[Freddio]

I never knew what he looked like until now



keep on updating that colum of yours Craig.

[Chapel]

I knew he was a computer!! Who is that guy on the right?

[immi]

Hey guys, unfortunately Craig will no longer be updating the column.

[el tigre]

Why?

say it ain't so champ! say it ain't so

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Couldnae hit a coo in the arse wi a banjo if uh wis huddin it by the tail. :�

[Bishop_Six]

No more updates?! WHY?!? Now, I'll be lost forever.

I'd have to say Craig is one of the most normal looking artists I've ever seen. Oh boy, there are a lot of freaky lookin' artists(I'm talkin' to you, faust ).

[Chapel]

like this one:

[S4Sb]

arharahaharahrarhaaahaharahrarahaa

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Formerly known as El Caseron.
ICQ:26482363

[spooge demon]

Oh, sweet Jesus...

Thanks God for vision impaired women.

I got this email a while back.

----------------


Oh shit!!!, Don't post photos with that face. You're a shit of a monster. Me caguen tu puta madre hijoputa, but the drawing it's good

-------------------

At least she liked the drawings... Can anyone translate that last sentence?

As far as the column goes, well, I guess I owe an explanation. Immi and I have come to terms with it, and if you notice on my site I have pulled a lot of the information relating specifically to how I work. More general painting stuff is still there.

I think I have been seeing too much work that looks like mine around the net, some of a very high caliber. Artistically, this does not bother me at all, but it is starting to have business implications. I have seen it happen to other illustrators that their market becomes overexposed and diluted. I cannot control this or stop it, but I can refrain from helping it.

I am really sick about this development. I have always enjoyed teaching and sharing my enthusiasm for art. But I have many financial responsibilities that I have to put as my first priority.

If you want to flame me, well, I can't stop that either, but I think my perception here is an accurate one and is something I have been turning over in my brain for a while.

So that's were I'm at. I will still be hanging around here, but my over paints and "do it this way" I am not sure about.

[S4Sb]

Nobody wants to flame you.
And I seriously want to help you. Since you are the greatest artist I ever met. Seriously. No ass-licking (right word) And I (and many more) need your help. And I want your presence here!!! But I can't think of any way to help you. If you at least had a banner on your site. I would click all day Or I would tell my little brother to do.

[This message has been edited by S4Sb (edited January 25, 2001).]

[S4Sb]

@Chapel: Is that important?

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Formerly known as El Caseron.
ICQ:26482363

[Chapel]

I'm just stating the obvious. One of the longest posts I have seen. I usually read them all too, but I only managed to make it halfway through.. right about when I started thinking spooge might take his website down so nobody can see his art.. after reading this post.

[Freddio]

flam flame flame flame... hm have some more flames..


hmm I guess its back to teaching myself. All these people are gonna get good it just a matter of how fast.

I see your point though. But i dont think all those Little Captain Flush gardens and Geckos became as talented as what they are over night and soley with your help.

I say your main audience is more newbies than relativly experienced artists and newbies. ANyway spooge I hope you will still contribute as much as you have to forums.

[This message has been edited by Freddio (edited January 25, 2001).]

[SporQ]

well spooge, i see your point. i know for me that i want to develop my own style, and not copy yours. i dont really see the point in being a clone. but, i still find you paint overs to be one of the best teachers on this forum, as far as learning fundamentals, lighting and shape and such. it's sad that people cant take that and develop thier own style. why must they copy?...

i think it'll hurt the artist who wants his own style just as much as the one who wants to copy, but i can't fault you for wanting to protect your work. i'm just saying i'm sad.

but, whatever you do, dont leave us completely.

SporQ

[MonkeyBoy]

We know, in painfull detail, how manny of the "old masters" worked. Some taught others the way... others guarded their methode/recipes. They had the same considerations that Craig Does. So, why did they come to those conclusions? What have you taken from the past, Craig? What are you adding to the future? What is important to you? Do you like what that says? There is far more work than there is talent...If some strange tangle of events has put you in dire financial straights, I'm sorry. Have confidence in your amazing ability. You will thrive.

Rhysling

[This message has been edited by MonkeyBoy (edited January 25, 2001).]

[quaternius]

Craig -
I was kinda wonderin' when you might do something like this. Having you basically "teach" by example on this Forum has been a great thing, and an unusual thing too. Thanks again for all you've done to help make this such a good forum. Most of my fellow illustrators are pretty tight-lipped, at least the freelance ones I know. Those that work for companies are obviously not as concerned. Like Chapel,I am quite surprised that there are illustrators out there that are able to knock-off your style, or that you're concerned that they're getting close enough for you to be concerned. But then again, I think of someone like Frazetta at his peak and how everyone in the world was knocking off his style and I know what you mean.

