Creative Corner

This might be a stupid question tbh, but im a really anxious person and could just use like. A little feedback/reassurance?
Okay. So the question is, is it weird with a random stranger decides to draw surprise gift art of your characters?
I love drawing other folks OCs, but commissions/trades or any type of thing that makes it feel like I HAVE to sucks the fun out of it. But I'm also way too anxious to as someone if I can draw their oc in case im not able to. Scared of disappointing them.
So my go to is normally just? Randomly surprising ppl with art. It was mentioned to me that that might be weird or rude to some folks so I could really used some feedback/opinions.

I'd be surprised to get gift art from ppl I don't know. I think it's a nice gesture but I also would feel a bit weirded out. For some people, surprise gift art would make them pretty happy. But sometimes to avoid awkwardness, I ask the person if I can draw their oc and things usually turn out ok.

I think I'd only be unhappy with it if the gift art was NSFW (because I wouldn't want that stuff unless I asked). Or if the gift was used to try and get something in return.

Personally I'd be absolutely elated if someone made gift art, even without asking. Something like that would brighten my week for sure. But like Antylamon above said, it only isn't nice to receive if it's NSFW or with the expectation of something in return.

I personally wouldn't mind receiving gift art, it would make me very happy.

I can understand how it could make some people uncomfortable though. For some, receiving gifts implies reciprocation (regardless of whether that was the intention or not), or they feel guilty receiving something for nothing.

If I were to receive gift art myself, I would probably want to give them gift art in return.

A person's OC could also be highly personal.
I think asking first would be good.

Yup yup we think most people would probably be fine with it but you do run the risk of upsetting someone who didn't want art or art of that particular character for whatever reason.

@KittenToys While many people would find it an exciting surprise, I think it would be polite to ask first. You can even keep it simple, such as "I'd like to draw art of your OC, is that okay?"

Then you will know for certain the person is fine with it. Asking them will also allow them a chance to say things like "If you draw this character, please avoid including ____" so that you don't include things that will make the creator uncomfortable.

@KittenToys
Just wanted to say I totally empathise, as someone who lives to do creative stuff but doesn't like responsibility!

I think for most people it would be a lovely surprise, though there might be some situations where they wouldn't want someone drawing a certain character (though it might be possible to get this sense from their profile or dragon bio, or ask if you're not sure.)

And like others have said maybe some would think there was an expectation in return but as long as you made it clear it was just a nice gesture I think most people would take it in the spirit it was intended.