The Artist's Pen

[Shon Harris]

The Artist's Pen

The Artist's Pen is where you can get sketches of characters, weapons, landscapes, and other roleplay material. What makes this shop unique?-- I cater to the Role-player, the Moderator, and lastly, I do not work in anime. In real life I'm a year away from a Bachelors in Fine Art, working to become a professional Concept Artist. The Artist's Pen is a fun way for me to help the Guild and get some practice in. Interested?

What you Need to Know is simple and is in place to keep things honest. If you have a question about one of them, or feel you're wanting something else from me, contact me and I'll do my best for you. Honestly, these are just my boundaries and interests. Read up.

• 1. I do not draw in the Anime/Manga style (this does not mean I won't draw things from Japanese culture, such as their people, weapons, Samurai, etc.)
  2. I will not help you to compete in the AOTW
  3. I draw a stylized form of Realism or Impressionism (Think Egon Schiele and Monet)
  4. Violence, Nudity, Gore, all this is OK in my book
  5. Character Sketches may take less time, Action Sketches may take longer
  6. Line Art/Sketches may take less time, Full Colour may take longer. I prefer the former
  7. I will draw Characters, Landscapes, Armour, Weaponry, etc. If I have trouble, I'll tell you forthright.
  8. Be creative and have fun! Let's make something
  9. Every order will probably take 7-10 days. Why? I'm a father of a three-year old girl, a fourth-year college student, and a Resident Assistant for my college. Lucky for you my girlfriend doesn't mind me drawing.
  10. I am consenting to you using the image I produce for you, but you must credit me. Those who do not will no longer be my customers. What I produce is protected under the Creative Commons license, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported. Basically, don't sell or steal my shit.

All of this is about practice. I've been drawing for about ninety percent of my life (that would make me three, yes?), dabbled in photography, fiction writing, woodcut printmaking, and digital painting. When you come to Artist's Pen and submit a form, you get my experience with all these areas. That may mean drawing on artistic theories or digitally painting your character based on an a appropriate photo-reference. Either way, I'll do my damnedest to make you something you'll love. See, that is my promise. All I need from you is a Form to tell me what you want. Sound fair?

Username:
Character's Name: If desired on the sketch
Type of Sketch: Character Build (bust v. full body), Action Shot
Gender: Physical/Apparent Sex, not Gender Identity
How Old do they Look? Do they appear aged, youthful but noticeable bags under their eyes, older yet spared most wrinkles, etc.
Colour: Unless otherwise stated, piece may or may not be in colour. Colour may take longer, I'll contact you.
Skin Tone: Be as specific as you can.
Hair Colour/ Style: 
Characters of Eyes: Do you have a general shape in mind? Bigger eyes look cuter, baby-like to humans, thinner eyes can appear Oriental, Colour may or may not be pronounced.
Body type: Are they slender, thin, thick, etc. Do they have a defined abdomen, but a soft chest and small arms? Are they starved, overly fed...
Unique FeaturesAre there tattoos or scars you want apparent? Warning here, if you want for a back tattoo but they're wearing a suit, I will not draw the tattoo. If you want their scars/tattoos showing and a piece with clothing, fill out a second sheet.
Clothing: I'll do my best here. If you request colour, the quality of the clothing may decrease. 
Physical Attributes: Are they holding a pistol, staff, or some other tool? Do they wear a holster on their hip, or a special bracelet on their wrist? This is where you tell me what marks your character. 
Time Restraint: I have a loose time-range of 7-10 days. If life becomes unexpectedly busy, I need to know when you absolutely want this done. This may effect whether or not I accept the request.
Additional Information: Tell me if I missed something!

