In Search of an Artist

It's not easy to go in search of someone to make pictures of your words. I can search for what I want, but somehow I just get an idea in my head and it doesn't always happen to be among the stock images.

I'm never sure if I can afford an artist, but I am on the lookout for places to see who is out there. Who wants to do erotic images (or at least, images for erotica ebook covers)? Those two do not have to be the same thing.

When I look at ebooks, there are a lot of covers that show skin or some barely-there outfit that will (hopefully) interest the reader. Sometimes the cover does not match with my read of the book. I don't find it easy to translate my words into something to match the front.

I suppose I'm lucky I have a good editor to work with already.

So this week is dedicated to finding the requirements for any place where I might publish an ebook, looking for the spots where the artists are congregating, and possibly looking at stock images to see if I can get ideas for the words I've already written.

Plus, I'm going to send the first one to the aforementioned editor and put the finishing touches on it so I'll be ready to go when I get that artist. Oh, the exciting life of a writer!

On the Search for an Artist

I'll admit I prefer to keep things among friends. It isn't that I don't like strangers or big corporations, but helping out a friend is important to me. So I've been pushing myself to remember all the artists that I know that might want to do some work for me with my determination to get some collections published this year.

It's an interesting thing, trying to find an artist. One option is in college and likes that I have a bunch of ideas and I am open to her insight on how to put them together. I just think I know where my strengths lie. I love art, I want to see it put together nicely, but I also know that I might not be the best judge of how that is done. She also let me know what her strengths are, which makes me like her better.

Anyone who isn't afraid to share where the weaknesses are is pretty great in my book. So I started a search for someone else who is more for drawing and less graphics for the next part of my search.

Somehow another name fell into my lap along with a sketch by the artist my friend was talking up. I just have to see how he feels about working with an erotica writer. Could be the start of something great.

My head is overflowing when I start to consider the art aspects. I need covers for each of the collections I'm planning - three at the moment - and also I'd love to get a new piece for my bio. I want these to be the best I can afford, but also patronize the people close to me who want to do this kind of work.

Then it's just about decisions to make the best fits for the projects at hand. But artwork really isn't easy to put together for a writer. I'll admit that I have a bit of talent when it comes to art, but also it's been years since I did anything with that. It's sad, since my high school art teacher once thought I could major in art. How different things might have been - if I were the illustrator looking for an author to partner with.

I remind myself I can't be the master of every talent, and look again for someone whose first passion is in the artistic imagery rather than the written word to portray the covers and other artwork I might need in my work.

Better to spend the rest of my time editing, rather than trying to put together a picture. It's my hope that the fans will want me writing something else, rather than waiting for my to make my own artwork. Perhaps if I get inspired I'll manage that, too, one day.

Until then I need an artist or two.