Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
A sketch commission
And a Hello. Haven't posted in about a hot minute on this blog, I'm going to change things up now. This is a little wordy, but I owe it to the people who have followed my work over the years.
Had a lot to deal with the past few years, starting a while ago, when I was working on some sets (namely Iron Man 2,) my pet died. I usually don't get weepy about dogs passing away, but the manner it happened was long and terrible, it kind of bothered me a lot during that time, and put a lot of weight and stress on my mind. It affected the quality of my work as well during that period. I don't wish that on anyone, and if you're going through that, or ever have, you have my condolences.
Even through all of that, on the day Jack (my Great Dane) was put down, I was working on sequentials to get my mind off of it, working on stuff because I didn't want to see him as he was being put down. I didn't really want another thing to haunt my memories, since up to that point I basically already watched him die.
After that, as usual, I plugged away into my work. I figured everything would be okay if I just kept working.
In addition of doing around 3-4 sets during that time, I was waiting to be a part of a so-called "artist's revolution." I thought it was going to be a great opportunity, artists working by their own rules, getting paid well and all that jazz. Instead, I had the unfortunate pleasure of dealing with a person who compares himself to "the lord," because he simply draws on a card and convinced a few people he's worth a few bucks. It was beyond infuriating having over a year of my life wasted on someone else's blind egomania. A person who markets themselves as a good guy, turning out to be a literal two-face. A small man trying his best to cut me down with ugly insults in a bad situation, and at probably my weakest moment. "You don't do any work, you have no career, these people are better, you're a coward," etc.
Those people who were "better than me," were described as doing "horrible work" 2 months before by this *greatest artist ever* (who looking back, needed to brush up on his own anatomy.) I don't work? I did multiple sets, did well over 220 cards in 7 months time while doing sequentials, pin ups and sketches on the side. This same person? Did literally a handful of PSCs and did nothing else for over 2 years(!) This same person wouldn't have had the nerve to say any of this to my face and risk a broken jaw.
It was all crap, but it still got to me. Not only because I stupidly set aside plans already in motion to do a story (I'm still sorry Andy,) to be apart of this "company," but because I considered this person a friend. That was where I was very wrong.
Close to a year later after the fact, I learned *greatest artist ever* didn't produce anything for their own self-hyped card set, except written redemptions inserted in packs (IOUs basically.) I confronted this person, on their sheer hypocrisy and nerve. They tried to apologize, but admitted it was for the purpose of "logging it" in a rant earlier, and wanted me to accept their carefully worded document regardless. At that point, I woke up, decided this person is literally not worth my time anymore, and just wants to say anything to placate his own ego.
In the end though, I dodged a bullet, and I'm glad I'm not affiliated with that small "holier-than-thou" company anymore. What goes around, definitely came around, and they'll have to live with it.
Why would I say all of this? Because I'm tired of holding it in and acting like it didn't happen. That isn't me. While I was tired of getting angry emails every time I said anything publicly about it, I'm just going to trash any I might get though and forget this *greatest artist ever* exists. I think everyone else has at this point. I'm not saying names, as I simply don't wish to advertise them, I stopped caring about what other people think of me a long while ago. I only really want to talk about the decent folks around my life and my work from this point forward.
Shortly after that period, I needed to get away from my old place in general and move. After a lot of busy-work, I finally moved out of the old apartment. It was slowly falling apart. The landlord there wouldn't fix a roof leak for a few months, it was horrible. Unfortunately, after I settled in to the new house, pretty much most of my past art and my sketchbook got destroyed in a flood while I slept, sparked by faulty (albeit brand new) plumbing that conveniently decided to break hours after I moved in. It pretty much capped off a year and a half of hell as far as I'm concerned, and I was pretty much devastated at that point. But afterwards, I saw that as kind of the beginning of a new and fresh start. I've had so many things thrown at me during that time and beyond, and I haven't been deterred by any of it.
Physically and mentally, I haven't been well up until a short while ago, Pneumonia was mostly kicking my ass. While my policy to have the work on hand and done before payment will never change, I apologize if I've left some people waiting on a few things. I'm going to contact a few people for a few comps for any work that has been requested and left hanging a bit, since it's the right thing to do in my eyes.
With that out of the way, I'm going to take the time to shamelessly pimp things out here. This is the new lighter, and brighter me afterall. I just finished up doing a set for Perna Studios called "Classic Mythology." Tony and Elaine Perna worked extremely hard on this set, and it shows. I also messed up laughably bad while working on their set, and they were nothing but kind towards me. They're good people, give them your money. I also did another set for Axebone called "Dungeon Dolls." He's also good people. I liked some of what I did on both of those sets, but I think I haven't even reached close to my artistic ceiling yet.
On the horizon as far as card junkies are concerned, I'm going to be on an unnamed Cryptozic set(after I send this contract off in the morning.) After that, Axe's Bombshells set will be right around the corner waiting for me (I already have those cards in hand, and I have a feeling this will be my best set yet.) I also have some commissions to finish up, and some samples to send off. I currently have Artist Proofs and returns from Classic Mythology, Dungeon Dolls and a few other sets, if you would like one of those or a regular commission, drop me a mail at the link under contact.
tl;dr I'm alive, and thanks to those who still believe in me
And a Hello. Haven't posted in about a hot minute on this blog, I'm going to change things up now. This is a little wordy, but I owe it to the people who have followed my work over the years.
