06-23-2016, 02:29 PM
@Dennis: Thanks man I totally agree. I did more face construction studies and have a more consistent approach now, but still working on it!
@zipfelzeus: No worries. Yep it's a terrible feeling to deliver poorly, especially if you have no one to blame but yourself, just realise that it's through those failures that you learn!
Client: FFG
Price: 100USD a card! (ugh). Though now they have raised starting rates to 200. No kill fees, no upfront payment. Shittest contract ever. Great ADs
These were my first cards for FFG, and the only ones I can show yet. Had a month to do the two cards. The process was fine, delivered on time, they seemed really happy with the results. I wasn't but haha, what else is new.
First images are the sketches I sent, followed by revisions and final. Now I work differently. I only send value sketches first. Colour comes later. The last shows half the card template I was given to work within. Each card series will have a different template that you will have to work within when creating the work. Apologies for the shitty quality
Just received my first contributor copy of these over a year later! I cringe at the artwork but so nice to see the product.
Learnings:
It was good to do work for a well known company. The money was abysmal for the amount of time it took. I boycotted FFG after this for that reason, but now I am doing work for them again at 200 a card. Lol. Freelancers have to be beggars sometimes. The principle of not working for hire and being paid fairly is one with lots of merit, but the reality is sometimes you have to swallow your pride and do what needs to be done to survive. It was great experience and I'm glad I did it.
Also realised that the AD is beholden to their own work programme and a hierarchy chain. I would wait days for feedback while my work got propagated up and then down the chain, so MEET their deadlines or it's not only your ass, but their ass that is on the line. You want the AD to love you because you delivered for them and made them look good.
Your reputation is everything in this game, your skills are only half of it. That's why the Crimson Crucible is such good practice. If you can't produce one illustration in 3 weeks on top of other stuff...forget freelance.
@zipfelzeus: No worries. Yep it's a terrible feeling to deliver poorly, especially if you have no one to blame but yourself, just realise that it's through those failures that you learn!
Client: FFG
Price: 100USD a card! (ugh). Though now they have raised starting rates to 200. No kill fees, no upfront payment. Shittest contract ever. Great ADs
These were my first cards for FFG, and the only ones I can show yet. Had a month to do the two cards. The process was fine, delivered on time, they seemed really happy with the results. I wasn't but haha, what else is new.
First images are the sketches I sent, followed by revisions and final. Now I work differently. I only send value sketches first. Colour comes later. The last shows half the card template I was given to work within. Each card series will have a different template that you will have to work within when creating the work. Apologies for the shitty quality
Just received my first contributor copy of these over a year later! I cringe at the artwork but so nice to see the product.
Learnings:
It was good to do work for a well known company. The money was abysmal for the amount of time it took. I boycotted FFG after this for that reason, but now I am doing work for them again at 200 a card. Lol. Freelancers have to be beggars sometimes. The principle of not working for hire and being paid fairly is one with lots of merit, but the reality is sometimes you have to swallow your pride and do what needs to be done to survive. It was great experience and I'm glad I did it.
Also realised that the AD is beholden to their own work programme and a hierarchy chain. I would wait days for feedback while my work got propagated up and then down the chain, so MEET their deadlines or it's not only your ass, but their ass that is on the line. You want the AD to love you because you delivered for them and made them look good.
Your reputation is everything in this game, your skills are only half of it. That's why the Crimson Crucible is such good practice. If you can't produce one illustration in 3 weeks on top of other stuff...forget freelance.