Looking for an artist...

I am currently looking for an artist interested in perhaps working on an independant comic series with limited distribution in the North East. Very limited distro; probably no more than a a couple of 1000 issues. I've seen some great art here on this forum and would be interested in taking submissions. Important notes:

*Because of the fact that I would be financially backing this venture, any money earned would first be used to pay for the neccissary materials involved in printing and release and then what's left could be divided up. We are talking small time here folks. The prime reason to enter this would be to see your work published; perhaps something for your portfolio.
*The story is already written and has been rewritten. Your working with a completely original set of charecters and rules to a defined universe. The story is superhero based...with a twist.
*I'm looking for decent art work; I don't expect a professional. I want someone who can produce work proficiently and at a decent speed.
*I will look at everything. Please submit; no one art style is what I am looking for.

Email is oct14@cox.net

Produce work profiently AND at a decent speed? Drat.

Just send it too me; we can discuss time later!

I need some more confidense before I take something like this on.

Good luck to you though.

Man... see, if I was good enough I'd do it... but alas, I'm not...

Aww I think Juggy could totally do it !

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Aww I think Juggy could totally do it !

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agreed.
Jugg, you do some great work as such I dont think you should sell yourself short. Not saying you should do this but I believe you have the talent to pull it off for sure hands down.~

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Aww I think Juggy could totally do it !

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agreed.
Jugg, you do some great work as such I dont think you should sell yourself short. Not saying you should do this but I believe you have the talent to pull it off for sure hands down.~

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agreed!


He totally could!

First... spell check your entry.

Second, judging on the description, this is a NON PAYING job. Comics, especially small unknown independents, do not make money. I've worked on several titles. I'm still owed money from EVERY single venture I've helped out in. And anyone with a even the barest HINT of talent, shouldn't lower themselves to doing things for free. The line "it'll look good on your resume!" doesn't work. From my experience, there is something MORE important in an art portfolio than most work experience. YOUR OWN WORK. Your own ORIGINAL work. Not things you do for a job. So focusing on the progression of your own talents actually counts for more than a small independent comic job.

Good stories go through a lot of re-writes. If its twice rewritten, it should probably go through several more re-writes before its solid. My friend is going through her fourth or fifth editing/re-write of her SIX HUNDRED PAGE novel.

I'm only aggressive right now because I don't want to see any of the artists in here get burned the way I have in the past.

I'm not bitter, just realistic.

Here's a nice tale for ya,

---

Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him.

“It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.”

So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the women his work of art.

“It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?”

“Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.

“B-b-but, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!”

To which Picasso responded, “Madame, it took me my entire life.”


---

To my Fellow Artists. Don't sell us short.

I self publish. Alot of small Zines and what not(mostly Punky-DIY stuff) and I dropped 5k last year into an Art Book that doesn't sell, but gets nice write ups.

For me, it's not about the money per se. It's the respect and acknowledgement of my peers... but Last year's book Bankrupted me. I lost/quit my job, moved cross country to live with my Sister and her Husband begrudgingly. I'm in debt about 16k with no prospects of really ever being able to pay any of it back within a reasonable amount of time so as to not hurt my credit, yadda, yadda...

Sure, Like I said: It's not really about the money per se... but it sure helps.

Me 2 bits... wait, on second thought I might need those for bus fare.

-CJ

OUCH! Now I feel like a creep for placing this offer on the board. Here, let me better explain myself...

I previously worked on computers for a living, all the while I had been tinkering with an idea for a comic. To be honest, eventually the job started to wear at my health; I got huge and fat. So, I shifted to a physically demanding job for health purposes, all the while, I continued to tinker with an idea for a comic. I bounced it off of friends, who game me their insight and opinions. I was never happy with what I was putting down.

Sure enough, 2 years later and a signifigant weigh drop, I had come up with a script for a 3 issue mini-series; I handed it over to those I trusted(I am generally a shy person and find it difficult to deal with criticism). My friends were honest; it needed some tweaking...7 months later I recieved a resounding "yes" on th finished story. In total, the script has been rewritten about 15 times.

I myself don't make a ton of cash and am taking a massive financial strain onto me; I've got a wife and a kid and I don't take this lightly expense-wise.

I respect artists greatly; I myself have pickd up a pencil and would do so again for this project, if not for the fact that it takes me entirely too long to produce an end project that looks exceptable. I am not looking for someone who wants a "job"; I am looking for someone who wants to maybe make their own dream come true and perhaps turn this into something bigger they can make cash off of.

