I have been struggling with sleeping issues for close to two years now.  I probably average around 5 hours of sleep a night.  I feel very blessed if I can get 6 hours...let alone the recommended 8 hours!  Last night was a meager 3 hours.  I hate nights like that..laying in bed..tired like crazy...knowing that I'm going to be struggling all the next day to get work done...the having to use self loathing talk of being lazy to whip my tired brain in to producing work...

Anyway I'm not going to dwell too much on my sleep issues.  It's something I've lived with long enough now, that it's not really even worth complaining about.  I'm depressed today because I didn't end up getting a continued contract on the commission I was working on, even though they were happy with it.  Management picked a different style artist in the end.  I've been waiting for the results for an extended week.  It makes the rejection tougher to handle.

On the semi-bright side...this opens me up for commissions and concentrating more on my Renascence project. (which unfortunately doesn't contribute as nicely my bill related stresses >___<;;; ) BUT it does make me feel warm and fuzzy about life and art.

So here comes the shameless self promotion!!!

just a few notes about it though, because I insist on being painstakingly honest and upfront!  I am very specific about how I will take commissions because I want both parties to be happy and know full well what to expect!

1. Yes, I charge almost as much for additional characters as I do for a whole single character.  why?  because it takes just as long to draw and paint two characters on one piece as it does two characters on two separate pieces.  nothing more nightmarish than doing 5+ figures in one illustration and spending 5x more time on it because someone wanted to see all their characters but be cheap about it >_<;
2. I charge a little more than minimum wage.  If these prices are too high for you, I'm truly sorry.  I wish the government would pay me so I could just give everyone free art all the time.  But since that's not the case, I'm delusional enough to think I am worth getting paid as much as someone who is providing any other service/trade.  Please do not ask me to lower my prices for you.  It makes sad puppies and kitties cry everywhere.
3. I am not taking commissions to do comic pages at the moment.  I am working like a dog on the pages I'm doing now that I really don't think I can any more comics.
4. Time management is so important to me right now, that I am including a whole section about it on my commission information!  Do not engage me in a commission if you are going to be out of town, waiting for a paycheck to clear or otherwise have some reason why you can't keep the progress nice, smooth and efficient.  During the commission process, all steps should be resolved within 1-2 days unless otherwise circumstances are discussed.  I will start updating my journal as to what dates I will be out of town or unable to check/respond to deviantart daily.
5. I don't have pencil sketches listed.  You get a pencil version of the image before the final image.  Otherwise just a pencil is more trouble than it's really worth.  If you catch me at a convention, I’ll be happy to doodle for you for free.  DO NOT take advantage of my good nature and commission me halfway to get a free pencil sketch.   
6. To avoid extra revisions and maintain satisfaction, I suggest taking the time to be as thorough as possible with your descriptions.  Send plenty of links/references if there is something specific you have in mind.
7.Prices and process will be reminded and discussed again in emails, but are the standard to expect.

**COMMISSION INFORMATION**
**Prices**
Black+White Inked- 20.00
Digital Color- 30.00
Rendered Background (B+W)- 15.00
Additional Characters (B+W)- 15.00
Rendered Background (color)- 25.00
Additional Characters (color)- 25.00
Additional Revisions- 10.00
8.5”x11” Printed Version- 10.00 shipping+handling

Prices are for 1 character with simple or no background design. All commissions include 1 revision from pencil to final image. Large complex props and monsters/animals are considered a major focal point and are treated with same time/attention as a character, thus are priced as such. Prices listed are for a 300 dpi Images for Personal Use ONLY. Other formats/use of artwork is negotiable. I prefer Pay pal ( wulfmune@juno.com ), but also accept checks, money orders and well concealed cash.

**COMMISSION PROCESS**
1. send me a note and email with a very brief description of what you want commissioned based on my fees listed. (ex. 1 standard color image+1 additional character= $55) or if you have a request that is unique, add a longer description for what you want negotiated.
2. within 1 day i will send you a note back giving a price and the date of when I can start your project.
3. within 1 day, you send me a detailed description of what you want your image to be.
4. within 1-2 days, I will send you a pencil draft.
5. within 1 day, you will give me either approval for the final image or a detailed list of revisions. You can choose whether or not you want to see the second version for approval or not. This will add 1-2 days to the process.
6. (optional) within 1-2 days I will give you a second draft. within 1 day you will give me a second approval or agree to an additional revision fee.
8. when draft is approved, you will send a full payment within 1-2 days for the final image and notify me as to what form you are sending it. Also include what format you will to be sent the image. If requested a printed version, send a mailing address. Payment provided by snail mail and checks will have to be received and cleared before the final image is sent and will be allowed an extra week. I realize that this process requires a bit of trust from both sides. I will trust that you will not screw me over by dropping the contact after receiving the pencils. You will trust me that I will deliver the final ink/color after you pay me. I try to avoid the wait and hassle for both parties of multiple payments this way.
9. within 1-2 days of receiving payment you will receive both a high and low resolution image, either attached to your email, or provided with a link. I reserve the right to use the low resolution file in my portfolio. If you wanted a printed image, I will be sending it priority mail. Allow 3-5 days for delivery in the U.S.A.
10.within 1 day notify me that you have received your image or else I will make the assumption that you have received it. If provided a link, the link will be taken down after 1 week from when it was posted unless otherwise discussed.

