I really need to start writing better artist comments on my art. I think you guys [that look at my art] will enjoy the extra “artist thoughts”, but it would mean I already have something typed up about that piece for a portfolio. For some time I’ve wanted a nice, small, professional-looking, portfolio that I can easily haul around with me. The only problem, a portfolio is more than sticking art in a folder. I feel that it should have an artist statement, and something written about each piece. It would also help when I sell prints, so people know what is and is not for sale.

I also need to just make more art. Even if I don’t finish it. My problem lately, is just that I don’t draw. I get caught up in the daily stuff, and working 10+ hours a day doesn’t help either, but I am less stressed, feel more productive, and generally happier when I’m doing creative/artsy stuff. When I do creative stuff (drawing, writing, etc.) I’ve found it tends to build off itself. In the middle of writing a story, I think of something I want to draw, and in the drawing I think of something else that could be added to the story. So, I’m going to try and do a sketch a week. I would love be at the point where I do a complete piece a week, but right now, a sketch a week is where I’m at.

Normally I’m not a big blogger - as evident by the fact that my journal only has about four posts in it, but I did hear this news story, and I wanted to share it with people, and hear their opinions.

So first, here’s the story [link]

I also recommend listing to the full interview.

So what do people think? I can understand both sides of story, but I still can’t decide what I personally feel about the fair-usage act. On one hand, the photographer (or Associated Press, who ever does end up owning the photo) does deserve to be paid for someone using their picture; however how much credit and rights should be given to something used for reference? Just because an artist uses reference material, doesn’t make it any less a piece of art that they created, and how far reaching is a photographers ownership over their images go?

This case can have some far-reaching consequences. For instance, I use my book, Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet, quite often. I bought the book, and even though I have no issue saying where I got my reference shots from, does that mean that if I make money off of one of the images that I used the book for reference for, they should get a cut of that? Or what if I didn’t own the book, but borrowed it from the library, or got a picture from the book off of Google? Do I even need to include what images I used for references in the description of the picture if I own the book? What if I only use the image for reference on how a hand, or leg, or other body part looks in a pose, but make the rest of it up on my own? How would that affect it?

Does it mean that if you are a photographer, and post one of your pictures, and someone uses it as reference for a drawing, do you have a right for the artist to credit you for the reference material, and/or be paid royalties?

I know that I am at little risk of going to court over this - I don’t make very much money of off my art, and most images I make for fun, but I really do wonder about the implications of on other, more well known, professional artists.

I just went through my pictures folder earlier this week, and my photobucket account that has some very old art in it. I'm going through the process of uploading all of my old art to my deviat art page. I know that I've gotten much better than were I was 2 or 3 years ago, but some of the images I'm uploading are still special to me for one reason or another. I've already uploaded quite a few today, but I plan on uploading the other 20 or so images within the next few day.

*******

Current Art Projects:
Commission for NightStalker - nearly finished
Short funny comic of City of Heroes friends - Still being inked
The Horned God - Inked and working on in photoshop

Because every illustration is going to be unique, I don't yet have prices, except for the cartoony pictures. I am still working out a pricing scale for my more "serious" style, since there are so many variables. The formula I use is the same as one of my art teachers, $10 per hour plus cost of materials. Since the cost of paper and pencils is minimal, I don't worry about that, I just add on a percentage of the total of the hours so that over time I pay for my WACOM tablet and PhotoShop. I've always thought that formula was fair.

If you have any questions, or want a quote, let me know, and I will be happy to answer them.

I do cartoony characters for $17 for a single character.
[link]
I charge $3 for every additional character added. I haven't found my limit on number of characters for these, but keep in mind when requesting these, the paper is only so big... The cartoony style has a very simple, or plain background, with simplified costumes, and simple shading.

How I go about doing commissions:

Typically, once I get a decent idea of what you want, I will do a few thumbnail sketches (thumbnail sketches are quick, loose, drawings a few inches big), to make sure we are on the same page, and you're going to like what you're getting. I would ask for a deposit for the picture before I would start to do any major work on it. I will ask for at least 40%, and the rest either in regular installments or upon completion depending on the time frame.

If you want the original ink, then I will gladly snail mail it to you. Keep in mind that most of the work is done on the computer, so the ink will be just black and white on bristol board. If I mail you the original ink, I typically include a glossy 8x10 of the illustration, and any other sketches of your character and thumbnails. Just add on the standard S&H fee of $4.95, which I just round up to $5. If you are not comfortable with giving me your address, that is fine, I will always send you the image via email, and you can print it out at home. Likewise, if you are not comfortable with PayPal, then I will accept a money order.

Whether or not you want the original ink, I will always email you a high resolution of the sketch, the ink, and the finished product, along with any related screen caps, or in-between pictures.

In short, the original ink will come with an 8x10 glossy of the finished product, and any related sketches, just add $5 for shipping. Regardless if you get the original ink or not, I will always send you a hi-rez of the the sketch, the ink, and the finished product, and any related screen caps or in-between pictures.


Things to think about:

The Setting- Do you want you character in front of City Hall in Atlas City, in Thrall's throne room, or just roaming around Kurast? You don't have to have an exact setting in mind, but a general idea of where helps, even if it's a big somewhere, like somewhere in space, and space is pretty big, but it gives me an idea of the feel of the picture.

You can be vague or specific with this, but keep in mind, the more complex the background, the more time it will take me, and thus it will be a higher cost. I don't want to scare anyone away from asking for a specific place, or a more complex place, because it can really make your character look that much cooler, but the more specific, the more work it will take me to get it to look like that place.

The Pencil Stage- When I email you the penciled version of you picture, that is when I can change the most with out much difficulty. Let me know if you see something wrong with the proportion (boobs too small, arm too short, nose too big, etc), perspective (things behind the character don't really look like they're behind the character), composition ( you don't like the placement of something, her arm should be going somewhere else), and anything else you don't like. Again, this is the easiest stage to fix these things, so let me know as soon as you see a problem!

The Ink Stage- Not much difference here in things to look for, but this will be the finalized lines of where things go.

The Color Stage- This is the stage that will take me the longest. The ink and pencil stages will take about day each, but this could take many days, or even a week or better depending on work load. Lighting and shadows are created in this stage, and the illustration will start to have more volume.

My Strengths and Weaknesses- Take a look at my gallery. If you like my style, then you'll like your picture. If you don't like my style, then I can guarantee that you won't like your picture.

I'm really good at expressions, dynamic lighting, color, among other things, but I'm not really good at drawing mechanical things. I'm very comfortable with organic structures, such as plants, flowers, forests etc. I have often been told that I am very good at expressions. Many people complement me, saying that my characters, well, have character. I love drawing magical glowy effects. I do have an Associates of Arts, so I am trained in classical techniques. I have also attended many life drawing sessions (Life Drawing is sitting and drawing naked people for a few hours). My style, while fantasy, is much more anatomically correct than the standard comic book proportion. This means that I tend to stray away from overly large boobs and toothpick waists, but I do know my muscle groups, skeletal make up, and I am not afraid to bust out the anatomy books, or reference shots if need be. Because I know my anatomy, I will be able to pull off more difficult poses, and make them look correct.

If you really like my style, and you have an android, robot, or want your gnome's mount in the picture, I will certainly still take the gig, but just keep in mind that those machines are not my strengths. I will absolutely do my best, but there are artists out there that are really really good at that, and you may like your picture better if one of those mechanized artists did it instead. I don't want to turn away business, but that is just something to keep in mind.

Thank you for reading this, and I look forward to hearing from you!

~Rizerax

Rizerax@gmail.com
Rizerax.DeviantArt.com