The Straight Poop illustrations $300 *Project Over*

[straightpoop]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 8225914)

I need a series of 5 illustrations to be used in a series of web page ads promoting subscriptions to The Straight Poop, a weekly email guide to the best of the web about dogs (archived at http://www.straight-poop.com). The illustrations should focus on puppies and emphasize the notion that "happiness is a warm puppy". A few ideas are as follows: a tall man walking a little puppy on a leash, seen from the rear; a puppy licking a person's face; a puppy squatting to pee; a puppy eating or drinking from a bowl; a puppy chewing on a chew toy. Other ideas are welcome. The illustrations will be used either as part of a full page ad (and so can be quite large if that helps the concept) or reduced to fit with copy into a 125 pixel width.

[cre8or]

This sounds sweet.
I have a few questions:
1. Do you have a deadline in mind?
2. Are the illustrations to be B&W or full colour?
3. Are they for web-use only? or should they be able to transfer to print?

I think that's about it for now. If I think of anything else, I'll ask.
Thank you,
-Kimber.

[lang]

Any particular style you had in mind? Cartoon, abstract, realistic, sleek, etc? Also, what deadline did you have in mind?

<later edit>

We posted at the exact same time! Jinx, jinx, jinx!

[straightpoop]

Deadline: No particular rush -- let's say August 15.
B&W vs. colour: no preference -- whatever works.
Web use only.
No particular style -- whatever works. I've seen lots of amaturish pet cartoons on the web and would like to avoid that, but that doesn't mean I wish to rule out the cartoon style if it's done with class and it does the job.

[cre8or]

Hello there, "StraightPoop",
Here's a little guy I've been scribbling at work.
If you like him, I can work him up into your 5 illustrations
doing the activities you suggested (or others, if I may have artistic license).

I decided to draw him in a scribbly fashion with watercolour-type accents,
like one might see in a print-magazine subscription.

I'll look forward to your comments.

(In the event that you are away for a while, I think I'll just go ahead
and develop him anyways.)

Thank you,
-Kimber.

[Palmer]

I think he has gas :D

[cre8or]

:lol:

[straightpoop]

cre8or: I think he's cute, but I'm afraid too cute, too humorous, not enough warmth (remember, "happiness is a warm puppy"). I need something that will make the viewer feel like picking up the puppy and cuddling it.
Frank.

[cre8or]

Okay...
Do you want a realistic puppy?
Any particular breed?
Are you looking for "serious" rather than "too cute" and "humorous"?
Do you have any samples of illustration that strikes you fancy?
Sorry if my questions sound silly... just trying to wrap my head around the concept of
"Happiness is a Warm Puppy", if "too cute" means a viewer won't want to pick him up and cuddle him.

Any more advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kimber.

[Raja]

Originally posted by cre8or@Jul 22 2003, 09:58 PM
Hello there, "StraightPoop",
Here's a little guy I've been scribbling at work.
If you like him, I can work him up into your 5 illustrations
doing the activities you suggested (or others, if I may have artistic license).

I decided to draw him in a scribbly fashion with watercolour-type accents,
like one might see in a print-magazine subscription.

I'll look forward to your comments.

(In the event that you are away for a while, I think I'll just go ahead
and develop him anyways.)

Thank you,
-Kimber.
AWESOME illustration Kimber!!!!

[straightpoop]

I've posted a collection of puppy photos at http://www.breeders.net/images/puppyimages.html. I think they convey my idea of "warm puppy" better than any words can. Hope that helps guide you.
Frank.

[straightpoop]

Palmer, I had the impression that several designers would participate, but so far only two have responded and one of them seems to have disappeared (Lang's added comment seems to indicate that perhaps s/he was scared away by cre8tor's participation). Is there a problem here, or am I being paranoid?
Thanks.
Frank.

[toniallen]

Howdy,

This is a cartoon I did a few years ago. Let me know what you think about the style of the dog. (it's rough, my drawing skills have improved a bit since then.)

If you like it, let me know and I will work on your 5 illustrations.

