Illustrations wanted, for our MMHC chapbook Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello!  

I'd like to ask if anyone would be interested in helping me with some illustrations for our up and coming First Annual Mosaic Musings Holiday Classic artwork.

I am going to put together a chapbook of all the submissions (including the posts Butch and I did that I've already moved into the archive forum).

Depending on the length of each tile, there may be 'space' left over on the page and I'd like to fill it with artwork that would compliment the poem or short story's theme.

The art can be in various formats, black & white or color.

If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Thank you!
Lori    

[Guest_Cathy_*]

What kind of illustrations are you looking for Cleo?  Computer-art, sketches...?

Cathy  :holly:  :dove:

[Guest_Jox_*]

Good question, Cathy.

Yes, I meant to respond to this earlier... I design but I am not a freehand illustrator / artist.

Lori, if you would find anything I can do useful, please let me know what it might be and we'll explore if I can help.

James

[Guest_Cathy_*]

I'm no good with design but I can do some sketching...

We just need some idea from Cleo about what she wants.

 :holly:  :dove:

[Guest_Jox_*]

I think we should be in business, together, Cathy!

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello Cathy and James!

Thanks for your replies!

I am open actually to all types of artwork... sketch, charcoal, computer graphics, paint....

If you take a look at the posts in both the new forums "Halls of Montezuma" AND "Winter Solstice" I was hoping to get some images for some of the posts.... I have picture images but i was thinking maybe other forms of artwork would be nice too...

I would give complimentary copies of the book as payment (sorry wish I could give more)... plus credit to the artists of course!  

Please let me know if there are certain posts (scenes) in mind..

Thanks!
Lori    

[Guest_Cathy_*]

I'll take a look at those posts and see what I can come up with.

What sort of time table are we looking at?

Cathy

[Guest_Cathy_*]

Hey James!  Sounds good to me.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Cathy.

One can never tell with me about time.....

Let's shoot for one month? May be longer....
I've still got the July and Aug menageries to complete...

Cheers!
Lori

[Guest_Cathy_*]

That works good for me! I'll get started and see what I can come up with.

Cathy

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi... Well, for my sins, this is the sort of naive style I like but it may not be the sort of thing you're looking for. This was done in about ten minutes (and looks it) but does reflect the approach. This is based on Alan's Vienna poem...

Copyright AMcD
SILENT NIGHT, VIENNA

Christmas Eve,
House on hill,
Edging
Vienna Woods.

Shopping done,
Food prepared,
Tree decorated,
Ready to amaze children.

A moment to myself.
Magic moment.
Dressed for dinner,
Waiting for the feast.

Relaxed, rare treat.
Outside, snowing heavily.
Noticed it earlier ?
I think not.

Open balcony door,
Look past slope
Of front garden,
To street, and beyond.

There, the magic.
Snow falling, thick flakes,
Several inches lie,
Heavy, dreamy, white Christmas.

Street lights struggle to shine
Through snow lacing the branches,
Dimmer as distance
Stretches into valley.

Late Christmas Eve
Vienna usually silent.
Snow blankets completely
Any chance remaining sounds.

Snow, and peace,
On earth.
Alone and tranquil,
For myself and all -
Silent Night, Vienna.

Alan McAlpine Douglas

James.

[Guest_Cathy_*]

This is cool!  But James, are your letters supposed to be backwards?  :jester:

 :holly:  :dove:

[Cleo_Serapis]

Interesting James!  :reindeer:

Can you make one without any words too?  :detective:

~Cleo  :chilly:

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi all,

Though Alan spoke of "opening" out of a balcony door; I was trying to capture the idea of looking out as in a window - hence the backward letters. (People also use that device to cause viewers to pause a while whilst they read it - but would I stoop to that? err, no comment).

The main font (orange / yellow) is a sort of 1950s cinema-style to (try to) remind us of "The Third Man" - which mentions of Vienna always do for me.

The bottom-of-page quote changes colour to reflect Alan's words "Street lights struggle to shine" - you'll notice that they become brighter during the word "struggle". They were at the bottom to represent the place where the street light pools.

The grey-striped square was going to be the house but I gave up and posted then - needs working on.

In his poem, Alan says that snow is lying thickly... can't do that or else we'd simply have an Andy Warhol white-out! (See, the power of poetry!) Instead I filled-in the flakes as they hit the trees.

Without words is far easier in some ways, of course, but in this case the words were part of the picture; trying to bind the poem and the image together. The shape and the colour and the inverseness (is that a word?) all played their parts in that. So the answer is yes, of course words are easily removed or omitted but I do think (certainly this particular image) would lose a great deal. (Actually, I started with the main words and built the rest of the picture from there)

As you wish, though; your choice - anything fine by me.

All the best, James.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Let's ask Alan....

[Guest_Jox_*]

err, sure but I haven't shown him yet - very unfinished - was just giving you an eg!

[Cleo_Serapis]

I should send him a link to this tile!

[Guest_Jox_*]

err, will you accept bribes?

[Guest__*]

err ....


ask me what ?

Love
Alan

[Guest_Jox_*]

A Comedy Of Error, methinks.

This is somewhat embarrassing for me, Alan. Lori asked if anyone could provide illustrations for chapbooks (I think). Cathy and I said we'd see what we could do. Lori said simply choose something from one of two forums and have a go. So I did - I actually chose your Vienna poem, partly through serendipity and partly because it inspired me.

I then mocked-up an illustration. (a few posts above this - previous page). It is not yet meant for "public" consumption - just as an illustration to Lori to see if she was interested in my "style," It is very far from finished and quiet quick. I have provided an explanation of how I got there a couple of posts below the illustration.

Lori asked if I could omit the text (of your poem). I, of course, could but I did say that your text was the essence of the picture.

Lori then suggested she ask you for your opinion (not of the crapness of the image, but of the use of your words as an integral part of it).

Please remember, this is only a mock-up - though in essence not too far from how I would finish it. I didn't want you asked (nothing personal) because it was only a mock-up. nevertheless, now you have been ... that is the question...

How do you feel about the integration of your text in an illustration to illustrate your poem?

Cheers, James.