DC Conspiracy[dots pattern]

10.22.2005

The Small Presser, No. 16: "Have I Got a Story for You!"

You’ve finished writing your first story for a comic book and now it’s time to find an artist to render it. So where are they hinding?

I recommend becoming part of a group of some sort, whether it’s an online chat group or messageboard or joining a local comics collaborative. But don’t just come out and say you’re looking for an artist—that’s usually a turnoff and could dampen your spirits (I’ll explain why in a minute). Get to know the group, its politics, the genres its members favor, level of “talent” (beginners or pros), etc. Once you understand who these folks are, you’ll get a feel if there is someone in the group that you would mesh well with.

Why not just post something blindly on a messageboard to see what you hook? First off, it usually comes across in two ways: 1) that you have no “vision” for how you want the final project to turn—in particular, you’ve give no thought to the type of style you’re looking for, 2) that you’re arrogant.

Arrogant? Yep. Usually posts seeking artists go something like this: “Hey, guys! I’ve finished a great story for a great series I’m working on and now I’m looking for someone to draw it! I’m looking for someone with a style similar to Neal Adams or Frank Miller. Please send me samples!” And typically, it’ll continue: “Oh, I can’t pay you for it, but when I find a publisher I’ll give you a few comp copies!”

I dare you to post something like that on The Comics Journal (TCJ) messageboard. You’ll be mocked.

I’m not saying don’t post anything anywhere, just get to know the group before you do. I’ve seen folks post at TCJ site that they’re looking for someone to draw a superhero story. That’s the last place to post something like that simply because those folks aren’t the superhero types. And you’d know that if you just spend a couple of days following the chatter.

If you’re going to use a messageboard, find one that has a section that teams folks together, such as on SmallPressComics.com, or where folks can post their artwork (these folks are usually more willing to listen to a pitch and you can also see their style).

In regards to pitching your story, give a sampling of what it is. Too often, posts read something like: “I’m looking for an artist to draw a story. It will be published when finished. Please contact me if you’re interested.” That’s like fishing with no bait! What’s best is to perhaps include a page of your script or provide a two-paragraph summary of your project. Post something to entice interest.

While searching for an artist via the Web is fine, you’re likely to be more successful by joining a local group or becoming a regular at small-press and other comic book shows. There’s no substitute for establishing a face-to-face relationship with someone. You can provide more details about your project, answer any questions they may have and the potential artists will get a sense of whether you’re serious about the project and your goals for it.

Finally, make it worth the artist’s time to collaborate with you. Find someone who shares an interest in the genre. Someone who loves doing superhero comics will soon lose interest in doing an autobiographical cartoon. And the last thing you want is to lose someone in middle of a project.

Payment in money always helps. In fact, it helps a lot. But if you can’t afford it, give the artist a stake in the project. Maybe give them a percentage of sales or just give them a good number of copies that they can sell. You can also offer them a partnership deal where they can pay for half the printing costs and get half the proceeds, but that only work if they person is really into the project and shares your zest for it.

Also, don’t have visions that the artist will commit to a 12-part series or something like that. Expect one issue, maybe four if things are working really well. But unless you’re paying them $300 a page, don’t assume they’re in for the long haul.

P.S.—I’ll love to hear from D.C. Conspiracy members and others who have successfully found artists and how they did it, their concerns and how they tried to address them. Also, I’d love to hear from the artist’s point of view—what they look for, what kind pitch works on them, etc.

Dembicki at 9:21 AM  |  link to this     

9 Comments

I'll just copy and paste what I put in the commenst of my last article.

If you want to go basic, basic – I would suggest you start at the very, very beginning where most people seem to feel they can skip over – learn about comics and sequential art.

Get Eisner’s Comics & Sequential Art and Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics. Get some good book on perspective. Take some time to get to know what you’re talking about. Then start meeting people.

