Site premiere: cover art, Triptych Book #1 · 5:47pm Mar 23rd, 2022
Before we start, there's something I need to say.
I don't want to have this fight.
The print project is 99% dead. I can no longer hope to have a public Lulu page. The most I could ever manage is a private URL: theoretical link available on no-one-will-request. But even then... I haven't been able to work with any of the formatting apps or tools. They defeat me at every turn. I have found nothing which my code-blind self can operate, and there's too much work for it to be done by anyone other than me. The 1% represents my potentially finding something which can be used by a programming idiot. It hasn't happened.
The last time this came up, I hemorrhaged followers and sponsors for days. I may lose a few today just by putting up this blog, it'll get worse if we fight, and then I'm going to be too depressed to do anything for a while. Possibly for a week. I really can't afford to lose a week. So... please. Just let me talk.
99% dead. But while I still had hope, my Ko-Fi goal was set to fund cover art.
(It's currently set to not-fund a trip out to Bellevue/Seattle, for this year's Everfree Northwest, based on what I worked the expenses out to be. Barring emergencies, I'm going to leave that stated goal up until June 30th: I would have to book a flight by then to avoid last-minute ticket price increases. I consider this goal to be a self-recognized delusion with a too-high number attached. But we were examining the numbers in the chat server, so... now it's a public delusion. And if the total is somehow reached, I'll go.)
And after everything fell apart, I took all the money which had been tipped towards cover art and -- made sure it would go towards nothing except cover art. Because that had been the intent of those who had tried to help. I had no right to override that. I have spent those funds on nothing else, and I gave some over today.
I even stuck to the original plan.
Three short story collections at the top of the batting order. But then I had to go for the so-called power hitter.
We had to go all the way back to the first story I ever wrote on this site.
(You know. The one where, in terms of what anyone should try for their first story, I did everything wrong...)
And because of Lulu's page count and binding restrictions, it would have needed to be published as three volumes.
So Harwick and I were looking for a signature image to represent the initial third of a story.
It didn't take long to choose.
This was intended as the cover for the first volume of Triptych. It also represents the first-ever visual created of Gentle Arrival. And I gave Harwick so much trouble on Pinkie's expression...
Curly manes become a little harder when the artist is willing to go for the real.
So, as always:
Here's a link to the piece on Harwick's DeviantArt page, if you want to favorite it and comment directly there. Should you wish to commission him directly, please contact him through PM on his FIMFic userpage. He also has a Patreon and Ko-Fi, both of which are criminally underfunded. Imagine what he could do with that new monitor.
The art above will be used on Triptych for a few months: I'll swap it in after this blog goes up. Might as well give it that much more of a tiny venue. Thanks are given to GGA for the original, which gets to rest for a while.
I have enough previous tips left to commission at least one more intended cover -- but depending on the requirements for the art (such as character count), that may be the limit. I've already made an appointment with Harwick to pick a story and image in April.
Please. No arguments. No fights. No yelling. Just... appreciate what he did, and grant him his honors.
...okay?
Please.
I’ll be honest, I always imagined Gentle as white or a very light blue. Something sterile. Clinical. Always one step removed from the subjects of his grand experiment. Seeing this…
Oh, it works. It indisputably works. The expression as he looks on somepony who completed her own Great Work is a masterpiece of subtlety. But the disconnect is still there.
And for the record, if you ever want help with that 1%, I’ve gotten Lulu to cooperate in the past.
5645711 It's the white lab coat thing in our brains that associate that with 'doctor' and probable 'shots' as well as 'brr, that's cold.'
I understand your tech problems. As an inept fellow sufferer, you have my heartfelt sympathy.
Sorry it kilt your dream.
You're good collaborators, you and Harwick.
The fence of horns is a subtle and nicely-done touch.
love the continuum so much, so- and I promise I mean this sincerely, being on the internet too long has just rotted my ability to communicate like a normal human being- it's epic fuckin' poggers to see part of it illustrated.
...yeah, sorry. But it's still really cool
That is a gorgeous piece of art. I could zoom in and look at the little details all day. Way to go Harwick!
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Thank you! It's intimidating trying to do this story justice.
5645711
I completely understand. For those who need it, here's the description of Doctor Gentle Arrival from the 8th chapter of the story, "Converging Lines":
Estee doesn't want a fight, thus in the name of contrarianism, we must go to WAAARRH!
In all seriousness though, splendid art for a splendid story!
I'm amazed there is so little Tryptich art out there, considering how high quality and well read it is.
This artwork is beautiful. May I link it on reddit?
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By all means, please do!
No arguing here. Love the art, no use for print, never read Triptych. Kinda weird that, I've read everything else you've written since and it's thoroughly spoilered, just been saving the foundation of it all for later.
Dot's a great picture, Harwick outdid himself.
Anyone else blown away by how good the two trees in the background are? I mean, everything is fantastic, but trees are hard to make just right.
It's a stunning piece of artwork! Someday I wish to know what Miranda looks like. Or, perhaps, Quiet, but nothing will ever match the vague blurry not-an-image I have in my head. The details are phenomenal!
Okay, that's a superb pic. It's not what I would have picked for the cover, but now that I see it, I got to say it's a pretty much perfect pick. You clearly (and unsurprisingly) know your story better than I do!
Well, this is one of the scenes which I've most wanted to see rendered into the visual, and it is every bit as gorgeous as I was hoping for. Great job Harwick!
c.tenor.com/PiSA9Vq0oUsAAAAC/i-love-it-horse.gif
Yup - Harwick never disappoints.
Nice art; well done as usual, Harwick. :)
(...Though seeing them look so happy to see, and in Twilight's case, meet him, not knowing what they'd soon discover... Oof.)
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Ah, that explains my disconnect. The magic is silver which would have been mentioned in the story more than the coat and mane color so internally I started to associate him with that color in general.
He looks so good though! I love the emotion that all the ponies are bringing to this scene
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Thank god, finally found someone else who loves the word poggers in the year 2022! Pog City rollers baby!