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Have some updates to share; a thread is below. Love you all.
TLDR - These past 12 months have been chaotic. It has been hard to keep up with everything. Drawing, unfortunately, has been one of them. I am still here, but art will still be low for the time being. I'm sorry.
I've been meaning to update you all for a while now on my whereabouts after college. After I graduated last year, I began to job hunt since I needed a stable income to live. I was fortunate enough to get a job in a field that is close to the game industry. With the game job market still in shambles, I was thankful to get a job in media, so I didn't feel like I wasn't advancing with a job unrelated to the field. The job, though, filled up my plate rather quickly. My weeks were then overtaken and consumed with work. While I had some off weeks during the work season, it was often used to recharge for the week coming up. I did get some art in with Fitting the Frame, but that was all I could fit in. At that point, I just wanted to make it the off-season last October and reassess.
I was hoping then that I would get more time to do what I love, and draw and work on projects. But that was not what panned out. In late October, my job furloughed a ton of staff, and a lot of the work fell on me and the remaining workers. So my workload stayed the same. What I thought would be a relaxing few winter months turned into hell to make up all of the work from furloughed employees. Only to also be furloughed as well. I ended up working through my furlough to make sure the company didn't fall behind, essentially working for free. I bent over backward for the company only to get furloughed to save money (I learned my lesson). Despite being one of the best performers in the company, my incentive bonus was slashed in half, and I received no raise despite getting a "promotion" going into 2025.
Now, you are probably thinking, why don't you just quit? Well, it's complicated. Along with needing an income, quitting this media job will be shooting myself in the leg as I have left one of the few available media jobs available, essentially grinding my career to a halt. This means that my chances of landing another relevant job to help with my career will be significantly lower. On the surface, I do love the job and what it does. It's just the business above us that has ruined a lot of the fun with it all. Which makes this all so hard.
Now in 2025, I am now working remote as a part of my "promotion". I was very hopeful this would be the chance for me to break away and do more art and recharge better. But then the season started, and work piled up just like it did last year, even more so now being remote. Along with work having me by the throat, I've had to deal with a lot of bad breaks these past few months that have just worn me down. Additionally, my plate was also filled up with other work/career projects, which has left me with little free time once again.
I've just been feeling blue as of late. I haven't been able to catch up mentally as my time to game, socialize, and draw as dwindled. I can't guarantee anything right now, which is why this post has been pushed so much. I've waited for a good time to finally break free from this all, but I just don't see it in the books and I have left you all in the dark for too long already. I am sorry for that, truly. I will still be around. Liking posts, commenting, and drawing when I can. I am still navigating it all and I hope at some point, I can figure a balance out and be able to find some happiness again. It's just been hard as of late. To all you great folks out there, I miss you and I am sorry for leaving you all in the dark for so long. Lastly, thank you to folks reaching out; it's just as appreciated. Even if I don't respond right away, I am trying my best to work it all out. Thank you to all for reading this long and yappy thread. Keep being awesome, and I hope to see you all 'round in due time.
---
Maz © & Artwork:
TLDR - These past 12 months have been chaotic. It has been hard to keep up with everything. Drawing, unfortunately, has been one of them. I am still here, but art will still be low for the time being. I'm sorry.
I've been meaning to update you all for a while now on my whereabouts after college. After I graduated last year, I began to job hunt since I needed a stable income to live. I was fortunate enough to get a job in a field that is close to the game industry. With the game job market still in shambles, I was thankful to get a job in media, so I didn't feel like I wasn't advancing with a job unrelated to the field. The job, though, filled up my plate rather quickly. My weeks were then overtaken and consumed with work. While I had some off weeks during the work season, it was often used to recharge for the week coming up. I did get some art in with Fitting the Frame, but that was all I could fit in. At that point, I just wanted to make it the off-season last October and reassess.
I was hoping then that I would get more time to do what I love, and draw and work on projects. But that was not what panned out. In late October, my job furloughed a ton of staff, and a lot of the work fell on me and the remaining workers. So my workload stayed the same. What I thought would be a relaxing few winter months turned into hell to make up all of the work from furloughed employees. Only to also be furloughed as well. I ended up working through my furlough to make sure the company didn't fall behind, essentially working for free. I bent over backward for the company only to get furloughed to save money (I learned my lesson). Despite being one of the best performers in the company, my incentive bonus was slashed in half, and I received no raise despite getting a "promotion" going into 2025.
Now, you are probably thinking, why don't you just quit? Well, it's complicated. Along with needing an income, quitting this media job will be shooting myself in the leg as I have left one of the few available media jobs available, essentially grinding my career to a halt. This means that my chances of landing another relevant job to help with my career will be significantly lower. On the surface, I do love the job and what it does. It's just the business above us that has ruined a lot of the fun with it all. Which makes this all so hard.
Now in 2025, I am now working remote as a part of my "promotion". I was very hopeful this would be the chance for me to break away and do more art and recharge better. But then the season started, and work piled up just like it did last year, even more so now being remote. Along with work having me by the throat, I've had to deal with a lot of bad breaks these past few months that have just worn me down. Additionally, my plate was also filled up with other work/career projects, which has left me with little free time once again.