Take care,
Toni

[toniallen]

I should mention that I will be away this weekend. So if you have feedback, I will respond on Monday :)

Take care,
Toni

[Christian]

Hey there! Here's a cute puppy I designed, tell me what you think! It's just a pencil draft but if you like the ideas we'll move on more specific drafts and then photoshopping.

http://www.aquagecko.com/misc/DO/puppytestshow.jpg


By the way, thanks for posting the cute puppy pictures. They helped a lot. :D

[Palmer]

Originally posted by straightpoop@Jul 25 2003, 01:54 AM
Palmer, I had the impression that several designers would participate, but so far only two have responded and one of them seems to have disappeared (Lang's added comment seems to indicate that perhaps s/he was scared away by cre8tor's participation). Is there a problem here, or am I being paranoid?
Thanks.
Frank.
Illustration work is a particular skill that only about 1/3 of our team has. The good thing is, that 1/3 does awesome work. :) In addition, it takes a bit more time to complete this type of project.

Looks like things are starting to roll now. I wouldn't worry.

[cre8or]

Originally posted by straightpoop@Jul 25 2003, 01:49 AM
I've posted a collection of puppy photos at http://www.breeders.net/images/puppyimages.html. I think they convey my idea of "warm puppy" better than any words can. Hope that helps guide you.
Frank.
Thank you very much, Frank.
Those pics should do very well as inspiration.
I appreciate the time you took to collect them.
I'll hit the drawing board this weekend,
and hopefully come up with something you'd like to "pick up and cuddle".
:)

[cre8or]

Hi Frank,
Here's another go at it.
If I'm moving in the right direction... it would probably be easier to draw
different puppies doing different activities.

It would be easier to draw the same "character" doing different activities,
but I'm getting the impression you may want more "real" looking puppies.

(I may be wrong, though)

Please advise.

Thank you,
Kimber.

[cre8or]

Here's another puppy.
-- a Scratchboard illustration --

Please advise.
Thanks,
Kimber

[cos]

Kimber,

Your talents are simply awesome!!!!!





:tup:

[cre8or]

Thank you.

[straightpoop]

I thought I had responded to some of the drawings before, but the history of this thread doesn't seem to show my messages, so here goes again:

So far, Christian's rough sketch seems to come closest to what I'm looking for. Toni's little guy is a little too "cartoony", and Kimber's latest two are beautifully done but don't seem to capture the "warm and cuddly" look I need.

If I'm not using this forum correctly, please let me know.

Hope that helps.
Frank.

[Christian]

Here's a puppy in action! Sorry that it's so drafty but just want to get the puppy's look right first. If you like the puppy I can do a polished final version of this one for tomorrow. And if you like that one I can do the final versions for the day after tomorrow. What size, in pixels or inches, is the largest you'll be using?

If you want changes to this puppy, to go back to the other puppy, or another breed of puppy, tell me and I'll get right on it. Maybe the 5 puppies could be different breeds.

[straightpoop]

Christian,

Yes, I like the puppy. In your first draft, it was those huge, soleful eyes that grabbed me. And now, in the fire hydrant drawing, I love his smiling eyes. I'd like to see both of these eyes in the final set of 5.

About 250 pixels wide is the max I'll need. Height can vary according to the composition -- more or less than 250. I'll probably reduce the images to about 125 for use on some pages, leave them full size for use on other pages.

Let's stick with this same little guy for all 5. The continuity is important.

Frank.

[Christian]

Here's the the final version of the Hydrant one (although you have to tell me which of the two versions on top do you like best , eye patch or the other one). If you want anything changed or tweaked or another style just say the word/ :D

For the other ones I thought you could have the one with the bone, another one with a puppy sticking his nose and his paw against a mirror (against the other puppy's nose and paw), the one eating from the bowl, and one biting and tugging on the pant leg of a person.

Hope you like the ideas and the art!

[straightpoop]

Christian,

Great work. :D

The funny thing is, I felt much better about the hydrant "draft" than I did about the "final version". I think that's because the soft roughness of the draft does much more to convey the "warm puppy" idea than does the harder, cleaner lines of the final. I admire your technique in the final, but I'd really prefer something that looked more like the draft. I also liked the idea that the hydrant was almost impressionistic in the draft.

