Artists Needed

[Kid Ridiculous]

Hello, my name is David Woo, and I'm currently working on a post-apocalyptic modern roleplaying game called "The After". The games is being published by Michael Hopcroft Press, and is scheduled to be on shelves around May of next year.

I'm currently looking for artists to do artowrk for the game. It's slated to be about 256 pages long, so there's plenty of room. I'm looking for multiple artists. The style I'm looking for is semi-realistic, black and white.

I'm not sure I can pay much, if anything, I want to be open and honest about that. I had the option of ordering artwork from the distributor, but I'd rather, if possible, to handle that myself, I want the artwork to stay true to the vision. Ok, so I'm picky. I'm sorry I can't offer much in the way of compensation, but it would be a chance to get published, which can lead to more and better paying jobs.

If you're interested, please send me a sample of your work at davidwoo@hotmail.com

For more information on The After, go to www.mphpress.com there's a link on the side with a more detailed synopsis.

Thank you for your time.

[MetalMan]

David - best of luck on publishing your work...

However, realize that you are asking freelancers to illustrate a 200+ page book that you will be profiting from for nothing in return to the artist. The promise of more work is just that... a promise that tends to rarely be realized.

I honestly think that you should approach your publisher again and have a long talk with their art director and provide him with notes as to what you are looking for from the art. I think that would be your better solution.

[Kid Ridiculous]

Oh, I realise that, that's what makes it so hard. I could possibly pay them some from my profits, but keep in mind that I'm estimating that to be about $600, and I don't know how much an artist usually gets, but I don't think I'd have enough.

[thele]

For more information on The After, go to www.mphpress.com there's a link on the side with a more detailed synopsis.


I am extremely puzzled at this website you listed.

1) They have 0 books available now, and will not have any until "Late 2004", yet there is no real preview of the books. No snippets, no images, nothing.

2) They are asking for paypal donations on every page, which leads to a personal payment to Michael Hopcroft. It does say "make a donation to get your name in the book", but that is awfully...shady. There is not an explanation of why they want us to give them money for nothing.

The website just seems... shady...

~Le

[Kid Ridiculous]

I understand your feelings on this, and unfortunately I can offer no solid evidence to quell your concerns. The fact of the matter is this; the company just started up a few months ago, the books are at the end of the production phase, and are being sent to the distributors. The donation button is because the company was started by one man, and not one with the budget of a Richard Garifeild or a Gary Gygax, so he had to do what he could to get funding. Yes, I have seen the manuscripts, and can vouch for their validity, but I cannot present them to you as evidence because that would basically be like giving the books away for free, and I think that's against company policy.

I can offer up a page or two of my own project, however, if that would lend any credit?

[GreyT]

I know rpg.net appreciates you sharing this opportunity here, and I hope you get a few takers. But this forum has taken a lot of trouble to set a professional standard, and requests for free art/promises of exposure were the first to get spotlighted. There have been long-running threads about the promise of profit sharing as well, and they weren't well recieved. Those kinds of deals offer no real benefit to struggling artists and are (at best) a bit insulting to the established professionals here.

Nothing personal meant, just thought I'd try to explain.

[Kid Ridiculous]

Sorry, I didn't realise. This is the first time I've ever used this forum.

[rumble]

Sorry, I didn't realise. This is the first time I've ever used this forum.

I'm not ragging on you, especially since I'd like to start up my own game business, and have solicited people's interest and resumes/portfoliios from this forum.

You will NEVER get something for nothing, unless your target is a sucker, or unless you're a sleaze. I'm not passing judgement or making accusations. I'm just saying that everything worthwhile has a cost associated with it.

If you're looking to make $600 profit off an RPG publication, period, something might be wrong. Maybe you were just paid by the word. That's okay.

But if you're earning royalties, and you want an artist to contribute worthwhile work that will enhance the quality of your product, theoretically pushing up sales, and your profits don't increase as a result, something is wrong.

If you aren't willing to at least share the proceeds of royalty-based sales with the artist, something is wrong.

Even a college student with half a brain is going to ask for a fraction of the proceeds as compensation, at the very least, unless you can demonstrate that their work is going to get widespread visibility.

And interior artwork for a minor publishing imprint in a fringe industry ain't it.

But try a local college anyway. An art student may be willing to give you their seconds -- stuff they couldn't sell for much, if anything, but that may help you out.

[Kid Ridiculous]

Well, I AM being paid by the word, plus royalties if it sells so many copies. Hence why I'm not making much, don't have much to offer, and can't guarantee 100% a cut of royalties, but I figured you have to start somewhere.

And I'm very new to this, so I don't know what the going rates are. Sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting to anyone.

[Brutus]

But try a local college anyway. An art student may be willing to give you their seconds -- stuff they couldn't sell for much, if anything, but that may help you out.

This, I can see happening. I've just recently started to get paid for my art, and I can't see going through this amount of work for "exposure". I've heard that one before. I can't see most people with a head on their shoulders parting with much more than scans of old dead-end sketches in a no-pay situation.

Only problem there? Willing to part with old and already finished sketches? Sure. Would I want to be indentified with that work down the road? Not likely.

[MetalMan]

And I'm very new to this, so I don't know what the going rates are. Sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting to anyone.

Actually, I don't think you've been insulting at all. You stated your situation upfront and have been absolutely nothing but honest in your statements. The only thing you didn't know was how art is essentially handled which isn't weird at all for someone who is a writer.

No harm - no foul, dude. :)

[chris field]

Hey, I'd like to work with you. Hell, at this point, I'd like to work with anybody. :D
Hopefully, it'll be for a bit more than nothing, even if the job is work for hire, w/o royalities. Please check you e-mail; I sent a link to my portfolio.
Respectfully,
CHRIS FIELD

[Ignatz]

And I have to add...

We've had some flame-laden threads crop up over the issue of soliciting "free" work, primarily (IMO) because the people making the requests felt insulted when they were told this isn't really an appropriate forum for it.

You've been real nice & professional... haven't copped an attitude... I think that's a credit to you.

I wish you luck, and hope you find some good folks to work with.