I believe in my product, enough that I think if I brought it to a publisher I could sell it, but I don't want to sell it. It's my blood, sweat and tears(fat too) and if I can get an artist(which I will) it will be something we could grow together. I have no mythical belief of getting rich and famous over this, I just want to get my vision out there.

This also isn't something that's done after the mini-series; this comic series could continue. I have a millenia of ideas for this comic and have an interesting format plan for following issues.

I agree, cash is important...but is that really the reason you become an artist? Or is it to create and watch something come to life before you? I'm not here to rip anyone off, I just wanted to throw an offer out to this small community who has a very good collection of artists.

_Jugs has the skill for something like this. Not only does he seemt to be quick he has a nice and unique style.

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OUCH! Now I feel like a creep for placing this offer on the board. Here, let me better explain myself...

I previously worked on computers for a living, all the while I had been tinkering with an idea for a comic. To be honest, eventually the job started to wear at my health; I got huge and fat. So, I shifted to a physically demanding job for health purposes, all the while, I continued to tinker with an idea for a comic. I bounced it off of friends, who game me their insight and opinions. I was never happy with what I was putting down.

Sure enough, 2 years later and a signifigant weigh drop, I had come up with a script for a 3 issue mini-series; I handed it over to those I trusted(I am generally a shy person and find it difficult to deal with criticism). My friends were honest; it needed some tweaking...7 months later I recieved a resounding "yes" on th finished story. In total, the script has been rewritten about 15 times.

I myself don't make a ton of cash and am taking a massive financial strain onto me; I've got a wife and a kid and I don't take this lightly expense-wise.

I respect artists greatly; I myself have pickd up a pencil and would do so again for this project, if not for the fact that it takes me entirely too long to produce an end project that looks exceptable. I am not looking for someone who wants a "job"; I am looking for someone who wants to maybe make their own dream come true and perhaps turn this into something bigger they can make cash off of.

I believe in my product, enough that I think if I brought it to a publisher I could sell it, but I don't want to sell it. It's my blood, sweat and tears(fat too) and if I can get an artist(which I will) it will be something we could grow together. I have no mythical belief of getting rich and famous over this, I just want to get my vision out there.

This also isn't something that's done after the mini-series; this comic series could continue. I have a millenia of ideas for this comic and have an interesting format plan for following issues.

I agree, cash is important...but is that really the reason you become an artist? Or is it to create and watch something come to life before you? I'm not here to rip anyone off, I just wanted to throw an offer out to this small community who has a very good collection of artists.

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No, our hope as artists is to do what we love. I don't love retail. I don't love service jobs. I love drawing.

I am a starving artist. I do not make enough every month to support myself, but I continue to do art because its what I love, and I'd rather not make enough every month doing what I love, than making just enough to get by, and being utterly drained of all creative energy by working 40 hour weeks at some retail shop.

If I was in the art industry to be making money, I'd be swimming in it right? Wrong. Even artists who do end up making a good deal, get the [censored] end of the stick. My friend made 110K a few years back off his art. 40K went to taxes. 60K is still a goodly sum, but when art supplies, rent, and a bad divorce go through you, you're left with a negative in the bank.

If I wanted to make money as an artist, I'd go into technical or graphic design. That's where a good chunk of the money is...

The reality is that artists should be paid to work on projects that are what someone ELSE babies. This is YOUR project, granted while a good friendship MAY evolve from this, you have to remember, YOU are still the boss. Even with back-end pay, you are contracting an artist to help you create this vision. The comics industry is BROKEN when it comes to paying artists. And what helps to facilitate this?

"I have a great idea! I just need an artist to do the art for me and I'll pay them when the book comes out! I know how to sell it!"

So a young artist, new talent, steps up to the plate full of energy and creativity, and hops on board. They may work long hours, they may give up a good chunk of their free time to work on this project hoping and wishing they'll get paid in the end.

The book finishes, the 'creator' ends up paying for the printing out of the money meant for the artist, and another jaded artist is born. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen this scenario.

I cannot tell you how many friends this has happened to.

You know what? If its a good story, take it to a publisher, let them critique it. Try getting into anthologies first. Four or five page stories, easy to produce for both the artist and writer. It also means that paying the artist will be easier.

The problem is that artists are beaten down with this stupid ideal in this industry that they SHOULD do work for free. Because obviously the person who's got this brilliant idea, is going to be able to sell it.

