The People Behind Internet Art

This image shows a popular "expanding brain" meme with four panels, each showing a brain scan that appears increasingly illuminated or energized as you move down the panels. Each panel represents an escalating level of excitement or enlightenment regarding art appreciation: Top panel: "PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING YOUR ART" with a basic blue brain scan Second panel: "PEOPLE ARE SHARING AND CREDITING YOUR ART" with a more illuminated purple/pink brain Third panel: "PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER" with a brighter white/pink glowing brain Bottom panel: "PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING YOU ON PATREON" with the most intense, radiant teal brain with light beams extending outward The meme humorously illustrates the progression of validation for artists, with financial support through Patreon depicted as the ultimate form of appreciation.

The algorithm-driven attention economy has turned art into something that’s supposed to be free, consumed in scrolls and taps between subway stops. We’re told success means millions of likes from strangers who’ll forget our work before their coffee gets cold.

But then there’s Patreon – this strange little economic rebellion where actual humans decide that something matters enough to support it directly. Because it resonates in some small, meaningful way with their actual lives.

When you pledge, even if it’s just a few dollars, what you’re really saying is: “I see the sweat-soaked 3 AM T-shirts. I see the scrapped drafts. I see the weekends spent indoors while everyone else is at brunch. And I think your art matters.”

Supporting our webcomic isn’t just about keeping the lights on (although electric companies are insistent about being paid). It’s about creating a tiny ecosystem where art can develop according to its own internal logic rather than chasing whatever social media companies decide is momentarily engaging.

So thank you – for being the kind of person who understands that the people behind internet art need support to thrive. Your contribution makes a difference.


Support Us!

Thank you for reading our comics! If you enjoyed this, consider supporting our work to ensure the best of War and Peas for years to come!