ERS Member (blogging) Updates!

We like to have Empty Room Studios blog whenever they can here on the official ERS Blog, but sometimes they're just too busy with studio work -or just living life- that they neglect to share with us.....so I have decided to compile some of the most recent blog posts that they have posted on their own Blogs!

First up, we have Mr. David Hammond bringing us the "Full Hammond" with a post on his blog about some of his recent works he's done with Wizards of the Coast! Check those fine works out HERE!

Next we have the lovely Christine MacTearnan who has been a busy little bee in sketching life away! First is her recent visit to the Aquarium and the second is just a collection of recent sketches. Check those out HERE and HERE

And Finally, ERS owner, Rick Hershey has been working on the new edition his very popular Steampunk Musha property! For all the latest updates on Steampunk Musha please check them out HERE!



Well, hopefully I will have a new ERS Artist Profile up soon! The next profile will feature the very talented Peter Lazarski!

Thanks!
-Rocky

oh, and have you bought one of THESE yet? They're wicked cool and feature art work from some of Empty Room Studios' top talent! -Including the four above mentioned artists!

ERS Artist Profile: Rick Hershey

Welcome to the on going series of Empty Room Studios’ Artist Profiles. The goal of these profiles is so that fellow ERS artists can get to know their “co-workers” a little better and so the fans can have some insight into the thoughts, process and lives of working freelance artists.


This week is a very special Artist Profile -he made me say that- we are profiling the founder of Empty Room Studios, Rick Hershey.
Rick was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania but spent most of his life in the Carolinas. He and his family lived in the Raleigh area of North Carolina until the age of twelve,when they decided to picked up and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC.
His High School years were spent in the Socastee area of Horry County, while it is true, this is when Rick and I met, his biggest influence over his artistic endeavors wasn’t me, but was our High School art teacher, Richard Roth. “Mr. Roth was my high school teacher and provided me on a lot of insight in traditional art practices and ideally, what “living” as an artist is about.” Rick shares. Other than a few short years in High School Rick has not had any extensive art training, most, of his training has been on-the-job, “My first professional art job was painting beach and golf scenes on popcorn buckets with paint markers. I was about 14 years old. I produced about 200 buckets total,” Rick goes on to say, “Through High School I did small jobs such as portraits, caricatures, and t-shirt designs.” Since then Rick has worked with over 100 clients and publishers, and If you count those jobs, he’s been working professionally for about 15-16 years -that would be half his life.



How did you come to create Empty Room Studios?

RH: I worked freelance for a good many years with the only communication with other artists through various forums. My original intent of ERS was to just create a way for artists to share private and client work with the use of an NDA, share techniques, and generally socialize in a private environment. Working in groups in High School on various projects really appealed to me, so the initial idea grew into incorporating more of that environment. Eventually a working digital art studio began to form, something similar to how in-house art departments work, but entirely online. I started with about 4 other artists I knew and we sort of built everything by trial and error. So, ERS is part private social network and part in-house, full design art studio. . . and we are always learning new ways to improve, streamline, and built a better method.


What is the favorite piece you’ve done so far for the studio?

RH: I do about 100-200 images for the studio a year. So, to pick just one is hard to do. I tend to prefer my B&W work to any color work. I also enjoy doing the design stuff. My favorite projects involve tight (near impossible) deadlines. Does that help narrow it down?


What is your favorite medium to work in?

RH: I work entirely digital these days for my client work. But I like the few pencil sketches I do for my personal stuff. Using the natural medium just for myself makes it all the more special.



Favorite Genre?

RH: I like fantasy. Strange creatures, horrific monsters, swords and armor, arcane magic. . . it’s all fun stuff with a lot of room to design and create. Second place would go to horror.


What is your greatest challenge as an artist? Your greatest achievement?

RH: My greatest challenge is to stay focused on any one project. I worked caricatures for over 9 years and the speed at which you work creates a sort of artists A.D.D. I want to finish an image quickly and move on to other things. You really can’t do that with client work or color work. It’s something you need to think about, plan, and develop. It’s a challenge to take that route.
My greatest achievement would be Empty Room Studios. It’s been a test of my endurance and willpower to get it this far. I know a lot of artists out there would be happy to see us go, or are surprised we lasted this long, but I surround myself with good, hardworking members who show nothing but loyalty and a desire to see us all succeed. That alone makes it worth doing this every day. So, my greatest achievement is being surrounded and working with such great talent that I consider friends.