Regarding the eyes in the draft, I like both, but I think I prefer the second one... I guess that's the one you refer to as the one with the eye patch.

On subject, I like your five (hydrant, bone, mirror, bowl, man and dog), but I'd like to change the tone of the man and dog. Let's not have the puppy biting and tugging on the person's pant leg (this is puppy behavior we try to discourage in the newsletter). Instead, let's see the man from the rear (his details can be somewhat vague) holding the tiny (by contrast) puppy on a leash, with the puppy looking cutely up to the man, seeking approval... emphasizing the contrast between the great big tall man and the tiny little vulnerable puppy trying his darndest to please the man.

Also, I'm not sure yet whether I want to have "The Straight Poop" lettering on the illustrations. Please omit it. If I decide later to do it, I can always insert it using the same font face we use on the web site.

Thanks.
Frank.

[Christian]

I styled it a little differently this time. Making it furrier and changing to size and mood of the scene. Tell me if you like it or if you still would like the sorta artsier top draft type.

[Christian]

Here's a similar one that's less bold.

[straightpoop]

Christian,
:tup: I like it, I like it!
Frank

[Christian]

Hey there! Goodness, glad you like them. Did you like the bolder or lighter one? I'll try to get them all done by tomorrow if time lets me.

[Christian]

Hey there! Here's the bone one. I'm going to be posting them as I complete them so you can tell me if there's anything you don't like. ;)

[Christian]

Hey there! Here's a different type of mouth. I need to know which do you like better.

This one also has a fix on the puppy's front legs.

[Christian]

Here's the puppy bowl one. By the way, the sizes are not perfect but close. I'll give you the perfect sizes and borders after I'm done with these last two.

[Christian]

Here's another version of the last one.

[Christian]

Here's the fourth's one first version.

[Christian]

Here's the fourth one's second version.



*I just noticed I need to fix the puppy bowl and the man's shoe. I'll fix once I get your Ok on everything else.

[Christian]

And here's the last one! :D

[straightpoop]

Christian,

Something happened to the automatic notice I was supposed to receive when something was posted here, which explains my delay in responding.

Here are my comments:

Similar to what happened with the hydrant drawing, the "bone" went from a very soft, "warm puppy" in the original draft to a much colder, harder feel in the "final". Looking at the two side-by-side, I've noticed that the mouth and nose are different, and I really liked the original much better. I also liked the round eyes better than the bell-shaped ones. Plus, the sort of fuzzy details of the head and hair were more in keeping with what I want. And the blue background seems very cool, and what I want is warmth. Overall, the vague details of the draft somehow convey the feeling I'm looking for better than does the "final".

These comments the details of the pup apply to the rest of the drawings. Also, in each case, the background color isn't giving the feel I'm lookin for. the one I liked was the tan behind the fire hydrant. Maybe let's use that in all.

In the final drawing, I'd like it much more if you could have the pup's head tilted up, with him looking up at where his master's head would be, as if for approval.

I'm going to out of touch this whole next week (from Aug. 3 to Aug 9), so I won't see anything here until the ninth.

Many thanks.
Frank

[Christian]

;) Got it. I'll get right on it.

[Christian]

Here's the one with all the fixes. Hope you get to see it before you leave. :D

[Victoria]

I want that puppy!! :lol2:

[straightpoop]

Excellent! Contest over.

I left about 6:00 AM on the 3rd, so I've just seen these now, but I'm very happy with them. Many thanks.

Frank.

[Christian]

:D Goodness! Glad you like them. How do you want them? Each drawing in a 125x125, 250x250, 500x500 format? each with thin, black borders or no borders?

[straightpoop]

I can see potential for all three sizes, so it would be great to have them all. As to a border, it's hard to know without seeing them in the context of how I'll be using them. Please provide them either way, and I can always add or delete a border, as needed, later.

Thanks.
Frank.

[Palmer]

Congrats Christian :notworthy:

Thanks Frank, this was fun to watch. :)