Freelance and a Monk Like Existance

My name is Jake Richmond. I pay my bills as a freelance artist (and sometimes writer) for Role Playing Games. My goal here is to have a place to talk about my life freelancing. To talk about the jobs I’m working on, the art I’m trying to produce and the personal projects I’m trying to see thru. And to talk about what it’s like to work as an RPG illustrator. Here’s what i have on my plate right now:

The French Job-30 color illustrations for a french RPG. Due April 1st. I’m running really fucking late with this. I got smacked with Pneumonia and now I’m not close to being done. The client gave me an extension, so now I’m working 16 hour days to get this done.

The Dyson Project-Dogsoul Publishing hired me to write one of the source books for their new sci-fi game. I bluffed my way into this job, I don’t know how to write a book. I’m doing the best I can and I’m pretty happy with the results, but being sick has put me behind on this one as well.

Six Gun Assassins- I did a bunch of illustrations for this game, and I just recently finished the cover. I’m pretty happy with it, and I cant wait to see the book. Here’s the cover:

The CrossRoads of Eternity-Arcadiam Games publishes this game, and not only am I the co-owner of that company, but I’m also the art director and a contributing writer. Which means I do a lot of work on this game and I dont get paid. We have 2 books out so far, and we’re about to start work on a third.

The Fall of Pileaus-This is a web comic I’m doing for Jer Mohler over at Baeg Tobar. I just commited to a year starting in May. A lot of work, but it should be fun.

Panty Explosion-My Psychic Japanese Schoolgirl RPG I’m developing with Matt Schlotte. We’re e to having a playable version ready.

Here’s something I learned real quick about freelancing: You’re always broke. Always. No one ever pays you on time. Everybody wants you to work for free. You never know where the next paycheck is coming from. You’re rent is always late. I live a Monk Like Existence. This is not by choice. I make, on average, about $500 a month. That’s American currancy. I’ll give you a moment to think about that.

Cool? okay. $500 a month. Sometimes less. Sometimes more. But that’s the average. my living expenses come out to $450 a month. That’s basic (food/rent/internet/bus) living expenses, nothing fancy. At my last job I worked minimum wage and made almost twice that. So I live a Monk Like Existence. I work, I eat, I take advantage of available entertainments. I don’t go to movies anymore. I rarely go out to eat. i get to live a simple (or consumer deprived life) because I’ve chosen to draw zombies and dwarfs and zombie dwarfs for a living. This is the reality of freelance. For me.

Oh wait, I’m going to write more. Just a sec…