Finding an artist

Rob Lefebvre · Jul 13, 2011

I have read several posts on here about authors of graphic novels or comics trying to find an author. I have very recently started working with an artist on my graphic novel "No Return" and figured I would let everyone know what I did to find the artist.

If you are looking for an artist, you should really be on an artist forums posting, instead of a writers forum. I went to http://conceptart.org/ There is an employment section.http://jobs.conceptart.org/ I would suggest posting an ad there. If you don't have the money or for some other reason are unable to pay, post it under the opportunities section.

In my ad I said that I was looking for someone to draw some sample pages, and if we really hit it off and did the whole graphic novel together, we would split it 50/50 if it sold.

Hope this helps.

Alessandra Kelley · Jul 13, 2011

Yeah, this is not the best place to find artists. Although there are a smattering of us around. This is good advice.

fireluxlou · Jul 13, 2011

Concept art is very good and have a lot of highly skilled people. It's much easier to find quality there than say deviantart.

Desperate City · Aug 16, 2011

Does anyone else have other resources for finding artists? I'm looking to write a full 120+ page graphic novel to present to publishers at some point. I do a little artistry on my own, but would rather have someone who is a lot better than me to do it lol.

AndrewGol · Aug 17, 2011

Deviant Art and Digital Webbing are good sites filled with artists looking for work. Sometimes it helps just to go on any random comic message board and look for threads like 'show your art' or something similar. That's how I found a lot of our artists.

Desperate City · Aug 17, 2011

Never thought about going on comics message boards like that, good idea. I haven't heard of Digital Webbing, checking them out now. Thanks so much for these reccos!

I do have to say, it's a little scary just reaching out randomly across the interwebs and forming, more or less, a business relationship with someone is a little scary. I guess you just have to form something of a real relationship with someone before moving to second base with them lol.

Rob Lefebvre · Aug 19, 2011

I agree it is a bit intimidating to form a working relationship with someone you have never met. Honestly I have found that pretty much every aspect of trying to something like a graphic novel is more or less a roller coaster of emotions.

I got in touch with the artist that I am currently working with on conceptart.org So far things are going pretty good.

In short it can definitely be intimidating, but it is well worth the effort.

Also another thing that I did was create a blog on wordpress and put that in the body of my ad. On it I had the script and a synopsis and things like that. I am not sure if it made any difference to the prospective artists or not, but I felt if I was asking them for a portfolio I should have something along the same lines to show them.

Archerbird · Aug 19, 2011

There is also a lot of decent comic book artists on Penciljack.com. If you want more of a concept art style, I'd go to conceptart.org, like someone already mentioned, and maybe even cghub.com.

I saw someone mention DeviantArt. I wouldn't go there unless I was following a specific link, because 1. the place is gigantic, 2. there is a whole bunch of unprofesional people and wannabe-artists on there, and that's not even mentioning scammers and such. DA has a lot of nice things about it though.

comicbookwriter · Aug 19, 2011

I speak about this in great depth in this interview, I believe it might help some of you here, check it out and let me know if you have any questions.

http://bsuperhero.blogspot.com/2011/08/5-questions-with-brandon-easton.html

If you don't know me, I have a graphic novel being released in November (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1926914457/?tag=absowrit-20) and I am a writer on WB's ThunderCats reboot.

Best,
CBW

amyashley · Aug 19, 2011

Though a few people have pointed me to specific persons on deviant art, when I clicked about to look at things, it seemed a site filled more with comic brand fan art (mimicry) than anything original. There are some talented artists there, but it is good to know of better places to look. Not that I'm looking, but maybe someone will be.

Not trying to offend anyone. I liked what I was directed to. Dodn't care as much for other things I found. I've studied art far longer than I knowingly studied writing.

Ria13 · Aug 22, 2011

I would try Digital Webbing.com forums and post in Collaborations. DW really concentrates on the superhero-action-adventure side of things, though.

Desperate City · Aug 22, 2011

Another great recco. Thanks for all of the insights here. Very helpful

AndrewGol · Aug 23, 2011

Archerbird said:
There is also a lot of decent comic book artists on Penciljack.com. If you want more of a concept art style, I'd go to conceptart.org, like someone already mentioned, and maybe even cghub.com.

I saw someone mention DeviantArt. I wouldn't go there unless I was following a specific link, because 1. the place is gigantic, 2. there is a whole bunch of unprofesional people and wannabe-artists on there, and that's not even mentioning scammers and such. DA has a lot of nice things about it though.

Pencil Jack is a good one. Forgot about that one.

Finding an artist

Rob Lefebvre

Ass kicker

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

fireluxlou

Desperate City

AndrewGol

Desperate City

Rob Lefebvre

Ass kicker

Archerbird

Nightowl

comicbookwriter

amyashley

Stunt-Writer

Ria13

Desperate City

AndrewGol