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crowdfundingHi, I'm Meeks. If you started following us earlier this week, you've probably seen me mentioned a disproportionate number of times for someone who's actually rather new to this whole crowdfunding thing :P I launched Story Sketches just this past April, and I really appreciate all the attention it's gotten since then!
the project
Story Sketches is a crowdfunded illustration project in which writers are invited to request art based on scenes they have written. I post rough sketches for free, and do more work on them when my audience expresses enough interest by leaving feedback comments, sending monetary tips, and linking to the image.
the reason
I studied illustration in art school, but a lot has changed since then.
The internet has empowered authors to connect directly with readers, so the big publishers who traditionally assigned stories to be illustrated are now an option rather than a necessity. Illustration and writing have always gone hand-in-hand, so I couldn't help wondering what the rise of crowdfunded weblit might mean for me as an artist. With more and more writers choosing to publish their work on the web, it seemed natural to me that illustration should follow.
What I realized is that there is unprecedented opportunity for direct collaboration between artists and writers. My strength lies not in creativity, but in my craft; I work best when other people provide the ideas. Others (most notably![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
djinni) were already offering icons based on audience requests, and those can be a lot of fun to do…but, fresh from my first experience as a storybook illustrator, I wanted a bigger canvas to work on. If icons can be thought of as the digital equivalent of spot illustrations, my Story Sketches are more like full-page or cover art. Most self-published writers have neither the budget, nor the need for the same usage rights that publishing companies typically license for this type of artwork, and one of my goals is to make it more accessible to them.
the benefits
Most authors, in my experience, are delighted to see their characters take visual form, so I think the *SQUEE!* factor is a big part of my project's appeal, and has probably motivated at least a few of my prompters ;) A good illustration can also capture readers' interest, and I've had more than one person comment that a sketch of mine drove them to check out the story. So, writers link their fans to my sketches, and my sketches attract new readers to their work. Readers (including me!) can find new stuff to read. Everybody wins!
the process
When an author requests a sketch, I read the story I've been asked to illustrate, and do a rough sketch, which I post here on LJ. I've divided the work needed to go from rough sketch to finished illustration into several distinct stages, and set contribution targets for each. There's a tip button at the bottom of every sketch post, and supporters can use it to fund specific revisions or help move a sketch toward the next stage. I know that a lack of money is not equivalent to a lack of enthusiasm, and I do appreciate different types of involvement, so some additional work can also be prompted by comments or linkbacks.
I try to encourage participation by soliciting feedback and incorporating suggestions from commenters when I refine a sketch. There's a weekly draw for a free custom icon to reward thoughtful critique, and I also make an effort to answer questions and take part in discussions that develop.
So far, I've been extremely fortunate in that my project seems to be attracting an audience of very talented people, many of whom have a good eye for art. Not only do they help me by pointing out what is and isn't working in my pictures, their comments will often call attention to aspects of my own art that I hadn't consciously thought about. Best of all, when creative people gather to share their thoughts, inspiration becomes infectious, and new ideas start popping up even when we don't expect them.
If you'd like to participate in the Story Sketches project, please check out my call for prompts, and feel free to browse the art I've done for others!
the project
Story Sketches is a crowdfunded illustration project in which writers are invited to request art based on scenes they have written. I post rough sketches for free, and do more work on them when my audience expresses enough interest by leaving feedback comments, sending monetary tips, and linking to the image.
the reason
I studied illustration in art school, but a lot has changed since then.
The internet has empowered authors to connect directly with readers, so the big publishers who traditionally assigned stories to be illustrated are now an option rather than a necessity. Illustration and writing have always gone hand-in-hand, so I couldn't help wondering what the rise of crowdfunded weblit might mean for me as an artist. With more and more writers choosing to publish their work on the web, it seemed natural to me that illustration should follow.
