That is truly rude. If someone goes to the trouble to gift me with unsolicited or just plain free artwork, I am more grateful than I can express but I do thank the donor the best I can.
I got the "Use mine for practice!" crap last night. I am trying to build up my portfolio, but I don't want to hear that.
It makes me angry. I also got...
Q. U drew ________ so y wont you draw meh?
A. Because I OFFERED to draw them, you [censored].
[ QUOTE ]
Was that your plan too?
Great mind and all huh?
[/ QUOTE ]
I even got a TA mask I can wear while typing!
Ok, joking aside, I can't even think of asking. I just don't know anyone well enough to bug the heck out of them.
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*cough* Moving on.
Hex's top 10 list of the wrong way to ask for art.
10. ZOMG U R awesome! Draw meh plz!?!
9. Will sum1 draw my toon plz!?! kthxbye.
8. Give me free art!
7. Can u draw my toon? Can u draw my toon? Can u draw my toon?
6. Draw my toon for free or I'll tell everyone that you suck and not to use you.
5. Draw my toon for free or I'll go to someone else.
4. If you draw my toon I'll send some business your way.
3. A friend told me you did free art, here's the list of characters I want done. kthxbye.
2. Can you draw my toon? btw I need it done in a week.
1. You need the practise so why don't you draw my toon?
[/ QUOTE ]
You forgot a few.
11. If you draw my toon I won't show your baby pics all over the internet.
12. I promise if you draw my toon I won't follow you home.
13. If you draw me I'll remove the shower cam from your house.
14. Please don't think I'm weird but if you draw my toon I'll stop stealing your underwear.
15. If you draw my character I will give you a .00000000000001% chance of seeing 'Hexgirl's Exposed' comic.
[/ QUOTE ]
It was a top 10 list, not a top 15
And no one gets to see that comic!
�Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play!� - Thomas Gray
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On a side note, if someone gives you gift art you should acknowledge it unless you want them to regret doing it. I did a piece for someone a while back, took me about a week. After it was done, I posted it online and even sent them the source file. I got no thank you at any point, and there was never any return email even just telling me they got the file. Messages go awry sometimes, but this would've been a lot of awry.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's just flat out rude. I know when you did that piece of Hex when I was sick that we had many back and fourths via PM's and I proudly display the finished piece in my gallery. (even if I didn't understand the whole negative effect thing But I still love the finished piece 
)
�Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play!� - Thomas Gray
[ QUOTE ]
I got the "Use mine for practice!" crap last night. I am trying to build up my portfolio, but I don't want to hear that.
It makes me angry. I also got...
Q. U drew ________ so y wont you draw meh?
A. Because I OFFERED to draw them, you [censored].
[/ QUOTE ]
Ya, that's the crap I hate right there. Which is why it ended up on my list hehe.
I'm fully aware my art SUCKS. I KNOW I need practise. But I don't need people telling me such, especially when not asked.
�Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play!� - Thomas Gray
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
On a side note, if someone gives you gift art you should acknowledge it unless you want them to regret doing it. I did a piece for someone a while back, took me about a week. After it was done, I posted it online and even sent them the source file. I got no thank you at any point, and there was never any return email even just telling me they got the file. Messages go awry sometimes, but this would've been a lot of awry.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's just flat out rude. I know when you did that piece of Hex when I was sick that we had many back and fourths via PM's and I proudly display the finished piece in my gallery. (even if I didn't understand the whole negative effect thing But I still love the finished piece )
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats happened to me also - I thought about telling him/her in-game, in case he/she missed it, but I decided not to.
Scarf_Girl�s Official Kid Brother!
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I got the "Use mine for practice!" crap last night. I am trying to build up my portfolio, but I don't want to hear that.
It makes me angry. I also got...
Q. U drew ________ so y wont you draw meh?
A. Because I OFFERED to draw them, you [censored].
[/ QUOTE ]
Ya, that's the crap I hate right there. Which is why it ended up on my list hehe.
I'm fully aware my art SUCKS. I KNOW I need practise. But I don't need people telling me such, especially when not asked.
[/ QUOTE ]
Your arts great hon. Im sure others would agree with me.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I got the "Use mine for practice!" crap last night. I am trying to build up my portfolio, but I don't want to hear that.
It makes me angry. I also got...
Q. U drew ________ so y wont you draw meh?
A. Because I OFFERED to draw them, you [censored].
[/ QUOTE ]
Ya, that's the crap I hate right there. Which is why it ended up on my list hehe.
