Stupid Unicorn: Help Me Choose an Artist! · 4:37am Jun 5th, 2019
I wrote a picture book that I'd like to sell at Aquaman's Bronycon bookstore. I spent the last week finding artists who would draw something I could use at a price I could afford.
My dad has dementia, and he can't read books anymore. I thought there ought to be picture books that old people wouldn't be embarrassed to read, like The Giving Tree or The Little Prince. (Though if I had kids, I don't think I'd let them read The Little Prince!) So this is a book for children and old people. And you guys, of course.
Now I have a good problem: I have too many good artists to choose from! I need to pick one by yesterday. If you would, help me choose an artist by taking this survey with 9 different pictures by 9 different artists.
I got permission from each artist to post their sample picture on the survey, but that's all. Please don't post them anywhere!
You can read the entire book script if you want. I'd appreciate comments on any problems with it before the art is done.
I'd like to do a kickstarter to help pay for the art, but to give a printed copy as a reward, and still have money left over to pay the artist, I'd have to price book-as-kickstarter-reward higher than you'll be able to buy it for online. Plus, the ebook version will be available for free.
So... that said, does anybody still want to participate in a kickstarter to fund this?
Neither link is open to the public.
Sure.
5069624 GUYS. How come 29 people viewed my blog, and EQS was the first to tell me they couldn't read the docs?
I fixed the link. Come back!
I'd say this is the sort of decision that shouldn't be decided by public poll. They're all good in different ways that I find it difficult to quantify. I'm biased toward Shaenon's, of course, but that's my bias talking.
Go with your gut on it and decide quickly. Time is of the essence, so you kinda have to, but even were it not, I would trust your quickest judgment. Overthinking is your enemy here.
I was surprised by my answers. There are some really good artists in there, but I felt like the highly detailed ones weren't quite right for a whimsical picture book.
Have to agree with 5069675. I took the survey, but I feel like the book's art is an area where a single authorial voice is going to make a better decision than an open vote. You know your own story better than anyone, and I trust you to know which style of illustration is most appropriate for it more than I trust myself to decide which one would be "best."
I took the survey! I helped!
Ye gads. You got an amazing bunch of artists. (checks)
I take it this is a reference to The Unicorn in the Garden by James Thurber (who died a year before I was born, so if you believe in reincarnation...)
My ouijia board just rang. It was the Brothers Grimm. They said this sounded like a great idea and they wish they'd thought of it first.
Also that you're a good son.
5069704 Not a reference, since I don't think I'd read that story, though Shaenon said it reminded her of that. But that Thurber story is a bit vindictive. This one isn't like it.