Richard A. Spake is a freelance artist and writer of what he considers only some moderate skill that has somehow gained a small following of fans to which he will be extremely forever grateful.

Richard is best known to the local gaming community for his Character Portraits that he has drawn for several years now. Richard, for a time, was forced by circumstances beyond his control due to several family emergencies, to take a five year hiatus from being able to draw on a professional level. That period of his life is finally over and he has started back to drawing again professionally.

Richard has been very busy in the past two years. He has been working for two role-playing game companies illustrating some very interesting game books. For Dog House Rules, he has just finished illustrating The Fort Griffin Echo Vol. 1 No. 2 for their incredible Sidewinder: Recoiled RPG. Also for Battlefield Press Publishing's new game based on Eric Flint's fascinating novel 1632. The owners of Battlefield Press were so impressed with his work, and how fast Richard was able to provide them with quality artwork (he was able to draw 30 drawings in just over the span of a month!), they have asked him to Illustrate the 1633 Year Book, a Victorian-fantasy RPG, a Pulp-fantasy RPG and several other books for them as well. Dog House Rules are also very pleased with Richard's artwork and his efforts to make sure they were completely satisfied with the work that was sent to them. They too have asked Richard to provide more artwork for them as well for several upcoming projects. Namely further issues of the Fort Griffin Echo! 

Richard has recently been approached to work on several other projects as well by UKG Publishing, Tri-Tac Games, and Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. Richard also has recently entered into a contract that will allow for him to begin selling a set of genre specific portfolios of his work online and has started negotiations for a contract that will allow for him to begin working on honing his writing talents as well, with a modern setting Role-Playing game project.

Richard would like to thank everyone whom had helped at getting him back out into the swing of things once more, and give his heartfelt thanks to those whom have supported his efforts for the past few years. Richard thanks several of his very good friends whom had convinced him that it would be good for him to get back to drawing again, and they have been so very right!