Had a lot to deal with the past few years, starting a while ago, when I was working on some sets (namely Iron Man 2,) my pet died. I usually don't get weepy about dogs passing away, but the manner it happened was long and terrible, it kind of bothered me a lot during that time, and put a lot of weight and stress on my mind. It affected the quality of my work as well during that period. I don't wish that on anyone, and if you're going through that, or ever have, you have my condolences.
Even through all of that, on the day Jack (my Great Dane) was put down, I was working on sequentials to get my mind off of it, working on stuff because I didn't want to see him as he was being put down. I didn't really want another thing to haunt my memories, since up to that point I basically already watched him die.
After that, as usual, I plugged away into my work. I figured everything would be okay if I just kept working.
In addition of doing around 3-4 sets during that time, I was waiting to be a part of a so-called "artist's revolution." I thought it was going to be a great opportunity, artists working by their own rules, getting paid well and all that jazz. Instead, I had the unfortunate pleasure of dealing with a person who compares himself to "the lord," because he simply draws on a card and convinced a few people he's worth a few bucks. It was beyond infuriating having over a year of my life wasted on someone else's blind egomania. A person who markets themselves as a good guy, turning out to be a literal two-face. A small man trying his best to cut me down with ugly insults in a bad situation, and at probably my weakest moment. "You don't do any work, you have no career, these people are better, you're a coward," etc.
Those people who were "better than me," were described as doing "horrible work" 2 months before by this *greatest artist ever* (who looking back, needed to brush up on his own anatomy.) I don't work? I did multiple sets, did well over 220 cards in 7 months time while doing sequentials, pin ups and sketches on the side. This same person? Did literally a handful of PSCs and did nothing else for over 2 years(!) This same person wouldn't have had the nerve to say any of this to my face and risk a broken jaw.
It was all crap, but it still got to me. Not only because I stupidly set aside plans already in motion to do a story (I'm still sorry Andy,) to be apart of this "company," but because I considered this person a friend. That was where I was very wrong.
Close to a year later after the fact, I learned *greatest artist ever* didn't produce anything for their own self-hyped card set, except written redemptions inserted in packs (IOUs basically.) I confronted this person, on their sheer hypocrisy and nerve. They tried to apologize, but admitted it was for the purpose of "logging it" in a rant earlier, and wanted me to accept their carefully worded document regardless. At that point, I woke up, decided this person is literally not worth my time anymore, and just wants to say anything to placate his own ego.
In the end though, I dodged a bullet, and I'm glad I'm not affiliated with that small "holier-than-thou" company anymore. What goes around, definitely came around, and they'll have to live with it.
Why would I say all of this? Because I'm tired of holding it in and acting like it didn't happen. That isn't me. While I was tired of getting angry emails every time I said anything publicly about it, I'm just going to trash any I might get though and forget this *greatest artist ever* exists. I think everyone else has at this point. I'm not saying names, as I simply don't wish to advertise them, I stopped caring about what other people think of me a long while ago. I only really want to talk about the decent folks around my life and my work from this point forward.
Shortly after that period, I needed to get away from my old place in general and move. After a lot of busy-work, I finally moved out of the old apartment. It was slowly falling apart. The landlord there wouldn't fix a roof leak for a few months, it was horrible. Unfortunately, after I settled in to the new house, pretty much most of my past art and my sketchbook got destroyed in a flood while I slept, sparked by faulty (albeit brand new) plumbing that conveniently decided to break hours after I moved in. It pretty much capped off a year and a half of hell as far as I'm concerned, and I was pretty much devastated at that point. But afterwards, I saw that as kind of the beginning of a new and fresh start. I've had so many things thrown at me during that time and beyond, and I haven't been deterred by any of it.
Physically and mentally, I haven't been well up until a short while ago, Pneumonia was mostly kicking my ass. While my policy to have the work on hand and done before payment will never change, I apologize if I've left some people waiting on a few things. I'm going to contact a few people for a few comps for any work that has been requested and left hanging a bit, since it's the right thing to do in my eyes.
With that out of the way, I'm going to take the time to shamelessly pimp things out here. This is the new lighter, and brighter me afterall. I just finished up doing a set for Perna Studios called "Classic Mythology." Tony and Elaine Perna worked extremely hard on this set, and it shows. I also messed up laughably bad while working on their set, and they were nothing but kind towards me. They're good people, give them your money. I also did another set for Axebone called "Dungeon Dolls." He's also good people. I liked some of what I did on both of those sets, but I think I haven't even reached close to my artistic ceiling yet.
On the horizon as far as card junkies are concerned, I'm going to be on an unnamed Cryptozic set(after I send this contract off in the morning.) After that, Axe's Bombshells set will be right around the corner waiting for me (I already have those cards in hand, and I have a feeling this will be my best set yet.) I also have some commissions to finish up, and some samples to send off. I currently have Artist Proofs and returns from Classic Mythology, Dungeon Dolls and a few other sets, if you would like one of those or a regular commission, drop me a mail at the link under contact.
tl;dr I'm alive, and thanks to those who still believe in me
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