I have a few awkward questions to ask and this place is the only

>>2679863
Just tell him what you just said to us and ask him what he thinks m8

GD might be a better forum for this since they constantly talk about client relationships, but yes.
"Working for exposure" is just a giant meme meme. It's absolutely ridiculous and illegal to hire someone "for exposure." Expecting someone to work for payment from sales in the future will just have people laugh at you. If they are young and amateur, they might be willing to help you for a lower price but you should definitely ask for their commission price upfront and pay when they finish the artwork.
If you can't pay, you should try to draw it yourself and see if you gain popularity enough to fund an artist.
Look at ONE, his artwork is almost as bad as stick figures but his writing is so good that his webcomics were made into a manga which was then made into two animes. He still succeeded and so can you.

It might also help if you commission an artist to simply deliver black and white lineart or sketches and you can learn to color them (WITH THEIR PERMISSION) - but always always, have a good contract ready and ask for their commission price first.

>>2679899
I guess my issue is that I'm not looking to be a customer and I'm not looking for an employee, I want a partner. But I guess if I'm not willing to put money behind my work, maybe I shouldn't be trying to get it out into the world.

>>2679899
When you say GD, what do you mean? Not big in the art community

>>2680084
>>>/gd/

>>2679863
If you can't afford to pay someone, then you'll have to find an artist who is as passionate about this project as you are and willing to work on it for free. That person may or may not be the artist you're talking to right now, but you won't know unless you ask.

>>2679863
>>2679878
Basically this. If it's a project he's willing to collaborate on then it's not problem to ask that sort of thing. There's a difference between an artist consenting to a collaboration and straight asking them to work pennies. He might be fine with the idea, just remember this means it's a partnership though, you're not his boss.

>>2679863
>He read my source material and liked it and he's drawing up the first few scenes for me to look at
>am I supposed to pay him?
nigga, how did you get to a point where he is already working on your project without you knowing what your relationship even is?

>>2680280
I asked on a website if any artists wanted to collaborate on turning some short stories into a webcomic, someone responded, I gave them my story, they liked it and said they'd sketch the first scene. I made sure to say collaboration because I figured that might imply non payment but like I said, in willing to pay a bit but I only have so much available.

I'm just gonna bite the bullet and ask about it later next time we talk.