Username:
Land's Name
Type of Sketch: Rough and abstract to get a point across, or specific, clearly drawn characteristics (Google Monet, his work or something more Map-like?). If you want a map, then ask for it. This answer will decide on how loose (Rough option) or articulate (Map option) I draw.
Function of Piece: Are you trying to show a setting to put an image in someone's head, or are you trying to build a hard, articulated map of an area. Finally, if this is just to show your character's home and won't be used long-term, tell me. This answer will decide if I imagine the landscape you want myself, or if I must implement specific towers, rivers, etc. 
Describe the Landscape: Is this a mountainous area with little flat-ground and a village nestled in the center of it all? Do you see rolling hills of sand with an ominous tower looming over it all? Tell me what you see. I'll make it see-able for others. 
Unique Characteristics: Is there anything that should be emphasized about your land? This question may seem redundant, but only because it is important. If you want that ominous tower, tell me, and make it clear just how important it is.
Time Restraint: Is there a date you'll need this by? I mentioned my loose time-range of 7-10 days, but knowing that a landscape may take longer, when do you really want this done? I can do my best and keep in contact with you.

Here are some examples of my work. Just because you don't see what you'd like does not mean I cannot or will not do it for you. Ask and you shall receive, something. I will always do my best to produce something you'll love. There will be more example pieces as we go, so keep checking!

Disclaimer:Because I am a forth-year college student and Resident Assistant, life is chaotic. I can only know my schedule, working the best I can around it to satisfy my priorities first. What about you though? If you're a Game Moderator or Participant (Role-player) and you know you'll need an image within a few days, or by the 21st of September -- tell me. Your time restraints will help me to decide which jobs to take first. This does not mean saying you need a piece by the 21st will put you ahead in line, but I will use my own judgment about what I can finish. To keep things managed and fair, I will accept a few requests at a time. If my time looks open, I'll accept more, if it looks chaotic, I'll accept less. If something changes along the way you can be assured I will take on more work. There you go. You be honest with me, I'll be honest with you.

[Shon Harris]

Bump.

[Shon Harris]

Updated examples of work. Will continue updating examples as more is produced. Currently working on two 18x24 illustrations for anyone who's interested.

[Asuras]

Hi Shon! I love your art style! Especially "The Pilgrim and the Serpent". Personally I'm a fan of dark surrealistic artistry, and was hoping maybe you could also do something in that category?

Username: Asuras
Character's Name:
Type of Sketch: Action Shot
Gender: None?
How Old do they Look? Fully clothed/covered, so...
Colour: B&W save for one part...
Skin Tone: N/A
Hair Colour/ Style:
Characters of Eyes: Single red eye. Think of HAL or even the Fabrication Machine from '9'. From udner its hood, a single red eye blazes hotly.
Body type: Though truly bulky, the way that this character hunches and hides under its robes seems to mask it as fairly lean and small.
Clothing: Grim Reaper-like cloak, with a ragged hood darkening its face.
Physical Attributes: Hunched, seemingly hiding from something, as if either secretive or scared. From the character's back, several industrial tubes extend and lift into the air offscreen.
Time Restraint: However long you need, I'm in no hurry.
Additional Information:

Hopefully this is something you can do? :\

[Shon Harris]

Sounds well within reason. So a lean, maybe broad shouldered, cloaked entity from which only a red eye is visible. Hands, feet, legs, arms, all that outside of the cloak would be covered. I understand that. Are we talking something skeletal, so the legs and arms would be very thin, or like the rest of the body that's thick with muscle? I'll assume the latter for now.

You want this plugged into something off screen? Yes?

[Asuras]

Yes, plugged into something offscreen.

And the limbs would be pretty skeletal, yes.

[Shon Harris]

Alright. As per the intro-post, expect it in 7-10 days. I'll experiment with this both digitally and traditionally, submitting to you whichever turns out the best (or both, we're lucky). Keep in touch till then!

[Asuras]

How long have you been drawing? (not the image, but in general)

[Shon Harris]

According to my mother, since I was three. It launched me into writing when I could not draw what I imagined, and photography, for much the same reason. I've had two shows and was featured in the online edition of one journal, though this isn't much compared to some of my peers. Right now, I'm building a professional portfolio and am preparing for my next show.

More information than you'd asked for, but there you go.

[Ernest]

What is the weapon form or can I just paste a decrypting of it and you can draw it?

I would draw it myself but when comes to making drawings look pro I'm stuck at mediocre anime *sighs in defeat*