Wassy

Some DEFINITE props need to go to Frost, who did the programming so the display could be as wonderfully book-like as it is.

I have something to add to the project.

=)

I would still keep that very VERY loose and it wouldn't be in your complete best interest to nail down exact poses (and not on an actual sheet you give to every artist). If you work with a good artist, you SHOULD be getting a bunch of thumbnails with a lot of choices (Howard Pyle said he would do 50 thumbs for every piece, even if he went with the first one he did). If the artist gets that stuff and says "OK, I guess this is exactly the pose they want", they might not explore different avenues where they might stumble upon something completely kick *** that neither of you had thought of.

Case in point, on the deadly sin piece I'm doing for my class, I thought I had the perfect composition and idea before I started. But I still had to do 30 thumbs as a requirement. So I started really playing around... and something like 15-20 in I nailed on an extremely different composition and scene that TOTALLY blew away what I originally planned on doing. The concept was by far and way stronger, and composition way more interesting. I spent my last 10 thumbs refining that idea and have now ended up with something I'll be including in my final portfolio.

If you direct facial expressions and posing (which is just as expressive) too much right off the bat, you might shoot yourself in the foot. And since you mentioned language barrier... giving a pose sheet might make that even WORSE because without being able to say "explore along these lines", the artist might assume he/she IS totally limited to what you gave!

I would prefer a bio to a mood board and a model sheet to screenshots. A mood board is something *I* would explore myself to get a feel for the character. I'm using the model sheet so I can get the costume, proportions, etc. etc. right. If I have a bunch of expressions already mapped out for me when I do my own thumbnails, that's going to take away from the connection I get with your character to bring them to life.

Its like seeing a movie and THEN reading the book. The characters invariably turn into the actors you saw already when you start reading, not just in face, but in action. If I get a model sheet and a bio, I can see how the character should LOOK, but then I do what you hired me for and bring the scene you want to life with my views of what facial and body expressions best convey the character's personality.

Ah... didn't realize they would lock up a legit thread because the OP failed at the internet.

Could this sort of info go in the already-existing Art Request sticky? I know Bayani linked to a write-up he already did as well.

Even an addendum to The Resource could work, because any artist-types could de-mystify what it is that we look for in references and how the artistic process can be made to run most smoothly, so people don't have to wonder if we'll burn down their hometowns with lasers from our eyes if they ask us questions about it =)

Seriously. If some great FREE advice is too hot to handle, best to move along.

But some other people have come by and picked up on the good info, so all in all, I'd give the thread a thumbs up. No matter how much control he seems to think he has over the mods.

That sort of niceness can't be found on the internet. Clearly, LJ is Satan.

Also, that post was so hilariously epic, I might need to frame it.

That gives me an idea!

*does the Lounge Crooner in a Speedo*

I love ALL your characters, Joph!

As Caemgen mentioned... you're probably not going to find an artist who specifically offers model sheets. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't do them, as it falls under some of their other pricing structures. I wouldn't make up a whole new category on my website for model sheets because I price by media (which is a better reflection of the time it takes), but if asked to do one I could price it out.

As pointed out by Suichiro, and maybe you don't mean it, but you are coming off as totally blowing off all the good suggestions by people who both commission frequently AND do the commissions. You wanted help with making your process easier, but have just been arguing as to why what you thought all along was the right way anyway!

Model sheets helps artists. This isn't different strokes, its just the way it is. Yes, you definitely have room for improving your references via screenshots and can get something serviceable that way. But its just plain not your best option, and you were looking for best options. If you want second or third best option, improve your screenshots.

If you have a problem asking artists questions about what they can do for you, you're not going to get much of anywhere. Its EXTREMELY frustrating working with someone who thinks anything they say to you will be a bother. I take on clients because I WANT to do commissions and I WANT to work for them. If they can't communicate with me because they feel its rude to ask me anything, that does NOT make the process easier. It makes it horrible. Caemgen also mentioned that more communication is better than less, and I can't stress how much I agree.

It was right of you to look for some advice, because your current stance on the process is WAAAAAY off base. You just now need to seriously consider TAKING some of the advice.

Alright, you just wanted more insight into the process, and from the artist's insight, the model sheets will generally allow me to put out a better result with faster turn-around.

Eh, don't think that a model sheet is going to influence the style of most decent artists. You mentioned Bayani... notice the huge amount of different art he has? Still using that McKinney model sheet. The artists are getting the costume information they need and going from there. As another example, I gave MY model sheet to Steve Sanchez for a sketchshot and got this...



... and I couldn't be more pleased. He got the important details of her costume (those receivers are a HUGE part of her character), but still is 100% his style, which is what I wanted.

Also, model sheets ARE exactly your interpretation, including if there are aspects to the character costume you can't get in-game. That wasn't how McKinney would have pictured Bayani... Bayani was very particular about the sheet so it was exactly how HE saw his character, and the exact costume he has, so future artists can get that information in the most efficient way possible.

I'm sure nobody would mind if I just gave you a pass for May because 2/3s of these projects revolve around me! =D

I think its completely fair and above any sort of suspicion. Yup.

=(

Oh no, I actually for real did mess up Scooter's. But he was another one that didn't put his name with his sent address, and I remembered it from PayPal incorrectly.

For Blood Wolffe's (unless I'm wrong), I went back and looked through what came on PayPal, because I only got the address.

The worse part about Scooter's is I should have remembered it, because its my dad's name, too!

Yeah, that's why mine still has my husband's name, even though I'm the one that uses it. You can't change names on accounts, and since that one is old and well-established (and still linked to the correct bank), I don't really want to bother with doing a whole new one. I also don't know if they would let me link another PayPal account to the same bank account. So I understand PayPal issues.

In between pre-press, printing, gessoing, photographing, color testing, and transferring a couple sketches to their respective boards this weekend, I managed to finish ever-gracious Valkyrie Rising's sketch commission. Iris Goodheart.

As an artist, I greatly prefer seeing a model sheet of your character. Really cuts down on miscommunication issues or me having to re-create your costume in the costume creator because I can't tell what's what from the screens (which I've had to do a LOT and its not a great use of time).

I also encourage people to get involved with their pieces. If you learn more about the artistic process, then you become an asset to the artist that you've hired. Working in a vacuum almost never gets my best results. When I can back and forth with someone and get even more ideas flying, then the end product is much stronger. This is why we have things like art directors and group critiques. You might think you've come to your absolute strongest composition, but then you run it by another person, and they see something that can bring it up to the next level.

Yep. As said in the OP, you can do one or all of the sins/virtues. As long as your piece is intentionally centered around the sins and/or virtues, you can do as many as you want. Like, if you had a way to vignette all of them into one piece, that would be totally acceptable.

Anyone have any other ideas what would be a good reward for winning a month's vote? I still think winning a month should come with some sort of bonus for the winner. I think that if we wanted a system where you were voted to advance, you'd have to set up a full bracket at the beginning.

Yep, probably in a couple weeks. Finishing up the semester. I have a TON of stuff to upload to my site, and Frost is adding a couple sections for me.

VexXxa's links have worked fine for me.

Congrats to JohnnyKat! Now get sinning, sinners!

All I have to say is this...

...

I have a gigantic amount of pre-press work going on and Photoshop just crashed >=/

Accursed Adobe black magic.