Help Courtney Get Back on Her Feet — and Back to Creating!

Fundraising campaign by Courtney Parks
  • US$1,815.00
    raised of $3,500.00 goal goal
51% Funded
18 Donors
Raised offline: $520.00
Total: $2,335.00

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities

Show more
Show less

I'm a digital artist. My career revolves around my computer: it's where I study new techniques, where I create art and animation for paying clients, and what I use to hunt for full-time and freelance work. My life depends on having a machine that is powerful, that will resist the gravity of time, and can handle long periods of intense use.

A few years ago, I hit a particularly difficult period in my life. The company with which I worked shut down and I've had a rough time finding anything stable since. I've managed to keep my head above water with sporadic freelance work, but as my machine ages, I've lost the means to take on larger projects.

I need your help to replace my machine... but you won't only be helping me to buy a new computer. You'll be helping me live.

About Courtney

I'm a storyteller. I work in a variety of mediums, from animation to illustration to the written word. My career focus has been on game art and animation, but my personal passion is sequential storytelling, a field for which I'm currently studying hands-on with a secret comic side project I plan to release at the end of 2016.

I have one and a half cats that I love with all my heart. I collect out-of-print manga, but only from series I like. I have an art book collection I proudly display alongside my roommate's. I'm teaching myself to cook in order to eat healthy (I can make my own bagels now! Impressed?), I love to read, I can spend hours playing puzzle games, and -- oh -- I'm battling a depression/anxiety combo the size of a dragon. None of these things define who I am, but they are all things that make me, me.

I decided to pack my bags in October and move from the SF Bay to the greater Seattle area. on paper, I did it because I thought I'd have better luck finding work in Washington, both in art and temporarily in other fields. In my soul, I did it because I needed a new environment... a change in perspective, in hopes to calm my nerves and jumpstart my heart. It's been an amazing journey so far. I love my new city. And I moved at the right time, too -- retail companies are hiring for the holidays!

I love creating, and I love experiencing what others have created. Art and storytelling have both saved my life on numerous occasions, especially these past few years, where underemployment and a sometimes-crippling depression/anxiety combo have made existing a very uncomfortable experience. I don't only make things in order to pay my bills and feed my cats -- I make things because it soothes my soul. Which is why I need your help.

What I Need

I need a machine that will last me another five+ years. Because it will be the core of my business, it needs to be powerful, future-resistant, and reliable. (I've used both Windows machines and Apple, and I trust Apple far more to handle my kind of work. It's an expensive investment up front, but it saves me money, time, and a load of frustration later.)

My goal is to purchase the new iMac 27", 3.3 GHz, with 16 gigs of ram and a 500gig flash drive. I'll be purchasing Applecare at a later date, hopefully once I find some temp holiday work. The total cost, including tax, comes out to about $3400. With the donations I've received so far, money I've earned from freelance work, and what is left in my savings.... I'm almost there. Just a few more hundred, and I'll be able to continue on my art journey.

My current work setup is a 5+ year old Macbook Pro, purchased secondhand from an old company with which I used to work. I was its sole user prior to its purchase, and it was a powerhouse. We were unstoppable! Well... for a few years, at least.

I managed to keep it kicking for well beyond the usual upgrade/replace date. This is because I only use it for work -- no Facebook, no gaming, no torrents -- nothin' but the Adobe Suite and Manga Studio EX 5, baby! It's been my machine for freelance work, for telecommuting, for art tests and art study. I take extremely good care of my machines, and Apple makes that pretty easy.

While I need to replace everything in my workstation, my most vital piece of equipment is my computer, and that is what I want to focus on replacing right now.

I need to also replace my pen tablet. I sold my Cintiq a few months ago (it was causing health problems) and I intended to use the money towards a new pen tablet. However, my position at the time was found to be redundant, and I was let go. That money has since been repurposed to cover the cost of replacing my computer. But don't fret! I have a backup pen tablet I'm currently using in the meantime!

What Your Contribution will Fund

I will be completely transparent with you on where your money is going when you give it to me. Every step of my purchasing process will be listed in updates! But, here is what I'm intending to use it for:

  • A new computer. First and foremost, my main priority. If there is any money left over, it will go towards
  • my Adobe Suite subscription. I need it for both my professional work and my personal work.
  • A new pen tablet. If, by some stroke of luck, I make enough in donations... I'll buy a new pen tablet! This is low on my priorities though.

As a Thank You...

I'd like to offer my services at a super discounted rate. Take a look to your right. See those rewards? If you choose to do so, you can select a rewards option based on your donated amount. If you know I can do something but don't see it listed, shoot me a message! :3









Rewards

THANK YOU GIFT (art): A very special thank you doodle of my choice!

1 Backers

THANK YOU GIFT (writing): A very special thank you poem about something completely random of my choice.