I'm fully aware my art SUCKS. I KNOW I need practise. But I don't need people telling me such, especially when not asked.
[/ QUOTE ]
Your arts great hon. Im sure others would agree with me.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I don't know what your talking about, Hex, your stuff is sweet Especially the chibi orc
Scarf_Girl�s Official Kid Brother!
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I got the "Use mine for practice!" crap last night. I am trying to build up my portfolio, but I don't want to hear that.
It makes me angry. I also got...
Q. U drew ________ so y wont you draw meh?
A. Because I OFFERED to draw them, you [censored].
[/ QUOTE ]
Ya, that's the crap I hate right there. Which is why it ended up on my list hehe.
I'm fully aware my art SUCKS. I KNOW I need practise. But I don't need people telling me such, especially when not asked.
[/ QUOTE ]
Your arts great hon. Im sure others would agree with me.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I don't know what your talking about, Hex, your stuff is sweet Especially the chibi orc
[/ QUOTE ]
Blah. It blows. I know it, it's ok.
I'm thinking of taking an anatomy class. Not sure when that will happen though since I'm gonna be homeless in 2-3 months.
�Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play!� - Thomas Gray
Ok well lemme see if I can ask properly...
I am showing you my toon because I feel the concept is perfect (lemme be a lil prideful ). I always wondered what he would look like drawn out, but I am still having trouble getting it myself.
If anyone would like to do a sketch of my character Dead West, send me an email. I feel that it will be a great experience for both of us (Not saying practice, but I think you would enjoy it.)
If I am wrong then let me be wrong. No point in flaming me, thats just unneccesary.
Thanks for your time!
United Powers of Paragon
"Hope is the last thing a person does before giving up."
-Henry Rollins
www.theirongategallery.com/ (They will do custom costumes if you ask really really nice)
None for you!!!!
Seriously though, I can't draw right now.
�Alas, regardless of their doom, the little victims play!� - Thomas Gray
My opinions are perhaps a bit different than most, but I'd say don't assume anything about your target. Saying "I feel like it'd be a good experience" isn't valid, because you have no clue what the artist may or may not like. Taking the immediate stance on your character that he's 'perfect' is also not something advisable. The object here is to get someone to become interested in doing art for you, not become insulted and completely ignore your post. There's no room for pride when you're groveling for art.
Everyone has different opinions on things. Instead of saying he's perfect, just say "He's very close to my heart" or "I like my character very much" because that's a personal opinion. It's not trying to state a fact. I for one, think that he's got way too much black in his outfit and the magic border pattern and cape just don't make sense at all. So when I hear that, I immediately feel like what you want doesn't match up with what I want. Which would lead to me not doing art for you. Also, changing the wording of the 'email me' part would help. The artist shouldn't have to come to you, you should go to them.
A better post would turn the speech inwards and focus on your own feelings.
"Would you please consider drawing my toon? I really enjoy him and he means a lot to me. I always wondered what he would look like drawn out, but I am still having trouble getting it myself.
If anyone would like to do a sketch of my character Dead West, I can provide any details the might be neccessary. I would really enjoy it if anyone took on the project and I'd be very grateful. Thank you."
http://www.virtueverse.net/wiki/Massacre_Melanie -the original Fire/Dark Corruptor -
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=115217
The Guide to BURN
I appreciate the the critique, but that was the wrong outfit.
I will be more than happy to sit here and do it myself, in fact I need to do that and will. BUt I am not groveling for anything. I would just putting it out there to see if there was an artist interested in doing my design. If there isnt, then ok. But if someone came along and said, "Hey you know what, I like Ghoultown too." and wanted to draw it, then we would talk. But honestly it should end there cause I will tell you trying to preach online is kinda like ...... with Icy Hot. There is no real point to it and at the end of the day you are just raw.
United Powers of Paragon
"Hope is the last thing a person does before giving up."
-Henry Rollins
www.theirongategallery.com/ (They will do custom costumes if you ask really really nice)
Ew.
I think we could do without THAT image.
As for asking for 'art'... I agree with Suichiro. The artist is doing you a favor, not the other way 'round. If you have specifics you would like to see drawn (poses, costumes, details) and aren't willing to see some compromises... consider an art commission, where you pay money and get to call the shots.
When Jim Tessier drew my natural fire/fire blaster (who juggles torches in a circus act), he drew her as actually on fire. That was his interpretation, and I thought it looked great, very sassy and sexy and fun.