How has essentially herding cats (dealing with outside art directors and studio artists) affected your own project management? Has it gotten easier, or more difficult as the studio grows?

RH: Playing the middle man to ERS members and AD’s is the hardest part of the job. I also think being a freelancer doesn’t help. Basically, I have to wear two hats and think with two-mindsets. You have to be an advocate for your artists and represent their best interests, but also secure clients and please publishers.
As ERS grows and we bring on more clients and more members, it brings along both more difficulty and ease. Handling clients and managing jobs that come in seems to be about the same amount of work as always, just more time consuming in managing it all. However, the outside details and little things seem to be the worst. Keeping up with market trends, popular art styles, new companies and art directors, answering e-mails, and pursuing new markets and such seem to be the stress that shakes my bones.



What projects are you working on personally that you are excited about?

RH: Steampunk Musha and Tribe 12 are the big projects I’m most excited about. We are currently doing a lot with those and some smaller, very cool, projects on the side.

You can’t just leave us with that, you’ve got to tell us more....


RH: Steampunk Musha is my personal setting that’s been in development for years. There is an rpg out for it, but a lot of new material has been created since then. This past year I decided to re-conceptualize the setting, so we have been working on new looks for the races, creatures, and world. We are developing a new system for the setting to use as an rpg and hope to publish a Pathfinder addition soon also. We also have a collection of short stories that will be published and are completing the graphic novel for the property, which I expect to be done by next summer.

That’s awesome, and what about Tribe 12?

RH: Tribe 12 is a property being developed by all the studio members. It involves an alien planet where different alien races have been stranded and their biggest threat is the inhospitable planet. I don’t want to reveal too much about it, but there are a lot of cool designs being developed and tons of amazing ideas shaping the world. It’s super fun.

It sounds really cool. Just to let the non-ERS readers know, I have seen some of the concept sketches for Tribe 12 and really all I can say is WOW! Anyway, moving on... What are some of your long term plans for your work and for Empty Room Studios?

RH: Well, ERS will always continue to grow and adapt. We are currently working on developing our own Intellectual Properties and will be pushing hard to get those in the market next year. We are actively seeking and securing new clients outside of the typical medias we work in, a lot of cool stuff going on in that front. We also plan to start doing the convention scene and get out there to meet our fans and fellow artists.

And now some of the more fun questions that the ERS studio members obsessively asked about! How much time do you spend trimming your beard?

RH: Not as much as you think. I typically can grow a beard in about a week. When I do break down and shave (usually by threats from my wife) I try and shave as little as possible. Either way, to shave my face, design my sideburns, trim my goatee. . . it takes about 45min. from start to finish.
Does your facial hair require special brushes, and if so are they available for download?

RH: No, I use a Hard round brush, standard in PS. I just increase the manliness flow, and apply it to a new layer. Very standard stuff.

Any parting words of wisdom to ERS member and or to the artists out there who are still trying to break in to the industry?

RH: To ERS members I say, get back to work, why are you reading this when I know there are some illustrations needing done. . . don’t make me get the belt.

To other artists out there, it’s not worth it, listen to your mom and be a doctor or lawyer, mom is always right.

- - - - - - - -

Thanks for you time, Rick, I know you’re a busy guy. We at ERS would like to thank you for all your hard work and wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (10-10)!!!

Thanks for joining us again for a great ERS Artist profile. I believe the next next member to get in the proverbial hit seat will be Peter Lazarski!

Until then, have you bought an ERS Zombies 2010 Calendar yet? You really should! :)

Working Illo's

Geez, I'm really making the rounds today. Here is some work that I can finally share with the world. ;P The Zombie piece was done for good 'ol ERS's calendar, if you haven't got one...GIT one! The rest were done for ShadowRun, Catalyst Games.

Thanks fer lookin'! -C.R.