Wow, you and I are on same page as far as depressing things, one still with my Authority roommate who thinks he's my father, and other bs. But I'll keep working don't want to do something crazy myself. My art and friendships like yours holds me in check Rod. Sorry things are down for you on your end my friend.

And a great presentation of G4. Wowsers!!

I hope you'll get your affairs in order and feel better. Fantastic work!

Well done.

I will send Flying Monkeys to fetch you!!!! I don't tell time so good, so there is no telling when they will show up!! They will fly RIGHT OVER the Silly force field at State Line Road.

Great image!

Ye gods.... Is that force field back again? I just took it out with one of the drones last summer.... Sheesh.... 🤣

Love the detail in this, you'd think a sweet dame in this nice of a setting would at least place. Stiff upper lip my friend and hope you set your sails in the right direction for you and yours!

It is a winner in my estimation! Guess they don't know good art when they see it over there! Excellent work! Hope you are able to align your gears correctly so that you come back firing on all 16 cylinders, Rod! Take all the time you need though! I know how important it is to do that every so often! See you when you return! Bravo and many fine kudos on this fine work of art!!!!!!

I hope that you can solve your issues. I need to take a break also.outstanding render and she is always cute

I've read your blog and I concur with your assessment. Take the break and regroup your ducks. I cannot for the life of me why this image of sweet and sexy G4 did not place. It should have gotten Grand Prize for sexy!

If those ducks don't get their s##t together, I'm gonna drag out the 12-guage... 🤣👀

I read your blog. I'm sorry all I can do is support you here with praise of your wonderful work. I hope you feel good about what you do and only do what makes you feel good. (deep huh?) but I mean it. I like this imitate scene. Tea and snacks for two with heart shaped candle and full moon outside. I love her playful pose and her sweet smile. The lighting is soft, romantic, and warm. Anyone who has purple walls is ok in my book.

That works for me, my friend!

Yeah, I wish I could climb through this monitor and join her. Those look so delicious. The waffles, the waffles! 🤣

Hey Rod, I was on my way out when I saw your upload, and didn't want to go anywhere before commenting. I definitely read your blog, and I'm sorry for your frustration on all these matters. Ftr, I've wanted to join patreon for a long time now, but I just decided to leave other websites alone until my work (and some other matters) calms down. I've only had a page on flickr in addition to RR, and I've abandoned that as well. I don't even know how patreon works, to be honest, and I've had several artists beg me to join and see them there. But believe me, whenever I comment on your work, I dive in as much as I know how; and while I don't know anything about how you achieve lighting, placement, etc, I am wowed by it all, and could probably write more if I had the time. (Those little 3 paragraph comments can take me 30 minutes, believe it or not, because I'm constantly looking at the image, writing, etc; if I weren't so slow, I'd leave more.) Just know that I love sitting with your work, so believe me if I don't do it at Patreon, it's only for lack of the time, not from your work. As for buying your stuff, it's just one of a number of things I've wanted to do with several artist friends, but haven't done. It isn't from lack of quality in what you do---far from it---just lack of the effort to sit, look it over, and buy. It's that and only that, for which I apologize. (Well, I've spent some time on your Lair site on a few occasions, but haven't been there as much as I'd like, again from lack of time---which is why I try to give my all to you, here. Because this is where I got to know you and your amazing work and spirit.) So take it only as that, not a judgment on your work, devotion and spirit, incl what you give to me and others here.

Re the frustration of not making more money at your art and getting more recognition for it, ugh. What's the legal expression: "Asked and answered". I understand. I've been submitting writing for over a year now, and gotten lots of promising "please send more, please edit this portion," etc, etc, but not one sale or acceptance. (And of course no payment.) (And in the writing field, you have to wait 3 months before they even get back to you...ugh, ugh, ugh.) I've been through it in my commercial work too, or in my pro music days. I'm sure I've told you, but when I played clubs, there would be nights when there were 3 people in the room, total, all drunk; and the 4 of us musicians played our hearts out to that. And I wondered, all these years of study and tearing my heart out, for this? All I can say is, you're fabulously talented, have devotion that's stunning, and a great heart on top of it all as evidenced by how you treat others; and if you were paid what you were worth, you'd have a house the size of montana and followers up the wazoo. I'm sorry you're putting all this heart into your work and not getting more for it. I do see tons of love for you here, but I know you deserve more than you get, and I'm sorry it's so hard. As one artist said to me, "if a lot of the masters starved over the centuries, I guess we signed onto a difficult field." I understand that frustration, and I'm sorry you have to face it, with the time and talent you put into everything you do.

Finally, I hope you remember that it hasn't been that long since you retired--I mean related to the time you worked---and that was accompanied by craziness and madness incl w/ health and your house, and you probably could use a break for a lot of reasons. And more than one. (Being retirement age does slow us down, too.) I'm here less than almost anyone I support, so I'd be incredibly hypocritical if I complained about your few breaks. I just hope you find rejuvenation and ways to keep plunging into everything you do. You're fabulously talented and devoted, and a helluva devoted person (and really funny as well); and I'm one of a number of people who are very grateful for what you do, and I wish you all the rejuvenation in the world. And keep in mind, too, that creating from the depths by its very self demands breaks and rejuvenation. Artists forget that, they create and create and empty out and get exhausted, but forget they've just lived a 'second career', and they need time. In a movie about a great jazz player, one of the musicians said something like, "when you empty yourself every night (through music), you need to fill the caverns it leaves behind." And I'd add, you need it more than once. So a big grateful bow for all you do and put into it, and for the huge magnanimous spirit you give to others, and wishes for as much rejuvenation as you can get. And you'll need it again. And again. When you worked a monetary job, you couldn't wait till the end of some weeks; but as artists we never even think of how art can tire us out. So take your break and let your insides talk to you and replenish. (A friend once asked, "what does hiatus mean?" I said, "it's what you say when you see atus..." I know, piss-poor jokes don't make it better...I know...but idiocy does let off steam.) The best to you from the bottom of my hear, Rod. Re-fuel, rest, re-create---you've earned it. I'm extremely grateful for all you do...

DAYUM, Mark! I hope you didn't miss anything you were going out for, buddy! It would have taken me three days to write this! 🤣

You never fail you make me feel 20 feet tall, my friend! Wow. I already feel rejuvenated, and will head off to bed with a smile pasted on my face (at least the part that didn't fall off when I opened the door yesterday.... Brrrr). Yep, I'll be back soon, you can bank on it!

G4 is looking very lovely. I'm sorry to hear you're feeling down. Hopefully a short break will do the trick, and I'll look forward to your return and seeing what adventures you come up with for your girls.

Lovely image... Looking forward to your return!

Lovely work

well deserved break hope to see you here soon

Read your blog, Rod. Sorry you're sorta in the quandary dumpies. It's good to take some time off from this stuff and get your mind and muse in order. The only things that come to my little old crusty mind straight off, perhaps the winter is getting to you, and maybe you've bitten off a bit more than you can chew ATM. Also, try not to compare your work to other's work. That's often a losing proposition, especially when there's $$ in the mix. So, do take care, and if you need someone to chew the fat with, just PM me :). Oh, almost forgot: your little snackie scene is wonderful...the lighting is sooo good. And she's not too hard to look at either.

Great work!!

Superb lighting, very sexy scene !

Marvellous render - look forward to seeing you back!

Stunning composition, this one. I read your blog about your frustrations, and all I can say is just wait until you're as old as ancient me with my many health problems in order to really experience depressing angst in your life.

G4 is looking quite fetching and would sure cheer up a rainy day. Hang in there. Winter has a negative effect on EVERYTHING. Warmer weather with more sunshine and a good night's sleep will work wonders. Your art is magnificent and you have a wonderful sense of humor. You are intelligent, creative, kind, helpful and a credit to the human race. Do what you need to do to make yourself feet better. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

Wow.. You've already got me blushing, Teri! 😁 Thank you so much!

Sorry you're not feeling your best Rod. But it's always darkest before the dawn and some of the greatest works of are and music have come from those who were feeling down at the time. Your artwork is always fabulous and it brings everyone's spirits up. Feel good about knowing how inspiring and uplifting your creations are to others! Be well my friend!

Awesome scene Rod! Looking at this image, gives you such a nice, relaxing, and peaceful feeling.......'G4' is lookin' good, and she knows it!! I like all the 'goodies' on the table, and the candlelight.......it looks like she's in for a nice, romantic, evening!! I hope you have a nice, relaxing, 2 week 'hiatus'.....and hope you come back soon!! Take care my friend......

Loos like G4 is expecting company and hot evening!

I read your blog also...Will iss u for the 2 weeks you will be getting things together.

Yeah, that's why I quit writing. the profound lack of interest in anything I do leaves me scratching my head at times, especially when I look at some of the outright crap that is popular. I'm not even asking for money, so why bother.

Oh, my, Rod! If things are that slow or non-existant at Patreon, why continue trying to push forward with that site? I'd say "**** **"! and find some other service station to fill your gas tank (so to speak). I understand your depression - I'm suffering from acute anxiety attacks and am on medication (makes me feel sick in the morning, a lot better in the evening). So you have all my sympathy and support. As you may have noticed, I rarely post anything now-a-days. This partly due to the 3 posts that were recently deleted ("OUCH!") discouraging me when I was in a down-spin, but also due to the depression - feel like I can't get started or get anything done. I have a lot of photos, but the work with thumbnails is like climbing a mountain. I love your work and it has helped keep my head above water when I've been really down and out.

I'm looking forward to seeing what your "6 1/2 brain cells" come up with when you're feeling better. But, I'll be missing you! It's like someone in the family partially falling out of the picture frame. Lucky you have your wife beside you (I'm all alone, so I understand that aspect of your situation). Wishing you all the best, Rod, and look forward to your return! Have a good rest and recovery. Sincerely, T.Rex and Michael

Hey! Do I see TWO tea cups and 2 plates of goodies? So I trust you'll be back for tea with G soon! :-) :

I read you blog, and do wish you the best success. I can understand your feelings of frustration, but don't give up. I have two books published on Amazon, I was making good money on them for awhile. Then, Amazon did something with their algorithm that changed book placement and in one day my income went from an extra couple hundred bucks to zero. And it never went back up. Last year I made $10.71. How is that even possible? On a Wed I was selling around six books a day, and on Thur it dropped to zero. That isn't possible. You see? So, it would be easy to just quit, give up, throw in the towel. And I hear your, you say you're not. But, when you do the hiatus thing (I did it). It stretched into a year of doing nothing but playing video games. Now, today, I'm writing, I'm not making any money doing it, but I'm writing. And I lost a year I can't get back.

Best Wishes

Li seu blog e espero que tenha sucesso em Patreon, se pudesse apoiaria mas é dificil a situação aqui, como sempre uma obra excelente, descanse sempre faz bem e nos veremos na volta, aplausos (5)

Thank you, my friend - been a while since I've seen you!

Yes, take a break and get some wind back in your sails. I can appreciate your sense of frustration and only wish I was in a position to be of more encouragement. You truly have put a lot of heart and soul into the T.N.A. series and sometimes it just seems like why???? But you know that passion is like that, you have to create even if it can be frustrating and you wonder if your efforts really matter. I have felt this way too at times as a content creator. It is hard to put so much hard work into something and then see so little in return. But something inside just pushes us on. Hang in there!

Read the blog, and have to agree... but I hope you don't stay away to long, you do know Ranpha will send on of her drones to find you... remember what happened to me!

I have to say I'm kind of in the same boat, but with me it's with the low view my stories are getting, when they reach a certain number I'll stop making them, well just I won't post them. I'll then stick to single images..

Hope everything works out! have a good one!

Thinking of you and wishing you the best dear friend