(reposted from my blog)

As of this past Monday I am officially in Las Vegas. It wasn’t until last night that we got proper internet so that I may now resume my internetting and such.

I’ve gotta be honest -I didn’t want to leave So. Cal and my family, and new friends and possibilities I have made during my latest California sojourn. I was looking forward of making a go at being a professional artist there. But things have a way of not going exactly as planned. (Me falling in love and getting married for instance. XD )

Another thing I did not expect was the extraordinary welcome/back that my new and old Las Vegas family have extended to me. It warms the heart.

So here I am. In Vegas. It so happens that my husband lives here too, so that’s like an extra bonus. Yeah. I’m finally living with the guy. I’ve found that if you are married it works out better if you live together and stuff. I really should package that idea and sell it. I’m sure other married folks would thank me for imparting unto them such a gem of wisdom.

If you follow me on Twitter (@AHGreenwood) you will have already been tired of me complaining about the woes of moving -which included a truck full of my art being towed and no internet -I really hate not having internet. There are other little annoyances brought on by moving but you will be hearing less of that because, even though this places is a mess and we are living out of boxes, I’ve got to get back on some kind of creative track. A little recalibration and re-evaluation and I should be back in the creative mix.

I was feeling a little restless the day before I headed out to Vegas apartment hunting and made this last minute decision to enter @ghettoManga's MF DOOM art contest. I fired up Painter 9 which is my favorite but least understood paint app and started painting. Six hours later, and a little help from Photoshop (a program I am more comfortable with) I came up with my entry.

Go over to GhettoManga -MF DOOM contest and check it out! I am pleased with my DOOM version but you seriously need to check out the other artists there because there's some really really sweet stuff. Also: Commenting on the post is great but doesn't count as a vote so remember to vote on the right sidebar.

Later!!
~Angel

Recently I had a friend introduce me(via linking some of my art) to a friend of his that works for a gaming shop. Not the one I was gunning for but a pretty well known name in the video game industry.

The next day I got a message from the same friend "My friend says he likes your stuff but their not hiring character artists right now." Understood.

The next day I got another note from the friend "He also says you might want to look into 3D character modeling, and including some character stuff that's non-anime/manga styled." Heh. Uhm. Learning another program. Moving away from my favorite style. Okay. I can do this. Not overnight, but I can do this.

And then later another note "He said you should check out conceptart.org" Yeah. That site makes me feel like a third grader on the short bus.

I'm not sure why the notes were delivered piecemeal but I guessing it was perhaps thought that an incremental let down is better than hearing it all at once. Or not.

I am hopeful about the art I put forward; I work hard on it, I'm proud of it and it is the best that I can produce at this moment. But I wasn't really surprised in hearing any of this advice. People have told me that I am too hard on myself but I think, considering the pros at work in the fields I want to pursue, that I have a pretty fair estimation of whereabouts my skills fall in the whole spectrum of professional artist. I'm not there yet.

That's okay. I know I am willing and I know I am able. "Not there yet." is disappointing but it's by no means a death sentence. It does have me rethinking things.

I know that I will be making a living as an artist. That detail is something I refuse to rethink. Do I want to keep putting my time and effort into building a portfolio as a character artist? Even though I feel less confident than I did before the answer to that is Yes. I'm going to keep working on that. Because I love drawing characters. And that's it. That's what it comes back to. I love doing it. I'll put a book together that I will shop around. It may get me work, it may not but I'm gonna get it out there.

If I am not the strongest character artist right now I am still a very able artist. I will pursue different avenues and different media. This is all gonna work out. Perhaps not like I envisioned it, but my pursuit will bring me happiness.

---

Okay, I will need a little break to move (again) so I'm gonna be finishing up some commissioned work but the portfolio work is going to be put on pause until I get to my new digs. Finally gonna be living with my husband. How weird is that?!

It's getting awfully close. I've been kinda busy lately so I'm not sure if I am going to be able to do a kiriban piece in gratitude but how about this: If one of you catches my 5000th page view grab a screenshot and show me and I'll give you a free deviation.

That is all. Now back to work!

So I did this very scary thing last week: I quit my job in order to do art full time. [See my blog entry]

WHOO! It's quite the terrifying, exciting and mind blowing experience. Although I'm still kind of blown away by the concept I need to hit the ground running. You know what that translates to on dA, right?

That's right!: OPEN FOR COMMISSIONS!

I'm looking forward to working for YOU!

+++ COMMISSIONS +++
These prices are for digital work created on a 8" x 10" (portrait or landscape) 300dpi format. If you wish that I do a traditional media commision please send me a note so that we may discuss.

CHARACTERS
SKETCHES: $10
LINEARTS: $15
LINEART w/ COLOR: $35
LINEART w/ COLOR (structural background/setting): $50
each additional character: add $10

Complexity - if a character has a lot of complexity -a mecha for instance- prices might be higher. If this is the case we will be discussing the project before hand, of course.

FULL ILLUSTRATIONS (an image depicting a scene/character in action w/ background)
SKETCHES: $20
LINEART: $35
FULL COLOR: $50 - $75 depending on the details


CONTENT:
Although my personal preference for what I'll call 'alternative genre art' is Yuri/Shoujo-ai; I am open to Yaoi/Yuri/Shonen-ai/Shoujo-ai/Furry content. Generally this type of art will use the above pricing but where it ventures into adult content please see below.

Adult content and nudity:
I am open to adult content but pricing will vary depending on MY comfort level. In other words, I am willing to depict graphic violence, S&M, B&D, D&S, or other sexual explicit material, it will just cost you more than the regular faire. If I am not comfortable with attempting your request I will let you know; otherwise I will price each adult content commission on a case by case basis using the below fee schedule as a starting point.

Single character
SKETCHES: $15
LINEART: $25
FULL COLOR: $50

Pairings (characters acting as couples)
SKETCHES: $25
LINEART: $30
FULL COLOR: $60

each additonal character add $15
simple background add $5
complex/structural background/setting add $20


PAYMENT:
-I only accept payment in USD (U. S. Dollars)
-Preferred payment is PayPal but I also accept money orders and cashier checks.
-Full payment before I start the work.

Before payment of commission, details of the work (subject matter, price, time required, etc.) will be discussed and settled. Since payment in full will be made before hand - I will be sending you comps showing the work in progress.

Please feel free to send me a note with any questions you may have about commissions.

THANKS!
KaMu