Next...
Oh there are so MANY projects that I have going and have NEVER published. You cannot comprehend exactly the number of things I get into and JUST NEVER FINISH. Part of it is because I'm hesitant to publish things that I am not sure about the quality or acceptance of the item. I mean - although I might have had a specific goal in mind or use for that item that I THOUGHT would work out... sometimes the illustration, model, brush etc. just looks stupid or lame or whatever. You could also say that I'm probably being too hard on my work and use every opportunity to besmirch my own work in a unconscious bid to procrastinate that much longer. Also... there's my job (VFX Supervisor) and whatever freelance jobs I get here and there. It isn't easy to work on a computer ALL DAY LONG sometimes for more than 12 hours and then turn around and spend additional time on a computer. It's an excellent way to get fat, have back problems, burn out your carpal tunnels and become a Morlock. Soooo.... what exactly HAVE I been working on? For my job at SpinVFX? Some VFX Supervision, but a hell of a lot of Matte Paintings. I've done stuff for The Umbrella Academy, The Man From Toronto, Arthur (Dog Movie), Jack Reacher (TV series) and quite a few others coming up soon to a screen near you. I would put the matte paintings here except for the fact that I feel that including them here might not be appreciated by the studios... I avoid doing things that might cause problems in my career. Yes, I know I should be able to post things for my portfolio - but I don't have as many lawyers as certain studio entities and I just don't want the headache. In the creation of these matte paintings I realized there are not a lot of assets out there that are photo-real and ready to use for Matte Painting, digital painting etc. Not everyone has access to a 3D application NOR do they necessarily have the time or inclination to learn one, or even if THEY do have the application and they know it - they just do not have the time to create said item in time for a deadline. You know what I'm talking about. You need an 18th century British brick building, but it has to be red brick and it has to have coal dust and it has to have the correct windows and be at the correct angle for your painting. And trying to find that asset, at that angle, with the correct lighting - yeah, those are really horrible days there. Searching, and searching - so you just make it up. And that's what I do. I use ZBrush a hell of a lot - lots and lots and lots. Brick walls, stone walls, vines, windows, turrets, castles, cabins etc. Yep. I use the hell out of that program. I love it. 3DS Max is my friend as well. If I need huge vines, or icecicles... bricks, walls, stairs, windows etc. between 3DS Max and ZBrush I've accomplished things that would have taken a really long time just using Photoshop. Painting takes forever y'all - just having the shapes, shadow and base geo helps tremendously for this type of stuff. Which brings me to my stuff. My photos, 3D models, ZBrush assets etc. I want to share but it is difficult doing that while working. I seriously do not understand how some people have so many publishes and assets. I'm usually way way way too busy or tired to even think about releasing stuff. Maybe they take energy vitamins or something. IDK. I sure wish I had something that would help. I've made TONs of vines. Jungle vines, Ivy vines, little vines etc. I'm still just treading water with the number and kinds of vines to publish. Like should there just be one view/camera angle for each vine or should there be three? How about 6? 12? See how an innocent project can exponentially explode? It's crazy. I also want to do some modular stuff for painters or 2D users but just like the vines, what would be feasable or even desired by professionals and hobbiests? Obviously a straight on view works for a lot of things but would users want 12 different camera angles as well as 5 different lighting conditions? Maybe not. Also I have been taking a lot of photographs. I plan on releasing these images... but it's a lot of photos to go through, color correct etc. They'll be done, when they get done. Hopefully before the end of this decade.
Gathering focus
Which brings me to another point. I charge for certain items because they take a lot of skill and effort to create. Often I'll give away a small preview of the pack so that users can try it out and if they like it they'll be able to purchase the full pack. I know there are a lot of items for free on the internet but if you read the licensing agreements for those "free" items very few of them are supposed to be used for commercial purposes. My items are meant to be used for commercial purposes. I very much intend for them to be used in that manner. I wouldn't post them otherwise. I do not expect credit to be given (even on the freebie) - although I do enjoy it when people send me links to what they did with the item. I want artists to have to freedom to create without the nagging feeling they are doing something wrong. So please - if it's a freebie here, on my blog or on my website, you are allowed to use it on commercial products you just cannot redistribute the items is all that I ask.
I also wonder why so many Deviant Artists limit the use of their stock. Granted they allow the use for Deviant Art but then do not provide an option to purchase the stock art without having to contact them (and you hoping they get back to you in time to complete the project). I wish Deviant Art allowed "storefronts" and "purchase now" buttons so that if you are using items commercially you could download the item by purchasing the royalty free or rights right then and there. This is why so many professional artist avoid using DA artists work. While the quality is outstanding - the stipulations of use prohibit or are not conducive to commercial uses.
So here's a tip if you are a DA artist. Get a Pulley account or something like it and offer the option for people to purchase your stock, resource etc. to use for commercial purposes. Granted you may not get a lot of sales at first or perhaps you're worried about selling out, but it beats being worried about your items being used for commercial purposes without your permission.
