Oh, hi

Comics and credits

I posted this whole deal to twitter earlier, but figured I’d post it here in a more easily read format: "What's up with the lack of credit for colorists/letterers/what have you in solicitations/previews/reviews? Look, lots of people do it. I'm not trying to blame anyone in particular, but if you're using someone's work to promote a book, credit them. If you have the credits page, what's your excuse, reviewers and comic book sellers? All creators' names should be there. On previews or solicits, I can't put too much blame on people that run them, as they're not always given complete information. Why weren't these sites given this information, though. If you know who's on the team, why withhold their names? I see previews run all the time using fully colored and lettered artwork, but the only ones credited are the writer(s) and whoever drew it. Salt in the wound: the person drawing a book gets credited as the "artist." Unless they did it all, they're AN artist, not THE artist. Considering how confusing credit listings can be at times, it implies that whoever drew it is responsible for every step of its creation. (CA) is used for cover art, but did you know color also begins with a c? It's true! Lots of people think this person did the color art. Now, maybe you think all this sounds bitter or angry, and uh... sure? People knowing your name is pretty important as a freelancer. Conversely, the creative/editorial team on Rat Queens has been great, making me feel more like a part of a team than a cog in a machine. Not only that, but I was prominently featured in press material when Tess and I took over, and it gave me a nice bump in profile. So, what? This is an ego thing? As a creator, sure, I want to be recognized for the work I put in, but it's more than that. Name recognition translate into job opportunities, and the quality of the jobs offered. If no one knows who you are, you don't get work. And don't try to make me feel bad for wanting people to know I worked on a thing I'm proud of, person-who-wants-the-same-thing. I try my best to credit people when I promote, and tag people when they're forgotten in as non-abrasive a way as I can. It's not meant as an attack. We all make mistakes, myself included. Let's all try to show our collaborators some more respect. :)"

Color Assistant Search

Hey, there! I'm a colorist. A very busy colorist. So busy that I may have some work for you. I am in need of an assistant, and if that prospect interests you, read on!

What kind of help am I looking for in an assistant? I receive flats from several people I currently employ to break down pages, and I would need you to take those to the next stage. That means fixing any flatting errors, color correction based on palettes for characters and locations, creating breakdowns in planes and panels for easy selection, and transferring my layers setup between pages. These will be based on templates that I create for you. Idealy, I want to be able to open the file and begin work with minimal correction on my part. I will be doing all the rendering. I only want help in the technical aspects of setting up my files.

What qualities am I looking for in an assistant? The whole point of hiring an assistant is to save time, so it is very important that you are able to follow instructions. I need you to ask questions when you do not understand. I need you to be able to communicate clearly what you need, your availability, and how long of a turnaround can be expected. I need you to be able to take criticism. Turnaround will often be quick, so you need to be able to work under deadlines. Experience flatting is a must. Experience assisting and references a plus.

What's in it for you? Well, money, first of all. I will have around 10-30 pages a week for you, and if time permits/you are interested, I have plenty of pages that need flats as well. I'll be training you to assist me, but I would also like to train you in becoming a colorist in your own right. I will give you feedback on your work, and show you my process. When the time comes, I can try to assist you in finding work on your own.

At first, there will likely be a lot of corrections as we both learn to work with each other. In order to facilitate this process, I would need to communicate with you at times over Skype, Google Hangout, or some other method of live sharing.

If you are interested in the position, email me at <submissions closed> with “color assistant” in the subject. Please, let me know what you are looking to get out of this, your experience and/or references, and any questions you have for me. I will send a paid test page to all applicants, or a small portion, depending on the turnout. Based on your ability to set up this test page, I will select a person to take on as an assistant.

I look forward to hearing from you!