*raheight

Hi folks!

This will be a quick journal entry today, but I just had to say "thank you". One of our fellow DA members donated a 3 month subcription to me today and I wanted that person, who remains anonymous, to know that I really appreciate it!!! You're awesome...whoever you are!!


-Ray

Hey Folks!

I want to thank all of you who answered my call for a letterer. It was such a fast flood of responses that I couldn’t even read everyone’s email, but it didn’t take me long to find someone. I ended up choosing I really liked what I saw immediately and had to see if he was available.

Thank you again for all who had responded.

As I am sure some of you are curious as to what project I needed a letterer for, let me break it down....HAHA. Well, from now on, I am going to be publishing all my creator-owned stuff online first as webcomics at DrunkDuck. The first of these will be Protostar.

Why, some may ask? Well, this way, I can do it exactly how I want to without worrying about changing stuff or losing my original vision of the characters. I came to this decision when I read over Image's submission thread, went to Shadowline's website, went to Ape Entertainment's website, and a few others and I came to the conclusion that they all have picked up webcomics and published them. It's a product that is already done so there is no deadline pressure on the creators. Plus, when they decide to pick up a comic that is already done, it's because they like what is already there. The book may already have a following, and there is little to no room for change. Let me tell you, guys….That sounds just great to me! Also, it doesn't hinder me from taking paying gigs nor does it cost me anything to publish.

Honestly, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of webcomics, but now I get it. They may not be as popular as the printed media, but they do get exposure. Look at PVP. Also, it’s a control issue. I can't control Spider-Man, Batman, or the X-Men when I draw their books, but I sure as hell can control mine.

I've already started with the Protostar cover posted there now sporting the new title: [link] Page one will be posted tomorrow and I'll be posting a page or 2 a week, possible every Wednesday, until the mini-series/OGN is done. Oh yeah! After the entire book is done online I WILL be getting it published in print as a graphic novel.

Talk to you soon and hope you come check it out!
-Ray

Hey Guys and Gals-

I just wanted to let you all know that I just got comfirmation that I will be one of the guests creators signing at The Comic Bug for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday.

I'll be doing free sketches and have these items available to purchase:

IKARIS Print for $5.00


Sucka Free 2007 Sketchbook for $5.00


All Original Art for $20



Location, Directions and Time can be found here:

[link]

Come down and say hello! Hope to see some of you guys there!!

-Ray

Hey Folks!

Just wanted to let you guys know that I put up a few of the Spider-Man Family pages on Ebay for $25 a piece and the Dynamo 5 Pinup instead of selling them at the flat rate : [link]

Come by and check it out!!

-Ray

Hey folks!

Have you ever just woken up one day and looked at your work and thought, “Man! I suck!”? I just did that right now. Except, I didn’t just wake up. I was trolling through galleries here on DeviantArt and other artists’ websites of working and admired professionals and I was just in awe. My focus was on their sequentials mostly. What I found were amazing backgrounds, exciting camera angles, fluid and dynamic figures, and exciting compositions. Then, I did what any concerned and eager artist would do……I compared theirs to mine. That is when I had that unpleasant realization that I was WAY behind some of my peers.

You see, whether we care to admit it or not, we are all in a secret competition with each other (not to mention ourselves). We have to do this in order to keep our skills sharp and to maintain our place in the pecking order. If we cease to compete, then we will quickly get stepped over and forgotten. Treated like the proverbial red-headed step-child and scrounging around for the scraps that are better known as B-list artists’ cast-offs. Trust me…..Nobody wants to be the artist who is treated like the kid who always gets picked last for sports. NOBODY!

Now, don’t get me wrong, folks. I am definitely not beating myself up or anything. I know that I am a pretty COMPETENT artist. No doubt. It’s that I can’t settle for being JUST a competent artist. I am looking for the GREATNESS within and I am not even close. Besides, fans don’t usually flock to buy comics competently drawn or get the autograph of a competent artist. They want greatness, too. I just want to be one of those great artists they want to flock to. That is the main reason I even wanted to draw comics. Blame Art Adams for my sickness….LOL.

I have a confession to make, though. With the great respect I have for all my peers for their great achievements in comics, a few of them (in a way) have made me feel like the last kid picked for sports. I don’t want to get too into it, but let’s just say I definitely have something to prove to them. I am determined to show that I deserve to play in the “big boy’s” sandbox, too. So, I gotta earn my membership into that elite club. Believe me...That 'club' does exist!!

To wrap this journal up, I will just say that in the coming months I will be pushing my skills as hard as humanly possibly in order to break through to the next level. My goal is to be contacted by Marvel and DC about gigs more often and not having to “ush” my way into a gig. To have them ask about me based on my ability. So, the ONLY way to do that is to WOW them with what I can do.

That’s greatness.

-Ray