But hey, thru your site I found the Forum. Because of what I saw you were able to do on the computer I actually switched over myself last year for my commercial work - but it was also the fact that affordable computers finally got fast enough to be acceptable to me - it's already where I wanted to go. Hmmm... that sort of puts me on the dark side, doesn't it. Kinda one of the things you were concerned with maybe.

Well, don't worry about me being someone that'll imitate your style - I'm workin' on my own. Plus I'm not in the same area of illustration as you. Plus, I've got years ahead of me on the computer before I even try to catch you, if that's even what I wanted to do.

Hopefully people like Ron Lemen, Don Seegmiller and Jason Manley will be able to pick up some of the slack with demos and examples and even a few paintovers. I think your commentary and crits are nearly as helpful as your paintovers... well, actually not even close... but still very very valuable.

I hope you'll still post more quick little things from time to time. I'm sure we'll all still watch for your commentary too.

Q

[synj]

spooge: the translation for what that lady said in the last sentence i think is: "please fart up my eyes".

eheh that poster of the white matte cube makes me giggle.


[This message has been edited by synj (edited January 25, 2001).]

[samdragon]

Wow! I've always been concerned about this issue. I've heard of Illustrators who guard thier talents, techniques and style with thier lives. I certianly don't blame you for your actions spooge.
I do have to say thanks. I have learned more about art from you than I ever have while attending school. I'm not referring to just technique, but to other aspects as well.
I'm sure you'll do fine.

[burn0ut]

Im with samdragon when i say ive learned so much from you, rather than your technique's, but much more, I love reading your theorys on light and shape and Everything.

Anyways, good luck and i hope everything is still going well for yea

[opticillusion]

I could talk a lot on this subject, about art, styles and so forth, but to keep it brief, I have just one sentence for you:

Your work and critique is total and complete inspiration, making me more than anything, want to become a better artist and find my own style.

- - - -
By the way, the "matte" painting I've been working on is all finished. I used the spary which worked very well, and the acrylics ended up working better because of it. I'll try and get a pic up soon. So thanks for the help on that.

[Lukias]

I think alot has to do with the period in which we're in.

Its easy to look at a picture, mainly illustration/comic art and tell what period it came from.

About 8 years ago Jim Lee and others were the origanators of their style, which soon became the style of others and i couldn't tell the difference. Now all colourists for comics are starting to look similar, Liquid i believe is doing what many colourists are trying to acheive.

Your style is liked, therefore other artists see this and will try to replicate your style. I think that its natural, " He's so good, i want to draw/paint like him". If this person has the talent he may take the direction of his favorite. I see Bisley takeoffs, frazetta takeoffs etc...theres nothing wrong with this by any means. Its hard to be different and good these days without someone pointing out your influences.
If you were born on a deserted island with paper and paints and no human interaction, you'd develop *your own* style, though others would still think they could see similarities to others works.
Point is we as humans are trying to acheive the best in anything and everyting....your just one of the first to come up with a brilliant new realistic *90s/2000 style art. people love it and want it and others want to produce it....get on the bandwagon.
Your not the first nor will you be the last. Once someone is labled brilliant and they stand out in the crowd, its from the moment that you lose your individuality....Its hard in any business to stay in the limelight for long....look at music, you get a hundred manufactured copies as soon as they realise that the *first was onto a good thing*.

Personally I think its inevitable, though sure, you can stop the flow of mimics to a certain degree.

Others just wanna be the best too...

[Anthony]

It's a pity artists have financial responsibilities and can't just spread things freely. Your input is still valuable as far as traditional aspects of art though, such as perspective, anatomy, composition, etc. Just don't go into how you would render it technically in PS or Painter. Stuff like reflected light is just normal technique, and was recorded by Leonardo way back when. So don't abandon everyone-just stay away from revealing your techniques and secrets.

------------------
-Anthony
Carpe Carpem

[Freddio]

umm arent you working on something with cares and whores or something

I guess you'll have to work double time to keep that Ferrari of yours.

[dr . bang]

Craig, I showed your pic to some of my ladies friends and they thought you look pretty good and I agreed

Also you, Fred Flint Stone and other guys are some of the nicest artist i've seen so far. You're working your ass off and i can't believe you have the time to visit this board and help other people. I could not ask for more from you since you already contributed alot of stuff......well cya.

And one other things..........I WANT TO SEE MORE PICTURE OF YOU......ERRR I MEAN MY FRIENDS DOES WANT TO SEE IT.....NOT ME....I SWEAR!!!!!

