Would anybody be interested in working on a children's book?

[Fathom Zero]

Actually, it's more a pseudo-children's book, but that's not the point. I was wondering if anyone would like to have a hand in illustrating it. It's not done yet, but I've got a number of pages penned.

[bigtimecow]

by psuedo-children's book do you mean a non-children's book story but with children's book imagery?

[Grislygus]

If you finish the thing, send me a copy. Not guaranteeing I could do what you'd be looking for, though

[Esuohlim]

by psuedo-children's book do you mean a non-children's book story but with children's book imagery?

Or vice-versa? :eyebrows

[Fathom Zero]

Pretty much, pictures covering the entire page with a few lines of story towards the bottom.

[Sacks]

Send it to me too. I've been wanting to do something like that for a while.

[Fat_Hippo]

No offense to Grislygus, for whose art I have utmost respect, but I don't think this is his schtick. His pictures are generally kind of...scary, so unless their parents are looking to traumatize the children, I don't think anyone would want their kids to read it.

[Sacks]

...And that's when Sacks and Grislygus teamed up and made the most enchanting story book ever created.

[Tadao]

Jeez Fat Hippo, are you calling Gus a one trick whore?

[Misdemonar]

nobody cares about fat hippo

[Fathom Zero]

I don't think parents will want their children to read this as it is.

[Fat_Hippo]

I've looked at quite a few of his pictures here in the art forum, and all of them have employed a very similar style that pretty much has to set a dark tone, and since these types of pictures are the only ones of his I've seen, I kinda thought it was his specialty. Might be that he's got great art in other styles, but I just haven't seen it.

Of course, Fathom, if this isn't really a children's children's book, I doubt it matters wether the artwork is child-friendly or not. Could even add a kind of twisted humor to it. Hell, an entirely black and white children's book with a mix of Sacks' And Grislygus' artwork along with messed up story and text could actually kick a hell of a lot of ass!

[Fathom Zero]

I'M GLAD YOU GOT THE POINT SO LATE IN THE GAME

[liquidstatik]

HOW ABOUT YOU LEAT US READ SOME OF THIS STORY, HUH?

[Tadao]

He said children's book, not child porn.

[liquidstatik]

>:

[maggiekarp]

I've got a pretty simple, colorful, downsy style. If you're okay with a children's book style from someone of ill repute, I'll try to be around.

[Fathom Zero]

I could try pages from different artists, but keeping the same sort of character, i.e. this guy has a brown shirt, or this girl has a brown car, etc.

Seriously, anyone could join up. But, keep in mind, I'm still working on it and I'm a procrastinator.

[executioneer]

someone of ill repute
what/

[Misdemonar]

he's a child rapist

[executioneer]

maggiekarp is a he now?

[executioneer]

THIS THREAD IS CONFUSING AS HELL

[Pub Lover]

he's a child rapist

That was funnier before you edited it, Missy. >:

The only thing you should have changed it to was her being black.

[Fathom Zero]

I'm sending it shortly. It isn't done, but it's a complete story. I just have to finish transcribing it from my notebook.

[Grislygus]

Hahaha that's awesome

Not sure who the fuck would publish it though, some people would definitely get the wrong idea

[Tadao]

It would have to be put out right away before the goth fad goes completely under.

[Fathom Zero]

After overwhelming positive feedback, which I appreciate, I decided to make it public.

http://torrifica.blogspot.com/2008/05/mr-wonderful.html

[Fathom Zero]

Just wanted to know if anything is going on. Not that I want to pry or anything.

[maggiekarp]

Eh... Maybe I'm just having a hard time visualizing it, but the story didn't really... grab me. I'll keep this bookmarked though, might get some inspiration.

Don't get mad if I proofread it!

[edit]Ah, finally pinned down why it didn't grab me. Try not to be offended, now!

It's trying to hard to be dark and edgy. It's overly goth. You've definitely got talent and skill as a writer, but this subject matter and execution is just... BLEAH. You could probably keep a similar concept and style, but instead of doing the "Oh it's a gruesome murder in the style of a kids' book AREN'T I SO VERY WEEEIRD?" you could go for kids' book with nightmare fuel or deranged undertones.

[Fathom Zero]

I'm never offended by opinions; I know that every work anybody writes or draws will be adored by some and loathed by others. Accessibility, however, is key.

I'm making it overtly horrible. That was one of my goals, to create to contrasting things; the macabre and children's books (a la Rainbow House.) I thought it'd be a riot. Of course, making a genuinely dark children's book would be interesting, too. I remember have nightmares because of Nemo in Slumberland. I just had the idea for a guy with Down's Syndrome named Mr. Wonderful, who was an ice cream man. Obviously that idea didn't translate quite as well when I wrote it down, so I reworked it. I once read that true horror was the everyday made strange, so I like to kinda reflect that with my words. Not that this is meant to be very scary. I find material like it hilarious.

I'm doing more serious shit in a bit. I've got the plot of another story worked out, I just need the dialogue. I've got a few pages of it penned and it should be done in about a week. If ya haven't read my blog, it's about bad things that happen to good people, with a little supernatural bit thrown in on the end so that it... well, I should say no more. I want to elaborate, but not until ye've read it for yourself.

