Hello, everyone!
A lot of things had happened since the start of 2017 and my last journal in july, so I think I might tell you a bit what's been going on these past months. I'm sorry for my lack of activity and thank you so much for your continuous support (especially for the kind notes during my hiatus and birthday wishes back in september!)
This year has been a series of extreme ups and downs, but because of those extremes it also became one of the most important ones. I feel that I have learned a lot in 2017 and I'm all set and very excited to make new content for everyone who's been following my art.
The year started with a loss of my beloved cat in january, which has been a crushing experience for me, but then few months later I managed to finish the project
I've been dreaming of to make - the "Symbiosis" artbook with Ulvar, which pulled me up again. We're very proud of this baby.
Then another step back occured - I moved back to my homecity again, and during the necessary packing... I harshly damaged my lower back, which caused me to withdraw from drawing for some time. (I am going through rehabilitation right now and since I have an excellent instructor I feel very positive about full recovery and drawing for longer periods of time
).
Then summer came, when I got a full-time job in CDProjektRed (where we both work now with
littleulvar in Gwent team!) and ever since it's been hell of a joyful ride. I am enjoying my work immensely and I am super proud of the team. Please do follow our work!
Fall has been a season of taking better medical care of myself and my family. Right now I am trying my best to continue work on projects while not overexhausting. That being said:
Plans and hopes for 2018
In 2018 I'd love to make more quality content for you to enjoy. We've been very satisfied with how Symbiosis came out and I hope to on more artbooks but also projects containing stories.
Until mid 2017 I could say I pretty much underestimated the work of a writer. I wasn't truly aware how much work it takes to write for comics and when I went deeply into understanding it, I realized that the project I already had (FBTW) was so vast I wasn't ready for it. (For those of you who might've been curious about the trailer project I've been making back in uni and weren't aware of its finishing, it was posted 4 years ago on vimeo:
[link] "Cartographers" project was better thought out, I think, but since the story is a part of the Legend of the Five Rings franchise, I couldn't go for a comic book of it as well. At least, not that easily.
For a long time I couldn't decide what to do with the projects, if I should continue or not, and I was worried of letting my watchers down. It took me a few months to decide where do I want to go with my art and those were some of the hardest decisions for me to make. Which takes me the last part of this journal:
What you can expect from me in 2018
- Far Beyond the World and Cartographers art might always come up - those are my beloved projects and characters. However, this year I won't be developing these stories much and I'm going to concentrate on a few other projects that feel more realistic, organized and easier for me to handle (especially with the rehab thing going on).
- Me and littleulvar will surely visit at least one european con this year with our books and prints and prepare some new content!
- Because of my full-time work and rehabilitation, this year I won't be taking any commissions as well! I have one more that needs to be done and that will be it.
- I will be posting on DA and instagram mostly.
- Remember to check up on Gwent!
- I will take part in Samurai 3 artbook, which I'm extremely excited for!
I can never be sure what surprises 2018 brings, but I can promise you that I will try my absolute best to create quality content and to maximize the joy I could bring you with it.
If you have some more questions regarding my art, send me a note!
Lastly, questions for you:
What you would like to see more from me in 2018?
What are you excited for in 2018 in your own art and life?
Happy New Year and see you soon!
p.s. I'm still salty that I can't change my username to just "razuri" xp