Anthropomorphized Porcupine $150 *Project Over*

[scobb]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 7972305)

You will notice there that the Free State Project web site is pretty dull, and that our logo, while neat (we think) is not eye-catching. We want to anthropomorphize Lysander the porcupine. I imagine something like Joe Camel, though not as pretentious, like the dog and cat couple from one of your artists.

Attached is our logo, and here are some pictures of porcupines. Cute, vegetarian, bumbly, harmless unless attacked, and there isn't there a slight resemblance to Lysander Spooner?


We will need Lysander in a few styles, to appeal to various libertarian constituencies, including, in order of importance:
-pert and cool (general appeal)
-hippy (to appeal to the High Times and privacy types)
-outdoorsy (to appeal to the NRA types)
-businessman (to appeal to the Forbes types)

The applications would be various, e.g. on the web site, in advertisements, and in printed material.

The FSP is a non-profit organization so, if you wish to contribute, you might do more illustrations for the same price. For slightly less money than I am offering, the artist I mentioned above did two illustrations, so I think that would be reasonable (this is coming out of my pocket). We will probably need more in the future, and I would like bids for follow-on work.

I live in Russia, and I am in the middle of a busy project, so I may not respond to comments in real time.

Deadline: Let's say 31 July, but I can extend it if that is unreasonable.

[cre8or]

This sounds like it's up my alley.

I'll work on some sketches and post them as soon as I can.

Kimber.

[Christian]

Hey, how's it going? Sorry for the really rough sketch. Whenever you get a chance to see this, tell me how you like it and and if there are any elements, if any, that you'd like me to change, so I can start working on the clean version and after that the digital version.

[scobb]

Thanks. Cute, but not cool. Needs shoes appropriate to his constituency.

[Christian]

Yea, he's a bit too cute.

Here's another version, just tell me anything you want change or if you want another version.

<img src='http://www.aquagecko.com/misc/DO/Lysandersketch2.jpg[/img]

[scobb]

First was too cuddly, these are too adolescent male, too thin. Needs to be more robust, Big Man, like Joe Camel:
http://images.google.com/images?q=%22joe+camel%22

A mesomorphic anthropomorphic porcupine?
Well, not too much, no need for bulging biceps.

Of these recent three, I think I prefer the first.

[scobb]

Killer Kabob would certainly be overkill:
http://images.google.com/images?q=Killer+kabob
http://arttf.tripod.com/Art/2001/tfKillerKabob.jpg

Porcupines are not aggressive.

[Christian]

Hey there! Is this closer??






And you're looking for one piece of art that falls into the four categories above or 4 pieces of art?

[scobb]

Four separate pieces. We will advertise in venues specific to those markets. Forbes readers don't open High Times, and vice versa. (Or do they?)

[Christian]

Yea, you've got a point there! So was the drawing closer to what you want?

[cre8or]

Here's my initial drawing for your "Forbes" porcupine.
If you like him, I'll finish him up and work on the other 3.
Kimber.

[Christian]

Hey there! Here's a bigger, more defined version. I think the fun type of face will appeal to your four audiences. If you want a more defined computerized version of this one, just say the word!

[Christian]

Sorry about that, didn't show on the top one.

[scobb]

I just got real busy at work. Let me extend the deadline of this contest by a few days to 4 August.

[scobb]

Both of you, these look good, but not quite enough humor. A little too scary. Cre8or, yours is too stylized. Are "pert and cool" incompatible with "robust"? The porcupine should be friendly, inviting.

There must be similar animals that have been more often turned into people. How about raccoons?
http://www.memesis.org/garrett/sketches/im...ages/racoon.jpg
He's not quite as anthropomorphized as I had in mind, but not bad. Here's more:
http://images.google.com/images?q=raccoon+character

Gotta go back to work, if I want to sleep tonight.

[sparkie]

I do this kind of work for a living!

I'll have something for you soon, scobb. In the meantime, you can see previous work I've done at www.mascotartist.com

Thank you for this unique opportunity!
-Sherice

[Christian]

The attachment is a few posts down.

[cre8or]

Here's and idea for the "High Times" porcupine.
Your thoughts?

[Liz]

just a rough sketch of a concept:

[Christian]

Here's another one. I put in a few colors to give you an idea of how it would look.

[sparkie]

Here's a stylish porcupine for the business crowd.

[scobb]

Okay, got a few minutes. It didn't help that Yahoo was filtering the forum post notifications into my spam folder. Feedback, in order of appearance:

1. ChristianSanfiel
I rather like that, though I would like to see variations, slightly less cartoonish.

2. cre8or
It looks cool, but is too stylized. Reminds me of van Gogh towards the end...

3. Sparkie
That's cute and has character, and attitude, though the hair/spikes are a bit too sketchy

4. rabbitdog
I found your sketch too sketchy, but one of my colleagues stuck her head in here and said she like yours best, because he has proper (if sketchy) quills instead of hair. She said, "His quills are straight and don't look like a mane with hair gel."

General
I guess it is hard to convey quills.

There seems to be two paths: more cute and cartoonish or more cool and solid. I'm a bit at a loss to say which is better; for plushie dolls (which we may wish to produce) the former, for ads probably the latter.

[Christian]

Hey there! I tried making the top one less cartoonish but then it lost an essence or feel to it. It wasn't unique anymore so I decided to work again from scratch. I tried to make something that fell between cute and cool. When you said that you wanted to use it as a plush I knew that the one I did is not something I would like to own myself as a plush, so finally, here's what I came up with, hope you like it.

[sparkie]

scobb,

Thank you for the compliments I hope I'm on the right track with what you had in mind for your character. If you like the rough sketch and decide to go with my style of porcupine character, I can define the quills so that they look more solid, and not so sketchy. What I posted here was just a rough draft.

And, if you'd like to go further with the concept in the future, I work with a well-known mascot plush toy manufacturer (we design mascots which they then turn into character dolls), so I can help in that department too.

Thanks again!
-Sherice

[scobb]

If Christian will continue working with the same enthusiasm, I think he is the lucky winner!

[Christian]

Hey there! Thanks, I love art so it's hard for the enthusiasm not to be there. So you like that last one best, right? Oh and it has this little mole thing on its face, but I had erased that and reloaded but when I came back, it was back there again! Well if you want it or not, say the word. I'll start designing the other styles in the next couple of days. By when would you want the finished versions?

[Palmer]

So I'm assuming that's a yes to the enthusiasm question from Christian so we'll call that a win right?

[scobb]

Yes. Thanks everyone for contributing! I think this is a hard problem, and it will arise again, as there are many possible venues where we could different styles. Please keep us in mind!

[Palmer]

Well then.... Congratulations Christian!

Thanks Steve, I told you they could do what you were wanting