DarkArtist's End of the Line Thread

[eighthsamurai]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

wow, quite a shock. i'd been seeing your work for a while but it never clicked that it was all darkartist stuff. when i realised, i was pretty taken aback that another great figure artist was out there. i absolutely love your work. i'm disappointed that you're quitting, but at the same time feel your relief and know it's a necessary thing. i hope at some point in the future, whether it be a year or 10 years down the line you have the time to resume commissions and it be on your terms, i.e. there isn't a feeling of pressure with each repaint.

in the mean time, i am uber excited about the upcoming customs after seeing your joker, moreso than any impending releases by any 1/6 company.

one last thing, the 3 custom artists i've had the pleasure to deal with have been 3 of the most amazing people i've met on these forums - talented, friendly, humble and so down-to-earth despite being godly in the art of figure painting. that is the most awesome quality to have so thanks for that josh (and les and darren)! your time is precious and you still gave it to deal with people patiently and with enthusiasm.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

"He's losing his mind......and I'm reaping the benefits...."



Love you, Josh. Cheers.

That is freakin hilarious Mike... Love it.

Thanks a million to everyone who has commented. It's really a hard decision to make, took me a few months to really decide what to do. I DO love the hobby and I doubt it will be the end for me, but it's just getting to be really hard to keep track of not only the stuff I already have, but what's what, where it needs to go, updating everyone and not screwing up the paint in the process... It's mind numbing.

I think that once my plate is clear and I'm able to have a job again... I can decide on how I want to move forward. Maybe eventually I can squeeze in 2 or 3 repaint commissions every two months, to still help everyone out and still be able to do repaints.

The biggest factor is simply the desire to make full customs of my own, to just let my mind go crazy and make some truly strange custom figures. And not be weighed down by the huge workload that I will never be fully done with. I have a million "in work" projects of my own that are just waiting for me to get to. Hell, I still haven't painted figures that have been on my shelf waiting for it for months. So I want more time to devote to that.

Creativity, as I once explained it to Les, is like a plastic cup of water... Every time you spend some of it on a head or whatever, a hole is punched into that cup. And once you have 60 holes punched, no matter how much creativity you have flowing, you can't keep that cup full enough to really have fun with your skills. You're always rushing against the clock to keep it full. And as you finish a head and patch up a hole in your figurative cup, another commission is made and another hole takes it's place.

I'm just looking to get a new cup..

You guys rule, thank you all for being so supportive and understanding during this rough time. No internet, being behind and now this.. I'm really honored to know you all.

 

[MaulFan]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Creativity, as I once explained it to Les, is like a plastic cup of water... Every time you spend some of it on a head or whatever, a hole is punched into that cup. And once you have 60 holes punched, no matter how much creativity you have flowing, you can't keep that cup full enough to really have fun with your skills. You're always rushing against the clock to keep it full. And as you finish a head and patch up a hole in your figurative cup, another commission is made and another hole takes it's place.

Great way to describe things Josh. It is tough when you're a creative person who gains so much by personally using your creativity as well as professionally. Sometimes, the very thing that is your outlet becomes a demon in your life, it no longer brings joy and freed but rather feels like a weight you can't get rid of. Like Michael Jordan said when he retired, the first time, when you don't have that drive anymore because of a situation, it's time to walk away. You have a great gift, but it's like a child and you're time doing business is like being a parent out on the road all the time. You need to spend time with your child now and nurture it. I for one look forward to watching your child grow up. Keep on rocking dude

 

[The Josh]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Well, I hope when you find that new cup you can come back like MJ and help dominate again.

 

[Brent72]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Wow, I hadn't checked this thread in a couple days and then I come back to find out Josh is "retiring" from his craft. All I can say is that I hope you do what's best for you and what makes you happy, man, because you're truly a great guy. I also hope that eventually you come back with renewed energy for your craft because this board wouldn't be the same without the talents displayed by people like you, Mikey, Les, Hurricane, Darren, etc.

p.s. If you do pull a Jordan, just make sure it's a Bulls comeback and not a Wizards comeback.

 

[The Mike]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Creativity, as I once explained it to Les, is like a plastic cup of water... Every time you spend some of it on a head or whatever, a hole is punched into that cup. And once you have 60 holes punched, no matter how much creativity you have flowing, you can't keep that cup full enough to really have fun with your skills. You're always rushing against the clock to keep it full. And as you finish a head and patch up a hole in your figurative cup, another commission is made and another hole takes it's place.

Funny. I just saw a Two and a Half Men where finances were described in this same kind of analogy. I hope everything works out for all of our fine customizers, the boards wouldn't be the same without you guys... all of you.

 

[The Josh]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

p.s. If you do pull a Jordan, just make sure it's a Bulls comeback and not a Wizards comeback.

