Iconography

[rowyn]

I got some cash for Christmas (♥) and received my year-end bonus from work today. I've decided that I want to get a set of ridiculously expensive art markers. Probably Trias, although if anyone can explain the difference between Tria and Copic markers, I might want to go with Copics instead. What little I could come up with suggested that Copics were harder to work with in terms of being able to layer colors, but I don't know if they have advantages to offset. John's Trias seemed pretty nifty to me, so I figure I'll give them a shot.

I haven't decided if I want to go with a 72 or 144 marker set yet. But I know I'm not going to get the 288 every-color-we-ever-made executive set. 144 is probably overkill; 288 is a tactical nuke. Way more than I need to spend on something there's a good chance I will leave sadly neglected like many of my other art supplies. Which is another reason to get a smaller set: less guilt if I don't use it. Or maybe that's a reason to get the larger set. Hmmm. Any advice or suggestions on which kinds, how many, and where to get 'em from (right now I plan on getting them from whatever online site has the best price), etc., is welcome.

Anyway, in the interests of defraying the costs of buying Yet More Expensive Art Supplies I Don't Need, I've decided to offer to do icon commissions. No idea if anyone is interested in buying them from me, but only one way to find out. :) Plus, I enjoy doing icons for other people, so I think it'll be fun if anyone is interested.

I'm going to charge $5.00 for the first icon, and $2.50 for each additional icon using the same subject. That's for full digital color. (Some of my samples are black & white; if you really want a black & white icon instead of color, lemme know and I'll work out a discount or a bonus or something.) Each final icon will be no more than 100x100 pixels and will generally be a single head shot (I'm amenale to trying to cram a bit more into the available space if desired, but for 100x100 pixels, only so much is going to fit and still be recognizable). The original that I work from will be larger, probably around 500x500 pixels, but odds are it's going to have a rough look to it. The buyer is welcome to use and reproduce the icon and full-size versions for whatever purposes desired, although I ask that they be labeled as "by Rowyn" and not modified without my permission.

Notes on my artistic ability (or lack thereof): In general, I'm a bit better at drawing toony animal heads than human ones, and any icon I do is going to be stylized and somewhat toony-looking. I'm also much better at drawing females than males, especially in humans.

Anyway, leave a comment if you're interested. :)

Some samples of icons I've done before (click if you'd like to view the larger image):

Sandra Tayler

Ocean's Edge



[Edit: Hmm, a couple of my images seem to be missing. I'll hunt the right locations down when I get home.]

Queen of Stripes

Barb X

Sophrani

Level Head

Beetiger

Comments

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

Ooh, if it's going to subsidize more art from you, I'm definitely going to want some done... Poke me if you don't see a few descriptions from me in the next couple of days. :)

[rowyn]

*gets her poking finger ready*

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

I think I figured out what I want. I want someone who can do justice to the Faerie Hypnotist, from the squidgey little icon up above, and I suspect that you are that someone. :)

[rowyn]

*squints*

OK, he (I think that's a he?) is a light grey bishonen fellow in a purple outfit, with big shoulderpads, and swirly-pattern wings?

If you'd like to describe in words any particular features you want to be sure he has, lemme know. I know they say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think that icon is too small to be more than fifty or a hundred, tops. :)

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

That's all about right. I figured some massive degree of extrapolation from Way Too Little Info would be necessary -- I'll leave it up to your imagination and sound grasp of bishie aesthetics. Hey, it's not his found his creators limited him to 100 x 100. We're gonna SAVE him, is what we're gonna do. At least, we're gonna transfer him to a more comfortable 100 x 100 birdcage. :)

[rowyn]

I did a few sketches for you to look at:

http://www.rowyn.org/art/postvixen/faerie-hynotist-2.jpg
http://www.rowyn.org/art/postvixen/faerie-hynotist-3.jpg
http://www.rowyn.org/art/postvixen/faerie-hynotist-4.jpg
http://www.rowyn.org/art/postvixen/faerie-hypnotist.jpg

I played pretty loose with the general costume in 'em, and the swirly pattern is something I'd add digitally. But these were fun to do. Mmm, bishie. :9

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you! <3

Hmm, I like #1's expression a lot, but I'd like one with his wings fully spread. #2 looks a little too somber, not quite commanding enough. #3 is a good compromise, good expression and pose, and for some reason I really like him with his arms crossed like in the original. I think #4's my favorite, though. Terse little expression, floofy bishie hair, good pose... I think #4's the one. Thanks, hon! *hug*

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Think I have an 84-markers Design 2 set. 72 might be adequate, 144 will be more than adequate, in my view.

What would a single head icon, colored, run? As opposed to B&W.

[rowyn]

Oo, I'd meant to include that -- $5 is for the colored version. :) If someone black & white I'll negotiate a discount, though it hardly seems worth it to do just ONE b&w icon. Maybe for a set, though. :)

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Well then, it sounds like a good deal, remind me to send you a check since my PayPal account is at its spending limit. (of all the ridiculousness, a PayPal account secured by a credit card that is regularly paid up should not have a spending limit that doesn't reset, ever)

E-mail or page #mail me with your address!

[rowyn]

*You* want to commission *me* to do an icon?

*Boggle*

Heh, okay, I'll send you my snail address.

[level-head.livejournal.com]

Of course, that wouldn't work for Zaphod.

I shall be inclined to place an order -- but there is no urgency. She improves upon real life. ];-)

===|==============/ Level Head

[rowyn]

Hey, it was close enough for octantis to recognize you. Can't be too far off. :)

[level-head.livejournal.com]

I remember! And that's happened a few times since, as well -- most recently this weekend.

===|==============/ Level Head

[krud42.livejournal.com]

288? That would be doubly gross!

Get it? Doubly... er, never mind.