Patreon Update / April Preview (Patreon)

I know it's long but if you don't read it, don't say I didn't tell ya ;) 

Welcome Patrons - March was a great month with 31 new patrons! Big shout out to those who just joined (or re-joined): Fernando Soares, Damien, Switch, Carmen Cerezo, Vickipiki, Joey Wall, Nick Bowker, Gabriela Birchal, rasha Ra, joshua damian, Ejiwa Ebenebe, Crowe, Ken Yagami, Devan Tang, Leonardo Mafra, Lily Hosegood, raeXmell, Holly Rose, Kennery Chhum, Veniamin Kulikou, Victor Bonbon, CChang, Luke, Angel Tribbeck, Marco Inver, Jorge Luis Vertti Gutiérrez, Tom Cooper, Riccardo Albione, Ted Ottoson, Rachel Anns, Suplima, and Lisa van der Broek!
Welcome to the studio everyone, thanks for being part of the Swatches community :) 

Poll Results - You guys really showed up at the poll with practically ever single one of you casting a vote which is amazing :D Somewhat surprising me is that "homework-style lessons to sharpen my skills" was the most desired content despite the fact it isn't even something I've offered before. The other kinds of content (eBooks, making of videos, timelapse videos and paintovers) were all close in votes. 

Coming Up - I've been doing a lot of thinking about what the rewards should be and trying to balance what you want (poll results included), what I'm interested in doing, what I can make in time allowed and what moves me towards my long-term goals. This is what I have planned:

• Mood Chapter - the Mood book is too big to finish in one month so I'll be releasing a chapter per month starting with Lighting (as seen in pic) and compile them all once complete.  

• Video - In addition to the chapter I'll also release a video though the nature of it will change (making of Magic images, timelapse videos, etc.)

• Goodbye $5 - By far the $10 tier is the most popular leaving only 5 people in the $5 tier which doesn't really justify it so it will be removed. 

• Hello $20 and $40 - Many of you learn a lot from watching image critiques/paintovers even if it's not yours and want more of that content. Following that I'll be opening a new 20 tier where you get to "sit in" and watch the feedback videos in addition to the normal content. Whose feedback do you get to see? Those at the new 40 "class" feedback tier which will have 3 slots. To be clear, those at the current 40 will remain private feedback but those in the new tier will have to share what they learn with the 20 class. 

• Lessons - The 20 and 40 tiers (both of them) will also get the monthly lessons(!) so if you're wanting to keep improving your skills and sharpen your artist eye these are the tiers for you. They will have a short video describing what to do, showing examples and contain the pages or reference images required for the exercises or assignments. This is self-study, there will be no feedback on the lessons though if it proves popular enough to justify the time I'll consider it. 

• Physical posters - Last November I offered physical posters as a bonus reward...that was not a good idea. I've dropped the ball on this and I apologize, it's unprofessional of me that it hasn't been taken care of. I have all the posters in hand, they've been signed and I'm waiting on a shipment of 150 mailing tubes then I'll begin filling out the 75 foreign shipping forms and sending them off. 

What do you think of the upcoming content and new tiers? Comment below,