Always get a Contract

So, recently I finished up the Rogue Games contract over the holiday break. I turned in my assignment early and saw that it was checked green, which I took to be approved especially since I hadn't heard anything to the contrary. Two days later there is a change in Art Directors the day before my actual deadline. No real information put out except that there was a new Art Director. I emailed him and waited, . . . and waited. Finally after much back and forth between everyone except the Art Director it was established he wasn't paying anyone, decided he wanted different art and expected a bunch of revisions but still wasn't really talking with anyone, I finally got an email from him. He said of the 6 Illustrations I turned in he liked 2 and knew of those 2 only and would pay me a total of $70 for both if that was acceptable. I wrote back saying no it was not acceptable as one Illustration was supposed to be for as much. Besides I had completed my contract and been approved which entitled me to full pay for all the Illustrations. I informed him of where they were located in the dropbox under the folder clearly labeled with my name and titled finished art. I also sent him a copy of the contract and pay scale I was given for the work I was to do. Apparently no one else had thought to ask for a contract. In-fact I was told that the fact that they emailed me was good enough and I didn't need a contract outside of that. I insisted anyway and they meet my request. I am happy I did. It seems I am the only one getting paid for the work done and I am sure the only one getting paid in full. However, it was from the Art Director who was let go and no longer on the project. He paid me. So now my intentions are to let him have the art as he fulfilled the contract and like I told the new Art Director if he wants to negotiate something more with me we could do that but my contract stands as it is. Which means my art has been pulled form the folders and should no longer be available for that project. Not the way I wanted to start freelancing but at least I got paid.

So, learn from the mistakes of those involved. Get a contract up front. We used a simple contract from P.A.C.T. but it was binding. Enough to get me paid anyway. Best of luck to everyone and may the integrity of the business continue to grow.  

Reckless Deck Art Challenge Fire Warrior Concept Design

Here's something I did for a recent competition throughInfected by Art and sponsored by The Art Order. The challenge was to use 4 cards I had Tattoos, Tribal Jewelry, Chain Mail Armor, Laser Gun and the optional 5th Fire Attributes card.

I rather enjoyed it. I went back to doing things that was a mix of graphite with Photoshop colours on top, mostly mixed in using Color and Multiply layers. Judging is just starting so we'll see what comes of it. 

Rogue Games Illustrations

Here are the images I did for Rogue Games. The rifle and the Mech suit are my designs but the other ships and the alien within the suit are not of my design. I was merely asked to collaborate on a project with several other artists and a somewhat established art style. That actually made it a bit more of a challenge. Instead of being able to freely run with an idea for a space ship there was already a design in place that I had to follow. Makes it a bit harder when all of your lines have to match something else. 

I am glad my part in the project is over and surprised how much being able to say I was working for a even a small company helped when talking with other Entertainment Designers and Illustrators. But it  does help move me passed that place of being a student, which I am no longer and almost to being professional which I don't count myself as either since I still can't support myself on just my work alone. That is a bizarre place to be as a student you don't realize how much grace being able to say you are a student brings you in trying to find a job. Once you are no longer a student, wether you went to a good school or a bad one, if you don't walk into a job right away you find your self in a bit of limbo as to what you are now. Unfortunately that just seems to make it harder to get in somewhere especially if you didn't go to a good school. Portfolio is always the key to getting in as an artist but in places that look for credibility in production as well being nothing doesn't help. Not to mention on top of that you still have to work but now you are probably doing something else to pay the rent and that can quickly become consuming and slowly drag you into that and away from the arts. That's where you have to decide what really matters to you. Rough it and keep trying in the arts hoping you will get something out of it one day or make some money and try to find the time to do art as well. I just hope I get to continue the new year as I started it - working on paid art assignments.