Rejected by a Studio — Even for $200 a Month?!

The Harsh Realities of Art Industry Job Rejections

Hello there, fellow artist or creative enthusiast. Your dear Punny is back with yet another cringeworthy tale from the wonderful, whimsical, and absolutely bonkers world of the art industry.

So, if you're still not selling your own projects and instead dreaming of joining a studio, let me break it to you gently — there's a 98% chance you'll end up exactly where I am: rejected, frustrated, and blogging about it instead of drawing for money.

Another Rejection for a Market-Quality Artist

“Am I a bad artist?”
No.
“Then what’s the issue?”
Reason #2: “You just don’t draw the way we want.”

After a client ghosted me for three whole months, kept sending me $25 payments just to “keep me hooked,” and then publicly shamed me online... yeah, thanks, Captain Chaos. I decided it was time to find a “real job” again.

I genuinely love art. I draw not just one niche but basically anything (within legal limits, lol). I’m passionate, I’m building my own brand, and yes, I’m the kind of person who can help grow yours too.

Back in 2020, I was getting rejections for having “no skill.”
Now studios have upgraded their excuses.

Apart from my supposed “toxic attitude” caused by, I don’t know... chronic starvation? (I'm a witch and the only living thing in my fridge hanged itself weeks ago)... the latest gem from studio recruiters is:

“Your style doesn't match!”

Wait, What?

Let’s be clear: style is not a problem when you have actual skills — skills like editing, adapting, and following workflow guides. You’d think applying a few tweaks to match a reference wouldn't be rocket science... but apparently, low business IQ is a widespread epidemic. These teams fear creativity, fear boldness, fear risk — and yet somehow, they're still afloat.

Me? My ship sank long ago. I’m broadcasting this from the bottom of the ocean trench. Enjoy the signal while it lasts.

$400 a Month... Maybe?

This studio offered up to $400/month. Which probably meant they’d pay me $200 to create ad creatives for comics. The task? Mimic their character's style. Sounds fair-ish... right?

No NDAs signed. No contract. And surprise — no pay for the 5 hours I spent completing the test task.
So yeah, this is a 100% honest, unpaid review.

They asked me to draw four poses of their female lead.
I did.

Here’s the original character (publicly available on their comic site).
Here are my illustrations.
Their reply?

“The team felt the anatomy wasn’t accurate and the style didn’t match.”

Hmm. You decide how “unmatched” it looks. But hey, at least they didn’t say “low skill, good luck.” So, there's that.

Review: Honeytoon.com

Yes, I’m naming names. This was with Honeytoon.com.
This is my experience, and this is my review.
Whether you choose to work with them or buy from them — totally your call.

My advice? Maybe be a bit more flexible, Honeytoon. Real comic sales don’t depend on whether one strand of hair is in the wrong place. Your sales depend on relationships — with readers, with artists, with your team. If you’re obsessing over breast size instead of buyer psychology, you're doing it wrong.

Final Spell: Support Indie Artists

Friends, fellow witches, aspiring illustrators — support indie creators, not just studios.
Learn to sell your own art, build your own audience, and support other artists' start-ups too!

Support our magical action comic project — “Witch’s Pie” — and stay tuned. I’ve got plenty more harsh market truths to spill. This industry is rough, but hey — I’m a witch. I bite with glitter.