Anyway - I'll be working on my website tonight, tomorrow and into the next few weeks. Keep an eye out for it and the upcoming items that will be featured on it and of course here at DA.
Unfathomable!
I give out styles, brushes, pack all the time. But what I don't appreciate are people ignoring the rules I've set forth stating that my items are not to be redistributed. This means ANY of my items.
I just found out that freebrushes.net has a few of my styles from here and my blog and they have chosen to host the files on their site. Great. Just great.
This isn't a big deal normally if they had asked for permission or at least given a link back to my deviant page or my blog - but they don't. Also I've looked up their stats and how many visitors they have - over 180k per month. If my styles and such aren't the only items pilfered by these guys - none of their traffic is gained legitimately. Because of their traffic and because of the content (which they probably gained without the permission of those who created it) they have ad revenue. I don't know how much money they are making from the ad revenue but on average each page can host 3 - 15 ads and those ads usually run anywhere from $10 to $80 per month. That may not seem like much until you figure out that each page and each ad slot can literally provide thousands of dollars per month.
Now think about this - the traffic that they have gotten because of the content that they are giving away isn't theirs - it's the artist's traffic. Freebrushes.net didn't make those items so in my opinion they don't deserve to get that traffic. They also are redistribution content without permission of the owners and that in an of itself is an offense that should be delt with.
I would propose that anyone who downloads from these sites look at the items they are downloading and make sure that the items are legitimate. I think freebrushes made a mistake and that is all - but it boils down to ethics in the end. They obviously didn't care to read the license agreement that I put in my items or on the blog or Deviant page otherwise they would have asked permission first or at least linked back - so really what were they thinking? They weren't thinking that they would have to answer for their indiscretions. I am annoyed mostly. I don't know how much traffic they've taken from my work or added to my blog or Deviant Page (they didn't rip out the license agreement in the zip file so IDK how much I gained because they left that intact). But because they didn't provide a link back or ask permission I have no way to tell how it has affected my items or my sales for other items. I think they owe me an apology and some sort of link exchange or free ad - perhaps even monetary re-reimbursement. If this was a small person with a little blog or something I might be a little more understanding but I think they are profiting off of others work without their permission so to me they are in the midst of ripping artists off.
I'll let you all know what happens - hopefully they either take the items down or at least provide a link back to DA.
Would love input..
Example: I did a search for "torn" or "ripped" metal images - they don't exist or at least what's out there looks fake or is rights managed. Bleh! If you're just trying to create a concept design or are under a deadline the options out there are not great. So I took it upon myself to create torn metal styles. I thought the experiment turned out pretty well too. However - not many people comment anymore, so the only way I can tell that they are popular are the amount of "hits" to my page and my blog. Great - but I need more feedback people! What do you like? What don't you like? What would you like to see more of?
I'm thinking of creating a few other "metal" styles as well as some stock images of torn, ripped and shredded metal; I might need help from my sis on that though. Perhaps a walk through a salvage yard would provide the inspiration. IDK.
Anyway - I plan on making even more elements, images, Photoshop add-ons, After Effects stuff to give out and of course sell (for a nominal fee, I understand artists aren't the richest people and deserve tools that help them without breaking the bank).
Hope your CHristmas was fab everyone - looking to next year with hope and really am putting together a plan to gain more followers on the internet.
Drop a line if you have questions or requests - or even if you liked something and want to say hi!
End of the year is almost here...
There is literally no where to hide from the onslaught of constant noise and images. I haven't accomplished nearly what I wanted to this year and although some of it can be squarely put upon my shoulders a lot of the blame can be put on my job, my dear husband and the constant responsibilities of being a mom. I WANT to make tons of Photoshop goodies and put them out for people to use (for free and for sale). I WANT to create 3D models, texture, rig and animate them.
I WANT to make more brushes - but good god how much time I have in front of the computer doing what I WANT verses what someone else wants is severely lacking. The last time my husband got on my about the computer a discussion ensued and he sulked away muttering how women are all "mad". lol. Serves him right. I don't get much time to do the things I want - I often wonder if this is the case for all moms? Probably.
For instance - I haven't touched Second Life for over 2 years now. I want to make more outfits but the task is time consuming plus I just don't have the same heart for it and my family needs my time too. Also there is the fact that I do other things as well (digital art, 3d, painting etc) so I just don't have the time to do it any longer. Perhaps if I was a stay at home mom it would be different? IDK.
I think that I'm going to have to sit down and really concentrate on what I want to accomplish over the next year and stick to a plan. Schedule out my days and tell people who need my time that I need me time too!
Anyway - I've noticed the popularity of my blog and my twitter feed gaining ground and hope to double that next year. I also want to publish an onslaught of Photoshop Styles, web interface elements, AfterEffects templates and presets, 3D models etc. Lots of things to make and an avalanche of ideas that I've been keeping track of (you should see my "idea" folder and the reference files). Hopefully I will gain some ground and be able to get this stuff going.
Anyway - hope that your upcoming holiday is fabulous and you all have a great new year.
Cheers!