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United States216 Posts
Happiness is sharing that which you cherish with those whom you love. – Joshua B. Keyes
What does this have to do with eSports and Team Liquid? As you might remember I've been working on an indie game for the last few years. I've dedicated full time to that and I've had to put aside what I find is my a greater passion I have. That passion is not just gaming, but the community involved with the competitive gaming scene. I've found a community I feel at home, that community is what is represented here in Liquid.
I've been quite unhappy for the last year or more, and I think that's because I've sacrificed time interacting in esports. It's been years since I've helped make a team logo, streaming assets, and a long time since I've even given myself the chance to sketch a cheerful. A great happiness for me is sharing my love of competitive gaming through artwork and whatever else I can do to help support positive interactions in the community. this has been the longest I've gone forgoing this interaction.
TLDR - I miss you guys.
<3 Raihn
Additional thoughts on the artwork:
My Dad likes to use action figures to post on Facebook. They are all characters in his mini ‘cartoon’ that finds its setting in his daily life. It’s a little like ‘Toy Soldiers’ meets ‘Toy Story’ meets ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ meets ‘MASH’. I think the concept is related to a popular web show called ‘Action Figure Therapy’. Though, my Dad’s production is really meant for friends and family via Facebook, and provides a lot of laughs and genuine fun.
One of his such postings inspired me to sketch. I realized the concept is a great outlet that I've attempted in other ways in the past. A sketch-a-day, traditional blog posts, speed-paintings, or various forum community involvement. The problem with those things is that once you start you sort of become beholden to the community, idea, or ideal. It starts as a forum for free expression but can quickly turn to bonds of responsibly and expectation.
The above inspiration paired with the recognition that I need to express visually, while also ensuring I’m don’t over commit, led me to the mental categorization of ‘Sketchbook Therapy’. Since its more of an idea than an actual product I don’t have to feel the need to have some sort of actualized sketchbook, and ‘therapy’ suggests a bevy of interpretation. It’s therapeutic for me to exercise my skills, thoughts, and experiences visually. But the name may also imply that perhaps someone else may be compelled, realizing some joy or satisfaction for themselves through the work itself.
I’ve found an outlet for my musings of philosophy and life, void of a shallow tweet or post quickly washed down the ever constant scrolling stream of social media. The sketch lends an extra bit of resilience to the words. For me, I get to center my thoughts, meditate and mull over an idea or concept in a forum that I cherish. Then, I am able to share it happily with those whom I love.
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Estonia4644 Posts
Thats the magic of TL! You're always welcome back!
People often disappear because life happens, but they often find their way back here in some capacity 
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love it dude. it is inspiring to me
i'm really interested in your path to becoming an artist and being able to work with game dev. and being able to support yourself
just seen you have another blog here https://raihn.wordpress.com/page/2/ so i'm gonna check it out
man your blog goes back like 9 years, i'm gonna be here for a while lol.
how did you know what style to use for Politically Correct game? did they provide you with references or did you reference other work? how did you land the job? how "hard" did you find it to do as your (first?) art job?
wow it sucks someone actually nicked your shit from the classroom
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TLADT24920 Posts
Read this blog earlier and just wanted to say, amazing picture! I love the details and how it feels like it's coming to life. All that shading and stuff is perfect imo. Also, agree. Sharing feels great especially when it's all about your passion for the game and community.
ps you should post some of your dad's cartoons here. They sound good!
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United States216 Posts
You guys are quite kind. Thank you very much!
@FFGenerations: I'll see if I can't tackle some of your questions.
The style of PCtheGame was developed trying to cross something of a monopoly style with political cartoon style, some references were given but I was under no direct guideline, I made it up for myself as I went. I was still very new and a lot of the style came about as just what I was able to do from a skill and technique perspective. There were also a lot of production limitation at the time that there probably would be less of these days. Lots of black and white, very little color was allowed, printing sharpness was pretty poor, etc. Size was a major consideration as well, having cards and tiles be readable to the eye from a distance.
I landed the job because I was sociable and professional when I was going to college. I asked a lot of questions, participated, and often picked my professor's brain after class. Sometimes your professors receive calls looking for new talent willing to work a low than average professional rates to obtain experience. I was recommended several times while I was going to college to jobs such as these. After I relieved the information I met with the gentleman in a sort of interview where he explained what he was after and what he was willing to offer for the work. I took it back and discussed it with my professor and they gave me some really great tips. It all worked out very well for me for a few months.
As a first job it was extremely difficult. I was navigating a whole new world, I was a freelancer, and the guy that was hiring me wasn't terribly experienced with working with artists or in entertainment projection. Also I still had my part time job and full time school I was juggling. I'd advise in a similar situation, if it's your first gig you ensure its not your clients first time working with freelance artists
Ultimately the project ended poorly. The owner didn't take some advice I had to heart. He didn't play test with home grown products very much before sending for mass production. He basically played with his family, and ignored the advice I gave after playing with my friends. Despite my concerns of the product samples quality we received, he never directly addressed those issues. The final product was a mess, warped, stickers falling off of game pieces and boards that didn't fold well were some small issues. Though the game actually made fun of both political parties, he kept trying to market it as a hard right leaning game, effectively dismissing half of whatever market he might have found. Finally, he still owes me 5k I will never received. I had a contract, but everything was under an LLC. I would have to get in line behind all the other creditors he owed, and the business had no money or assets to divide. Zero divided by anything is still zero.
What I learned: Contracts aren't a guarantee, they're just more convincing promises that can just as easily be broken. When you're at any job interview, you are reviewing their qualities just as much as they are yours.
The Stolen Flower:
Indeed. It's definitely can be frustrating seeing others steal your work online an sometimes even try to flaunt it as their own, but this was pretty brutal. I was very happy with what I had done, the web image does it no justice. I had it sitting on the chair and turned and snapped a pic of it to give a friend an idea of what I was working on through IM at the time. The quality of those cameras was horrible, and it wasn't even a straight on shot, I got it from the side.
A lot of people approached me while I was working on it asking if I willing to sell it, and I said I wanted to keep it give it to my gf (now my wife). Someone just really wanted it that bad. It soured traditional painting for me a bit to be honest. The upside is that mine was the only painting ever known to be stolen from the art department. For someone to want a work so bad, and for one of my first real endeavor, I choose to take it as a compliment.
What I learned: Take decent photos of your art, and don't wait to do it. Realize the value of your work, even if you feel like you're just a student. Always find a positive growth point when the negative of the world sucks something from you.
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United States216 Posts
BigFan: Thanks! :D I should see if anything would make sense objectively. It's all very mired in personal context, I have a hard time following any of it, lol.
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TLADT24920 Posts
On April 14 2015 07:15 Raihn wrote:
BigFan: Thanks! :D I should see if anything would make sense objectively. It's all very mired in personal context, I have a hard time following any of it, lol.
oh I see lol, fair enough ^^
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United States216 Posts
Thanks Flipstar! It warms my heart that my work can bring back nostalgia and warm feels. Thank you so much for the comment, it really is encouraging. <3
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EPT![[image loading]](https://raihn.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/happyminion.png?w=500&h=500)
