adamwarren
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A query for Patrons: Who (other than yrs truly) could potentially handle the art chores on THE CHASTE AND THE CHAINED?
🕑 Added 2023-11-11 19:05:13 +0000 UTCSome background: Of the four(!) different fantasy-comic pitches I've worked up, oddly enough romantic action-comedy-with-a-kink The Chaste and the Chained has advanced the furthest in terms of being "ready to roll" as an ongoing property.
While Chaste was originally intended as a Patreon-only, cheesecake-intensive test bed for digital-art workflow tests intended to clear the way for the more "serious" fantasy project The Last Party, I've developed far more "ready-to-script" story ideas, action choreography and dialogue scenes for Chaste than any of the other would-be comics.
As hinted at by the dozen or so Chaste pages I've roughed and/or finished since last summer, I could script and lay out several graphic novels worth of stories featuring this uniquely starcrossed couple at any time. The problem, however, is that I'm still nowhere near having figured out an artistic workflow that would produce aesthetically acceptable artwork on a timely basis, so drawing this comic myself ain't happening anytime soon, if ever.
So, as I noodle around with a number of writing-only comic pitches (including another fantasy project that's slowly getting underway with some very promising character designs from an artist whose work I like a lot), it's occurred to me that I could try to pitch another artist or art team on drawing The Chaste and the Chained instead of me, despite how much I've come to love these two characters.
Handling Chaste's art chores would require several artistic skill sets:
*Ability to draw fantasy and/or FRPG imagery such as costumes, weapons & equipment, monsters, environments and so on
*Ability to draw aesthetically pleasing cheesecake-y content (and beefcake-y too, when the Paladin gets outta his g-d armor)
*Ability to handle both fantasy action scenes and romantic-comedy (dialogue-based) scenes
*NOTE: Even though the series features frequent "damsel-in-distress" imagery (similar to Empowered) baked into the premise, as noted below...
...I don't believe that any particular pre-existing skill with depicting "DiD" imagery is required.
In theory, I could try to rework the premise to avoid such imagery and leave the project as strictly a spicy but not explicit "sexy romantic action-comedy" (which it would remain, in either case), but I dunno if I'd want to bother with such a major restructuring, as the Elf's very, very specific set of kinks and desires is pretty much baked into the premise.
So, given my profound detachment from whatever the hell's going on in the comics field nowadays, I thought I'd ask you kind Patrons if any existing artists or art teams struck you as potentially appropriate to work on The Chaste and the Chained, however unlikely it might be that they'd actually be interested in doing so.
Y'see, back in 2017-18, after I experienced great difficulties with wrangling other freelancers on a series of failed projects and ill-fated proposals, I pretty much decided to focus on comics projects I would write and draw entirely by myself. Ah, but I eventually discovered that Artist Me proved to be the ultimate slow-paced and unreliable freelancer, so now I'm looking into some writing-only work while trying to reboot Artist Me's workflow into a more viable proposition; and that means I need to refamiliarize myself with what's going on in the comics art scene, which is why I'm asking you fine folk for your opinions.
So, if you please, feel free to fire away in the comments below with any artist suggestions that occur to you, even if (to repeat) there's no way in hell they'd likely be interested in working on a goofy, creator-owned concept such as this; as I said, I need to educate myself on artists of the present day, rather than just the wee handful of artists I remember and interacted with back in the begone eras of the 2000s and 2010s. Huzzah!
Comments
Devan Muse
Would it be too self indulgent to suggest myself? Working on a project with you would be a dream come true. But if you want a more serious answer: the Team Husman collective has worked with a bunch of talented artists experienced in not only comics, but also the DiD-sphere.
Aidenke
I would highly recommend Psudonym of the https://www.cassiopeiaquinn.com/ webcomic. They do all manner of really neat fantasy and kink-friendly art on their Patreon.
Matthew Rogers
I’m too out of touch with modern comics to know who’s who. But I always enjoyed your boy Ryan’s work with Kei and Yuri, so my suggestion is Ryan. Otherwise, have you considered a more light novel approach? Focus the writing and work a few panels in as and when. Like a mixed media approach. I obviously can’t speak for everyone here, but your “sexy lady” drawings grabbed my attention, but your writing is what made be stick around as a fan for the best part of 30 years.
ben aka nekomilk
Ito-sensei definitely has the artistic chops, though.
ben aka nekomilk
I would suggest Itoyoko, the mangaka behind Dragon Pink, an "H" manga, but he's currently working on some doujinshi for Comiket right now, and I'm also not quite sure about his level of understanding of English, unfortunately. (even though we talk almost daily, in spite of the 14 hour time difference between Chicago and Toyko)
PixelThis
Another artist who could probably handle this kind of art, if he has the availability would be Phillip Jackson (aka Jolly Jack) of Sequential Art
PixelThis
What about the artist that does the Alfie webcomic. Their stuff tends to be a bit more blue that is typical for you but they definitely have the artistic chops
Brandon Graham
I'd love to see you work with Steve Mannion. I think his drawings would pair nicely with your stories. Gisèle Lagacé would also be a cool collaboration. (also E. K. Weaver or Hamletmachine)
Stuart Little
Richard Elson has worked on Thor, Marvel Zombies and is currently on the latest arc of Feral and Foe, which is a comedy fantasy series for 2000 A.D. He can do action and comedic dialogue scenes. He has a good range of character design types from humans/humanoids to more monstrous, and is able to make his characters quite expressive.
andrew
In a perfect world, I'd say the guys who draw Kamen America could do it, but they seem to have a lot going on these days.
ericlvargas
Not sure if I'd be the best fit and am not at your level at all, but am currently looking for a gig. Feel I would be remiss if I didn't throw my hat in the ring.
e-reptile disfunction
Much as I love Šejić's work, he's overbooked as always. He might know someone ELSE who could do it, though, and is active enough in the community enough to maybe have some suggestions.
Eric
The artist who does the delve Webcomic is quite good. https://thisis.delvecomic.com/NewWP/comic/a-rogues-struggle-part-2/ His art is very noticeably improved since the beginning.
Ad Solte
. . . it would be a goddamn moon shot given their commitments but Stjepan Šejić: they have comedic and action chops (see Death Vigil, their run on RatQueens) and can do relationshippy and pinup styled work (see their comic Sunstone).
Zeuvembie
Meredith McClaren has done fantasy and sexy.
Richard Franklin
The first person that comes to mind is Rebekah Isaacs, who did the first couple arcs of Money Shot for Vault. Not sure about her chops with period attire, but I think she checks all the other boxes.
casteelcd
I work regularly with a handful of very talented artists, I'll gladly send them the info & images and see if anyone is interested. Check your messages!
