For Green: About the Illustrator for "The Iron Horse" and Why Artists Deserve Better · 11:26pm Jul 31st, 2016
Today, I'd like to talk about my pal Colby Green, aka Greenfinger, the illustrator for The Iron Horse, and also share my thoughts on artists, compensation, and weigh in on a particular controversy that's going on in the MLP community right now.
"Moon"
So, about a year ago, I put up a post about Green. I mentioned in that post that he had gotten a "job" working for a certain MLP community analyst named ILoveKimPossibleAlot (or simply KP). If you're up on recent horse news, then you might know why I'm mentioning this. If not, well, you might want to read this first. Feel free to read around to get others' spin on things.
Ha ha, get it, because... "spin." (cough)
[EDIT: I'd like to point out that while I agree that KP did wrong, some of the backlash has been really personal and ugly, and I do not agree with that. ]
The key thing there is that 7-page long NDA Contract for free work. I remember when Green told me about that over Skype a while ago. After being harped on for deadlines he was never told about and not getting paid for any of his work, this was the final straw, and he quit the team. However, until seeing this, I really had no idea how bad it had gotten, and how pervasive this really was. Green mostly just didn't want to talk about it and get back to drawing.
"Jungle Girl"
Now, I don't want to talk about KP and get in a big ol' slugfest in the comments, so please respect that and discuss it elsewhere.
What I do want to discuss is giving credit where it's due and doing right by your content creators. Considering the fact that I'm the one that encouraged Green to join that team on the grounds that he would get some exposure from it, I feel at least partly responsible. So, Green, if you're reading this, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting you into it and for not really understanding or being supportive enough about it. Us geeks have to stick together.
"Geeky Rainbow Dash"
Besides, without you, I'd have to do the illustrations myself. And if that happened, all the illustrations for the story would look like this:
"Turing Toast (Concept)" by The Hat Man
Instead of this:
"Turing Toast" by Green
Now, I'm not sure if everyone understands this, but I actually pay Green for his work. If you've seen it in The Iron Horse, then yes, I paid him for it. We agreed on a system for how much pictures would cost and have adhered to it ever since I decided to have each chapter illustrated. It seemed fair, given the amount of time it takes and knowing what a demanding bastard I can be sometimes. 
Plus, it was a great way for a friend of mine to join me in doing something creative that we'd always wanted to do: I've always dreamed of being a famous novelist, and he's always wanted to be an illustrator for children's books, which shows up in his style.
"Matilda"
I'm not trying to say everyone should always be paid for their work, because in some cases it doesn't matter to the artists or the commissioner simply does not have the money for it, but they should absolutely be credited and shown some love for the work they do. So credit the artists whose work you use, pay them if you can, and make sure people know who adds artistic flair to your projects.
"Squiggly" from the game Skullgirls, showing lots of flair.
After all, Turing Test's final design was largely Green's doing. So, if you like Turing Test, know that he designed her with my input. Same for Gadget, Vanderbull, and anypony else who's original to the story.
As a final bit here, I'll also mention that if you enjoy Green's illustrations for The Iron Horse or any of these other pictures that I've showcased here, he is now taking commissions, and he could really use the money, since (A) he's currently unemployed, and (B) I can't pay him to draw for me full time. (Hey, I'm a teacher IRL; we don't make that much. 
)
His post about commissions can be viewed here, but in addition to DeviantArt, you can also drop him a line here on FiMfiction. Got an OC you want drawn? He's your guy!
Whether you give him your business or not, thanks to all of you for reading this. And to all the people who have so graciously done fanart for The Iron Horse, and to all the artists out there in general, you have my undying gratitude. 
Well said !
As much as I like Green's illustrations , the fact is that the last OC that my twisted brain designed is a dracolich ...
And...well... Imagining this kind of creature in Green's style just bring to mind the cutest evil undead abomination ever.
Well , at least if I need something cute , I know who to ask now !
4125212 I'm pretty sure he'd give it a shot.
4125212 I'll give it a shot if you're willing. though yeah it'll probably end up being a oddly cute.
I never actually heard about this. That's a little surprising, honestly, considering how much gossip comes my way. And considering I follow KP.
I can actually sympathize with Green. I've had art stolen in the past, and the person put a watermark on it to make it look like I was the thief (I won out, but still). I know how much it sucks to be taken advantage of like that. It makes you feel like shit.
I'm sorry he had to go through that. And don't beat yourself up over it. You couldn't have known what would happen. Honestly, I never realized you paid him until this last weekend. I figured he worked for free like us editors. N-not that I mind, honestly! It's an honor to be involved with TIH.
4125364 Oh hi there. Have a hug from a stranger. I been meaning to reach out and see if you wanted to chat. It's nice to know who I'm working with. Kind of.
Does that count if we're on the same project, but different parts?
4125725 I assured ol Hat Man that he had nothing to worry about too, i don't resent being pointed towards KP and in fact if anything i'm grateful for it. It allowed me to refine my drawing a bit while working for a large scale project, which is something I had very little experience with up to that point. On top of that you can tell by my backgrounds or lack thereof that i'm not amazing at them, so any experience with them is useful.
As for the concern of theft or being taken advantage of, to tell the truth i never really considered any of the work i did for them stolen, they used it but I was credited in the videos as far as i know, but it is true i wish payment was in order. The fact is though that I simply didn't realize that any of that work was meant to be payed, nor apparently that a lot of other pony analysts did compensate their artist in one way or another by selling artwork at cons or directly paying them. I can be very naive, just ask the hat man...
Either way all the work i did for KP is safely contained in my google drive. I was planning to put them on my deviantart page after stuff was released but.... i kinda forgot
And a coworker is a coworker...so to speak. Far as i'm concerned we work together. Thanks for the kind words and the internet hug.
4125763 Ah, I took it as you weren't being credited for it. My bad. I'm glad you're good.
I'd say we should grab a drink, but we're probably not within that kind of distance.
We're all a bit naive, in some way. I'm a narcissistic optimist that thinks the world should run on love and lollipops. It's just a thing we are. Hatsie seems to be a little different on that regard, I think.
Oh, and for the record, I suck at backgrounds too! Hooray for common ground!
And you're welcome for the hug.
4127362 Aww thanks Kirby, I never was big on serious stuff but you're awesome. It is true that artists do kinda fall behind the limelight, baring the lucky few with millions of page views. but they are also usually amazing.
Though I definitely know how it feels in other aspects of life, I played a bass clarinet for about 10 years and in most bands found myself in front of the tubas.