Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC NOVEL

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Hi
A few out there might remember I created a fictional show for a fantasy tv network game. Called DIVERGENT POINT It concerned a time travel project in 2039 that was sabatoged leading to a total corruption of history-or at least the history the characters inthe project knew and they were forced to set things right.

After I got such positive response to it I decided to turn it into a Graphic Novel and have been working on it ever since.

Since January I have been purchasing art samples from several artists in search of just the right artist to handle the job.

I'm nearing my decision but I wanted to get some outside opinions from a few million of my close personal friends on the Internet.

So if anyone would be kind enough to vote on what they think is the best art sample and leave any opinions on the pencils, inks, lettering I'd much appreciate it.

P.S. These are not five pages in sequence...they skip around
and the artist left out some dialogue in the last panel on sample 1 (just didn't want anyone to think I wrote it that way)

Thanks for anyone that votes. Much appreciated. This is a major decision so I have to make sure I get the right artist!
SAMPLE 1

SAMPLE 2

SAMPLE 3

SAMPLE 4

SAMPLE 5

 

[trampledamage]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Options 1 or 2 would get my vote.

 

[Amaris]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

I really enjoy the art style in Sample 1. It feels "complete". It also feels more professional to me, YMMV, but I like the overall feel of the artwork itself. The other samples have elements in them that I find distracting, but the first one is easy for me to read and take in the artwork.

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Options 1 or 2 would get my vote.

Wow,that was quick. Thank you for being the first person to respond. This will help me a lot!

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

I really enjoy the art style in Sample 1. It feels "complete". It also feels more professional to me, YMMV, but I like the overall feel of the artwork itself. The other samples have elements in them that I find distracting, but the first one is easy for me to read and take in the artwork.

Thank you. This is the type of input I was looking for!

 

[Jetfire]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

1.

Looks clean and fresh.

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

1.

Looks clean and fresh.

Thanks for the input and taking time to vote!

 

[AstroSmurf]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Being a graphic designer myself... I would go with Sample 1. It is clean, easy to see and the character renderings are interesting. And most important, the frames are very visual and cinematic.

My only quibble: I would have framed the moment he rips the door off differently. He should be in the foreground and we should see his face. It would be more dramatic!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Okay, here's the opinion of somebody who's been an aficionado of sequential art for about forty-five years.

1. This one looks very contemporary; it's technically proficient, but stiff and posed. Good art, but uninspired. The layout is not good, and the lettering is terrible. The coloring is the same as the art; technically good, but cold.

2. More cartoonish, but very lively. Everything seems to be in motion and the artist seems to think three-dimensionally. Also, his layout skills seem pretty good and the lettering is decent (except for the borders). The coloring here also matches the art; it looks like it was done by hand and has pizzazz.

3. The artwork here is stiff and awkward and badly composed. The coloring is weak. The lettering is terrible and makes the compositions worse by obscuring the artwork. This looks like somebody with raw talent who needs to go to art school.

4. Another very cartoony style, but appealing. There's liveliness here, too, and a nice attention to detail in the backgrounds. There's a little bit of stiffness to the action, but a nice sense of composition and layout. The coloring is bold and straightforward, suitable to the art. This sample has the best lettering, although it's a bit small for the art.

5. This also has a contemporary look to it, i.e. stiff and posed. The layout is not good, although it may be just this particular juncture of events working against the artist. The coloring is mediocre. The lettering, though, is very good, and he makes good use of rectangular balloons so as not to waste space.

For me, it's a tough choice between 2 and 4. It would depend, I suppose, on how I felt each artist suited the overall tone of the story. Since I have to pick somebody, I'll go with #2, only because I think #4 still needs to develop his figure work.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Sample 1 is clearly the most professional-looking. Clean and crisp with good lineart, especially on the bodies. Coloring is a bit flat, it could use more shading and highlights. It's nice, but it's a bit... cold.

Sample 2 is good, but it feels a bit too cramped for my taste. But I dig the slight "70s" feel of the artwork. Also I like the use of perspective and the creative partition of the page.

Sample 3 is a bit too amateurish to be honest.

I absolutely love Sample 4 and the very retro look, but I'm not sure it can hold my interest for a full graphic novel: it would be better suited to a shorter story or strip. Also the body proportions are a bit off in my opinion.

Sample 5 is a bit amateurish, too, but I really like the coloring. Very vibrant and alive.

All in all, I would say that Sample 2 would be the best choice in my opinion.

