Piggy backing off a comment I got (you're fine this is something I've always wanted to blab about a bit) and something I omitted mentioning on cool artists following me on twitter:
It's because people want commissions.
NOW, this is a weird thing to complain about and I'm not unthankful for the support and interest in my work. Please separate those feelings. I'd love to make a living with commissions if my brain didn't actively sabotage every attempt I make at it leading to thankfully everyone being very very patient with me I kiss u. I wish I could make everyone plushies but capitalism and mental health hate me.
But it's weird when you make art and it's just seen as a commodity, a piece of merchandise, something to OWN, to the majority of people.
Warning this is a rambling mess under the cut this isn't aimed at anyone and shouldn't be like, discouragement of giving plush artists your commission interest ect, I'm looking at the past decade of being a plush artist and having a few things stick to me like hot glue I'm ranting I'm raving I'm a maniac!!!!
Often times, at least as a plush maker, the comments that have stuck to me is how many amount to "You just spent 20-30 hours making something amazing do it again make a perfect replica so I may have it for myself"
And it's kinda crushing sometimes. Like, even my lil G'rahas which I have remade take like 8-10ish hours to make. Each character plush I make is a labour of love, with a pattern made on the fly and hair perfectly trimmed as I go. When I take commissions I may set a body type and general style I'll be going for, because that makes it easier for me to communicate to the seller what they'll be receiving. But other than the basic body and maybe for certain dolls the style of face, the rest is figured out along the way so I have the freedom to make things as perfect as I believe they can be.
AND MAN, THEN, UNLESS YOU'RE A PHOTOG GOD, THE PHOTOS YOU TAKE ONLY CONVEY LIKE 75% OF IT IF YOURE LUCKY.... Plushies are so amazing in person... they're 3d objects and photographs just don't cut it!! (I wish I was better at photographing my plush.... this is unrelated)
But yeah, you put in all that work, and the first comment you get is just "wow I want to commission you for this doll! The doll you just finished! The doll you just poured a week to a month of your life into! Do it again before you can even bask in the joy of sharing your creation!!"
My first commission was this. I was so happy to get a comm so I quickly remade the same plush, and the fucker ghosted me!! (Always take some payment up front kids)
That's why when I come here and post a plush or art piece I like to blab about it if I have it in me. I just made a piece of art! I just poured my heart into this, I just bled, I want to talk about technique and lil tidbits about the process! The layers!
Then there's the other level of when it is cool artists you've followed and liked for a long time wanting to commission you, it's like (I am not mentally able to do this) and (I really want to do this!) but (I can't right now and might not be able to for years and also I wish I didn't have to monetize my art because I'd rather just make people I like gift plush so until I can do this I just have to keep nodding my head yeah yeah yeah I'll do your comm some day I promise- and take life point damage because it hurts to not be able to be in a healthy enough position to just jump at the offer right then and instead string them along for years with the same loop between us-) and and and
I'm rambling
Man I wish I could just make prints at Staples instead of all this.
EDIT: Especially when someone just comes across my work and wants to commission me. Like, you're not interested in any of my other work really, you're only interested in what I'm able to do /for you/. You came across me because you want a plush commission and maybe your friend recommended me and I'm a means to an end. Not because you want "a piece by an artist I like and have followed for years" but "I don't care who does it as long as you can make me a pikachu and you look good enough"
And that's probably fine for 99% of plush artists, and maybe it's fine for me sometimes! But at my core... I want to be an artist... not a for hire factory who's work you can only appreciate if you can own it...
EDIT 2: AND UGH, THEN THERE'S THE ONES WHERE IT'S LIKE WOW COOL PLUSH IF YOU WON'T SELL ME IT GIVE ME THE PATTERN. TELL ME HOW TO MAKE THIS. GIVE ME THE BLUEPRINTS SO I MAY TRACE YOUR WORK. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(there's lots of resources nowadays go use one of those! Hell import the nui book from japan! I love the sharing of resources we have nowadays I can even direct you to youtube resources for character dolls! I wish there were more english character plush makers... I've discovered the jp nui making community and I want in so badly..... youre all so amazing hand embroidering your faces so cute....) (this is a whole different post when twitter dies ill cry for losing all my cute jp plush artists)