**related Off*beat links**
Tokyopop: [link]
Wikipedia: [link]
Fanlisting: [link]
LJ Community: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]

i got a little too excited because i have been absolutely cranking non-stop on this comic.  samples are up for october's "soul union" remake.  i have about two to three days left of finishing grey tones, lettering and editing.

celebrating early though because i've been obsessed with this for weeks!

edit- i should add a bit more information about these series of short stories i'm working on.  firstly i'm naming the series "Renascence".  they all share the common theme of rebirth or re-invention of self.  they also all happen to be redrawn/retold story concepts from my past comic brainstorms. as far as genre, i would not call them "shonen ai" persay...since there is no kissing/snuggling ect...  i would rather call them "highly slashable".  what does that mean? err...
all male main protagonists in stories with supporting male characters that find themselves in some situation that is vaguely un-heterosexual?  i didn't do that intentionally...i guess it's just a common theme in my work.

so i ask myself...why do i write/draw this type of stuff?  

1. i like writing male characters
2. i like drawing male characters
3. i like ambiguity, angst, tension
4. i dislike most cliche romance stories

it takes me an incredible amount of time to build enough character interaction that i feel "right" drawing lovey dovey scenes.  these stories are more introduction stories.  first meetings.  so..no straight up romantic love of any kind, hetero/homo ect...love is never the full purpose or entire focus of any of my stories.  even off*beat i would consider more about growing up than about falling in love.

some of the stories *are* intended to set up a shonen ai story should they be extended.  such is the case of september's comic, as the original comic was a short BL.  october's comic on the otherhand, is based on Soul Union which was never a BL comic, but did have a side/unfulfilled element of BL.

even though i took a poll earlier, i am drawing and writing stories i feel i want to tell in a way that i hope is quality and enjoyable regardless.  i hope this doesn't disappoint anyone.

i will try to be as honest and upfront about what to expect without spoiling the actual stories themselves.

**related Off*beat links**

Tokyopop: [link]
Wikipedia: [link]
Fanlisting: [link]
LJ Community: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]

in trying to keep myself more accountable and in touch i'll be updating my progress more frequently.  

i'm finished with september's comic and sent it out.

i put some sample pages up, including text.
i tried not to put up pages that included spoiler material so...it's a very limited number of pages.

it's a re-write of a comic i did back in 2000-2001
the beginning starts off similar, but it's pretty much completely reworked in to a new comic entirely, imo.

hopefully will be able to give an exact release date soon when i hear back.

i'm going to keep riding with this momentum!
feed back is greatly appreciated!

thanks again to all the great comments, support and advice.
i consider all of it greatly.

**related Off*beat links**

Tokyopop: [link]
Wikipedia: [link]
Fanlisting: [link]
LJ Community: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]

i hate talking about myself. that's why i draw instead of keeping live journals!

okay i have a lot of news and general stuff to blabber about so i decided it would be a lot less intimidating broken down in parts.  

so...here's the first part to get off my chest.

PART 1
the awful news first.

as some of you probably heard Tokyopop is doing a lot of restructuring in the company.  many of the OEL projects got affected.  Off*beat got put on "hiatus".  what does that mean exactly?  i'm not entirely certain myself.  i apologize for not sharing the news earlier but i was hoping to learn more information about the future of the project.  all i can say still at this moment is that i have expressed deep concern to my former editor that i wanted a means to finish the story and give my readers closure.  i'm trying not to say too much because i want to keep my options and relations as good as possible.  i was given a kind of vague response quite some time ago that things were still being re-organized on their end and they were looking in to options for allowing their creators to finish their stories.

**in short, tokyopop put the freeze on off*beat and there's nothing i can do about it until i hear otherwise...which maybe never.

i'm disheartened and embarrassed that i have to be the one to share this news so please don't shoot the messenger.

