This text is also posted in the forum, in case anyone wishes to comment there.

Although I've had this site for many months, I've not used the features on this site, being either too busy, or not seeing enough interest out there to post about the art I add periodically on this site.

This is an extraordinary year in that it's the first year I've done exclusively Comupter Generated (CG) art. Only 2 or 3 paintings in Jan-Feb. of this year have been done in traditional methods. There will be trad. paintings in the future, but I'm happy for the new change. I seems every week I'm discovering new methods and features in Photoshop, to make the task of visualizing faster (and maintain low costs to the clients).

I left Deviant Art in March with the belief that my Anime fanart days were finished. Instead, I've had more Anime fanart commissions since then, than all previous years combined! I've missed interacting with many of you whom I knew in those years, but I've also been able to concentrate more on improving my skills.

The biggest changes have been the addition of the 'Senshi Families' and 'Pin-Up' galleries to the site. I know I've made strides in my figure drawing, because every time I post new work I see a piece that needs improving or removal-nearly as many as I've added this year-that were simply drawn so bad as to be obsolete!

The 'Senshi Families' is the realization of an idea I had in 2001, to depict the Sailor Moon senshi as princesses, which died from lack of interest, but has been revived by Ladylace (Lynette Torres) and is coming to an end with the final piece of Michiru (Sailor Neptune) in Jan.

I also want to thank those who have made it possible to continue doing the Anime fanart; Lane Kramer, Lynette Torres, Andy Reyes, and Glenn Yearous, the latter who still sends anime tapes and CD's on a regular basis. They are as responsible as I am for keeping up the fanart galleries and creating new ones. I feel that the anime fanart galleries are now the centerpiece of the site.

But I still need more commissions because this type of art is fan-driven, and, without any, I tend to believe that no-one's interested and I'm always ready to bail out into other genre's such as Astronomical art, or Southwest Landscape. So, don't hesitate to ask about my rates, they are very reasonable considering the level of expertise I've accumulated, and cheaper even than some 'fanartists' I've seen on Deviant Art!

I'm also pleased to mention that I'm still busy with Sci-Fi/Fantasy art as well. I was dismayed by the treatment I received (like not being paid...) by Margaret Weis Productions (specifically Renae Chambers), which led to my quitting after 12 years of association. I've learned that there's no such thing as "seniority" in this business (one reason I'm discouraging my daughters from following in my footsteps) and I felt certain that would be the end of Space Hardware-even Sci-Fi for good.

But, thanks to John F. Carr/Peqoud Press, I'll be back in Jan. with "War World", my first 'hard' Sci-Fi cover in years, and back to a traditional painting style. John has broken free of the 9-5, to pursue writing (and publishing) full time, so there will be more art for Pequod in the future, including the next Kalvan Kingmaker book "Gunpowder God" later in 2006.

For me, I've got to be ready for the surest things changing, and, so, there's no telling what I'll be doing this time next year-even if this site will even be up here! I'm living pretty much day to day, and it helps to have even verbal support, comments and questions now and then, or drop by and say hi!

Happy New Year!

Alan Gutierrez and Family