I sent the above cartoon in high-rez format to everybody who subscribes to my CDF Newsletter. So they can put it on their desktop, print it out as a “Cube Grenade” etc. etc.
I had this idea of making certain high-rez cartoons “CDF-only”. A way of me saying “Thanks” for their support etc.
I’m not really publishing new high-rez cartoons on the blog these day. For now, you’ll need to sign up to the newsletter for that. Though, who knows, I may change my mind back again. It’s all a work in progress…
[Backstory: About Hugh. E-mail Hugh. Twitter. Newsletter. Book. Interview One. Interview Two. EVIL PLANS. Limited Edition Prints. Private Commissions. Cube Grenades.]
The New Republic
Len Schlesinger
Seth Godin
Brian Clark
Man. This is kind of a bummer. I always felt like you were the kind of guy who was against this kind of thing. You seemed like the kind of guy who was OK with giving things away for free online and then making people buy the “premium” version (be it a print or the book or whatever).
Apparently I’ve had my wires crossed. Maybe it was Godin or something.
I got my high-res copy free… in the CDF newsletter… which is free… is it somehow less free because it’s not on the website?
Jeff, are you being a “purist”?
Please see Point # Five: http://lateralaction.com/articles/hugh-macleod/
“Any profession is in constant, ever-changing negotiation with “Free vs Paid”. When does your lawyer friend offer you free legal advice, and when does he start charging? Ditto with your heart-surgeon pal you play tennis on Tuesdays with. Musicians give their music away for free on MySpace, but charge for the CDs, live gigs and the t-shirts. Petroleum Industry consultants might give 5% of their stuff away for free, just to drum up some new business, but then charge top dollar 95% the rest of the time. In Internet circles, the 95 – 5% converse is often true. Everyone has their sweet spot. Cartoonists are no different.”
“Purist” is easy when your blog is a hobby. When it’s a bona-fide business, however…
There are no purists past age 10. As soon as you start trying to please Mom with your new found talent, purity ends. All the rest is pretense. Introduce sex or money into the equation and it’s hard to even pretend.
Purists? Hell, everyone has an ego right? I don’t know one talented SOB who isn’t interested in what others think.
Jeff,
Wait. Hugh _is_ still giving things away for free. I got to enjoy his new cartoon today on his blog, for FREE. The high res version IS the ‘premium’ version.
Hugh,
Thanks.
I think Jeff DEFINITELY has his wires crossed.
Cartoons offered for free are simply that … “free” and I think Hugh would agree that if one of his free cartoons showed up on package designs promoting Campbells soup or used in a national or global print campaign to promote the newest pharmaceuticals, that image would still be free to use by the chosen company using it. However, the thin lin is drawn when the artist no longer decides his work is free anymore and he wants to charge a “licensing” fee.…which in all reality, is the only logical aspect to putting one’s own images up on the web in the first place.
My comment may have come off as snarky, etc. I’m sorry.
I certainly understand why you’re doing it, and if I was in the same situation might even do it myself.
But, reading your blog since waaay back in the day, it seems like your style has evolved when it comes to your thoughts on topics like this. I’m assuming it’s related to the success you’ve reached with your blog — the kind of stuff you always seemed to butt heads with.
(Not that I’ll unsubscribe or anything, don’t get me wrong. I just thought it was interesting. What your doing is working, so high fives all around.)
Maybe Hugh could call himself
an “Artoonist”.. Photographers go thru
ALL of these SAME issues…
I think it’s all a matter of self-respect
for your self and your talent.
You’re either a purist or a sell-out…
or I guess you define yourself and ignore what everyone else has to say.
I am always delighted by the simplicity of your cartoons.
Hugh: It strikes me this quote may be the wrong way around ? “It’s easy to spot the one without any skin in the game. He’s the purist in the room”.
Makes perfect sense to me. And loved the cartoon as well.