Collective Effort

[Havoc]

I've noticed quite a few people here are amateur writers, yet when I look into the galleries, I only see two artists. Such a shame.

I had another wild idea. I don't know about any of you, but a picture says a thousand words and sometimes I just write better descriptions in-story (as in one character describing another characters looks) when I actually have a picture in front of me. This works in fan-fics or art inspired stories, but not in an original work with new characters, of possibly completely new races.

This is where a collective such as the Speculative Vision community can help. But we'd need more artists. I've heard of quite a few talented sketch artists that they lack ideas to draw (but somehow I never get them to actually do one of my characters) while I hear many authors claiming to have too much ideas.

Why not combine our efforts, let the writers think up characters, and let the artist colour them in with some art. We'd need to pool this effort though. I was thinking of a database where writers could deposit any characters or races that they need some concept art of, and where artists can pick up some inspiration and then upload their art for the writers. This way, artists get to see descriptions from more than one writer (giving them a broad palette) while a writer might be lucky enough to see one or two renditions of what used to be a vague mental image.

It's a win-win situation really. I mean, often an artist might draw something on the character that the writer wouldn't have thought off, giving him/her an entirely new perspective on the character. But like I said, we might need more artists willing to do this.

[Princess of Fire]

i believe that that is an excellent idea!!!

i shall get started on it right away!

[Baaljagg]

sounds great!! i draw things, but unfortunately i'm not that good. but i would love to see what people can come up with.

[Manji]

IMHO, ForeverZero is the best "Amateur" (IE, hasn't taken classes) out there.

[aldan]

I'm wondering, would anyone label their opinion with "In my Dishonest Opinion"? Obviously some smartarses might do it, but...

[Manji]

I thought IMHO stood for In My Humble Opinion. Oh, well. I was never good with 'net lingo.

[Havoc]

Well, I don't know about other writers, but I would really feel a lot more confident if I could see my characters outside of my head, as interpreted by some-one else. And for some twisted reason, I can only draw things I can see. Give me a picture, and I'll produce a reasonable copy (well, if I had kept it up, making copies is an extremely retarded way to express ones talent in art). But ask me to think of something and then draw it and I'm stumped.

So all this time I've been trying to meet artists, befriending them and asking them to do it. Most said they would but never did, or said they did but lost it, or some-one spilled coffee over it or whatever. I even offered money in some cases but that never worked either. This is just another scheme in a chain of trying to get these characters drawn.

[Magus]

I'm a moderate artist of sorts. I do no exceptional work but can make a half-way decent picture if I apply myself. Yes, ForeverZero is easily one of the best artists that I have the pleasure of knowing. But Princess of Fire is extremely good herself.

I'm especially fond of your "Funky Town" version of the pink furry book, 'Tiner.

I know that sometimes I look at a picture and have it seem that a story unfolds just from that picture. The best example was over this last summer during marching band camp we were out when the sun was setting, and over about maybe twenty minutes I saw a complex series of images in the clouds that became an outline for a book. And, I'm serious, it unfolded in the exact manner that any novel would have and was complete with plot twists, a beginning, climax and resolution. It was a story in its own to which I have yet to make any changes to.

[Princess of Fire]

Thanks Magus.

Well, i'd have to say that my pictures are pretty good and so I'll take on the challenge of drawing your guys' characters....

you must be warned though that i draw in the form of anime only and the characters i draw may look different than what you would think...

[Forever Zero]

If I had a way to upload my work, I'd showcase some of my art, but I don't. I don't feel like setting up a website where people can steal my stuff, and I don't think this forum has an upload option. Even if it did I doubt my art would meet the file size requirements. So yeah.

[Havoc]

Let's make a list of artists willing to do this:
Princess of Fire


And writers who are willing to do the opposite (write a background for your art, if you have need for it):
Havoc

[aldan]

FZ, I'd say that if you're interested in posting some of your work, you should message The Master. There may be a way... in fact, I'm durned sure of it.