[Icannon]

i always thought spooge looked like kevin spacey but maybe that's just the photo.

anyway, although i mostly understand craig's reasoning here, it's still a huge pitty. i hope, spooge, that you continue to at least give some input on peoples art every now and then. all of your contributions have had a massive effect on my abilities so i'd like to thank you for that. i definitely see myself emulating your style from time to time, but i'm always emulating many styles, and that's to be expected from any young learner. so, in a way, i dont see how your influence through the forum\your site is any different than any art school. and i dont understand how such petty artists like the most of us could ever hurt your business and cause any financial problems. then again, i'm young and what i say is said prematurely, i'm sure. so, i respect your decision as i respect you as an artist. thanks again..

[ShyGuy]

Thank's!!!!
For what you have done.
(And hopefulle continue doing after seing all these sad but true posts)

"Your soul for a white matte cube"
Tihi... ), now that's fun.

[Liquid!]

Craig -

Believe me, when I say I truly understand how you're feeling.

-c

[Chapel]

Makes perfect sense to me Craig. I think you have been more than generous already with your involvement here on the forum and on various websites. It happens alot that people will start emulating a style that sells. Atleast it happens in comics all the time. I'm surprised that people have been able to produce high caliber work simular to yours. There is still a great deal of artistic knowledge needed to pull off such a feat. Maybe you should experiment more with other medias to help seperate you from the rest. Lets see some pencil sketches.

[This message has been edited by Chapel (edited January 25, 2001).]

[Freddio]

" If you good your gonna get a Job"

Spooge is the Best and has an Awesome reputation. I dont see him dying of starvation anytime soon..

but I could be wrong

Thanks for all your effort you've put into your site and the forums. why dont yu write a book on digital aart... Who here would not buy one ? something to think about craig

[S4Sb]

You never thought bout fan articles like synj? Something with that in it maybe? I would buy it. Love the Spooge writing.. maybe you add "the one and only" or "copyright" or something


I would buy one and even pay shipping

------------------
Formerly known as El Caseron.
ICQ:26482363

[This message has been edited by S4Sb (edited January 25, 2001).]

[Digital Genesis]

It's understandable, but also sad..

I think like this :

There is nowhere you could not find work. You're simply too good of an artist with an exceptional degree of mastery.

If you truly believe you will make less, due to sharing your knowledge, then for the sake of feeding your family - by all means stop.

But if you love teaching, then isn't it a shame?

This is not so much to convince you to 'come back' and help out, as it is to maybe make a few things clear to you. The way you've made many things clear to us here at the forums

Summing up :

You have set something off. Not totally by yourself, but your efforts have had a marked impact and this lives on, no matter what.

People here at the forums will all progress and get better, at least those who are serious about their art, and who don't die of hunger first

There will still be sharing of sketches floating around, explanations of how to do this and that, by all manner of artists.

People like to share their knowledge. Well, some do, but everyone likes to learn, so there will always be a call for those willing to teach.

You can be a continued part of this or not.
Regardless of what you do, people will keep getting better.

Rest assured, you have a place in history amongst the people who have visited this forum.

We all appreciate what you've done here.. so much more the sad feeling that something is missing.

What is it that you fear people will do that resembles what you do, that will make your business diluted?

Is it the way you paint in photoshop?
The brushes you use?
The way you handle your keyboard?
Zooming in to do details?

In my opinion, those are all rather easily learnt. Anyone with real training in painting can learn to paint in photoshop with a bit of practice..

So that clearly can't be it.

So it must be the actual painting style..

Teaching or not, people can still look at your paintings and emulate what they see.. lighting, colors, etc...

So the only thing left then is training itself..

You may not have realised this yet, but look around you. Think twice here...

A few years ago, computers were too slow to paint with. At least for most people. Almost all 'real' painters stayed with acrylics and oils, because they didn't even know you could paint with computers.

In fact, it isn't up until very recently that the 'word has gotten out' so to speak.
People have suddenly seen what can be done.

This has lured many an oil and acrylic painter on to the computer. People with REAL training.. not the fuzzy geeks like us, who hung out here when the forums started and were greatly impressed with the picture you posted of a woman standing holding a basket.

Most of us had no training. We just went along by trial and error. Sorta like learning anatomy without having any charts to follow.

What you've given us here is training. Not formal school training, but 'Here ya go friends, this is how to do it' training.

Training we've loved you for, and still do btw.

But you know what? The painters with real training won't stop their migration on to the digital media. Whether you remove your training info or not.

All that will accomplish is stunting -our- growth somewhat.
Sure, we'll live and progress, but not as gracefully as we could with you to teach.

Ah heck, I'm babbling here :P

Sorry if I sounded bitchy at any point and Good Luck with whatever you do!