What I realized is that there is unprecedented opportunity for direct collaboration between artists and writers. My strength lies not in creativity, but in my craft; I work best when other people provide the ideas. Others (most notably
djinni) were already offering icons based on audience requests, and those can be a lot of fun to do…but, fresh from my first experience as a storybook illustrator, I wanted a bigger canvas to work on. If icons can be thought of as the digital equivalent of spot illustrations, my Story Sketches are more like full-page or cover art. Most self-published writers have neither the budget, nor the need for the same usage rights that publishing companies typically license for this type of artwork, and one of my goals is to make it more accessible to them.the benefits
Most authors, in my experience, are delighted to see their characters take visual form, so I think the *SQUEE!* factor is a big part of my project's appeal, and has probably motivated at least a few of my prompters ;) A good illustration can also capture readers' interest, and I've had more than one person comment that a sketch of mine drove them to check out the story. So, writers link their fans to my sketches, and my sketches attract new readers to their work. Readers (including me!) can find new stuff to read. Everybody wins!
the process
When an author requests a sketch, I read the story I've been asked to illustrate, and do a rough sketch, which I post here on LJ. I've divided the work needed to go from rough sketch to finished illustration into several distinct stages, and set contribution targets for each. There's a tip button at the bottom of every sketch post, and supporters can use it to fund specific revisions or help move a sketch toward the next stage. I know that a lack of money is not equivalent to a lack of enthusiasm, and I do appreciate different types of involvement, so some additional work can also be prompted by comments or linkbacks.
I try to encourage participation by soliciting feedback and incorporating suggestions from commenters when I refine a sketch. There's a weekly draw for a free custom icon to reward thoughtful critique, and I also make an effort to answer questions and take part in discussions that develop.
So far, I've been extremely fortunate in that my project seems to be attracting an audience of very talented people, many of whom have a good eye for art. Not only do they help me by pointing out what is and isn't working in my pictures, their comments will often call attention to aspects of my own art that I hadn't consciously thought about. Best of all, when creative people gather to share their thoughts, inspiration becomes infectious, and new ideas start popping up even when we don't expect them.
If you'd like to participate in the Story Sketches project, please check out my call for prompts, and feel free to browse the art I've done for others!
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 05:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 07:39 pm (UTC)Review
Date: 2011-07-22 06:36 pm (UTC)Story Sketches is one of my favorite projects. It offers a much-needed and, currently, unique service. I support this one by linking, not just to illustrations of my work, but most of the images in general. They are just fun to look at, and a lot of them depict other stories that I and my audience are reading anyhow.
One cool result of this is the depth effect. I'm learning what
Most recently, I chose a scene with very dramatic lighting for "Shine On (http://meeksp.livejournal.com/38326.html)." I picked this scene out of several possibilities, partly because I was impressed with how
Another aspect that
So that's why I love this project and encourage people to get involved in it. There are a lot of benefits all around, and it really helps turn crowdfunding into a close-knit, thriving community.
Re: Review
Date: 2011-07-22 07:38 pm (UTC)I hadn't thought about my audience members learning how to look at art from reading each others comments, but you're absolutely right! That's exactly the reason we do so much group critique in art school. And at least this way we don't have to pay thousands of dollars in tuition.
Re: Review
Date: 2011-07-22 08:30 pm (UTC)*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service!
I've noticed folks saying they want to hear more from patrons, not just creators. On the art side, I'm almost all patron, so I'm making an effort to be more visible as such when in that mode. That means I'll be doing more reviews, or at least blurbs for things when I link them here, rather than just *plunk*link*bye*. Hopefully this will encourage more folks to do that for projects they like.
>>That's exactly the reason we do so much group critique in art school. And at least this way we don't have to pay thousands of dollars in tuition.<<
*cackle* And the Internet sends another team of sappers under the ol' ivory tower.
I have a piece that I want to retouch for this purpose.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 07:17 pm (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2011-07-22 07:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 07:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 08:27 pm (UTC)I love the way we can bounce back and forth ideas in ways that wouldn't happen without the art/writing relationship, too.
Yes...
Date: 2011-07-22 09:20 pm (UTC)Re: Yes...
Date: 2011-07-22 10:37 pm (UTC)Re: Yes...
Date: 2011-07-22 10:50 pm (UTC)