For over a decade, I’ve been dealing with an injury affecting the nerves and muscles of my right arm, from my neck down to my hand. Years of long drawing hours and overwork have gradually taken their toll.
The first incident happened nearly ten years ago, but things took a serious turn in 2024. By late 2025, I had reached a breaking point. The pain and weakness had become severe enough to interfere with everyday life. Even something as simple as brushing my teeth with my right hand became painful, and for months, I had to use my other hand instead.
I’m gradually recovering, but the condition hasn’t gone away. The pain still comes and goes, especially after long drawing sessions, and my right arm can no longer handle the same workload it once could. For someone who draws for a living, it’s been a difficult adjustment.
A New Autograph with an Old Beginning
By mid-2026, I introduced a new autograph so I could continue signing artwork for collectors and fans without putting unnecessary strain on my injured arm. But this autograph means a little more to me than simply being a practical solution.
Its design is based on the very first personal logo I created for myself, a stylized “RL” made from my initials. I used it back when I was still working as an Art Director at a multinational corporation, long before I left my job to pursue illustration full-time.
That little logo was there at the beginning of my professional journey, before the comic covers, conventions, and everything that followed. The experiences from those early years helped shape who I am today, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
In a way, bringing that old design back feels like coming full circle.
This autograph carries a piece of where I started, where I’ve been, and how I’m learning to move forward.
I hope you’ll welcome this new autograph into your collection. Thank you, as always, for your kindness and support.
