Half-time 2024. Or to be more precise, three-quarters. It has been quite a while since our last studio update, eh? We did get quite a bit of work done but the grind never really ends. If you only have time to read the first paragraph, if you need art done, get in touch with us. Experienced, reliable art studio ready to create art to bring your vision to life.

Prominent projects so far

^{Shadow Scar Agency by GSong}

So what’s up now? I think the most impressive art that we’ve done for 2024 so far has been for R.Talsorian Games’ Shadow Scar. We have been sending out our portfolios to TTRPG publishers for a while and when we heard back from them last year, the first thing that came to mind was Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners. Boy, we really wished it was THAT project. Who knows? We might still have a shot at it.

^{And my follow up comment after finishing all the episodes. Fuck.}

Instead of Edgerunners, we got to work on Shadow Scar instead. It’s a new IP and still really cool too. GSong, Usanekorin and Poopiepuff got to create a decent number of artworks for them and we really liked what we have done for them. GSong even got to do a cover artwork! We can’t wait to receive our copies of the game.

^{Memories of the War by Usanekorin and Poopiepuff}

Other than Shadow Scar, we did a couple of artworks for Call of Duty: Mobile. To be more precise, the Garena version that is limited to Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines. The artworks are used for social media postings and the one we did about mythical Ghost was surprisingly popular.

^{Mythic Ghost – Eternal Siege by Poopiepuff}

Memes sure worked well. When we last checked, the total number of engagement the post received on Instagram was over 2400. Easily more than most other content that they posted. Even now, we can see the post receiving regular ‘likes’ on our notification. We don’t think any of us had something along those lines before. This must be how it feels to be popular. Sure feels nice for now.

A mark on PHT

On a more internal level, 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace has been becoming more popular recently. The building and its ‘creative enclave’ has even been featured a couple of times on media. The fact that CDS, being probably the longest lasting tenant, was not invited for these was somewhat annoying. Yes, we are based at a quieter spot on level three away from the hustle and bustle. Yes, we are on flexi-work arrangement so we don’t come in everyday. But still. Bo jio! Next time must invite us, ah!

So that got us thinking about how we can stand out more and also to get the level one tenants to keep us in mind. A large standee will probably be the ideal solution but we got a budget to consider. The alternative is posters.

We have ranted about that fuckin’ GenAI upstart that moved into the building and had been leaving their postcards around. We are used to it now and hardly bat an eyelid to those. But it is still a thorn in the flesh and an absolute insult to the creative enclave of 195PHT.

^{Are you sure? I can be finishing that Shadow Scar artwork. – GSong, probably}

It took a while (since we are juggling paid work and petty grudges) but it is done. This was the final poster design. Our dinosaur piece to one-up that fucking GenAI business. Those QR codes lead to our Instagram and Cara. Nowadays, all our most recent posts have the artworks Glazed. This specific artwork is Nightshaded. So any GenAI-pilled techbros (or more likely a bot) including this artwork in their database is basically poisoning it. Get fucked, ya uncreative hacks.

And now, we have printed these out and stuck them everywhere in the building where we can find their postcard.

^{Whenever possible, we made sure it was close to the offending postcard}

Was it a productive use of time and resource for the studio? I don’t know. But damn, it sure feels good to stick it in their face. I sure hope viewers take note of that crushed robo-bunny in the artwork. And I also hope that with these posters, perhaps 195PHT visitors at the ground level might notice us!

GenAI is an existential threat to creatives. They can mass generate sparkly slop at a fraction of our time and cost. Maybe that fucking business will print out some A1 poster to stick it to us by next week. And we won’t have a good response. At least, not for a month or so. Good human art has intent and unlike slop, that takes time.

But you know, whatever they have, I’m fairly confident that they lack our style or fun. Heh. Fuck them. And if they do, I should try to make it really hurt. Team up with a shirt printing service to directly compete against their slop.

And finally, a little bit of SEO

And that’s our quick, dirty blog update for 2024. The studio is still on the lookout for more work for our artists. As an experienced and reliable art studio, we work with our clients to bring their vision to live. Anime is what we are best known for but we are versatile. Heck, we’ll do Corpo Memphis if that pays the rent. So be sure to get in touch with us via email at ohayo@collateralds.com or our Contact form!