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Okay, here's the opinion of somebody who's been an aficionado of sequential art for about forty-five years.

1. This one looks very contemporary; it's technically proficient, but stiff and posed. Good art, but uninspired. The layout is not good, and the lettering is terrible. The coloring is the same as the art; technically good, but cold.

2. More cartoonish, but very lively. Everything seems to be in motion and the artist seems to think three-dimensionally. Also, his layout skills seem pretty good and the lettering is decent (except for the borders). The coloring here also matches the art; it looks like it was done by hand and has pizzazz.

3. The artwork here is stiff and awkward and badly composed. The coloring is weak. The lettering is terrible and makes the compositions worse by obscuring the artwork. This looks like somebody with raw talent who needs to go to art school.

4. Another very cartoony style, but appealing. There's liveliness here, too, and a nice attention to detail in the backgrounds. There's a little bit of stiffness to the action, but a nice sense of composition and layout. The coloring is bold and straightforward, suitable to the art. This sample has the best lettering, although it's a bit small for the art.

5. This also has a contemporary look to it, i.e. stiff and posed. The layout is not good, although it may be just this particular juncture of events working against the artist. The coloring is mediocre. The lettering, though, is very good, and he makes good use of rectangular balloons so as not to waste space.

For me, it's a tough choice between 2 and 4. It would depend, I suppose, on how I felt each artist suited the overall tone of the story. Since I have to pick somebody, I'll go with #2, only because I think #4 still needs to develop his figure work.

Thank you for the detailed analysis! This really helps me. You make many valid pros and cons that does show you know your stuff and such feedback is immensly helpful towards my decision!

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Sample 1 is clearly the most professional-looking. Clean and crisp with good lineart, especially on the bodies. Coloring is a bit flat, it could use more shading and highlights. It's nice, but it's a bit... cold.

Sample 2 is good, but it feels a bit too cramped for my taste. But I dig the slight "70s" feel of the artwork. Also I like the use of perspective and the creative partition of the page.

Sample 3 is a bit too amateurish to be honest.

I absolutely love Sample 4 and the very retro look, but I'm not sure it can hold my interest for a full graphic novel: it would be better suited to a shorter story or strip. Also the body proportions are a bit off in my opinion.

Sample 5 is a bit amateurish, too, but I really like the coloring. Very vibrant and alive.

All in all, I would say that Sample 2 would be the best choice in my opinion.

Thank you for the insight! And you are right about the 1970's feel of the sample. The artist said he was channeling his "Inner Kirby"! Thanks again!

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Being a graphic designer myself... I would go with Sample 1. It is clean, easy to see and the character renderings are interesting. And most important, the frames are very visual and cinematic.

My only quibble: I would have framed the moment he rips the door off differently. He should be in the foreground and we should see his face. It would be more dramatic!

Thanks for the suggestion about the face being shown. I'll keep that in mind for when I pick the artist and have him actively working on it!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

All in all, I would say that Sample 2 would be the best choice in my opinion.

You forgot to Vote.

Thank you for the detailed analysis! This really helps me. You make many valid pros and cons that does show you know your stuff and such feedback is immensly helpful towards my decision!

You're welcome. Happy to help.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Thank you for the insight! And you are right about the 1970's feel of the sample. The artist said he was channeling his "Inner Kirby"! Thanks again!

Heh. No wonder everything looks to be in motion.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Thank you for the insight! And you are right about the 1970's feel of the sample. The artist said he was channeling his "Inner Kirby"! Thanks again!

Now I know why I loved it.

All in all, I would say that Sample 2 would be the best choice in my opinion.

You forgot to Vote.

Ops.

 

[Vendikarr]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

I have to say I like the art in sample one, but not the lettering. I prefer the lettering style in sample two.

But since you only asked about the art, I voted for sample one. The artist does need to work on the faces. There doesn't appear to be any emotion in them. They feel a little cold.

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

I have to say I like the art in sample one, but not the lettering. I prefer the lettering style in sample two.

But since you only asked about the art, I voted for sample one. The artist does need to work on the faces. There doesn't appear to be any emotion in them. They feel a little cold.

Thanks for checking in Vend and leaving your thoughts. I appreciate that.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

Sample one is by far the most modern, professional looking, and crisp of all the artwork shown in my opinion.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: Poll: Need opinions on best ARTWORK to select artist for GRAPHIC N

The only reason I don't like #1 is because the style reminds me of the show "Assy McGee" on Cartoon Network. Otherwise, it's definitely the best one.