I've just been feeling blue as of late. I haven't been able to catch up mentally as my time to game, socialize, and draw as dwindled. I can't guarantee anything right now, which is why this post has been pushed so much. I've waited for a good time to finally break free from this all, but I just don't see it in the books and I have left you all in the dark for too long already. I am sorry for that, truly. I will still be around. Liking posts, commenting, and drawing when I can. I am still navigating it all and I hope at some point, I can figure a balance out and be able to find some happiness again. It's just been hard as of late. To all you great folks out there, I miss you and I am sorry for leaving you all in the dark for so long. Lastly, thank you to folks reaching out; it's just as appreciated. Even if I don't respond right away, I am trying my best to work it all out. Thank you to all for reading this long and yappy thread. Keep being awesome, and I hope to see you all 'round in due time.
---
Maz © & Artwork:
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fat Furs
Species Western Dragon
Gender Male
Size 2566 x 1436px
File Size 3.24 MB
Geez maz... You sure have been going through a lot. I sure hope the job settles down at least a little for ya in the future. And I hope the financial problems will get better as well. Just make sure you don't overwhelm or overwork yourself. Your sanity is important as well bud. Make sure you keep it in check when things get rough. And we're all here for ya every step of the way. I hope your 2025 will improve
Maz.... I am so sorry. That's awful that's happened, and you've had to keep it to yourself for the most part. You are worth so much more than that. I feel that on such a level, as I wanted to get into media myself and wasn't able to. Instead, I've basically accepted that I'm stuck in sales now. I do hope you can make it and will be cheering for you.
But, do what you need to for you. I hope you can find something better or at least something improves for you.
But, do what you need to for you. I hope you can find something better or at least something improves for you.
I have felt bad for many months for not informing you guys. Just made it feel like I up and left. I was hoping for a break that would allow me to consistently work art in, but that has not been the case.
I am sorry you have had your struggles as well with this all, especially so close to media as well... Agh... breaks my heart to hear. I hope you can get your break and get into media like you've always wanted to.
In the end, thanks for all the words of support and for the well-wishes. Hoping things smooth in the coming months <3
I am sorry you have had your struggles as well with this all, especially so close to media as well... Agh... breaks my heart to hear. I hope you can get your break and get into media like you've always wanted to.
In the end, thanks for all the words of support and for the well-wishes. Hoping things smooth in the coming months <3
it has been, and mentally has been, taxing on some weeks, but I am doing a bit better now. Hoping I don't fall down the rabbit hole like I did last week, was really rough.
I appreciate the reassurance here. I love making art and sharing it and I hope at some point I can get back to doing it more often.
I appreciate the reassurance here. I love making art and sharing it and I hope at some point I can get back to doing it more often.
Thanks Iggy, I already learned my lesson with the whole furlough deal, but some of me really struggles to just let things slip. I have mostly stepped away form volunteering myself to help with things. I just take the work I have now and do the best I can. We will see how it pans out this year though. This is only my second year so still a lot that can happen. But yeah, really sucked to have that happen, burned me out for a week or two when it dude. Really sucked.
That's a whole heap on your plate indeed, especially in the things you have to pursue every day to secure your future stability, I don't blame ya one bit for not having much time as you'd like to be around.
I also recently had a stint of about 2 months of constant working- on commissions, moving, then more comms- without much of a break between, so I can imagine a YEAR of that is absolutely exhausting. I am wishing you the best in finding a way to balance all of this emotionally and logstically Maz.
I also recently had a stint of about 2 months of constant working- on commissions, moving, then more comms- without much of a break between, so I can imagine a YEAR of that is absolutely exhausting. I am wishing you the best in finding a way to balance all of this emotionally and logstically Maz.
You nailed it on the head. If I didn't have to worry about my future career, god the amount of free time I'd have! But coming from the poorer background and having to attend a small university to learn, has put me behind on a lot of things, connections, quality of learning, etc... it has forced me to have to catch back up and self-learn my way back to a point to where employers would want to hire me. Because right now (especially in the game design job market right now) it is next to impossible to get into the industry unless you have a ton of connections, you're rich and/or are an industry vet with a killer portfolio. I don't have any of that, so I have to put in the extra work to try and get there. It feels like a 2nd full-time job if I'm honest, its hard to balance.
Oh my god moving sucks, I appreciate you sympathizing with me on that but man moving is a different beast, and having to do all of that too? Praise big guy.
Thanks again for the support Artie, it is more than appreciated <3
Oh my god moving sucks, I appreciate you sympathizing with me on that but man moving is a different beast, and having to do all of that too? Praise big guy.
Thanks again for the support Artie, it is more than appreciated <3
Im so sorry Maz, that is a lot to happen in such a short timespan. I really hope things get better for you. This has been a very ludicrous year for all of us honestly with the uncertainty of our government to just our stress on personal life. I am always here to help whenever I can, Maz. You are always loved and appreciated by all of us and we know you can put it together again not just physically, but emotionally as well. You're a dragon, and dragons don't get scared of what's in their way. You got this Maz, and we all love you too 💛
Thanks a ton Gretri. The climate of the country too has played some roles with my stress as well so I completely understand x3 I hope to bring it all together at some point. While you are right a dragon never fears, maybe a little bit of that skittish goat is battling as well x3 Thanks for the kind words and reassurance big guy, it means a lot *bigggg hugs*
With this year having thrown this many curveballs your way, anybody would not be too hopeful for what the rest of the year may bring. Yet you've made significant progress in your career as well as honing your art and 3D modeling/sculpting skills. You're still standing despite all of it and that's very admirable 💪
Doing my best to make it all work, just like everyone in life. While I have been able to hone in on my portfolio work, I hope to hone in on everything else once a balance is found in due time, art, gaming and socializing included.
Thanks for the kind words Luke, it means a lot <3
Thanks for the kind words Luke, it means a lot <3
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