...No Man is a Failure Who Has Friends
I thought it was time to update folks on how things are going - On friday, when we saw how dire things had gotten it was like getting punched in the stomach by a lead fist. There was a loss of breath, weeping, and quite a bit of "w-ha?... how...? Why?"
We started making triage plans. Calling everyone that had an unpaid invoice and deciding what limbs to cut off and start selling on the black market (they still do that right?). While we were waiting to hear back from our invoices and arms dealers, I posted a general "SOS" on twitter and facebook with a link to a post and donation system, thinking that in the short term we'd get a few donation in trade for selling off some original art and prints. That is not what happend
There are two scenes in two different films that can consistently make me tear up. Quadak's death in Galaxy Quest as Alan Rickman makes his gently whispered "by Grabthar's hammer" speech, and (more importantly for this post) the end scene of that Christmas staple It's a Wonderful Life when the whole town of Bedford Falls begins filing into the house with jars of loose change and telegrams from Sam Wainwright. The look of joy on their faces as they raise a toast "...to George Bailey - the richest man in town" (I've had to wipe my eyes 3 or 4 times just writing that)
We have been bathed in things like this all weekend. People sharing their love, support, and cash with heartbreaking messages like "I'm so sorry, that this $30 is all I can afford right now - But I'll have more later!". I... just don't have words for that.
My wife Eli Danger is sifting through all the emails and trying to get back to people. The Art Prints were so popular an option that we've had to order some extra supplies just to make sure everything gets to you safely.
The people that wanted access to my archives of original art will be next. This is a more lengthy process of figuring out what we have and going back and forth till we match up the right piece with the right person. Both of these problems are the 'good kind' of problem if you ask me. While we are not out of the woods yet, we are near the edge of them... Well, we can see the edge of them from here.
Thank you all so much for your help. I'm leaving the donation link up for now, but we are also working on other means of trying to ensure that this doesn't become a thing that will ever happen again. One of those things will be finally getting off my ass on getting a proper artstore turned on - Meanwhile you can buy a few of my odds and ends over at a Redbubble shop I set up sometime ago (and never properly promoted).
Also I am in the process of setting up a Patreon account as a means of generating a steady stream of financial support. Patreon if you don't know is sort of like a kickstarter, but instead of trying to raise large lump sums of money, it's used to collect small amounts on a regular basis. Think of it as if you were willing to take me out for a cup of coffee once a month. In trade for that, I will be making supporter posts about how I work, giving people access to a secret sketch page, and doing live hangouts from time to time. All that will be going live HERE next week Monday (May the Fourth)
Meanwhile we just want to say thank you again so much. The generosity and support you've shown over the course of a short weekend has been overwhelming. Simple thanks will never be enough, and knowing that so many of you exist out there and cared so much to help a down on his luck guy like me it's just ...darn swell, you know?
We promise, BY GRABTHAR'S HAMMER, to never forget this.
- Cheyenne, Eli, and Maxine.