Art assets

[Stryker25B]

So I realize that many times it's not necessary to worry about art assets in a homebrew campaign setting beyond what the DM and players sketch out. Since I'm making a valiant effort at self-publishing my setting in some way, I need to make sure the end product looks as professional as possible. Thus far, I've done the artwork (read... the map and the logo) myself but I was wondering if anyone else here has gone the route that I am and knows how best to go about getting artists (WITHOUT having to throw tons of cash at them... I do this all while supporting my wife and 2 kids on a U.S. Army salary!)

As always, any insights, suggestions, or insane ramblings are very much appreciated!

[beejazz]

I'm an art major, so when I finally publish I'll probably be filling my product with homemade oil paintings (I know they're expensive and time consuming, but painting is becoming my new favorite medium).

[Nomadic]

Generally you can commission art pieces for $20-$50 and maps for $20-$100 from professionals. Unfortunately if you want that professional look and can't do it yourself you will have to throw at least some money at an artist and a graphic artist. It doesn't have to be a truckload but you will need to be willing to cough up at least a hundred or two bucks. Such people can take your work from amateur in appearance to a look of skilled professional publication.

[Stryker25B]

I posted on the deviantArt job offers forum... now I'm wading through PMs, notes, and a few thread replies lol. I LOVE helpful web communities!

[Ninja D!]

DeviantArt is the way to go. You can't make it happen for free, unless you happen to know someone or you're really lucky, but you can probably make it happen fairly cheap.

[Stryker25B]

Yeah, I discovered to my dismay, and subsequent understanding, that the amount of work I needed and the pay I was offering did NOT jive. One helpful artist broke it down for me in terms of dollars per hour. After he explained why rates are what they are, it made much more sense to me, then he proceeded to point out that he'll do the work for a price that was still WAY under what he should be getting paid for this. So, I have an artist to do the character images of the different races!

[sparkletwist]

Eh, it's a buyer's market. Don't back down. He "should" be getting paid exactly what he gets paid-- that's how a free market works.
A helpful explanation of why you should be paying more is something every salesman will be more than happy to provide.

[Nomadic]

Yeah, I discovered to my dismay, and subsequent understanding, that the amount of work I needed and the pay I was offering did NOT jive. One helpful artist broke it down for me in terms of dollars per hour. After he explained why rates are what they are, it made much more sense to me, then he proceeded to point out that he'll do the work for a price that was still WAY under what he should be getting paid for this. So, I have an artist to do the character images of the different races!

What was the price offered for the character art?

[Stryker25B]

I was trying not to spend more than 250 on the initial images. That's 2 characters per image, 4 images, so 8 characters total. For a full color character of the quality i need, it seems that most freelance artists charge anywhere from $50 - $80 for a single character commission. Even at the low end of the spectrum that's $400, and those are prices for private commissions, not commercial work for publishing.

Most of the artists that responded didn't take the time to actually read what I needed, they saw a job offer post and immediately sent me a note with a link to their portfolio and pricing. I'm still getting notes and responses to the post even though I already thanked everyone and let them know I found what I was looking for.

Paul was one of the few artists that took the time to read and understand what I was asking for. Knowing that I don't have tons of funding for the initial artwork I need until the kickstarter, he was still willing to do the initial pieces understanding the scope of the project and that I will need more art later on.

[Nomadic]

Hmm I wonder why people are giving you such high figures. What exactly are you saying to them regarding what you want done? I can usually get a piece commissioned for $25 for a character (in fact that's the very price it cost me for my Mare Eternus artwork).

[sparkletwist]

I stand by my rather cynical opinion. :grin:

[Ninja D!]

I stand by my rather cynical opinion. :grin:

I'm with you on this. Unless they're really well known, people just don't get paid a lot for this sort of thing. Artists that don't work really fast don't get paid shit per hour.

[LD]

This is a good thread to read for general publishing advice: http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderRPG/licensees/publishingAndSelling