Above. Mass ‘Murderous’ Services 1998, Enamel on Canvas by Marcsta.

After a lot of time wasting, driving around, ringing people for quotes, I have finally made a start on a new project. It involves 3 letters, cardboard, blades and a lot of glue!

I’ve been working on this stuff all week and finally I have finished my Game & Watch “Run-Up” digital fine-art prints. There are 26 in the edition and each print has a unique colour-way just like the old G&W’s from the 80′s.

All the colours in the series are Here! If you would like one, go Here!

A few years back I had “Someone” ring me asking for a quote on painting a wall for an ad that was being made for Melbourne Tourism. Three artists would be involved and it needed to be painted within the approaching weekend, urgently. The amount for each artist worked out to be around $2500 each for a day of painting. A total of $7500.

Later that day I received a phone call directly from the Agency producing the TVC asking me why the quote was so high. Some how the total amount jumped to $15,000 after “Someone” included their commission ($7500 “for ringing a few artists, making a few coffees and talking shit”). That “Someone” didn’t realise that I had been freelancing for that Agency for about 7 years as an illustrator and that I had received a call from them directly. I never did get a call back from “Someone” to tell me if I got the job…

The sad thing is, there are so many artists that let themselves get ripped off by people who organise large events, which have large budgets (Government or Corporate), pay the artists peanuts and get most of the credit & finances for doing not much!

For an example, currently there is a project being put together by “Someone” in Melbourne’s CBD, it’s funded by the City Of Melbourne and will have about 50 artists involved. OK lets do the sums… Each Artist will receive 10 spray cans each, have a total of 12 hours to paint and will receive a payment $150 each ($12.50 per hour (That’s below the Award Wage!)).

The rough painting cost for the whole project (Spray Paint – 10 x $10 = $100 + Artist Labour $150) x 50 Artists = $12,500. To me that doesn’t seem that much for 50 artists to paint a very large space. The total budget might be between $20,000 and $30,000 plus. So that “Someone” might be doing very well indeed!

I hate seeing people that take advantage of culture and make money from other peoples hard work!! So next time you agree to be involved in a large painting project, think twice, if you’re getting less than $50 per hour (Minimum), you really should be telling “Someone” to FUCK OFF!!

Above. “Run-Up” Game & Watch Sketch 2002.

Above. “Run-Up” Digital Print Test 2010.

I had the idea for this in 2001 and the finished vector file has been sitting there for about 6 years. Finally it will be used for something!