Let's Talk About Payloads (Patreon)

Hello folks!No this isn't a roundabout way of saying I'm going to be canceling or cutting back on Payloads; they will continue as normal. I'm just looking to discuss them a bit, and how people are feeling about them.

It's been over a year since I started doing payloads, and now, 56 weekly payloads in, I'm reflecting on them.

First, my own thoughts: I like doing the Payloads, as they give me a reason to get work in every day and not fall too far behind or get overly rusty. Consistent work helps me stay on target as an artist and not fall into too much apathy.The Payloads were originally conceptualized as just doodles, quick and crude, more to convey ideas and characters than to be too technically detailed. Over time, and especially as these are paid for with real money, I became more and more self conscious about them. I've been spending increasing time on each payload, working in occasional full-color images, multi panel comics, larger group shots, and even animations. They're drifting away from the loose, sketchy quality I initially envisioned and taking more time out of each week to create.

Very often, when I deliver a Payload, I worry if it's enough. I have never said how many images to expect in a Payload or what the minimum is. Yet I worry that I'll drop off the week's work and leave people thinking "wow, that's it?", that this was a meager Payload, that the images were too rough and sketchy, that the quality was not up to par. Even though no one has ever made this complaint! Not once has anyone said "this was a letdown" or "only [x] images this week?" and still I find myself worrying it's not enough and throwing a last minute spare image or two onto the pile.

I suppose I'm saying all this to express my own self-doubt, which as far as I can tell, has been largely unfounded. You have all been extremely patient, gracious, and supportive for this year, and I'm beyond grateful to have such a kind and understanding audience.

Mostly, I want to know how people feel about them, both the polls and the payloads themselves. What do you like? What needs changing? What sort of polls are fun to participate in? What sort of results have been the most satisfying? Which would you love to see again, see more of, see less of? What gets you excited for the payoff after the poll? I'm open to all discussion around this, so that I can bring the people what they want.

Let me know your thoughts, if you like, and I'll try to shape all this going forward.