NEW RULES FOR CONTESTS STARTING IN MAY

KathrynAdebayo

Nice. Critiques are so helpful to learn from, at least in my own experience.

I wonder how many people, like @kylebeaudette, participate in the contest with the hope of winning some quality education because they can't or don't, for whatever reason, buy the subscription (which I think, by the way, is a phenomenal price, at least for people who earn USD or similarly weighted currencies).

Just to throw out the idea, perhaps there could be an occasional contest for non-subscribers only? It might be a big draw to the forum for artists who don't yet participate much with SVS. It could even have a slightly different format so those with potential or drive could be rewarded and earn the subscription months.

kylebeaudette

@KathrynAdebayo sounds fun! I can afford it, just not this year as I'm teaching only part time. Next year!

burvantill

@kylebeaudette I feel your pain. I’ve been trying for months just to place 3rd. Lol.
That being said , this comes at a good time as I was already planning to sign up in May. Serendipitous.

@Lee-White Do you guys still do a 7 day free trial?

Lee White

@hannahmccaffery yep!

Chip Valecek

@burvantill trying to place 3rd for months? I been trying to at least make the honorable mentions for years

@Lee-White Awesome!
@burvantill @kylebeaudette @Squirrelsize @nyrrylcadiz Maybe the 7 day trial is an option so you can have a nosey around first? That's what I plan to do I think!

Elizabeth Rose

@hannahmccaffery Good idea

Nyrryl Cadiz

Lol i guess it’s time I subscribe

bnewman

This. Sounds. Amazing!

Heather Boyd

I will be finishing up year subscription in June and will be taking few months off and join up back in the fall. If I cancel the yearly subscription today -I still finish up till June then I will get dropped correct?

alicia

@Lee-White Woohoo! That is exciting!!

burvantill

@Chip-Valecek OH No! Digital Hug

burvantill

@hannahmccaffery I thought about it but I know that the classes are going to be great, the SVS Holy Trinity are just too good. So I'm diving in for the monthly price. I had planned on doing it anyway.

Lee White

@Heather-Boyd yes, we are grandfathering in people who are subscribing now to get into the new picture book track. Anyone who cancels won't have access to that content if they re-subscribe (unless they pay extra for it).

Will Terry

Just wanted to poke my head in and let you guys know that we do listen and we are committed to making SVS the best place online to learn the art of making children's books. I can see that some of you are disappointed in the new changes while others are excited about them.

As an artist first and a businessman at a distant second I wanted to let you all know that it has been a huge shock to Jake, Lee and I how much money it takes to make SVS a legit company making constant improvements. We have a list of 20 ideas we'd like to implement to our site but can't afford to do right now because we just don't have the money.

These changes will greatly affect the way you guys learn, the speed at which you learn, the community where you make connections with each other, and the way you find client work. Our vision for what SVS can and should be is something that doesn't currently exist but will if we make the right moves we will be able to pull it off.

We struggle over the decisions to implement these changes and realize that we will disappoint some of you with our decisions and it weighs heavily on our minds. BUT - we are a team and we think that as we roll out these changes and more scheduled later this year it will make many of you very happy.

JerrySketchyArt

@Chip-Valecek If I were judging you would have won this month. That cover was amazing! I was honestly thinking maybe you weren't eligible because you start the threads and do the slide shows. It's as if art is subjective or something.

MichaelaH

@Will-Terry Thank You guys for the work you are doing for us. You are doing a lot for us and I understand it, you are artists, but also company and there are lot of thing you have to pay...so I find your idea awesome, to make the subscription more tempting with the new additional stuff.
PS. Please work on some real invoices (our and your adresses, ..invoice nr...) for the membership and interactive classes, we in Europe (Germany) really need it for the tax office, if we want to deduct it as our expanses for business.

Heather Boyd

@Lee-White I can wait to cancel in early June would that help. Is there a difference between pausing and cancelling my subscription?

I will be travelling in July and August so I just as well not have to pay for those months.

Will Terry

@MichaelaH Thank you - I'll put it on our meeting agenda!