Okay, so I’ve been a fan of Friday the 13th, the Series since it first ran. One Christmas, I asked for, and got, the original radio from which the prop on the show was made.
I’ve been inspired to look into adding to that collection. Specifically, I’d love to find:
An artist who could recreate a comic book cover (and maybe two or three internal pages), only with better artistic quality. (Again, good stills are few and far between; here’s the best I could find of the cover. The internal stuff, of course, would have to be based off the show itself on YouTube or DVD or whatever.) What about a place I could actually get said pics printed in comic book form (similar paper, blank pages okay, stapled, etc.) once I get them?
How could I go about finding someone who has the skill to do either (or both)? Estimates on cost, so I can know what I’m getting into, and how to time it financially?
I’d be such a happy fanboy if I could afford to get these. Thanks!
As for the comic cover, DeviantArt usually has a number of artists (some even professional) willing to do commissions, at varying prices. I’ve actually never had any experience with doing that (buying or selling), though, so I can’t offer much beyond that. I think I might have a link or two, if I can dig them up…
Etsy.com has a request section (http://www.etsy.com/alchemy/) where you can place a request and a rough amount you’d like to spend, and artists bid to do the work. Might be worth trying out - you don’t have to accept any of the bids. You could also do a search there for the kind of work you’re looking for, and contact an artist who does the right sort of work directly to see how much they might charge for a custom order; most people on Etsy are happy to do them.
(My brain’s not fully functioning yet, lack of coffee. But that was my first thought, I’ll come back if I have others…)
Thanks for all the help so far. Any other suggestions for price ranges and things to consider when deciding on someone? (Especially the carver, since art is easier to redraw; I’d like this thing to be as close as possible!)
On cost, I had Storn Cook do some commissioned drawings for me a few years back (like, this one, and this one). At the time, his fees were (and still seem to be) $45 per figure, no background. Backgrounds and scenes were $50-100 more.
I’m not sure if he’d be interested in comic book covers and pages; I suspect you may be better off hooking up with someone via DeviantArt on that. However, this might at least give you an idea of what it might cost you.
Unless you just happen to get lucky I think “cheap” and “best” are going to be having a tug of war. If you are willing to pay more you can probably get better quality. I’d be wary of anyone who says they can do it very cheap. Most people who genuinely have the skills and will offer professional service will charge accordingly. Also be prepared to put down a deposit before they will start.
Given the current economy it’s possible you can find a decent deal right now. I guess my best advice would be to cast as wide a net as possible and see what kind of offers you get.
If you have any art schools in your area you could try posting a flyer there or contact the office and see if they have some kind of job listings. I know of two schools here in the Boston area that have professional woodworking programs. You might be able to have them post something for you if you are willing to work with someone long distance:
Craigslist has an artists category you could post to if you want to find someone local. If you have any art supply stores nearby they sometimes have bulletin boards. Look for bulletin boards anywhere you think artists might go. Or ask people who work there for suggestions.
I’d suggest you ask to see some kind of portfolio to judge the quality of their work and maybe ask for references if possible. Make sure everyone is completely clear on all the details of the project. I don’t want to sound negative but when you start offering money there are plenty of yahoos with a set of colored pencils and some exact-o knives who have uh, a rather optimistic view of their talents.
I’ll second posting to Etsy but just be aware there is a very wide range of skill and professionalism there. I would definitely suggest you check their previous work and feedback to see if they seem to be able to deliver the quality you expect.
I’ve seen some comic book cover and scene work done to spec by artist’s that is considerably better than the original art in almost every way while still being a faithful rendering, but these guys are usually professional illustrators and work like what you are specifying costs thousands of dollars. Here’s one guy
Thanks!