Free art?

This may be an awkward way of asking, but how does someone ask for free art?
I understand that I can't go to an artist and say "Artz plz?"
The problem is, I have no money, being a student and all, so I can't afford to pay for art.
Makes me sad, as I'd love to have some really wicked shots of my main.
Any suggestions?

My suggestions:

Participate in the art forum here... Join in discussions, comment on art people show, etc. You don't have to fawn over everything but being around will help.

Watch for posts offering free art. They pop up suprisingly often. Sometimes it's just someone who is bored, sometimes it's someone trying a new style... Or just getting started.

Offer payment in something besides cash. What are you good at? Maybe someone would swap art for a sig banner or a story or who knows? I believe I saw someone offering Inf for someone helping them with a web sites art or such...

But overall, I think my first suggestion is the best. I tend to think the artists would be more willing to gift art to a name they recognized than to someone who just strolled in with their hand out... I don't mean that offensively at all but who would you rather help, a friend or a stranger?

Thanks for the help.
The only things I'm really good at I can't do often, as I have no scanner.
I do abstract art, sorta.
I can do influence.
Well, to the forums!

villain or hero? ... what server for infulence?

and errr.. stuff...

...
I suppose that would be a good detail to include.
Champion, Heroside.

I'll also add to get a Deviant Art account and start watching artists you've seen linked through here who you like. So when they run a $10 special or something, you can jump on it.

I know $10 isn't free and if you can't afford $10 then that's fine and you don't need to tell me about it but hopefully someday you'll reach a point where you have $10 in your pocket you can spend on a luxury

Also, dont' assume art = expensive. Browse through deviantart, especially ThorsAssassin's commissionable artists. Can't discuss prices here, by the way. But otherwise, yeah - watch the boards.

See my Guides and Tutorials

DeviantART is where I store my reference pics...
But there are times that I spy a free art thing on the forums, but it's full already.
Guess I need to watch closer.
Thanks for the help.

I second what Caemgen and others are saying here, artists are much more likely
to give free artz to people they know.

Also threads of "gimme your heroes and I'll see what I can do with them" happen quite a bit
so keep your eyes peeled and I would also add you should have a link to your references
(especially if there is a particular hero/villain you want done) somewhere in your sig cuz ya never know.

Finally don't get your hopes up too high... free art does happen but it may not take the form you want
it to, nor will it necessarily happen with any input from you. If you are looking for something in particular
(a pose, a certain angle, etc.) you are probably better off waiting for a $10 sale... if you are just wanting some
cool art done and would be happy with whatever an artist would come up with for you then stay tuned, be active
in posting comments on art you see here and your chances are pretty good.

As an example I drew a sketch of Caemgen for free simply because I liked the pic he had of his
character and I saw it like all the time cuz he is very active with posting in the art forums. I didn't
give him any warning (I'm sneaky like that ) beforehand or ask for his input I just drew what I saw...
he's using it as his avatar now.

P.S. There is a website somewhere that has a bunch of variations of your avatar where Kenobi gestures and
random FAIL's happen... my favorites are the kitten bouncing off the curtains it was jumping for and the crane tipping over lol.

One --> Artz Giveaway <-- To Rule Them ALL!

I will settle this. ORANGE FTW! - Ex Libris

My advice, like posted before, get involved and be freindly. Contests can often land you with something interesting, even if it's not what you thought it would be. Also, be on the lookout for threads such as Foo's "spread the love" thread. and if you're not the most creative (like me) try to think outside the box as to how you can contribute. I am not talented in literal art but I design costumes in game for people who agree to do art for me or provide them with a teaming partner or in general help them in game how I can. If you make freinds in this forum you'll be surprised at what comes your way. Thanks to EnnVee who tipped me off to these great threads I like to think I'm making my presence at least slightly known and already one or two people have offered to help me out. Just get involved, think of how you can contribute, and be patient.

If you're new here, welcome to the party. I hope you brought chips and ice cream.

All good advice, and they have worked for me. I've been hanging out here for a while, and I've got All this lovely free art to show for it. I suppose the people are nice too.

Like Caemagen said, except I'll add - Make sure you have links to your character screenies in your sig.

((Notices he has no reference links in his sig....))

Errr... yeah... what they said, too!!




And my avatar is the bestest ever... When I eventually do get around to redoing my sig I really need to throw something in crediting the artist, assuming I can remember who it was

All great suggestions.
I'll change my sig right away.

Double post. Sorry.

Lot's of artists hold contests and giveaways.

I hold about 3-4 a year.

If ya keep a keen eye out, I know you'll snag some.

Another thing you can do is introduce yourself in this thread here.

Also comment on any threads that have art in them... see something you like? Let the artist know.
Some artists like constructive criticism as well but it varies across the board so look into threads
by the artist and see if others have left con/crit and what the response was or just ask. The
more you participate in stuff the better.

P.S. If you want to jump in on something there is a thread called The Hot Pencil where people
post quick 5 min sketches and then choose a new subject to pass on... it is here.

One --> Artz Giveaway <-- To Rule Them ALL!

I will settle this. ORANGE FTW! - Ex Libris