Dec
19th
2020
Illustration suggestions requested · 11:29pm Dec 19th, 2020
Planning out production of the WLP editions for CSP and Maretian.
At the very least, I'm going to have four new interior illustrations per book for CSP and the three volumes of Maretian. (The single-volume abridged Maretian will have some, but not necessarily all, of the illos from the unabridged editions.) More illustrations will depend on either stretch-goals or specific pledge levels in the Kickstarter when that happens.
So, what do you suggest? The scene in question has to fit on a single vertical page (the artwork will more or less be printed at 5X8 or so proportions), so huge panoramas are out. My personal preference is a focus on character moments.
Well we need Chrysalis's big lunar moment, we ought to get either the first stable orbit or the first "in space" moment, Perhaps the moment when Rainbow has to call for help? Cherry's application to the program, story-defining moments. Indeed, we ought to get basic illustrations of the dramatis personae, Occupant, Goddard, Dragonfly, Cherry, Chrysalis, ect. if possible.
Still reading trough. Great story. The pictures would be a very sweet bonus.
Some potentials that spring to mind for the maretian:
- aerial shot of initial hab/crash landing
-first meeting between mark n equestrians
-fireball's perchlorate encounter
-the crystal cave garden just existing
-dragonfly's cocoon
-rainbow beam of wake-up
-spitfire breaking up the sandstorm
-launch off mars
-something with the rovers
-"menacing" rtg
-more that i can't quite think of rn
It’s going to be a book?! Owo
Maybe an overview shot of the CSP facilities (like 45 degrees down from horizontal) seeing all the buildings with tiny changelings and other creatures wandering around like ants.
On front interior dust cover flap: The very first rocket (box with a firework) on its patch of dirt
On the back interior dust cover: The final rocket assembled on its gantry
Edit: Ah I misread, interior images. Still, might be usable.
Be nice to have a few “blueprints” of the early attempts. The pre-bad day speech ones specifically.
oh please push it to next year
I don't know if i'll have the money to buy one this year or even the early half of next
Can you do an art book too? I bought the first run of the maretain books, so it would be nice to have an art book featuring the new art, so I don’t have to buy them all over again.
If the artist can pull it off, Cherry yelling at a cowering cluster of changelings with the “Lawn Chair on a Bomb” prototype (bonus points if the seat belt is visible) in the background.
Gym “There’s a reason why I selected that scene for the TV Tropes Page quote, after all...” Quirk
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Need something of the Equestrian side figuring out the Horse Code sequence
5418397 We'll see.
5418394 It's not going to happen in December, for certain. I might or might not be able to get the KS started by the end of January.
CSP absolutely needs one of the Fun Machine. Maretian needs at least one of the farm cave.
Chrysalis in Mission Control, reading a book to Cherry Berry whilst Cherry is on her way to (or from) Minmus. Genuinely think that Chrysalis missed out on a golden PR opportunity there.
Maretian: A vertical shot of the relevant crew looking down to the very temporary water in that crater. Most of the image would be of what they can see.
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Oof, that's going to be tight.
No chance of doing it, in say... May or so?
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If there's gonna be a pic of Dragonfly's coccoon, then it has to be the photo that Mark took of Sojourner looking up at it.
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Imma also suggest the early magic attempts, for the Dragonfly Railgun.
5418410 The Sol 303 beauty shot is what I intend for the abridged Maretian one-volume cover.
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I'd say great minds think alike, but I was mostly inspired by you saying you really liked that scene in a previous blog post.
JowyBean did my profile picturw
oh, have you seen THIS picture?
https://www.deviantart.com/texasuberalles/art/The-Maretian-742144602
5418750 Yes. I commissioned it. And that artist is the one I intend to be the one for the interior illustrations (though I have a couple of others to go to if the list ends up too long for him).
Rereading The Maretian, I think perhaps the most important image in the whole story is the one the narrative kind of glosses over. That of Mark Watney - convinced he's hearing things, depressed as hell from just recording his 'I am so fucked' log, and struggling to stand because he's just stapled his side together - standing in the airlock doorway, looking out through the opened door at five ponies in space suits staring up at him out of the dark for the very first time.
It's first contact for mankind, but much more than that, it's Mark Watney discovering he's not alone. And I think it defines the appeal The Maretian has over The Martian.
Any idea when csp will go up for pre-order and where?