• #6
• #8

Throughout yesterday’s hellish day at work, and an afternoon in which I finished the latest chapter of my ongoing story, I had artist after artist offering themselves for the job listing I posted on ArtStation, one I was on the verge of closing. What the hell is up with you, artists? Are you that desperate for work? Anyway, today I woke up to find out that someone from the US, presumably one of the artists, checked out the entirety of my tale of motocross legend Izar Lizarraga, for which I’m grateful. I’m a cranky loner, but I still like when people read my stuff.

The style I’m searching for is somewhere between the following examples, belonging to the portfolios of some of the artists who have offered themselves: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7

Here is the single artist from this batch whose talent has impressed me enough that I will consider her seriously for the “prize” of having to draw my header in exchange of money:

• Laila Arêde (site): fantastic style, a unique vision that approaches what I’m searching for. I’m tempted to call her a genius. My issues with it: may not be “loopy” enough for my material, and is perhaps too feminine for sasquatch goddesses and sentient triceratopses.

Here are the artists whose talents I won’t consider further for reasons:

• Nikita Atrenev (portfolio): this person has an excellent ability to use colors in a way that makes the illustrations look very realistic. But for this job, I need a different set of skills.
• Zamfir Sinziana (portfolio): very interesting work that would do great in game cards or visual novels. I find this person’s backgrounds particularly attractive. Wrong style for this job, I’m sorry to say.
• Kaide Robertson (portfolio): a fellow who’s majoring in writing and who proved that he had read at least my sasquatch-related story. Unfortunately, his visual work doesn’t cut it even just compared with today’s batch of applicants.
• Lucy Finch (portfolio): I love her medieval stuff; great use of colors to elevate her drawings. Wrong style for what I want.
• Kauan Dias (portfolio): a unique, gorgeous style paired with a great imagination. I see myself paying this person for a job, just not this one.
• Mailen Jacome (portfolio – instagram): very talented lady. I appreciate her attention to detail. Wrong style.
• TszHin Lau (portfolio): intriguing line-based style that unfortunately lacks when compared with other artists from today’s entry.
• Sebastián Ceballos (portfolio): a unique, very personal vision, that unfortunately doesn’t align with what I want.
• Gabo Zeta (site – portfolio 1 – portfolio 2): cases like these hurt: he’s clearly very talented, passionate, confident, and with a fully-developed personal style. It just happens that it doesn’t match what I want.
• Chloe Boetcher (portfolio – instagram): very talented, with a careful style that I appreciate a lot. Doesn’t match the anxious, loopy tone that I’m searching for, though.

Considering applicants takes hours; no wonder people hire secretaries. Whoever you are, I hope you got something out of this post. Now back to ordering the notes for my next chapter.