My co-author has been thinking about something that I've been thinking about and, you know, just didn't dare to say anything...
She'd like a full sized artistic rendering, completely finished with background and so on and so forth, of our first story's main set of Characters. There is some question as to who that all would include. The very main set is
Ninaste
Kelt
Vondearan
Naya
Aahz
However, you can't have Kelt without-
Kellis
And you can't have Kellis without-
Ashlar.
So I think this is how we are going to roll. When she asked for money, I was willing to try to save up at least $400-$500 for my half, which would make the artist a hefty $800-1000 for the work. Of course, with that kind of money, it had better be damn near perfect. Incessant thinks we can manage to save up to $250/each and get something decent for a total of $500. Hell, I'd spend 4 sleepless days and nights working on something for $500.
We'd like it to be really realistic. Not extremely realistic, where you can see the wrinkles in their faces. But not anime style either, which is far too simplistic an art (again, simplistic does not equal easy. I still can't do it) for what we'd like to see. We haven't discussed if we prefer true painting or if we'd like computer. I'm willing to bet we'll lean toward computer, though I'd like nothing more than true blue hand painted upon my wall.
So, if any of you know anyone you think wants to do this, is up to the challenge, let myself or IncessantStar know.
I know. as an artist, I should be doing it. But, hell, even I'm not up to doing a $500-1000 job. Especially on characters that I'm very attached to. I'd spend the rest of my life trying to draw Vondearan and Aahz perfectly.
As for my having gone to art school... I am thinking about contacting a few college friends who have an insane amount of painting skill. There is my old teacher, who might find time to do it. And then the two Nicks (Nick and Nicole Fisher) who pretty much run an art gallery here in SD. They are young but way out talented.
I guess, wish us luck.
As with other things, we looked up a few things and know now what a query letter expects of us. I've come up with an idea to catch their eyes but don't know if it'll be enough, or if it's too dorky (a downfall to being a geek is coming off just as dorky).
I think the best of what I've heard so far is that she, my co-author, has been invited to attend some writing meetings through a mother of a friend who is published in several e-books (I don't think many people like e-books. It's my experience that no one wants to sit at a computer to read and would rather have a hard-copy... but, you know). The point of it is, she'll be going to meetings, talking about our stuff, and maybe realize just how awesome our world is again. Then maybe I can get her to be ADD for ME again.
Seriously- wish me luck, even pray for me, on that one.
Thanks