SO! It's been rather a while since I posted, well, anything really. Let me explain a bit; some of you may know that my family and I were living abroad for a few years and internet access was a grim experience at best. We've been back for a little while now, and while a new hobby or two have claimed a LOT of my spare time, drawing (and my characters) have always been a little friend sitting on my shoulder.

That's just a long winded way of saying I have not given it up, and I very badly want to start doing more of it. But I'd like a little guidance from the few of you who consider yourselves 'fans' of mine (or even those of you with a passing interest in my art).

While living abroad, one of the things I did to keep myself sane was to work on a tabletop top game. I had tried this some (read:MANY) years ago, and while the end result was a fantastic disaster, the concept never left my mind. I literally spent 2 years re-developing the idea, and went through at least 2 massive reworks before I ended up with what I have now (scattered across a stack of loose papers).
My concept was simple: create a fast, easy-to-play, tabletop fighting game, that would not cost a truckload of money as most other entries into this niche do. As I looked at other games of the same type, I discovered that some of my ideas were not as original as I had hoped, but my core mechanics were, as was the way I approached my audience (hopefully, you folks).

In an effort to flesh out the new story I had created for the Anacoonda, I based the background story of the game around them, so Astrid and Co. will be present in this game, along with 7 other races; so original, some staples from other genres. You'll get to see roughs and sketches in the not too distant future, I promise.

What I'd like to hear from you kind people, are answers to some questions that have been nagging at me. Read on if you're interested!

1) Considering the price point on some other games of this type, what would be the limit you would be willing to pay for a game like this? Aside from providing a quality game that's fun, my main concern is to keep the end cost as low as I can.
2) Depending on how it's handled (hopefully well), does a dice-based combat mechanic appeal to you more that a card based one?
3) In the interest of keeping costs to you as low as possible, would you be happy with 2D character counters, or would you be more interested in 3D printed character counters?

Those are the big ones for now! I have plans to create and launch a Facebook page, YouTube channel, and a few other venues to get word out, but you can really help by posting replies and sending me PMs if you prefer.

Thanks in advance!

Kaboom

Wow, 3 new pics (and 2 are Anacoonda!) in a single day? That's more than the past 4-5 YEARS!

Oy, that's really sad..

Gotta do more. Also been working on the Anacoonda reboot a LOT lately. Need to start getting pages layed out so I can finally tell the damn story.

Anyway, New pic of Astrid, new one of her pal Gwynth (in colour) and a spiffy pin up girl named Jin. No idea what she is yet, other than available, so send in your commissions and requests! PLEASE!

Time to shake things up. Keep an eye open!

Ever have a day when you're sketching and you realize you can do no wrong? you're ideas come to you effortlessly, and translate onto paper as if by magic? That's the kind of day I'm having right now. I feel like I'm on the cusp of a breakthrough artisticly.

While at AC I kept seeing my peer's work and the level that they consistantly opperate at, and I though to myself I have to step up my game.. I feel like I'm about to do just that. My close friends (hopefully) would agree that I'm not one to embellish my own work too much, but even I can see it's become pretty stagnant. With luck in the next few weeks, I'll be able to change that..

Kaboom!

I've got ALMOST everything done that I wanted to do, but the last pic is huge (literally, I have to draw it over 2 pages) and I just don't have enough time to get it done properly for the con!
Well, it'll end up on FA eventually, and I'll be doing my damndest to make it look goooood.. Maybe I can manage to sneek in a little something suggestive instead that big pic..

So here's how things seem to be shaping up; I'm going digital this year! After a long disscussion with maxblackrabbit about the pros and cons, I've decided to assemble a dvd instead of printing up individual portfolios and prints. I'll include everything I have here on FA, some old sketches that have never seen the light of day before, all the new stuff I'm currently working on (or at least all of it that I can finish in time) and I'll try to include at least one example of 'How it's done" from sketch through all the steps to finished picture. I'll admit there are others on FA that are far more skilled at it than I am, but I've been told I have a knack for teaching.

Well, I got the time off from work, and my passport will be updated and delivered to my door in about 2 weeks, so it looks like I'm going to be able to make the trip this year!
Also been discussing publishing methods With Max and I think a dvd is the best way to go to keep costs down for me and anyone interested enough to buy my stuff.
-pro: very low overall costs for me, takes up much less space during the trip, and you get a lot of pics that take up little space.
-con: slightly higher cost to the consumer for a great deal of work that may or may not appeal to everyone (just dun look at the stuff you dun like I say). Other than that..

Comments?

Halloo!

Been a while since I posted anything here, but I like to hold out for things worth mentioning to people (in my mind at least). And since I'm not as well known, and don't travel as much as some, my announcements are a bit less frequent.

So what I'd like some input on is this; do you think it's worth the effort to produce prints and portfolios, or should I just have a selection of my art on hand to wow and impress and take commissions?

I'm leaning toward producing a few things for sale myself, but I'd like some input from the masses!

Hi to anyone out there listening, if any, lol. I've been in the zone lately and stockpiling art for upcoming posting, but am at a bit of an impass.

I've had a yen to do some kind of dragon, mainly because I've never seriously done one before. But I'm not sure about the approach. What I'd like to know is what folks would be interested in; something beastial, more anthropomorphic, or ridiculously cartoony? Oh and should it be (mostly) clean, suggestive, or downright gooey?

Give me a sign!

(...)

And not a traffic one either!

Jeez, I guess my style alterations are a hit judging by the responce to the Illuminati pic I posted! There'll be more to come in a bit too! Have to get used to the colouring technique, but i must say I like it, and it's MUCH faster than my old method..

Hi there.

Sorry I havn't had much posted lately; life is startingto look up a little for me, I've benusing my PS2 a lot more, and trying to get commisions finished - which I WILL post, but only when they're done!

ttyl

Thought I'd share a few ways I get my work done in Photoshop since I get asked how I do it all a fair bit.

Scanning

Once you've inked your work, be sure to erase as much of your pencil lines as you can (be thourough!). When you're ready to scan, select B&W and set your scanner to 300 dpi.

Now that the scan is finished, follow these steps:

- goto Image, select Mode, and choose Greyscale
- make sure the size ratio is set to 1 when the little window pops up, and click ok
- goto Image, select Mode, and choose RGB colour this time
- select the Pencil tool, and go and clean up and specs and unwanted lines that are in your picture.

Now you're ready to start!

Wow. After all that, I really feel at home in the fandom. Now I have to make good on all the ideas I came up with on the way home and take care of all the commissions I have!
Starting to think having a live journal might be a good idea too..
So much to draw, so little time!

Sweet! After a 12 hour carride I made it! I'm going to be spending most of Thursday getting the last of my stuff ready, but I'll be in the Alley for the first day of the con!
Hope to see lot's of you, adn get a chance to schmooze & party later!

Kaboom

Hey there.

My turn for a shameless plug of my stuff! I'm going to try and get a mini folio ready for AC featuring Cherry in a variety of nasty poses. Hopefully it'll be 5 pics plus a cover, but I also need to get some Anacoonda art done as well!
Also will have prints of most of what I have in my gallery here available, as well as some stuff I won't post untill after the con!

Kaboom

Hi there.

Does anyone other than me use a trackball as their preferred input device (especially for Photoshop)? If not, what do you use?

I want to do a paizurai pic but I don't know who I should use, Female Blaziken, or Cherry.

Suggestions?

..who added me to their buddy list and/or favored one of my pics! I'd thank you all individually, but then I'd never get any more art finished! Lol

And I already have 100 page views?! Wow, I better get some more stuff done soon! The guys said this place was busy, but .. jeez.