Calling all Artists and Illustrators! :o)

Maybe you should post a description of your characters that allows any potential participators to know what they're getting themselves into before accepting, so they don't reply and then feel obligated to draw something they can't depict.

Just a suggestion. I draw character designs for my novels, but I don't really have the time to draw a slew of pictures right now. The picture in my profile is a very miniscule sampling of my abilities(its also hard to tell what everything is0.o), but if you like it, I can try to draw something. But as I said, it may not happen, depending on the effort and time it would take.

fruit

I don't know how *amazing* my artistic ability is, but I've been told I'm pretty good, and I have nothing else to motivate me to draw. >.< You can PM me descriptions of your characters if you want, and I'll see what I can do.

well....what do they look like? i can draw some people/creatures better than others, so NaNomail me, or put the descriptions here, or something, and i'll try.

I am terrible at drawing people and/or some animals, but I'm good at landscapes.

What type do you want? Painting or drawing? I can draw fine, but my paintings turn out better. My personal specialty is weaponry. So if you need any landscapes or weapons drawn, you can nanomail me. But I'd need to know the descriptions first to see what I'm getting myself into.

I can also draw some animals, especially unicorns (and their cousins) and some birds. Mostly mythical creatures though. And I like dragon eggs too, or any kind of egg.

-A.

PS. Forgot to mention, I do abstract and computer-generated art too. I use Apophysis (can't afford Photoshop).

Thank you all,

In reply to some of your questions, here's a bit of the background story to what I'm after:

Moori is a young boy of twelve who lives with his parents and his little sister in a small village. Moori's sister Nenya is about 6, and when she was 4 she suffered from a terrible fever that left her unable to walk. While she's since recovered, her legs are useless and she now has to be carried everywhere. Their father is a carpenter and he fashioned a chair for her that could be carried like a backpack, with straps across the shoulders that bear her weight. Despite her disability, she is bright and happy, caring and very inquisitive.

Moori sometimes resents being made to look after her, but he is actually very protective of his sister. He is much more quiet and thoughtful than Nenya, and despite his age, he is suprisingly resourceful and is far braver than he realises. He doesn't smile all that often, but when he does it's like the sun coming out.

Ever since Nenya's fever, she's started to experience strange visions and premonitions. Strange powers are slowly developing within her, but neither she or her family realise it yet. One day something catastrophic happens that separates Moori and Nenya from their parents (I haven't decided what this is yet). Now utterly alone, they must trek across dangerous and uncharted terrain on their own to find (or save) their parents, relying only on their own wits to survive and care for each other. In addition to this, dark and powerful forces are after Nenya, seeking to use or take the growing power within her for their own purposes.

It's not a quest to save the world, it's one boy's quest to protect a sister that utterly depends on him, and his fight to keep them going. He doesn't have a sword or any magical items to help them, just his own determination and courage.

Now for the picture:

I have this very definite image in my head of Moori with Nenya strapped to his back on her chair. He's slogging through rough terrain (probably dense woodland), dressed in rough homespun clothes with a ragged cloak wrapped around him for warmth. His dark brown hair is tousled, his cheeks are dirty and he's bent nearly double with Nenya's weight, supporting himself with a makeshift staff. His face is drawn with hunger and exhaustion but also set with determination. He's looking directly at you with proud, dark eyes, and the effect I'm looking for is one of fear mixed with defiance. This is a tough little kid who will do ANYTHING to survive and look after his sister. His features are strong and he looks as if he'll grow up to be a powerful, taciturn man, but for now he's still just a kid.

Remember that famous National Geographic photo of the Afghan Woman with the piercing eyes? That's the feeling I'm looking for.

Nenya is thinner and frailer, almost elfin. Her hair reaches her shoulders and is a tangled, lighter brown than Moori's and she's wearing what used to be one of her best dresses. Her legs are stick-thin and dangle uselessly from her chair, but her eyes are still a keen and arresting green. She looks as if she's seeing straight through to the very core of you. The overall effect is of a sick little girl who nevertheless harbours some deep and fey powers within her.

Remember, these kids are basically refugees with no one to rely on but themselves, and I want the viewer to feel protective of them.

Does that help? Please let me know if you need more detail and I'll be happy to provide as much as I can.

