Made it! Merry Christmas.

Jeeze what a crazy last few days.
I'm glad it's Christmas. Peace and love all.
Merry Christmas.

Success

The less success you have the less your noticed or cared about. Funny thing is, the more success you have, the more people dislike you and try to knock you down. Listen - I can help you all. Stop being whiny and focus more on your own work and less on the work or achievements of others and maybe you too will get your shot.

Your adults, build a bridge and get over it all ready.

Fame

I suppose if being hated by co-workers is like fame, a bunch of people are pretty famous.
Happy holidays everyone!

I'm not a super fan - Well Maybe...

I recently did a fan piece for a great Indy creator Travis.
Outcast Studios member and founder of Bean Leaf Press. I have been a fan of this creator since the first book being released. I often wonder how I could get involved with other artist and their work and if I could do image plates or pinups or add any value to their work I'm just thrilled to do so.

Low an behold an opportunity came by and I jumped at it. He was looking for fan art.
I had just two days to come up with something that I love about his site, his work and world. Normally that would be enough time but not this time. I submitted a piece that was good but I have updated the image with final colors here as well.

I really wanted a professional finished colorist to aid me, but time being what it was I could not afford to track down a good colorist that would be able to do my piece justice so I tackled all the art on the second refined piece myself.

Enough talk.... Enjoy.

No Gnome

A funny little thing happened while traveling the street in -27C weather. I spotted a person carrying a gnome for a photo shoot. The camera in the other hand gave it away. I was inspired so I whipped up a few digital illustrations in two styles that might be found in animation, I then added a character illustration over top of that. The final result is pretty impressive by my estimation. I had no idea how it would turn out. I can only say that samurai jack was the inspiration for the end result.

65 minutes of research revealed.

From memory I drummed up this illustration about a tower for a wizard. Indecently I was researching buildings last week end. I realized that it is very similar to the central tower on the parliament building in Ottawa. I suppose that image left an impression. What I was going for was a cross between a wizards military out post tower and London tower Big Ben (I think it's call) and well - memory being what it is ended up like this....

I called the pic parliament tower, though I see now that I failed to add many smaller details and stairs and such.... AH the country invades my creative push it seems.

What is up!

Let me tell you.
First I cotinue to do editorial illustrations. Yes they are harder to come by as publications start to make cuts, it seems that I too suffer as an artist, so I have taken a part time night job to meet my needs.
I've also been developing and designing and making a e-book called GIFTER. It is a supplement to palladium game system to help bolster there product. A team of dedicated fans also contribute. Unfortunately the company palladium book really has not taken an interest in this so we have decided to do a few issue for free. Currently 4 issues have been done and submitted to fans for free!

I understand the need for money.
I get that payment should be made.
Yet many game fans produce material at home for their games for free and we want to bring that to other fans. Palladium has Rifter for this purpose. Unfortunately it is a print product and we are offering an opportunity to create an off shoot brand in a strictly digital format.

I could go on about this but many people have heard all the arguments before. Almost as a slap in the face palladium has started creating a lower budgeted quality Rifter(in my opinion) product over the last two issues making it very painful to support any longer. Maybe they are giving the fans a chance to step up our game and take over a similar publication?

Maybe they don't care? Maybe they want a larger fan base for a younger age?
What ever the speculation is - Our goal was to have them as a corporate sponsor with out being dodgy or salacious and be open with our efforts and goals and have them support us in a small way. Unfortunately the original fans who founded the idea have disbanded and did not have the business savvy to make a real proposal. Another issue is I have taken up the reigns on a part time bases to try and salvage the idea in a new iteration. So far I have been successful. Where I and the fans are failing is a business plan and marketing plan to present to Palladium to get their support.

Unfortunately 2000 fans at best for subscribers is not enough to do this project over a long term. Is the RPG about to die?
Who knows, I have come to love the game since many new edits have been made to the system.

So what is the next step?
Will the fans step up to make this a more serious project?
I certainly won't take that responsibility,, though I will support it.
I'm not sure what the best move to make is.

Last I heard, Palladium would rather have us license their brand and send us away. Typical really. Most business folk have profit on their minds first. You would think that growing the brand might be of interest to them and worth investing in.

Well if you mess with the lion you could be bitten....unless your a fan doing it for free. It would really suck if a company sued it's fans. LOL

Well that is an update for now.

If I post more art or idea's or thoughts it may not happen until December. Thanks for dropping by.

re-post

Just in case you missed the first post due to my web skill errors.

Three rejections in one week.

Submitting work to publishers is kind of like being lost in the perpetual dating loop. Some accept, many, many others reject. In the end it seems like a major waste of time. I know and fully appreciate the freelancers life. It is the one night stand of employment where you get in get your rocks off and get out with a smile.

Most men enjoy the short bursts of excitement with no commitment. Dirty "C" word. However, when it comes to making a living, a full time gig would be nice from time to time.

Work outs - I need more - I do.

I love watching Kianna's Flexappeal. Makes me want to work out. Yes it does!

45 minutes of free time...

The paper bag princess never did recover from the dragon attack. Years later it seems that prince Ronald is looking pretty good right about now.