It makes sense to start online. Some of the comics discussion boards are OK but their mainly a waste of time. Digital Webbing is for creators, technically, except most people there aren’t creating much – but there are good artists and writers that hang around (ignore the urge to post the “Looking for collaborator” message, just critique some art, make some “friends” for now). Pencil Jack is the same thing except with few writers. Scryptic Studios is the same thing but with no artists. Warren Ellis’ The Engine has a great creator discussion board but you should know what you’re talking about first before you even step foot in there.

Then, once you know how to write comics and once you know some people, start meeting them at cons. Talk up some ideas, try to get someone to bite. And do it all casually – just behave naturally and shit will start to develop.

When you get down to creating, create with your artist from the ground floor. Write for them and take their inputs all of the way. Keep the layouts as loose as they want them, even if that means not included layouts at all.

It’s a slow process but if you start now you could be ready to start meeting people next con season. I just started putting stuff together now, I’m friendly with enough artists to go to them with ideas, they won’t bite on every single one (and sometimes there are no matches for some of my ideas in terms of style) but I have enough people that want to collaborate with me so that I don’t need to shell out disgusting amounts of money.

Plus, they’re good guys.

So, that’s what I would do. Of course, if you’re not a sociable dude then yeah, take Justin’s advice and rob a bank.

And read Matt's article.

Jason at 10/22/2005 3:08 PM   

Addendum: If you can't find someone to illustrate your book, try to find someone who can do one or two character sketches for you. You can then use the sketches to show potential artists for the book. It is, after all, a very visual medium, and an artist may be more willing to take up a book if he sees what the character(s) may look like. (It adds more depth to your pitch.)

Dembicki at 10/22/2005 6:27 PM   

That's an excellent idea, Matt.

Jason at 10/22/2005 6:30 PM   

I'd suggest working in reverse. Find the artist first and then worry about the story. Most of the writery types I've run into tend to accumulate story ideas and scripts very easily. Most are OCD about it and constantly have several concepts or pitches lurking in the back of their brainmeat. Ideas are cheap as hell.

Finding an artist is a rare event for me. I love it when it happens. By looking at their work you can see what genres they are comfortable with. You get a sense of the timbre and moods they can create. Best of all you can find out what they are enthusiastic about. In the end, you can use their visuals as a jumping off point.

JJ Kahrs at 10/25/2005 9:49 AM   

Hah! I was just doing some research for my next potential article and the moment you posted this, I posted this:

http://scrypticstudios.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15546#15546

Great minds must think alike, JJ.

Jason at 10/25/2005 9:52 AM   

As an artist, I like to see how someone writes before I agree to work on anything with them. I can't imagine anyone blindly agreeing to work with a writer the same way a writer would not blindly agree to work with an artist. While you're looking for an artist to fit your style, they too are looking for someone who will fit their interests, so you gotta have some samples. Once you have that mutual admiration, you can go any way you wish.

Dembicki at 10/25/2005 11:07 AM   

I agree that you don't go sight unseen. I think I come at it different, though, I have a website where I essentially put up a new writing sample everyday and whereas they read like I'm writing 1k words a day while working a day job and doing other stuff, they're consistent. Then I promote the hell out of it and occasionally an artist will stumble across and email me. If we jive together we jive.

Jason at 10/25/2005 11:35 AM   

Absolutely, Jason. Your situation is different: You've already got experience under your belt, both in getting stories published and in the "biz." I was taking it from the perspective of someone who hasn't tried this before and was looking for a way to kick start the process.

But that's yet another approach: write on a blog and let see people your style that way.

Hey, did you get Chris Radtke's "Everyday" comic at SPX? It's pretty freakin' funny. I found his blog but it's kinda stale in terms of being update. Still, I enjoyed the waterbug story....

http://www.radtkeblog.blogspot.com/

Dembicki at 10/25/2005 12:55 PM   

I was wondering if my next article should take off from this but you covered it well - I'm going to focus on websites, I think.

Jason at 10/25/2005 4:53 PM   

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