "profile"...I'd be getting paid.
Clare Elliott 5 years ago
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....
Gina Evatt 5 years ago
"I won't share it unless we work together. Otherwise it's your property". Thanks Roland you sure know how to make me feel special and work for free.
Kyan Dexter 5 years ago
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.
Sandra Chung 7 years ago
The ones above that I have personally experienced: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Bali, not Jordan though), 7, 9, 10, 12
Nea Wiseman 7 years ago
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.
Karl Newman 7 years ago
this is the same attitude that insists that teachers don't need to get paid. I'm sorry if you hate your job, but just because someone loves their job doesn't mean that they do it for free.
Rujanee Mahakanjana 7 years ago
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.
Donna Conklin King 7 years ago
All contractors (in construction esp) submit proposals, then, if approved, submit a contract with 30%/30%/30% payment schedule. This seems reasonable to me for artwork. Either way, written contract is mandatory. Emails count.
Kat Summerbell 7 years ago
Did Bored Panda pay the artist for these cartoons? They're great, hope the website got the point...
Kurt Cook 7 years ago
Hey, mr. Gas man, how about you fill my tank for free, and I will tell everyone what great service you give? Or you, mr. Grocer. Hook me up with some free meat out of the goodness of your heart? Or you, mrs. Landlady. Let me live here rent free out of support for the artistic community? No? Then..DON'T ASK FOR ANY FREE ART!
John Galbraith 7 years ago
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.
Brian Dooley 7 years ago
Artists, yes, but writers have been in this particular stew for centuries! I have a client who has owed me over $10,000 for YEARS!
Jose G. Garcia 7 years ago
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
Antoine Pentreath 7 years ago
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....
Death Metal Kitty 7 years ago
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.
Keith Carney-Engle 7 years ago
I do hope that the artist is being paid for boredpanda's use of their art to generate advertising revenue
Shanon Sleigh-images 7 years ago
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!
Shanon Sleigh-images 7 years ago
I think this is amazing. Right now, several of those drawings speak to me. I dont mind giving a few things away but when people start demanding my time and not offering me a DIME.... Im beginning to be less and less available. Favors dont pay my bills. Shanon
Sherree Mongrain 7 years ago
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?
Eric Vanaalen 7 years ago
great work but hard to accept these kind of people... no more talking ever...
Juana 7 years ago
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.
Jim Small 7 years ago
I think the artist is racist. I see only drawings of white people there.
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