Drawing Forum and Art Community

I don't know why people consistently come to this forum and look for handouts.

Let's be serious here, and relevant!

Questions to ask and considerations to take in before asking an ARTIST to create something:

A.) If an artist came to you (by you, I mean ANYBODY and not just the original poster) and said, "Hey, I got an awesome art cover and/or piece of art! The only problem is... I don't have a script to back it up. Will you be willing to write an entire script for me so that it can complement my cover art? Assuming you're sane, the obvious answer would be: No, not without some sort of money exchanging hands (or even...gasp... a contract being written up).

B.) If you managed to get past A, then congratulations. But you're not in the clear just yet. Now for the other question. Suppose this artist does at least consider the possibility regardless of non-payment and no contract. Suppose the artist spends 40, 50, or maybe even 60 hours working on your piece. Now what are his or her rewards for their effort? The person wanting the art is not willing to pay, but says, "Hey, at least you'll get exposure." Assuming you're sane (once again), can you (the person wanting the piece) really control how much exposure you can give this artist? Better yet, define exposure. Exposure could be just one person who browses past it on a website and happens to glance in the general direction of the piece of art. This one and only person, who is not even moderately interested in art and/or the website, happens to glance at the piece and then move on. Now can you really consider this as exposure!? The artist spends 40-60 hours for one person to glance at it!? The obvious answer to this question of exposure is: How can you really guarantee exposure? Are you going to advertise it? Are you even going to give credit to the artist? Better yet, is this piece of art for something worthwhile or will it just be something that will land inside the virus infested folder called "1k pix of grandma porn".

C.) Assuming you've seen the obvious "problems" of doing something for free, you'll know that artists are people too. We need to survive just like the businesswomen and businessmen working in offices or in the field do. Just because we do something we want or like to do and are willing to share our creations, does not mean we want to create something for someone else. If by now you're perhaps a little confused, perhaps this will clear things up: Perhaps you're a musician nobody has ever heard or ever known. You decide to walk into a guitar shop. You casually walk up to the counter, where you see a cashier. You say, "Hey, I'm a really great guitarist. I have this awesome song in my head, but... unfortunately, I don't have a guitar! Would you mind if I found the best guitar you have, walk out the door without paying you, and never guarantee reparations? Survey says: HELL NO.

No disrespect to the original poster, but here's a door, feel free to walk out.

before you walk out, just realize that if you wrote the book; you have this great imagination and might one day consider writing yet another book. if i was you i would learn to draw, that way you can do the whole nine yards on your own and not have to worry about finding someone to try and draw something for you and might not even be what you really want.

you seem very creative, use it and draw your very own cover, its free, much more original and shows how powerful your imagination can be...

ok now walk out before someone releases the hounds

I love playing guitar, but have never been able to sing at all. I'd never consider asking someone else to come and sing for me as I play guitar, unless I knew them very well, or was perhaps paying them (although I'd never do that). I think this is a similar situation. Like JC said, maybe you could learn to draw, or else pay someone to do it. I'll never be able to sing, so my only option would be to pay someone. Perhaps your only option is to pay someone as well.