*deep breath* ookay, I have two more questions about the picture:

1. Which way does Nenva's chair face? (when he's carrying her, is she looking forwards, or back?)

2. Can you describe Moori's clothing a little more specifically? actual shirt and pants, a piece of folded cloth, etc...

Um ... other than that, I think I'm good to go! I have no idea how long this will take ... is there any deadline you want met??

YES! What do they look like?
Do you mind what style they are in? How are we to show them to you?
How would you like this style...not exsactly like this...(this comes from the anime' Spiral' witch is awesome.) But this is my style.

...Its not working.....I'll mail it to you!

Hi,

In answer to your question, Nenya is facing the same direction as Moori and the chair is similar in design to a modern child-carrier but made of wood and leather straps. Check out this link to see what I mean:

http://tinyurl.com/2dp9bv

I kind of pictured her face to be above his shoulder while her knees are level with his waist - Does that make sense?

Moori is wearing dark brown pants held around his waist with a length of rope and a collarless, undyed woolen shirt that's a bit too big for him. He's also wearing stout but battered leather boots that are also a bit too big for him. The shirt sleeves are rolled up to about half-way up his forearms. His right arm is outstretched, gripping the staff that he's using for support. His left hand is gripping the leather shoulder-strap of the carry-chair, as though the's adjusting it. He has a sheathed knife tucked into the waistband of his pants. His cloak is make of dark green wool and reaches down to about the backs of his knees. His clothes are of good home-made quality but are looking dirty and worn now that they've been sleeping and trekking in the wilds for a while. Remember, his family is fairly poor and can't afford much, but they take care of what they have. Think "Frodo and Sam" clothes, only more ragged.

I think it would make sense if there were some bags or provisions attached to the framework of the carry-chair. perhaps he's rigged a sort of pouch for it that slings underneath Nenya's butt - again, see the lunk to the image of the child-carrier that I provided above for ideas.

Finally, the picture should be full-length, showing the whole body and angled at three-quarters so that Mooris' right arm (the one holding the staff) is furthest away from you and he's looking slightly to his left and into the "camera". He's looking directly at the viewer, as is Nenya.

I don't really have a deadline for this so you have as long as you need, but remember that it's the face and eyes that are the key to the whole picture. If you can capture that perfect "scared-yet-defiant" expression, then you are officially a genius and I will sing your praises across the boards!

Hope that helps!

Ooh, ooh, I need to stir my artistic muse. I'll try, not promising anything good though.

No problem, any and all attempts are welcome and will be gladly accepted in the spirit they're given.

Bib

What do the bad guys look like?...the minnions?...the magic?

Your descriptions remind me of Grave of the Fireflies (have you watched that movie? It's Japanese) Look it up, you'll be suprised.

which comes to this: what kind of era do they live in, where, what's happening around that time, what is the place like?America? Europe? Some kind of Fanatsy land?

I'd like to do a pic for you, is anime style okay?

Laura, there aren't actually any bad guys in the picture, just the two children in the wilderness.

Terri, yes, I've seen Grave of the Fireflies and I thought it was very moving. I'm going for that same feeling of courage against terrible adversity, although I don't think my ending will be quite as bleak as Miyazaki's! :o)

As for your other questions, the story is a fantasy and the setting is roughly early renaissance. Moori and Nenya themselves come from a humble family, so I'm guessing the won't have much besides the bare minimum with them. And yes, anime style is just fine as long as the eyes aren't too huge and exaggerated - rember that the whole impact of the picture lies in their expressions, so their features have to be at least semi-realistic...

Thanks

Just a quick bump to see if anyone's still interested in this. I've had one fairly promising submission so far, so if anyone else thinks they'd like to give it a try, just drop me a line or post a reply in this thread.

Thanks in advance!

Would you mind Disney style?

Tasha - I was actually hoping for something a bit "grittier" and more realistic than Disney style, but if you think you can make this work, then please give it a try...

I am being beaten over the head by my lack of skill at the moment, but I'll try to be done by March 5th. Is it okay if it's in plain old graphite? I currently don't have access to anything other than coloured pencils of the bright-and-happy persuasion. >.<

Graphite and plain old monochrome is just fine - it may even add to the gritty, weary "refugee" feel I'm looking for.

Just wondering- I'm trying out a lot of different styles at the moment, but I'll save the Disney for elsewhere.... I have this image in my head of your characters, only it's not like what you told us.... I can see them from all angles really.

Check your mail will you?!

...and if you have...sry..
~Laura