Welcome all. My name is Z-control and I came to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And i just ran out of gum. What follows is a list of available services and commission prices along with contact info and a short "about me". As commissions come to me, I will list them at the bottom of this entry. Onward!

• COMMISSION PRICING •

• All commissions must be paid through money order. I do not trust the bank. •

*Commissions starting at $25*


- $10 downpayment and $15 upon completion.

- Black and white ink.

- Single character w/ or w/o "simple" background.

- $5 for aditional characters.

[turn-around time: approx. 3 days]


*Commissions starting at $50*


- $15 down, $35 upon completion.

- Black & white w/ or w/o color (depending on complexity).

- Single or dual characters w/ or w/o simple background.

[turn-around time: approx. 4 days]


*Commissions starting at $75*


- $20 down, $55 upon completion.

- Black & white, w/ or w/o color.

- Single or multiple characters in full detail w/ extensive background detail.

[turn-around time: approx. 5 days or less.]


*Commissions starting at $100*


- $20 down, $80 upon completion.

- Large scale black & white or color image.

- Multiple characters in full detail w/ extensive background detail.

- Complexed lighting

- Original .PSD and other media files.

- Original inks or pencils, sent via snail mail!

- Character development.

[turn-around time: approx. 1 week or less.]


*Commissions starting $120 + *


- $35 down, $85 on completion.

- Single or dual characters in full color acrylic paint or guache w/ or w/o background.

- price variation reliant on complexity of image!

[turn-around time: between 3 days to 1 week depending on image complexity.]

Copyrights and other legalities will be charged to both the commissioner and myself. I do not charge for distribution rights so long as both the client and myself have rights to reproduce and sell the image commercially. If you DO NOT wish to share copyirghts and wish to be the sole distributor of the image created, the price of the commission will be double. If the latter is the case, I will send you a DVD containing all original files created during the commission along with documents stating the commissioners sole ownership.


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• SERVICES •

- COMICS
Comics are my specialty. I will gladly review stories and initial character designs. I do pencils, ink, color or background assistance or all! I work in multiple genres and am most certain that I could fulfill any and all stylistic needs. Prices and wage will be discussed by both artist and contractor. I am not one who wishes to overprice and am usually capable to work within reason.

- BOOK & CD COVERS
These are two things I've been most commissioned for so, it's become sort of a secondary specialty of mine. I will happily review any book synopsis or music, to get a feel for the imagery. Again, I work in multiple genres and am sure you'll find my work suitable. Since this image is a single image and not an ongoing project, commission rates apply.

-ADVERTISEMENTS
Advertisements tend to be a bit more time consuming but these too are something I take great pleasure in working on.

-T-SHIRT DESINGS
Shirt design is a former job I've had in the past. Most fun I've had in a long time! Again, with single images, rates apply.

-PERSONAL CHARACTER IMAGES
Ahh, my favorite. If you have any game, story or RPG characters you wish to have realized in awesome color and a style of your choosing, then I am your man! Rates apply.

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• REQUIREMENTS •


Before I begin a project I will require the following:

-A full written description of the image, scene or character's look according to the client. The more information, the better. Please include any items that should be included in the image, how you feel the character or characters should (or should not) be dressed, and if the character should be in a single image shot, multiple-angle shot, or full scene. Any indications to the personality of the character will greatly help my ability to bring that out in the image.

-Full scene images should also include a description of the scene.

-For CD covers, I would like a sample of the music so that I might be able to get a feel for the imagery. This can help assist me in creating a cover that will suit the work.

-For Book Covers, please provide a synopsis of the book, or a full description of the image desired.

-COMMUNICATION! I rely heavily on communication with my clients to ensure their satisfaction as the work progresses. This is especially true of character commissions. Clients should expect to receive multiple emails or chat sessions using AIM or other chat software and sample images for review until they consider the commission finished or until an agreement is reached at which compensation would be paid for services rendered in the amount listed earlier.


