Oryan77
Adventurer
"It took me like three hours to finish the shading on the upper lip."
Holy crap! My brother wasn't the only one!
This PDF cover has to be seen...
- Status
Holy crap! My brother wasn't the only one!
WanderingMonster
First Post
The other product in their catalog is pretty special too:
I would like to point out that after reading the preview pages of this book, that it is completely awesome in the most unexpected ways.
Among other things, I'm an artist myself. I also have a Marketing Masters.
When I say "unprofessional" here, I mean in the sense of 1) a true amateur and 2) not up to professional quality levels.
I can see that you're absolutely right- the artist in question spent time on their creations and did care about their creations. But you also have to realize that if you are selling something, presentation matters. Even if you have no choice but DIY, you still have to make good decisions.
Both of those illustrations were done from 100% straight on- there was no angling of the head that would suggest the artist had the requisite skill to render a higher quality illustration. There is an element of similarity in those renderings to the works of artists like Patrick Nagel or Dennis Mukai, but the poses are static. Compare that to the original MM, and you see figures from straight-on, full side profile, and 3/4ths angles and others besides.
Given a choice between what was actually chosen, doing a simple text cover or doing some fancy fontwork, as a non-Pro, the latter 2 options are far more likely to be well received than your personal artwork.
Stormonu
Legend
Umm....wow. I think the sample is creepier than the cover. It's obvious this person believes he's got a lot of cool ideas he wants to get out, but... really, I think this person needs to step back and get some experienced help - both a graphic artist's input and someone to edit his text.
Honestly... "This guide is for every person that runs a roll playing game..." is your opening sentence?
Honestly... "This guide is for every person that runs a roll playing game..." is your opening sentence?
MortalPlague
Adventurer
That preview was really something special. The background for his campaign world is just... wow.
The other product in their catalog is pretty special too:
You can buy a print of this one for $75
Really.
There's also a picture on there entitled "Hottie."
SiderisAnon
First Post
A quick web search turns up his Facebook, MySpace, and Art Wanted info. The author is listed as 43 and also sells custom artwork. He's doing a whole line of images. Some of his work is better. The drawing labeled as "Yulia" is actually decent. Not good enough for the cover on a $15 product, but better than what he used.
I would have to say that the poster who suggested that the artist just doesn't realize how other people will see his work is the correct one. This guy is clearly very proud of his work. Based on the prices he lists, he clearly thinks it's valuable work.
I wonder if there's a polite way to contact him and suggest he get an editor and someone to preview his art?
I do have to ask: Doesn't RPGNow look at the products being offered for sale? I thought you had to go through an approval process first?
Some links. Note that some of his images are not safe for work.
Removed as requested.
Edit: Be careful about where you go from links on his sites. His Twitter account looks to have been hacked, based on the number of ads for garbage services that are listed as his tweets. (Or he's selling questionable business credit services under the same company as the gaming books.)
I would have to say that the poster who suggested that the artist just doesn't realize how other people will see his work is the correct one. This guy is clearly very proud of his work. Based on the prices he lists, he clearly thinks it's valuable work.
I wonder if there's a polite way to contact him and suggest he get an editor and someone to preview his art?
I do have to ask: Doesn't RPGNow look at the products being offered for sale? I thought you had to go through an approval process first?
Some links. Note that some of his images are not safe for work.
Removed as requested.
Edit: Be careful about where you go from links on his sites. His Twitter account looks to have been hacked, based on the number of ads for garbage services that are listed as his tweets. (Or he's selling questionable business credit services under the same company as the gaming books.)
Last edited:
Another piece of his, for $25:
Snake Dragon in Pen by Gerald Bocian | ArtWanted.com
Face + Palm = _______________
Words are failing me right now.
Upon further reflection...I did some research as to who "Aria Giovanni" and "Alex Del Monacco" are... and thereby figured out why the pictures on the covers of his PDFs look like they do: He's basing them on (presumably) copyrighted images of softcore/hardcore porn stars and glamour models. I tried and tried and TRIED to find the particular images he was working from- the sacrifices I go through for you guys!- but to no avail. (Part of the reason I was looking for the images was to see how "transformative" his interpretations are- if they're too close to the originals, he could be sued..by the models, by the photographers or even by anyone who may have bought the rights to the images.)
And that one of his friend Yulia? That SO looks like a photo that has gone through some filters. As, now, do the ones based on Aria. ESPECIALLY in comparison to his illustration of another RW person, Tila Nguyen , aka Tila Tequila. That's the only way I can explain the vast stylistic differences between the pencil or pen illustrations and the others.
I'm SERIOUSLY questioning his actual skills now. Some of the stuff he's selling for $20 I wouldn't have sold when I was just starting out and doing PC illustrations for other gamers.
Snake Dragon in Pen by Gerald Bocian | ArtWanted.com
Face + Palm = _______________
Words are failing me right now.
Upon further reflection...I did some research as to who "Aria Giovanni" and "Alex Del Monacco" are... and thereby figured out why the pictures on the covers of his PDFs look like they do: He's basing them on (presumably) copyrighted images of softcore/hardcore porn stars and glamour models. I tried and tried and TRIED to find the particular images he was working from- the sacrifices I go through for you guys!- but to no avail. (Part of the reason I was looking for the images was to see how "transformative" his interpretations are- if they're too close to the originals, he could be sued..by the models, by the photographers or even by anyone who may have bought the rights to the images.)
And that one of his friend Yulia? That SO looks like a photo that has gone through some filters. As, now, do the ones based on Aria. ESPECIALLY in comparison to his illustration of another RW person, Tila Nguyen , aka Tila Tequila. That's the only way I can explain the vast stylistic differences between the pencil or pen illustrations and the others.
I'm SERIOUSLY questioning his actual skills now. Some of the stuff he's selling for $20 I wouldn't have sold when I was just starting out and doing PC illustrations for other gamers.
Last edited:
- Status
Similar Threads