Prof X

SI I decided to make Prof X with a beta version of Cerbro... Yes Epic fail, as they say. Still it was so ghetto I thought that this is what it was like to be the professor X when he started on the prototype. I thought I would do a run down warehouse and a few beat up mutants as a scraggly crew of upstarts. Unfortunately I might never get the big marvel Disney gig so I figured I'd jot down these idea's just in case some one else wanted to contribute to the insanity.

Feel Good Project

Just to make sure I'm not totally sucking I whipped this up in an about two hours.... Yes with interruptions, I am a full time Dad. Back to bed.

Failed attempt

Living a twenty hour day is tough. It is even harder when you try to balance your loves and family and real work life.
Here is another rejection for the-gutters.

At least I took a shot and they felt I missed. Can't say I fully agree though they are the bosses and it is their script - LOL. Let that be a reminder to never tell your boss they are wrong. - LOL.

I should add that this took a very valuble three hours of my sleep time too. Under normal conditions and if I had more time I could have done more, but damn like most folks I too have to pay bills. Ce La Vie!

Now back to more important matters sleep!

Rejection = hope

I recently have been trying to reconnect with several big hitters and received this nice rejection. I totally forgot that I sent something to Wizards of the Coast. It wasn't until this came to my in box that I clued into yet another avenue of work might be getting wider.

Here was the nice letter....

Hi Richard

Thank you for submitting samples of your work to the art directors at Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.

I receive quality portfolios every day and the number of artists to whom we assign work is limited. If your work is suitable for a particular project, an art director from one of our product lines may contact you regarding a specific assignment.

Due to the number of inquiries received, I regret that I am not able to speak with you personally at this initial portfolio review. Submissions are kept on file for future reference and are reviewed as the need arises.

Thank you for your interest in Wizards of the Coast.

Recent covers

After a brief exchange with editors at the glass coin... (I know cool name).
I came up with two covers... One was a horizontal experiment that went wrong, the other is a reflection of pop art style that has immortalized many images. I like the pop art one best. Though I'm not sure which they will use.

Well the work I submitted has since been declined due to editorial content. Well DaDaDu - Of course it would be. A last minute pull happens all the time. Now we have to see what or who has replaced me yet again. The flavor of the work I do is pretty eccentric and requires a pretty niche piece of market work for acceptance.
What many publishers fail to realize is ... The more you use a persons work, the more main stream it becomes. That is how it works folks. Work with me already.

My Creations

Find some of my stuff here....
Art and stories

Ad Public

This is an unofficial ad....
I know people have hobbies and do things for free on their own time. I was wondering if these people ever team up to make bigger things happen? You should consider me for the job. I think I want to build some thing with like minded individuals.

Ad Design

Years ago I did some design work for a few companies. Here is one of the ads I enjoyed getting out. I did work for these guys 2 years in a row before doing illustration full time.

Web Casts

Here are the two web cast sites you can listen to the short stories of the adventures of a fight club creator.

fighton.podomatic.com - the other -

is located at fighton.podbean.com

Web Cast

For any one who wants to see what I've been up to....
A web cast is started taking listeners on a trip through the Dual Convergence world from the perspective of a fictional host Ram Rod.

He goes into the world to hire fighters for a mixed martial melee against all comers. A fun little listen.

It can be found...

FightoN or FightoN

And at

14uComics

Mechanics of the puppt body

I've been looking at puppeteering and aspects of making electronic models that move.
Very cool things are happening. I'm looking forward to seeing if these giant puppets make their way to theme parks.

Chldern and sexuality....

I'm going to be brief and maybe a bit harsh.
Children and Sexuality should not be mixed in public events - Period.
I don't care if your straight, gay or a monkey from mars. If you have the title of straight, gay or monkey from mars in your name that singles you out as having a sexual preference. You and your company does not belong at an event where children are present.

Sex education should be handled by educators and doctors that understand anatomy and how the body functions. Do not assume you can take over the role of professionals and parents by bringing your ideas to the general public where children are present.
That is not acceptable.

Another project concept.

A construction worker writing about the life of a work crew and the lunch time antics.
Oh the drugs and the girls and the bosses daughter. The fun will never end on this little 52 episode fling.

Project partner wanted

I want my next project to be web based written by strippers about strippers doing something like taking the world over as desperate house wife's fight to keep the men they have away from the power of Lusty, busty, babes....

Yhea that might be really good.

I would do it for a photo of the writer too. Maybe 52 episodes long at most.

Contact me if your they person for this.

Email rgrzela@hotmail.com

14uComics - Shutdown

After 5 years of breaking even it's time to put this puppy to bed.
Simply seeing no growth is not cause for continuation.

14uComics is officially offline.

I'm not Jim Lee or Todd McFarlane

So you need to visit 14uComics

Starting from scratch.

It seems that the world around me is falling to pieces.
Every thing in place is gone and many people are going broke. Must be a good life to have a job and keep going.

When trying to make your own way though things are a bit harder. You never know how dark the world is until you try to do things on your own. People hate to see you reach greatness, some are not to shy to say so.

Still you have to keep going and keep trying.

Another kick at the can.