PART 2
the (hopefully) good news

my poll earlier this month reflected my plans for the future which i have already set into full motion.  i figured the best way for me to pick myself up from this disappointing circumstance and regain some control over my work, was to look into self publishing and on demand printing.  for the rest of 2008 i will be releasing 28 page monthly comics.  each comic will be a self contained story based on a previous story idea/comic i have written or planned on writing.  i will decide on which story, if any of them, i feel i want to pursue in to a full graphic novel form, based on the outcome and hopefully reader feedback.

at the end of this year, i will have a better idea if comics will be something i can afford to do full time or part time (or worst scenario no time) and that will affect if my next project will be novels published quarterly, yearly, or sporadic self contained single issues.  i will also be giving this time to tokyopop, should off*beat have any chance of revival, i will not be caught in another long story arc.  i will post more detail about this soon.  issue one is mostly complete and should be available in mid/early september.

i had hoped to have out in august, but it will take a month or so for printing and i've run into layout/formating problems.

**in short- i'm going to put a rather big risk, give this whole comics thing one last big effort before i throw in the towel, and resign myself to a future of retail.  

my current life goal is that i'd like to have health insurance by my 30th birthday.  thank you again, words cannot express my gratitude for your interest and support in my artwork.

**related Off*beat links**

Tokyopop: [link]
Wikipedia: [link]
Fanlisting: [link]
LJ Community: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]

i hate talking about myself. that's why i draw instead of keeping live journals!

okay so i've been away and hiding in a corner for a long time.

i promise a big update in august that i will also try and answer any questions the best of my ability.

some really awful news and some really good news. (hopefully the good news will balance some of the awful news.  i'm done crying and
ready to step it up.)

again, thanks sooo freaking much for your support.
i love you guys.
i don't deserve it, but i totally need it.

**related Off*beat links**

Tokyopop: [link]
Wikipedia: [link]
Fanlisting: [link]
LJ Community: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]

i hate talking about myself. that's why i draw instead of keeping live journals!

i must always start by thanking and apologizing profusely to those who have continued to support my art and my writing all this time.  especially of my comic, off*beat.  i cannot ever, ever express enough gratitude. now to address some FAQ because i have a habit of periodically dropping off the face of the internet world and am horribly sporadic with responding to emails and notes.

Q. When is Off*Beat 3 scheduled for book stores?
A. to my knowledge it is LOCKED in to an August 2008 release date.

Q. Why is Off*Beat 3 delayed?
A. this requires delving very deep in to my personal life which i do not really feel comfortable disclosing.  i have always felt very convicted about writing and drawing with meaning and observation from one's own life and personal philosophies.  my perspective of things have changed quite a bit in the last year, for bad and good.  this has effected the outcome Off*Beat 3 and what i hoped to accomplish by the end of the story.  for what it's worth, i feel will be an improvement to the original plan.

Q. Is Off*Beat 3 the end of the Off*Beat?
A. yes, the comic's story will be officially concluded.
although i have some of other stories and inner thoughts on the characters that i'd love to play with someday.  

Q. How did you get Off*Beat published?  How can I get published?
A. i went to college for animation and while i was there my focus changed to comics.  i eventually drew enough comics and put my work online that i managed to grab some commission work. while i was working on Once in a Bluemoon for Onipress, Tokyopop was reviewing portfolios.  they asked me to pitch a few ideas and Off*Beat was the one they were most interested in.  There is no real mystery or set formula for getting published.  draw, write, and show your work to publishers.

Q. Do you take commissions/requests?  
A. i would love to, but honestly i have learned i always overestimate my ability to manage my time properly and organize myself.  i do commissions on the spot at any conventions i might be attending (rather cheaply i might add!), but aside from that i do not attempt to commit to it until further notice.

some other thoughts i'd like to share

i am very flattered and bewildered by some of the HUGE compliments people have given me. also,  it confuses me when people are surprised to find me on deviantart.  i just want to remind everyone that just i'm an average person.  like most of people, it would be really easy for me to be hard on myself and hold other people i admire in high regard.  i must confess i'm not too busy to be replying to anyone's email.  i'm usually too disorganized, too tired, too shy, too late, too lazy, or too speechless!  i am at heart an escapist, and communication is always daunting to me.  i always struggle with staying in touch with people and go long periods of time avoiding email and deviantart because at times i feel so easily overwhelmed.  i just want to let everyone know that i do read my mail and appreciate the time, thought and effort in to their words.  it honestly brings tears to my eyes at times. (okay, so i'm a crybaby!)

to sum it up

i believe i draw and write because as much as i want to close off the world around me, i also feel the need connect with others..."to not feel alone".  i hope that i am average enough that these stories and characters i use for escape will relate to someone else who also needs "to not feel alone".

again thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart.

**related Off*beat links**

Tokyopop: [link]
Wikipedia: [link]
Fanlisting: [link]
LJ Community: [link]
Fanfiction: [link]