I enjoyed that part too. It was getting to watch Jordan in his 40's dominate the young kids. Oldest player to avg 20ppg ever.

 

[Bannister]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I'm just looking to get a new cup..

There are these 2 chicks I know of who will share a cup with you.

 

[Les Walker]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Creativity, as I once explained it to Les, is like a plastic cup of water... Every time you spend some of it on a head or whatever, a hole is punched into that cup. And once you have 60 holes punched, no matter how much creativity you have flowing, you can't keep that cup full enough to really have fun with your skills. You're always rushing against the clock to keep it full. And as you finish a head and patch up a hole in your figurative cup, another commission is made and another hole takes it's place.

I'm just looking to get a new cup..

I do understand that one, Josh. And do remember your analogy well.
And, being tired, and really loaded down with repaints, has indeed slowed my own free time some, but you know what recently happened to me as a result of all this recent workload?

Something wonderful!

Sometime back, maybe only a few weeks ago now, but I can't tell, as I have been in such a deep paint routine for so long it seems...anyway, I learned something for myself that came unexpected.

While feeling overwhelmed with all I had yet to do, I sat here one day, down, tired, frustrated, and realized in the middle of one headpaint, that after all this "practice", just like you would at any sport or task or whatever, that I was improving. And it excited and stimulated my need to do even better.

But it does get tiring when one is down or needs rest from it. I would know also.

So I say, take time off. Focus on your wants, needs, thoughts, creative juices, let them flow. Do your own thing for a while. Because, I think, rather than a cup, which is a limited vessel with finite walls and a bottom, and can be filled, that we as creative people, are more like a faucet, or the water valve, over the cup, we control the flow. What keeps us down sometimes, is the knowledge that we are not the water. We are never the water. Our talent or skills or whatever is not the water, or creative source, that is the realm of someone, something else, God, to which we are not privy, but which we can only tap every now and then, and sometimes at a cost to us, especially if tapped daily for long periods of time.

But, we have the choice, be the valve that decides how much we can experience, or be the cup that simply holds the water.

Just slow the flow for a while, and let your cup, with it's holes, drain, and get your new cup.
My advice for the next phase, moderate your creative outflow, and simply, get a bigger cup!


You'll be back, swinging, and kicking some! In all new ways!

And we will be all the prouder of you.

 

[Les Walker]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

There are these 2 chicks I know of who will share a cup with you.

NO! NOT THAT CUP!

 

[drjedisith]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

ergo. you are now les walker " the architect " love it les. and josh good luck on whatever you decide to do man!

 

[Blake]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

So sorry to see you leave the repaint business, but as it has been said, you gotta look out for yourself. Only so much wax in the candle when you burn it on both ends! I still can't wait to see Myers and the Joker!!

 

[Brent72]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

I enjoyed that part too. It was getting to watch Jordan in his 40's dominate the young kids. Oldest player to avg 20ppg ever.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed those games as well. But it was nothing like the Bulls era because you knew going in that the Wizards had no chance to win a championship. That was something you could never say about the Bulls after 1990-91.

 

[MaulFan]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed those games as well. But it was nothing like the Bulls era because you knew going in that the Wizards had no chance to win a championship. That was something you could never say about the Bulls after 1990-91.

Absolutely. His Wizards return was about continuing to play the game he loved and to help boost a franchise he was investing time and money in. They were a young team and needed a veteran to bring some guidance and it can make a big difference. They're not the Bulls, but they're doing better today than they were pre-Mike.

 

[The Josh]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed those games as well. But it was nothing like the Bulls era because you knew going in that the Wizards had no chance to win a championship. That was something you could never say about the Bulls after 1990-91.

I agree. Still it was fun to just watch him play. Because you knew no ring was coming.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

GREAT NEWS guys! I now have internet! Woo-Hoo! :chew

So at last I will be able to share pics and empty out my PM box, as well as respond to some folks who have been waiting weeks for an answer from me. That's a good pick me up, makes me feel a good bit better. I miss the internet.

Thank you all for the continuing support guys, and thank you for the great artistic explanation, Les. You hit it right on the money. I'm really just looking for another outlet.

And think of it this way guys, I will not be less of a force here or show less work. It will actually be a more active time for me, a brand new age of DA customs that will raise the bar of my craft and still be offered to you all for purchase. This is just the beginning of a new chapter.

But repaints will always be in my blood. So I expect that it won't end completely.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

Hey guys! Pics at last!

 

[DarkArtist81]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

More pics!

 

[Reinhardt]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

outstanding work Josh!!! I especially love the hands on Palpatine, and the WHOLE THING on two-face! What was the inspiration on two-face? Comic? movie? love the outfit too.

 

[King Darkness]

Re: DarkArtist's Creations of DOOM!

2 Face looks awesome!!!!!!