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Art tips and techniques and some reviews by illustrator Joe Corroney.
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COMICS 101 for 10/17/2002
Tips and Thoughts on Contacting Art Directors and Editors
Joe,
I'm not sure if you remember me but we wrote each other back and forth a few times this summer. I was asking you how to get work doing Star Wars stuff. Anyway, you inspired me to create my own website after seeing yours. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Here's the url: http://gabeeltaeb.tripod.com
Also, I met this guy named Kyle Hunter at the San Diego Con and he said he'd give me a chance to do some work in Dungeon Magazine. Can I ask you professionally, what do art directors expect? Do they want you to contact them a lot or lay off. I ask this because I call Kyle every week because I don't want him to forget me, but at the same time I don't want to be a bother.
Thanks,
Gabe
Hi Gabe,
Of course I remember you! You sent me that fabulous 'Empire Strikes Back' piece you illustrated. It was a great piece so it definitely left an impression.
Great looking website by the way. I'm glad and really flattered I could inspire you to get your work online. Your site is simple, yet effective. I'm not really one for bells and whistles, intro pages, music and flash animation and all of that. I think that stuff is best reserved for official movie websites and rock band sites because fans expect it (and they can afford to get away with it) but an artist's site should just have great work that speaks for itself. It makes the load time quicker without the bells and whistles for your visitors or potential employers and lets your viewers quickly see what they came for in the first place, your art!
My favorite piece (besides your ESB one) is the barbarian looking guy slicing the head off that orc! What an awesome piece. You have great technique by the way.
You actually met the elusive and mysterious Kyle Hunter? Did you shake hands with him perchance? If so... proceed to the nearest exit and bathe you're entire self with industrial soap immediately!! If your lucky you may be able to stop the virus from further spreading! Actually, I'm just kidding. Kyle is a great guy and one of the best art directors I ever worked with. That's great news he could be giving you some work in Dungeon. After seeing that barbarian piece I can see why Kyle thinks your work would fit in there. I know he's awlays busy and even when I was working consistently for him he was sometimes difficult to track down or pinpoint but that's probably true of all overworked, dedicated AD's and Editors who strive for perfection in their projects.
I think if an Art Director or Editor has promised you work, you've obviously made an impression so it's probably safe to drop an email or give a call every couple of weeks at the minimum. Every week *might* be pushing it since you don't want to seem pushy, but casual reminders about two to four weeks just to let him know you're available and patiently awaiting work would be acceptable. Sometimes, I contact Art Directors and Editors via email about once a month, sending them new work to show them that I'm not only still available, but that I'm still dedicated, serious, professional and hopefully improving with each new piece they see from me.
It also pushes me to just do more work and samples since I know need an excuse to bug them again soon. Sometimes the only way to get work is to be really tenacious but not *too* tenacious. Just think of it more as being 'dedicated' and don't get discouraged. Especially if they see you improving with new samples when you drop them an email or package via snail mail at least once a month they're bound to give you work eventually. Good luck!
-Joe
<< 10/10/2002 | 10/17/2002 | 10/24/2002 >>
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