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tygriffin

Drawing is my Life!
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Getting a few anticipation jitters for the upcoming Spectrum Fantastic Art Live conference...next week!
spectrumfantasticartlive.com
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So, I intend to be inside drawing for the winter.
On what, you ask? Projects of all sorts!
Here is a bit of my 2014 to-do list, copied from my Work-In-Progress blog:

It's good to have goals. :) 

This year's list of stuff to-do gets some inspiration from various items I had on my list last year, along with a few additions. To make it all a little more interesting, don't you know. So, let's get started:

-- Submit entry for Spectrum 21 Fantastic Art
-- Participate in ArtOrder challenges (as time permits)
-- Sketchbook! Printing and selling my first sketchbook, collecting daily doodles and preliminary sketches from a variety of recent projects (not under NDA at the time of printing).
-- Conferences! Currently signed up for two art shows and bringing original art and prints to sell: 
  1. Spectrum Live (May)
  2. IlluxCon (September)
-- Picture Book(s)! 
  1. Subbing one project to publishers in collaboration with a writer already this year (January)
  2. Completion of two dummy book proposals as writer/artist
-- Comics! Complete client projects already in the pipeline, and get some new ones lined up for end of Summer/Fall project development...
-- Graphic novels! Complete proposals already in progress and get to pitching 
-- Book Illustration! I have a fantasy project collaboration with a new writer that I'm very excited about; she has a novella that will be out late Winter/early Spring...I'll be focusing on the art side of things (cover illustrations) along with a few related items.
-- Traditional painting! I already have various studies developed, now I just need to get going on the final paintings, particularly since I intend to bring a few along with me for my conference art tables. From mini to 20 x24 (approx.), mostly acrylic.
-- Update Portfolio(s)! Again. Finally? Especially my main one, www.tanjawooten.com, focusing on book jacket illustration (primarily fantasy and sci-fi for YA and adult markets), middle grade projects (jacket and interior art), as well as assorted comic book and graphic novel projects. Lots of new art and some existing client art to show there.  Like art from, for instance, the 2013 Harvey Award nominated WOMANTHOLOGY: SPACE! End of April deadline, but I foresee an "unscheduled" launch in March if not sooner.
-- Drawing and Concept Art! As though I would not be doing that anyways...
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Let the Summer 2013 projects begin...
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Keeping busy with a couple of winter-themed fantasy illustrations in addition to a couple of other client projects that will be revealed early 2013...one is a children's picture book and the other a sci-fi adaption comic mini-series (4 issues).

NYC Comic-con was awesome, I learned even more and met some great people.  I'd like to go again next year...thinking that I will see about sharing an art table and bringing a few prints to sell, a sketchbook and maybe some original art -- I have a difficult time parting with my originals...they're like family. ;)

My fantasy YA graphic novel script is moving a bit slower right now, but still progressing.  Today I'll be designing a few building interiors...I need the reference before I start scripting the next chapter.      

New art coming to my gallery (finally) in the next few days....

- t
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Thought for today: "No spec work."

Donating art you've created for a cause you're interested in supporting is something different and admirable.  That isn't spec work.

WHAT IS SPEC WORK?

Basically, spec work is any kind of creative work rendered and submitted, either partial or completed, by a designer to a prospective client/employer before taking steps to secure both their work and an equitable fee. Under these conditions, a designer will often be requested to submit work under the guise of either a contest or an entry exam on actual, existing jobs as a "test" of their skill. In addition, the designer normally unwittingly loses all rights to their creative work because they failed to protect themselves by means of a signed binding contract or agreement. The client/employer often uses this freely gained work as they see fit without fear of legal repercussion.

WHY IS SPEC WORK UNETHICAL?

The designer in essence works free of charge and with an often falsely advertised, overinflated promise for future employment; or is given other insufficient forms of compensation. Usually these glorified prizes or "carrots" appear tantalizing for creative communicators just starting out, ending with encouraging examples like "good for your portfolio" or "gain recognition." The reality is that they often yield little extra work, profit or referrals. Moreover they often must sign a contract unwittingly waiving their valuable creative rights and ownership of their work to the ones promoting this system. A verbal agreement is ineffective in protecting the rights of the designer in a court of law. As a result the client/employer will often employ other designers using similar unprincipled tactics to change and/or resell the creative work as their own. This also promotes the practice of designers ridiculously undercharging themselves in the hopes of "outbidding" any potential rivals, devaluing both their skills and those of the graphics industry in the process. Promoting this method encourages some clients/employers to continue preying on uninformed creatives for menially valued labor.

IS MY CONTEST SPEC WORK?

To answer this, ask yourself:

    Will I equitably pay a winning designer for the work rendered as if they were hired under contract to do the same thing?
    Will I negotiate a proper compensation for the usage rights commensurate to their level of skill?
    Will I return the working files and usage rights to ALL designs submitted, particularly if they don't win?

If the answer is "no" to any of these questions then your contest likely promotes speculative work. Moreover, any contest that expects a designer to work for free ( especially in the case of the "losers" ) encourages the undervaluing of a designer's labor, which ultimately undermines the quality of any professional workplace.

Read more here: www.no-spec.com/faq/
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Featured

Almost time...Spectrum 2014 by tygriffin, journal

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