• COMMISSION PRICING •


My commission prices vary depending on the type of work expected, however all of my commissions, with the exclusion of product testing and promotional images for tested products, will require a non-refundable down payment to cover the initial material setup costs and image creation . Additional costs incur with multiple characters, large scenes or detail heavy scenes.

Base commission cost for character images are $25 ($10 downpayment and $15 upon completion). This includes a single character image on a plain white background and a final prints in 8x10 and 4x5. Cost increases vary upon the complexity of the character, level of details included and time taken to achieve results to the satisfaction of the client. Images created for use by businesses, authors, etc. will be considered on a case per case basis depending on their intended use.

Unlike some commissioned artists, I will continue to work on a piece until the client is satisfied as opposed to offering a finished image based on artistic license. I do not charge a huge markup over what my own costs are for prints. I may however charge an additional fee for specifically requested items necessary to complete a commission (within reason and not without permission of the client) and will charge per day beyond the second day of working on a commission or until an agreement can be reached with the client that the piece is no longer desired. The client can contact me at any time in the future for additional images at a discounted price.

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• CONTACT INFO + ABOUT THE ARTIST •


AIM: the chimney fish

Myspace: myspace.com/chimney_fish

My name is Carlos Cruz and I've been drawing and writting stories and characters since I can remember holding a pencil in my hand. I'm an easy going guy who's always willing to talk so, if you wish to contact me on matters not neccessarily pertaining to art or commissions, then i'm still down. I live in san fransisco, CA and have been a resident for well over 7 years. My goal with this page and overall is to eventually be doing what i love as a means of sustaining my living. My life's not much but it's all I've got and it's all mine!

"this life's too good to last."
-MUSE

With that quote I part. Hope you enjoy my gallery and I hope to be doing business and become friends with the multitude of you!

Do you like my art? I was able to create most of the images you've seen me post online and possibly in person (if you've met me) with the use of something called the WACOM CTE-440 stylus pen. This tool was my bread and butter but now, due to a horrible fucking virus, I had to reformat my laptop which means I no longer have the driver for it. I've tried looking and searching all the legitimate sites that might have this old driver but apparently it's too old and the drivers I was able to obtain did not have the PRESSURE SENSITIVITY options that my old driver did. I would hate to have to get a new one so, if you're willing to help it would be much appreciated. the driver i'm looking for is :

WACOM Intuos CTE-440 ver. 5.05 (or lower) driver

But if I can't find this driver, I'm hoping people will donate to my cause of getting a new one. The price of one of these things, the most low-end one would be:

Wacom Intuos4 Small Pen Tablet

-$199.00 at Amazon
-$229.00 from WACOM's official site.

It's alot. No one knows this more than I. It's practically half my rent. Even working three jobs, i'll have to wait several months to get one and I do have a few job offers that would require me to act immediately, meaning, I would need this as soon as I can get it. Anything would help, either finding the old driver that runs for Windows XP pro. or kicking down a few bucks to help with this fucking money vampire. Anyway, just thought I'd see what I could get by posting. Thanks, even if you glanced over this.

-Carlos

I've gotten all of my ducks in a row. I have a laptop, scanner, and time so I should be producing more work more frequently.

right?

wrong. It began with my wrist getting twisted in some strange and painful direction at the end of my work day (while I was placing a fax machine on a high shelf) and later walking up the stairs leading to my house and falling, cutting into my left hand and bending back all of the fingers on my right hand; the one I draw with. It hurt a bit but I didn't break anything so that was good. I figured it would make me look cool if I told people that I drew the next image I was to upload with semi-injured hands. As I went to use my tablet to begin the colors on this next image, sure enough my stylus begins to act strangely. I though, "it could be the driver... (the drivers tend to make the tablet act up when they're not updated)", so I updated. It was working alright for a minute and the next, nothing. It completely dies. I try it on another friends computer. dead. The sound the pen was making was not unlike the sound an old NES controller makes... you know... that rattling sound. To top everything off, I've resently gotten some professional work. To do the work, I need a tablet. To get a tablet, I need money. To get money, I need to finish the work.

chaos has a way with comedy!