[Sacks]

I've been doodling some things. I didn't know he was supposed to have downs though.

[Fathom Zero]

He wasn't really but that's how I saw him in my mind. Grislygus showed me a bit and his looks excellent, even without the Down's.

The character right now in the story does not have anything wrong with him, save the fact that he seems too normal.

[Grislygus]

I'm kind of stumped by the more gruesome bits at the moment, but I'm intent on finishing the set

Really still not sure that what I'm doing is right for it, though, so it'll be a help that other people are working on it

[Sacks]

What I was drawing looks really 70s, and then I realized it looked like a caricature of Helga's dad from Hey Arnold. Can I see what you're doing, Gus?

[Grislygus]

Sure, I already scanned in a preliminary sketch to send to fathom

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n157/grislygus/MrWonderfulatwork.jpg

[Sacks]

Holy shit. How completely in another direction.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/Sacks/drawings/MrWonderful.jpg

[Grislygus]

Yours fits better, I think, I was figuring on a pastel colored Easter kind of deal

[Fathom Zero]

I wouldn't know which to use more.

[King Hadas]

So what exactly are you guys planning here? Are Grisylgus and Sacks going to collaborate, alternating from page to page or are you both going to draw your own versions of the story?

I wish I could join in on this but I just don't have the proper tools to do anything worthwhile. Just for laughs, this is how I envisioned Mr. Wonderful before I read the story, only knowing the title.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/foxamess/Photos013.jpg

[Fathom Zero]

Looks pedo-rific to me. I dunno.

A collaborative thing would be nice if I could get my act together and organize better. A page-by-page thing would be cool.

[Grislygus]

To tell you the truth, I don't really see the page-by-page thing working as a whole, especially since they're so completely different so far, but I think it's pretty obvious we can both crosshatch like nobody's business.

My problem is that I tend to almost entirely obliterate the highlights in favor of texture, making my characters less interesting...

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n157/grislygus/cliff.jpg

...So my backgrounds generally are better than the subjects (see the cat picture in the Art Chat thread). So I think it would be pretty cool for him to do the characters in each scene and have me draw the backgrounds around them.

[Grislygus]

King Hadas, you don't need any real tools to work with, All I use are precise rolling ball pens

[King Hadas]

I haven't gotten to the point where I'm working with ink yet. How much do those ball point pens your talking about cost?

When I say tools I mean I don't have anything to digitalize my art with. I don't have a scanner and I don't know anyone with working scanner. I suppose they're other avenues I could pursue but then the whole thing turns into a chore.

[Grislygus]

You can generally get sets of four for a few dollars

[Fathom Zero]

I think you doing the backgrounds and Sacks doing characters would be a fantastic idea. The only thing I ask is that they be fairly high resolution, so that when they print out, it'll look nice.

[Fathom Zero]

Uuhhhh bump

Can anyone draw a pair of obnoxiously retro headphones?

And a flashlight that emits darkness.

And a steampunky electric cablecar/trolley/tram thing.

I also need a load of iron girders hanging from a crane, like at a construction site or something.

[Sacks]

GOD YOU JUST TAKE AND TAKE DON'T YOU

[Fathom Zero]

ONLY FROM THOSE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR ALL, SACKS

[Grislygus]

What do you need them FOR, I still think that Sacks has a better bead on all things Mr. Wonderful

[Nick]

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4635/mrwonderfulgu2.png
I could not help myself.

[Fathom Zero]

Since I am completely unable to finish most things, it has become a book of short stories. I'll send you some rough drafts when I can.

Most of the ideas are still in my head, though. Anyone that is able to draw, color, or scrawl in the slightest is more than welcome to try their hand at anything I've put forth and will put forth.

[Otto]

Vanity publishers, or places like lulu will publish anything. Definitely post it though, I'm interested in trying to make some illustration.

[ElPila666]

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/125/mrwondefulzerovp6.jpg

[Sacks]

Is that a 4 finger ring with Run DMC on it or is it a people pizza?

[ElPila666]

It was supposed to be a plate with poisoned cookies on it :(

[Nick]

I see it.

[ElPila666]

yesterday my neighbour's dog was killed by poisoned food, i don't think that draw that i made is funny anymore :(

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9029/poisonbd5.jpg

[Sacks]

So it's a 4 finger ring now right?

[ElPila666]

I guess so :(

[Sacks]

Fucking nice dude.

[Sacks]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/Sacks/drawings/IMAG0273.jpg

Fucking totally nice.

[Pub Lover]

DOUBLEPLUSGOOD

[ElPila666]

That bling bling is awesome yo :lol

[Fathom Zero]

Oh my shit

[wislingsailsmen]

ive had this idea for a while of a childrens book where a little girl who is a phot the whole book everything else is drawn she hears noises from under her bed when she goes and follows the noise she finds out that the boogie man is a dancer and owns a night club under her bed lol

[Fathom Zero]

hahaha

[Tadao]

You stole that from the Power Puff Girls >:

[DevilWearsPrada]

oh grandpa! :rolleyes