Open Challenge to Graphic Artists or...

In the past week, I've been hit with enough unhelpful negativity to dig ten graves. Allow me to explain while simultaneously issuing a serious challenge.

I've been trying to follow the advice of the gurus and blogs by going to certain web pages (Facebook and elsewhere) to get feedback and more advice on moving forward with making Galaxy Zento the Boardgame. What I got, I was in no way prepared for. On two pages that I will not name, I was immediately told that my work:

"will fail"
"looks like a child did it"
"is awful"
"sucks"

And several more fine gems of pure "your work is so bad you should get someone else do it".  Should I? Well, here's a little clue for you. If you are going to talk to me like that, it won't be you.

Yes, I've admitted I can't pay anyone, but you didn't know that before my explanation. For all you know, I could be up for a small business loan tomorrow. I'm looking for people who can uplift, not put down.

I was told to go to these pages for advice. I didn't get that. No one tried to suggest formats I could learn. No one tried to explain WHY a layout didn't work. Only that it's awful. Sorry, that's not helpful by any means. It also does not fit my situation. I was talked to like I should already know all about graphic art. But if that were true, why would I be there asking advice in the first place? Try to figure that one out.

NOW> If you can read through all that, check your ego at the door and still give me two cents of your time, this is what I actually need and what my actual situation is.

Important note: I do not expect to be the sole artist of  my project. I'm losing my abilities to Multiple Sclerosis. As painful as that is, I know I can't be the one and only and I know it hurts my artwork. I don't need reminders of it.

But I have a universe of serious opportunity for the right person or team. I have a cast of amazing characters and I'm about to release my second novel (third book total). I have plans for a series of customizable and interlinked board games. Play testing has been overwhelmingly successful at three venues. There are plans here for more than even just that.

I need someone or a team to take up the job with me, hand in hand to take GZ to the next level. If you think you can do that, then we need to talk. But first, go to my page and get to know my universe. I'll send you my books OR you can get them for kindle for just 99 cents. We can skype or talk on the phone and get to know each other.

Now there's one more thing. I want GZ to help kids. I want to inspire kids with disabilities like autism to never give up. Think you can get on board with that?

By the way, my awesome wife is my business manager and we are a geek gamer family. I'm actually easy to work with and willing to take all your design ideas into consideration. I'm not a tyrant. I want your talent to shine with GZ. You lift me and I'll lift you.

You need to be serious and ready to roll up your sleeves. You need to be ready to be a part of the grand design. Think  you can handle it?

Other places to go with GZ: Card games, graphic novels, and apps. I have the idea building blocks for them all.

If I can't find anyone I have no choice but to go forward myself, win, lose, or fall. I'm not getting any younger. So if you don't want to be on board, but still want to lend your advice, fine, but I don't need to hear how I'm going to fail. So save the negativity if you please.

Meet graphic artist, Robert Beltran!

This really is a special edition of my guest artists. All it takes to be a guest artist is to draw any one of my characters from GZ, but this was different. I commissioned Rob to do a very special piece of work for me and boy did he.

This summer, we are using some vacation fun time to go to a comicon on June 22, in San Antonio. Naturally, I intend to network for my project and writing while I'm there. I'll be handing out business cards but I thought I needed just a little something more. Enter, Rob Beltran.

Big Rob, as they call him, does a lot of graphic work and you can check out his page of hats and shirts HERE. After seeing what he does to ballcaps I had an idea. I realized a King Falcon hat would be perfect to go with networking and this was just the way to do it. So I contacted Rob and tossed him some details. You can see the results!
Click on image for closer look.

Rob won't just paint hats, oh  no, he'll paint just about anything! You'll find shirts, shoes, and even a bicycle! He's done Marvel characters, Transformers, and Disney too! My hat ran me 30 bucks plus shipping (but keep in mind that prices may vary for shipping or demand). Payment is before work begins and it's WORTH IT. Paint for the hats is rubber based (I think for shirts and shoes too) so NO running colors if you're caught in the rain.

So, you can't do work like this and not be a guest artist for GZ! It's only deserving after all.  I'm telling you, if you wear ballcaps or want some really cool work on your favorite character, this is the guy to go to. Big Rob has been on DeviantArt.com for 10 years and has done hundreds of works. You can reach him at his page or on facebook.