Webcomic Illustrator Needed

I've been thinking of doing a webcomic for a while now, the problem is I lack much in the way of art ability, (I'm in the process of attempting to change that), and teaching myself panel layout, scripting, and the like is taking a little more time than I thought it would.

I'm looking for somebody to do the art for me and maybe help me learning how to do it along with them, (the last is part is not necessary just something else I am looking for) I'd be happy to work within deadlines, discuss panel layout, story, characters and designs and will make sure we both have input into this.

I intend this to be a superhero group comic with the main focus on two specific members, I'd like the art style to be relatively undetailed but not super-simplistic something akin to later El Goonish Shive.

Hopefully this doesn't put any artists off, and I'd be happy to answer any questions or listen to advice. If your interested please reply here or PM me.

Thank you.

edited 25th Oct '13 10:41:19 PM by Wildcard

I don't think you're going to have any luck. Generally, people who want to draw webcomics have their own ideas that they want to draw. Plenty of people have ideas but no artistic skill; a lot more than have artistic skill but no ideas.

I also notice you don't seem to be offering payment? You can't expect people to put a huge amount of work into someone else's creative baby with no compensation.

You'd be better off starting to draw it yourself, even if the first few chapters end up being a bit dodgy art-wise. Learn as you go.

I can't offer payment because I'm not sure it would make money. I know how to market a webcomic and how you can go through sites to make merchandise but I do not know how to physically put a comic onto a website format or failing that create a website for the comic. I'd be glad to offer them 50% of any profit but I am reluctant to promise it when I can't guarantee we will get any.

As for the art I understand and would agree with you. I've tried it on my own though and concluded that for me a tutor was the best answer.

edited 26th Oct '13 12:14:29 AM by Wildcard

Well, what you're basically asking people is "Please draw my webcomic for me for free". Something like this would really be more of a commission, I'd think, not a favour. I once tried to make a short comic with a friend, me writing and her drawing. We never made more than a few pages, and in hindsight, her part of the deal involved a lot more raw time and effort than mine did.

Anyway, I can think of a number of webcomics that start out with kind of poor art and then eventually evolve to be a lot better (or otherwise start out and end with totally different styles). Gunnerkrigg Court. Goblins. Schlock Mercenary. That's probably the best way for you to learn.

edited 25th Oct '13 11:08:48 PM by LoniJay

Thanks for the advice, but I'm still having trouble getting that style down. Even with tutorials I'm reading. Are you an artist? Can you recommend a place to host a webcomic or a good tutorial site? I've done some alright backgrounds and life drawings IMO but I struggle a lot with other aspects. Especially character designs which I feel I need to focus on the most.

I draw sometimes, but not very well. Hang out in the 'hello, artists' thread and you'll find some troper artists.

There is a thread for good references and tutorials here in this subforum, you could check there. I do recall a tutorial on character design by the author of... Dresden Codak, I think? If you google 'dresden codak character design tutorial' they should come up.

edited 26th Oct '13 2:10:55 AM by LoniJay

You can find an artist partner, it is possible, happens with actual comics all the time, but you should probably offer some form of compensation, unless you're just asking for a one off favor in hopes someone will gift you with niceness.

However finding one is really hard, and you're better off doing actual searching. Try local areas, where you can talk with someone, possibly?

I would offer compensation, except it is a webcomic and I can't guarentee a money reward. Maybe I should do this later on than get some more money first?

That might be a good idea. Artists Working For Free is a bit of a sore point in the community of drawers, and even if you ask on a whim, you might get heckled for doing the "easy" part of it (the writing). I don't agree with that, but that's what happened to me when I asked if someone could draw a page or two, just in hopes of me being able to better visualize my scripts.

Yeah it's seriously bad form to do an amanda Palmer.

You could try coming at from more of a partnership angle I suppose.

Yeah I tried it on Drunk Duck but nobody responded. The main thing is I can't offer anything but an assurance that I will meet deadlines and write well for them. Webcomics don't generate money right away.