0 Backers

Writing Commission Slot: Provide me with a writing prompt and/or a character, and I will write you a 1 to 3 page short. (Make sure you specify maturity level.)

1 Backers

Avatar Commission Slot: You will receive one 100x100 avatar of your face, or the face of one of your original characters.

0 Backers

DRAWN TO LIFE SPECIAL! I will base a background character in my upcoming comic on you (or your kiddo!)

0 Backers

Art Commission Slot (Sketch Color): You will receive a rough digital sketch with color with up to two characters of your choice. (If using someone else's OC or likeness, please ask for their permission first.) (Roughness may vary, depending on level on style chosen)

1 Backers

DRAWN TO LIFE SPECIAL 2: Same as the other DRAWN TO LIFE special, only your character will have some importance to the plot! I'll also include a sketch of your character for you.

0 Backers

Art Commission Slot (Ink Color): You will receive one finished commission piece of up to two characters, inked and digitally painted. Style/level of detail to be discussed.

3 Backers

SKYPE CALL DATE: Need help fleshing out a character in your writing? Have a bad case of writer's block? Need some advice on strengthening a writing weakness? Have questions about my writing process using Scrivener? Let's get coffee (digital style) and have a conversation! You will receive a thirty minute skype chat with me and we can talk about it.

1 Backers

TUTORIAL SKYPE CALL: Want to know my process in Manga Studio? Have a question about my painting technique in Photoshop? Can't quite get your characters to walk without a limp in Flash? I'll make you a tutorial! You will receive a written tutorial with either the original file or step-by-step pictures, one thirty-minute skype conversation to answer any questions you might have, and email support.

0 Backers

FREELANCE SPECIAL: Any of the above (sans the skype call specials) but with additional polish, and my permission for you to use it commercially as well as personally. OR, 16 hours of freelance time at a special discounted rate (for individuals and small business only.)

0 Backers

Wow! First of all, thank you. I have no idea what kind of reward to offer for such an amount, so I'll say 32 hours of freelance time at a special discounted rate! Please send me a message and we can discuss!

0 Backers

Organizer

  • Courtney Parks
  •  
  • Campaign Owner

Donors

  • Catherine Thomason
  • Donated on Dec 24, 2015
  • Merry Christmas, love you and miss you!

$50.00
  • June Kim
  • Donated on Dec 18, 2015
  • Happy Holiday Courtney :)

$20.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Dec 17, 2015
Amount Hidden
Feb 29

Thank You Thank You Thank You!

Update posted by Courtney Parks at 08:18 am

We did it! The campaign has ended.That's right, everyone. The campaign. The campaign!!! What a success! Originally I was going to record a video, and I may still do that, but waiting until the opportune moment to do so is causing some serious delays. And I need to share with. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 16

Thank You Everyone!

Update posted by Courtney Parks at 06:46 pm

Wow! The deadline has gone by and I am amazed at just how much you all have helped me. I'd say I had no words, but I have several, and I'm going to talk them at you, so get comfortable. You. Are. Wonderful.Really, all of you -- wonderful.Depression makes it. . . . .

See update
0
Sep 23

You may have noticed...

Update posted by Courtney Parks at 10:21 pm

Hello everyone!You may have noticed that the target goal amount has dropped from $3200 to $2800. I did this for a few reasons, but the biggest one is that a very small project has come my way. I spoke with my advisory team (My roommate, best friend, and two cats). . . . .

See update
0
Sep 16

Thank You!

Update posted by Courtney Parks at 07:12 pm

Wow! I am so lucky to have friends like you all. I didn't think I'd receive this much funding by the end of the campaign, and to see your help take me this far in only a couple of days has been remarkable. At the time of my writing this,. . . . .

See update
0

Donors & Comments

18 donors
  • Catherine Thomason
  • Donated on Dec 24, 2015
  • Merry Christmas, love you and miss you!

$50.00
  • June Kim
  • Donated on Dec 18, 2015
  • Happy Holiday Courtney :)

$20.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Dec 17, 2015
Amount Hidden
  • Emily Shea
  • Donated on Nov 12, 2015
  • Good Luck!!!

$100.00
  • Daniella Gruber
  • Donated on Nov 06, 2015
$125.00
$20.00
  • Anders
  • Donated on Sep 30, 2015
$40.00
  • Diana nelson
  • Donated on Sep 25, 2015
  • Good luck sweetie!!!

Amount Hidden
  • Teri Archibald
  • Donated on Sep 22, 2015
  • Hope this helps~ Putting good vibes out for you~

$50.00
  • Danny Parks
  • Donated on Sep 18, 2015
  • Keep on drawing Courtney. You are the best in the biz.

$125.00
Show more donors

Followers

2 followers
Kristina Cunningham
Danny Parks
US$1,815.00
raised of $3,500.00 goal
51% Funded
18 Donors
Raised offline: $520.00
Total: $2,335.00

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities