iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 36m

I imagine the whole idea of doing art on commission via social media originally came from doing art on commission for various business clients such as editors and publishers. Doing art on commission is not a new thing.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 41m

If you submit illustrations to various publications, if you see many of those illustrations accepted and published, if you build a reputation and a list of illustration publication credits, then editors and publishers might hire you to do works on commission. That's how I did it.

OctyDrawz
@Octydrawz
wait i didn't know that it was actually possible to get commissions with no social media, this is amazing what
9:19 AM · Oct 9, 2026
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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 47m

Last night, Michele and I rewatched THE UNINVITED (1944) and THE HAUNTING (1963). IMHO, the latter is psychological horror at its finest, with superb acting from the two female leads. Both rank as my favorite haunted house films. They do a good job of retaining the human element.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 51m

Currently listening to: CHILLER by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops a.co/d/05Xmrgft Along with Duran Duran's DANSE MACABRE DE LUXE and Mannheim Steamroller's HALLOWEEN, this is one of my favorite Halloween CDs.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 1h

"Make those AI bro demons disturbed all the time with your human art" I do! Based on the trollish replies I've received from numerous AI bros, I'd say my human-made art disturbs them greatly.

SJM
@Sjm777TheLibra
·
10h
I am making this quote available for human artist to use only, not for Ai Bros!

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 1h

I've had folks scoff at me when I've said my art is a business not a hobby. I've had fellow creatives insist that I'm a mere hobbyist artist, in part because I've never cracked the "pro" venues. And yet, since 1999, I've always approached my art as a business. It's my job.

Smetanka ✨ Multifandom bullshit in a kettle
@Smetankoart
·
24m
this one post exposed so many irresponsible artists

yes, you also have a life
but if you don't want to treat cmms as a job, then you're simply not ready for opening cmms yet

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 1h

I never did commissioned work via social media, but I did do work on commission for various editors and publishers. Most had set payments and clear contracts. I always completed the works on time and rarely had to revise anything. In most instances, it was all quite professional.

Eric Bourdages
@EZE3D
I keep seeing all these stories about how bad commissioning artists is, justifying AI art.

This has never been my experience. Every client I've had knows what to expect & when, they have room for revisions & we negotiate a rate that make sense for both of us. 1/3
1:02 AM · Oct 9, 2026
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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 16h

Re-sharing a dark poem (suppose you might call it a dark sonnet) I rewrote and reworked earlier this year — "The Succubus (2026)". The original written c. 2011 was clunky; this version flows much better. #poem #poetry #darkpoem #darkpoetry #succubus

The Succubus (2026)

by Richard H. Fay

She stepped out of an incandescent mist
And sealed my fate with an impassioned kiss.
We conceived plans for an eventide tryst
Where I lost my soul to infernal bliss.

Bewitching sparks lit up her ebon eyes.
Luscious lips parted in a lustful grin
As dread shades cavorted in darkened skies
To celebrate my descent into sin.

Naked flesh shivered from her lethal touch.
My doomed soul departed this mortal shell
And slipped into the Devil’s grasping clutch —
Forbidden passions had damned me to Hell!

Fall not for this fiend’s nefarious charms
Or find yourself caught in Lucifer’s arms!

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 17h

Re-sharing my dark poem "The Incubus", published Feb 2008 in SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT, May 2009 in SCATTERED VERSES, MOONLIT CURSES, May 2010 in ONCE AGAIN, WITH FEELING, and Aug 2023 in COSMIC JOURNEYS AND GOTHIC VISIONS. #poem #poetry #sonnet @stuartmiller1.bsky.social @corutaniconnolly.bsky.social

The Incubus

by Richard H. Fay

He enters my dreams in the dead of night,
Wreathed in a halo of infernal smoke.
He's a handsome but truly dreadful sight,
My black angel, one of the fallen folk.

He takes me up in his strong, scaly arms
And pledges everlasting devotion.
I fall for his dark, diabolic charms
As my soul drowns in a sinful ocean.

I sense the danger in his burning touch,
But then lose myself in his glaring eyes.
I crave this fatal attraction so much
That I cannot bear more woeful goodbyes.

I feel my life slowly ebbing away
And will not last until the break of day.

(Originally published in Sounds of the Night, Issue 2, February 2008.)

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 17h

With the latest sale earlier this week of a Leek and Daffodil Crossed Button to someone in France, to-date I've now sold a total of 100 items featuring that work through my Azure Lion Productions Redbubble Shop. Many of those sales have been international. www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/9712...

redbubble.com

Leek and Daffodil Crossed by Azure Lion Productions | Redbubble

Both the leek and the daffodil have come to symbolize Wales. Leek and daffodil appear together in this original design by Richard H. Fay.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 17h

Seduced by Sin by Richard H. Fay Hell-born folk revel in sin, Seducing the weak-willed Into diverse infernal deeds. Mortals with lustful flesh Longing for corrupt acts Fall for lewd allurements. Devils don delightful guises, Tempting foolish human souls Into eternal damnation. #poem #poetry

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 18h

Over at Redbubble... Everything is up to 40% off sitewide! For a limited time. My Azure Lion Productions Redbubble Shop: www.redbubble.com/people/RHFay... #rebubble #redbubbleshop #redbubblesale #sitewidesale #findyourthing

images of six items featuring art by Richard H. Fay with text...
Everything is up to 40% off sitewide!
Azure Lion Productions Redbubble Shop
https://www.redbubble.com/people/RHFay/shop?asc=u

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 19h

Another instance of anxious me showing bravery...every so often in the haunted house I lived in for 11 yrs, a tattered black thing would seem to fly toward me when I entered the darkened master bedroom at night. It triggered a "flight or fight" response — I stood ready to fight!

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 19h

My wife says I have GAD. She might be right. However, when push comes to shove, I show great bravery. When a known problem dog confronted my wife, my daughter, and I on a walk, I put myself between the dog and my family and stared it down, knowing dogs see staring as a threat.

CJ Simone
@CJSimone333
A gatekeeper once questioned the MC of 405 Mantel Street having an anxiety disorder b/c she participates in dangerous games.

But I have more anxiety disorders than anyone, yet I'm the first to rush to the defense of those being bullied or assaulted.

You can be anxious & brave.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 19h

Seeing stories like this almost makes me glad that I never managed to "crack" the pro zines and my works (art, stories, and poem) were invariably confined to the "lesser" zines. There was a time I thought breaking into the pros would've been nice, but I gave up caring about that long ago.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 19h

Seems like a good time to once again share my poem "Insanity Reigns", since it's obvious that's the situation we face here in the United States. Declaring those who use the term "Artificial Intelligence" instead of the term "Super Intelligence" to be enemies is absolute madness.

Insanity Reigns

By Richard H. Fay

When officials wage war on facts,
Ignorance holds sway.
When heads of state warp reality,
Surreality takes the crown.
When functionaries fail to govern.
Havoc seizes the throne.
When bureaucrats embrace disorder,
Chaos rules the realm.
When leaders lose their minds,
Insanity reigns supreme.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 19h

According to the current resident in the White House, anyone who uses the term "Artificial Intelligence" as opposed to "Super Intelligence is the ENEMY. I suppose that makes me an enemy. So, when are Trump's armed thugs coming to MY door? This is equal parts stupid and scary.

Donald J. Trump
The White House considers anyone that uses the term, "Artificial Intelligence", as opposed to the highly accepted new and more accurate term , "Super Intelligence", THE ENEMY! President DONALD J. TRUMP

$AI Cultists By Richard H. Fay Fawning over silicon idols, Followers of the Cult of AI — Forswear empathy and amity, Forsake the fellowship of mankind, Foment fractiousness and bitterness, Favor machines over mere mortals, Fall for false promises of fake gods, Forget what it means to be human.$

Green-Eyed AI Bros

By Richard H. Fay

Acting jealous of genuine creatives,
Treating creators in a callous fashion,
Failing to respect the concept of consent,
Scraping artists' works out of sheer spite,
Prompting slop-producing AI systems,
Glutting the world with shabby garbage,
AI bros revel in their green-eyed resentment.

Committing invidious acts of incivility,
Exhibiting scorn toward the exploited,
Spreading hellacious hostility and hate,
Fomenting dire disquietude and distress,
Feeding abhorrent algorithmic monstrosities
Producing sundry problematic grotesqueries
AI bros take joy in their jaundiced villainy.

Coveting the able craftsmanship of adepts,
Resenting those with imaginative ideation,
Hoping to propagate defeat and despair,
Dreaming of a technologically-driven Rapture,
Abetting the degradation of human culture,
Propelling society deeper into the abyss,
AI bros delight in their envious evil.

Chant the AI Mantra

By Richard H. Fay

Replace human creativity
With electronic machinery.
Give up part of your humanity
To embrace soulless technology.
Accept destruction of global ecology
In the name of expanding the tech economy.
Adopt AI or perish!
Adopt AI and perish!

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Popularity with publishers, other writers, readers, the media, and so on. It's kind of like the cult of celebrity, but in the publishing world. Popular writers get more attention, which leads to more marketing and the like.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

"Better Than AI Slop" Seriously! I find it hard to believe that generative AI would be able to generate all of the finer details in a work like this and do it right. I suspect it would create a tangled mess. I drew this with care, by hand. Each branch connects to a larger limb.

Denizens of the Diabolic Wood Weird Horror Art

Three demonic trees sporting dreadful faces and grasping limbs stand in the dark in this original horror artwork by Richard H. Fay.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'd even go farther and say it's more about popularity than about quality. Sadly, I've never won any popularity contests, going back to kindergarten.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Re-sharing my dark poem "Corpse-Candles", published Jun 2008 in NITEBLADE, Sep 2008 in LOST INNOCENCE: A NITEBLADE ANTHOLOGY, Oct 2010 in DEADMAN'S TOME, and Aug 2023 in COSMIC JOURNEYS AND GOTHIC VISIONS. #poem #poetry #darkpoem #darkpoetry @stuartmiller1.bsky.social @corutaniconnolly.bsky.social

Corpse-Candles

by Richard H. Fay

Glittering bright orbs
Move through naked trees,
Dancing and darting
Like restless children
Playing hide-and-seek
In a quaint garden.

Souls lost in the night
Soar in the still air.
They gather near me,
But stay out of reach.
They lead me deeper
Into the dark wood.

As a moth to flame
I follow the lights.
Blackness surrounds me.
Only the flicker
Of spectral candles
Guides my reckless steps.

The ancient oaks part
To reveal headstones
Hidden in the wood.
A forlorn graveyard
Choked with thorny weeds
Lays beneath the stars.

Lights cavort above
The overgrown graves,
Then descend groundward.
I spy pale phantoms
Pining for warm flesh
Long reduced to dust.

The sad shades beckon
And draw me along
A perilous ridge.
Blindly I stumble
And tumble headfirst
Down a rocky grade.

Broken and bloodied,
My body grows cold.
As life ebbs away
From this mortal shell,
My spirit will join
That fey troupe of lights.

(Originally published June 2008 in Niteblade)

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

What does a dark poet need to do to get known as a dark poet? I've seen my dark poems published in a variety of publications, print and online, and I regularly share my dark poetry on social media, but I STILL feel like a relative unknown!

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

When does a firefly lack a fire? When it's a lantern-less diurnal firefly! Always wondered about the identity of beetles that look like fireflies without light organs. Now I know they're literally lantern-less fireflies. This is most likely a winter firefly (Ellychnia corrusca).

Beetle, probably a winter firefly, on a brick wall.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Re-sharing my dark poem "My Haunted House" (now in 3 parts) originally published April 2008 in Issue 284 of the webzine BEWILDERING STORIES. This one DIDN'T get added to my double-length collection. #poem #poetry #darkpoem #darkpoetry @stuartmiller1.bsky.social @corutaniconnolly.bsky.social

My Haunted House

by Richard H. Fay

Troubled memories drag me back
To the site of my deepest fears.
I travel once more to the spot
That spawned my most terrible dreams.
I draw near the frowning facade,
Set to face my personal Hell.
I must confront the ghosts within
For my soul to be truly free.

I ascend the rickety stairs
And turn the knob with sweaty palms.
An acrid, choking dust wells up
As I open the creaking door.
The scent of death hangs in the air.
Hot blood drums in my throbbing head
As I cross the crooked threshold
And enter my forsaken home.

1 of 3

Shadows move amongst the cobwebs
And drift across the filthy floor.
Echoes of dreadful thoughts and deeds
Resound throughout the dank abode.
Images of strife flood my mind.
A great sadness overtakes me
As the grey walls weep crimson tears
And the whole house shudders and sighs.

My chilled body shivers and shakes
As a prickly draught sweeps past me.
A violent vision appears
Before eyes blurred by bitter pain.
Seething anger and abject fear
Tie my stomach in tangled knots
As long buried torment returns
And my life's heartache is replayed.

Somehow I find the hidden strength
To challenge the grim, restless shades.
I take a deep breath, clench my fists,
And screw up my courage to cry
"Fell, black phantoms, haunt me no more!
Back to the past where you belong!"
Haggard spectres threaten gravely,
But I hold my ground against them.

2 of 3

Evil faces twist and distort
Into spiteful visions of hate.
Apparitions swirl about me
In a churning, whirring vortex.
Wispy hands reach out for my soul,
But I recoil from their cold touch.
"Enough!" I scream as I feel faint.
"Leave my wretched spirit alone!"

The dark wraiths wail pitifully,
Then the fearful scene fades to black.
The defeated phantoms retreat
Back into the dim murky mist
Of recollections and regrets.
I stumble down the rotten steps
And leave exhausted but content,
Glad to be rid of my demons
Once and for all.

(Originally published April 2008 in Issue 284 of the webzine BEWILDERING STORIES.)

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

One of the weirdest online arguments I ever had over my art was when someone claimed I don't know if the dragon in my fantasy artwork "Confronting the Dragon" is a spell-caster. Um, I created the work! I created that particular dragon. If I say it doesn't cast spells, it doesn't!

In a bleak withered landscape, a wizard with a green-glowing magic staff and blue-glowing dagger confronts a red dragon in this fantasy art by Richard H. Fay

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

At times, there are reasons certain things are stereotypes. For instance, there are certain similar occurrences reported in various different haunted locations. Adding such details to one's fictional works about hauntings lends them an air of potential realism.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Another example of why I take critics' comments with a dose of salt — I once caught critical hell for using stereotypical imagery ('twas blood dripping down walls) in one of my poems, although my intent in that piece was to deliberately use imagery reported in actual hauntings.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I've discovered stretch jeans and finally found jeans that are truly comfortable to wear.

Still BS
@StillBRS
Pro jeans folks sound like atheist-denying Christians, and I think there's a reason for that overlap. "People who hate jeans don't exist; I never met anyone who hates jeans." "You don't hate jeans you just haven't worn the right ones/the right size. You'll love them then."

LonelyGoomba
@LonelyGoomba
·
3h
The entire world is peer pressuring you to wear jeans despite them not being comfortable.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Contrary to what some folks like to suggest, when it comes to art, I know what I'm doing.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Contrary to what some folks like to suggest, when it comes to art, I know what I'm doing.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

As for my "Fantasy Winery" cover art for ADVENTURE HAVENS: BREWERS, DISTILLERS, AND VINTNERS, I think the quality of that one speaks for itself. It remains my most complex drawing to-date. The addition of the sleeping pocket dragon proves my adeptness at composition.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Considering everything I just said about the history of the art I shared here, me saying "anyone who thinks artworks like these are 'bad' just doesn't understand art" is more than mere subjective opinion, it's backed by a provable record of successes and positive reactions.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

My cover art for issue 9 of PLASMA FREQUENCY MAGAZINE featuring the Nump frogs from the story "Swampy Transitions" by Michael Hodges is a perennial favorite. The author of the story praised the work, and it's received further praise many times I've re-shared it on social media.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

My fantasy artwork "Conjuring the Dragon", with the sorceress conjuring a red dragon in swirling stylized smoke, has appeared on the covers of two different zines edited by two different editors — OG'S SPECULATIVE FICTION and SPACEPORTS & SPIDERSILK.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The Robin Hood piece originally appeared as a coloring page in an issue of the now-defunct print zine ABANDONED TOWERS. A while after its publication, I colored it digitally and added it to items in my stores. I've lost track of how many items featuring that work have sold. Lots.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I COULD share my extensive list of art publications, but I no longer have such a list online (closed down my Blogger blog a while back). The list is way too extensive to share on social media. I CAN point to one artwork of mine that was used on the covers of two different zines.

"Conjuring the Dragon" on the cover of Issue #32 of OG'S SPECULATIVE FICTION

"Conjuring the Dragon" on the cover of the Feb 2021 issue of SPACEPORTS & SPIDERSILK

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Ha! Says the troll bot! I laugh at human trolls. I do the same to AI ones.

Matthew
@Matthew_1455
"you can't tell me my art is bad or I'm gonna cry" art is subjective dipshit
1:41 PM · Oct 7, 2026
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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Keep in mind I'm not just an illustrator (some folks seem to think illustrators are "lesser artists" compared to "fine artists", which simply isn't true). I also do "art for art's sake" abstract pieces.

Rectangle Abstract Multi-Color (70s Style)

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Anyone who thinks artworks like these are "bad" just doesn't understand art.

Fantasy Winery
As the apron-clad proprietor of a fantasy winery looks on, a turban-wearing wizard tests the magical properties of the latest vintage while his dwarven companion wonders what's in a special tun set aside from the others. Unperturbed, a small pet dragon rests on the floor. This fantasy artwork by Richard H. Fay originally appeared on the cover of the role playing game supplement book ADVENTURE HAVENS: BREWERS, DISTILLERS, AND VINTNERS, published June 2020 by Bards and Sages Publishing.

Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest

Robin Hood shoots his longbow from the limb of a Sherwood oak while Friar Tuck and Little John look on in this work by Richard H. Fay, a piece which originally appeared as a coloring page in Issue #4 of ABANDONED TOWERS.

Illustration for Michael Hodges' "Swampy Transitions", cover art for Issue 9 of Plasma Frequency Magazine.
Accompanied by a Space Pirate Pete action figure on a stick stuck in the mud, red and purple Nump frogs hang out in their swampy abode.

Conjuring the Dragon

Parting a plume of magical smoke, a sorceress conjures up a scaly red dragon in this original fantasy artwork by Richard H. Fay. This work first appeared on the cover of OG's SPECULATIVE FICTION, Issue #32, published September 2011.

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Richard H Fay — Artist, Photographer, and Poet @azurelionprod.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I've been doing art for sale to the public LONG before I ever had to deal with criticisms from net-trolls. AI bros are simply the new net troll.

SJM
@Sjm777TheLibra
·
3m
Exactly people try to use harsh criticism on others but I am glad you still went on through to continue your art journey.

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