But if I were to PAY Jim or anyone else to draw her, I'd ask that she be drawn with actual torches in her hands, and not conjuring fire from nowhere, because that's not what she does.
That's the difference between a 'freebie' and a paid commission. One you give up artistic interpretation, time, media, etc., the other you give up cash. Simple.
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Well from what I can gather and pointed out very well in the beginning of this thread is that to start off, the screen shots while fun to look at, aren't very good for reference. I'm only assuming he's a rifle scrapper, and must say I prefer the trenchcoat, masked face look, then the earliar pieces with the magic symbol cape and details... Those are a pain to draw, believe me I just did one an hour ago, and I purposefully did a motion blur on them to de-emphasize them.
I like your toon's name, but without even the smallest of bios, I'm left to guess my own input. Is he an undead cowboy? Is a soldier from the Southwest? You get my point? If I felt like sketching him, I'd just go for it, but then he might be waaaay off base of what you know and love...
Asking properly to me is about two things, politeness first and above all, and secondly preparation on the asker's part.
"Here's a screen, if you want to draw him, email me..." makes me think NEXT! I have no incentive to give my time to it, unless the charm of the poster out weighted the needs of the few... or the beans of the many...
No offense meant.
LJ
I grovel good for art.
Yesssss. Yessss master. Hehheheh hehehhehhe hehe. Arts goooood master. Thank you maaaaaster.
I really like the art. What can I say.
**Edit**
But seriously, appreciate the Artists for the hard work they do on your behalf. Charity is great, but if you get indignant over a piece of art you haven't paid for, you could sour the Artist from doing such things in the future. And worst of all, if you could pay for the Art, but complained anyways, you could ruin the chance of someone who legitimately can't pay for the Art to be excluded entirely from that part of the community. Be polite, greatful, and enthusiastic about the Artists work, and they will show their appreciation for your support with superb pieces you'd be overjoyed to have. But most of the major points have been touched on. I haven't the need to lecture you all on things you already know.
You know what amazes me most about reading all this? The fact a thread like this is needed. That people have the hide to behave in a rude fashion to someone doing them a favour, particularlily such as art which is an impressive and entirely marketable skill.
I am one who as much as any loves my characters, and cannot draw at all. Yet while I frquent this area of the boards to see some of the work, which in most cases is simply a joy too look at, I cannot concieve of asking someone to draw my characters out of the blue. I do hope anyone that has made such a request reads this thread and realises that courtesy and a willingness to remunterate an artist in some fashion are necessary to any such requests.
I have had a commission done once, and been so very pleased with the results, and I hope I was always positive and helpful to the artist I was paying.
Art is not a basic skill, especially art of someone elses vision. Any artist willing to take on your vision, be it due to a paid commission or shear kindness deserves the utmost courtesy.
People really try that "you can use it for practice" crap? Really the hide of some people amaze me.
Finally another reason I posted if you have helped someone out here with art and they haven't been able to trade anything back, and you happen to be on Liberty, or have toons that need influence, send a tell to my Global. Kindness shouldn't ever go entirely un-rewarded. (plus it gives me an excuse to play my fifty more just for fun)
Current Hero: Memoriam
Current Villian:Matty the Burn
Global Chat: Azazel005
So, anyone else have anything to add beforethis gets stickied?? 
Excellent post, very worthy of being stickied. It seems like obvious enough advice, and yet... it is certainly needed.
Agreed. Though I disagree with the last part of 4, I wholly agree with all of 5. I feel so bad begging for people to actually do things like this for me and not having money to spend willy-nilly on their arts that I just don't. Maybe I'm just too proud... Oh well... More power to you artsy-fartsy types. Good guide... good guide.
*looks around the scary place cautiously*
If you like a piece, especially a commissioned piece, don't PM/email/note the owner of it and ask/plead/beg/threaten them to somehow get you free art from the artist. Its both dishonest and annoying.
Bumppitty Bump Bump! Bump!
Read all 8 pages, and then get ready for a battery of questions... cuz that's how we roll
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Bumppitty Bump Bump! Bump!
Read all 8 pages, and then get ready for a battery of questions... cuz that's how we roll
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WHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYY!!!
On a side note, if someone gives you gift art you should acknowledge it unless you want them to regret doing it. I did a piece for someone a while back, took me about a week. After it was done, I posted it online and even sent them the source file. I got no thank you at any point, and there was never any return email even just telling me they got the file. Messages go awry sometimes, but this would've been a lot of awry.
www.battlewraith.deviantart.com