One of my friends pitches hundreds of ideas out to Hollywood. He meets with Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Universal, Cartoon Network... So, out of those hundred shows, how many got opted to run as a series?

None.

And they're good ideas.

If this story is personal to you, then perhaps present it as text first, let folks see what its about, and go from there...

But any artist worth their salt should.not.do.spec.or.free.work for a long project.

Its not fair to either the writer or the artist. Period.

tell us how ya really feel, say

...but you do bring up a buncha good points. I too know a few artists and in order to make ends meet they are forced to work other jobs...and we are talking great artists. yet, dispite this fine work they do....dispite the long hours they get nuthin for pay (in the grand scheme) and are left taking each day as it comes.

what does this mean in the end? not much, especially coming from me...an unknown in the wilds of the internet. even so, I would definately take a good long hard look at what Sayterra has to say...these are words of wisdom my friend, heed them well.~

"...but you do bring up a buncha good points."

I agree. Again, I have no intention of ripping anyone off. You say you know a fair number of struggling artists and people who get tricked into doing work for nothing. This doesn't surprise me; there are a fair number of shady people out there who make big promises and leave someone holding the bag.

I have made no promises about this project and have been up front about my expectations and requested for artists that really just want to see something they did in print. I don't offer them cash and glittering prizes; if there is an interest in the story I will persue this and sink additional funds into this.

Your suggestion of taking my story to a publisher is nice, but frankly I don't know anything about how a publishing deal goes; I don't have a lawyer and frankly I don't want one. Alot of comic books and people in the field have started off with self published work that they earned little or no money from for years. I have also heard of people being horribly burned trying to publish their work and frankly, hearing all the backroom workings of these business men and artists(both the writers AND the sketch artists) I don't know that I want to enter that area of the business.

I don't want to get rich, I'm not promising that you will if you assist me in creating this book. I can't even promise a check. I don't know how much more honest and up front I can be with everyone and frankly I don't know why I'm being attacked for the offer. I am sorry if you got burned in a deal you made with someone, that's too bad. I have a firm respect for artists and the time they put into their projects. It would be wrong to accept this project if you were looking to make a steady pay check; I don't intend to make a steady paycheck from this.

I meant no offense by this offer, so if you took offense I hope you forgive me.

No offense taken hun, I'm just trying to present the other side.

You don't need a lawyer to take a book to a publisher. If you read comics, look at what companies you enjoy titles from, then see what their submission guidelines are. IMAGE has them on their website:

http://www.imagecomics.com/submissions.php

DC has a talent search:

http://dccomics.com/about/?action=submissions

The only time I've ever needed a lawyer was when I was owed money. You wont need a lawyer for a proposal. You'll just need an iron hide. Sometimes critiques are beyond harsh. If someone says "this sucks" your reply should be "Well, tell me how, why, where, when it sucks...and I can fix it."

Publishing on your own is also hard, I've dealt with that side both personally and with friends. There are a LOT of idiotic printing companies. There are a lot of good ones. Quebecor up in Canada does fabulous books, but shipping over to the US is expensive. My friend went through them exclusively. Their staff is phenomenal.

If you want the soundest, safest advice?

Kinkos or any other small place. Do a small 12-16 page book and present to to folks at conventions. Grab a small press table, and start there. GIVE them away. The initial cost of doing a color cover 16 page book at 100 printings is roughly 60-80 bucks, staple bound. Give them out to folks you admire.

Out of 100 books I gave out many years ago, I got feedback from roughly a dozen people. But those folks were animation and industry greats, and it was a good boost for my confidence. It also landed me my first concept illustration job.

As to conventions, I highly recommend APE (Alternative Press Expo) in San Francisco. Comic Con in San Diego...WonderCon... DragonCon... There are enough venues to find people to help you grow as a writer.

Good luck.

Sayterra, thank you very much for the advice...I know very little about the business aspect of comics and it's great to get some real input! I feel my number one issue I must learn to deal with is the critic; I tend to just withdraw after a bad review...

Who doesn't withdraw after a bad review. I was rejected by Pixar this summer. But it wasn't a bad rejection, just "we don't have room for you right now"...

STILL a rejection.

You hafta look at it this way, every critique is a way to improve, and every suggestion is giving you various paths to walk down and try out and see if they work. Some might be harder than others but in the long run, you'll find a way that works for you.

*BUMP*....again....

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*BUMP*....again....

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*ahem* (I miss Cuppa so.......)



Thats against the EULA to bump a thread for the sake of bumping!