Introduction Hello everyone! Back in May of this year, I posted here looking for an illustrator to help refine two original character designs and create reference sheets for them. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the illustrator I hired is no longer able to work on the project. So, I'm turning to Reddit once again! I'm looking for a new collaborator to help bring these two central characters across the finish line. A Little Context Like many of you fellow creatives, I have a completely unreasonable and slightly unhinged dream, haha. Mine is to build an original IP from scratch and, one day, see it brought to life as a fully animated season on a streaming platform. (Netflix, if you're reading this, hmu) I'm currently developing an original world and cast of characters under my creative brand, Game Of Throws. This is a passion project, funded by me alone. It's a long and risky road ahead, but hey, every fictional universe has to start somewhere, right? The World and Characters Meet Art and Ren, two unlikely co-owners of a card/hobby shop on a tiny planet in a mysterious dimension known as the In-Between. They are the central, anchor characters. Their shop attracts visitors from countless different worlds, who arrive through portals—sometimes intentionally, sometimes entirely by accident. Naturally, with such an unusual clientele, hijinks ensue. The best way I can summarize the tone and atmosphere is slice-of-life storytelling set against an extraordinary backdrop, with a healthy helping of SpongeBob-flavored absurdity thrown into the mix. The world may be bizarre and mysterious, but Art and Ren's lives remain grounded and relatable. The extraordinary often serves as a contrast to the ordinary rather than overshadowing it. Mystery lingers at the edges, while character, humor, relationships, and everyday problems are the main focus. Art (short for Arthur) Art is a TCG enthusiast with a big heart and an even bigger personality. He's warm, welcoming, expressive, and wears his emotions on his sleeve—sometimes to his own detriment. He fancies himself the coolest "cardslinger" around, a truly unapologetic nerd, and he'd much rather spend his day cracking packs and experimenting with ridiculous decks than dealing with the responsibilities of running a business. His enthusiasm and questionable priorities frequently test Ren's patience. But underneath all the theatrics is someone who genuinely loves the hobby and the people who share it. Ren (short for Renée) Ren is a sharp, pragmatic TCG expert with a keen business mind. Unlike Art, she actually remembers that they're supposed to be running a profitable shop. Hardworking, grounded, and ever so stylish, Ren dreams of turning their little establishment into the biggest and most reputable card shop in all of the In-Between. (Careful what you wish for, Ren.) She has a distinct "big sister" energy, frequently keeping Art's antics in check with a sarcastic remark or a well-timed reality check. Despite her tendency to undercut his enthusiasm, there's no malice behind it. The two genuinely care about each other, even if they have very different ideas about how to run things. Oh, and she has a serious weakness for sweets. Who I'm Looking For First, I want to say that I'm genuinely impressed by the incredible range of skill and artistic styles on display in this community. I browse this subreddit regularly, and I know that the skills many of you possess didn't develop overnight. They represent countless hours of practice, frustration, perseverance, and dedication. I have tremendous respect for that. With that said, I'm not necessarily looking for the most technically competent illustrator. I'm looking for the right fit. Above all, I value professionalism, honest communication, and genuine creative engagement. Technical skills are obviously important, but a successful collaboration depends just as much on how well two people work together. We're developing original characters, which means exploring ideas, experimenting with visual styles, exchanging feedback, and occasionally revisiting decisions as the designs take shape. I'd love to work with someone who enjoys that creative back-and-forth and is comfortable contributing their own artistic perspective. Of course, I also recognize that your time and expertise have value. I'm not looking for unlimited revisions—the scope, deliverables, and revision expectations will be discussed and agreed upon before we begin. I do take reliability and professional conduct seriously. I understand that life happens and creative work doesn't always go according to plan. That's perfectly understandable! What matters to me is being able to communicate openly when those situations arise. My previous character illustrator (big shoutout to PVERONICAN), whose work is featured in the attached images, was wonderful to collaborate with creatively, and that experience helped me understand the kind of working relationship I'd like to establish going forward. If you're someone who enjoys collaborative problem-solving and helping bring original ideas to life, I'd love to hear from you! Project Scope and Deliverables Currently, Art and Ren are in what I like to call their "1.0" era (see attached images). Their general appearances, personalities, and core design elements have been established, but there's still room for exploration and refinement before they're ready to start running their shop. I've divided the project into three phases, each with its own objectives and deliverables. Phase I — Style Exploration This is where my previous illustrator and I left off, and where I'd like to pick things up. Before experimenting further with colors and refining individual design elements, I want to establish a consistent visual style for both characters. After all, the chosen style will influence their silhouettes, design choices, readability, and overall presentation. The deliverable for this phase is three distinct style tests, each featuring sketches of Art and Ren side by side: Graphic / Chibi: Exaggerated, stylized proportions, with Disgaea as a useful reference. Compact: A more balanced, compact approach, inspired by modern Pokémon character designs. Elongated: Ren’s existing 1.0 design is a good reference. These are exploratory sketches, and not polished renders. The goal is to compare different visual directions and decide which approach best captures the characters and the world they inhabit. Phase II — Design Refinement and Finalization Once we've selected a visual style, we'll focus on refining and finalizing Art and Ren's designs. This phase will involve adjustments to proportions, silhouettes, outfits, accessories, and especially color palettes. We'll explore what works, what doesn't, and how to make the two characters feel visually cohesive while maintaining their distinct identities. The deliverable for this phase is a finalized design for each character, with all major visual elements approved and ready to be translated into reference sheets. Phase III — Final Character Reference Sheets With the designs established, the final phase is to create polished, high-quality reference sheets that can serve as the definitive visual foundation for future creative assets. Each character's reference sheet should include: Clean, full-body front, side, and back views. Clearly defined hairstyle structure from multiple angles. Consistent proportions, anatomy, outfit details, and accessory construction. A standard neutral expression alongside key facial expression references. Finalized color swatches. A clean, organized layout suitable for future production use. The goal is to create reference sheets that another professional could pick up and confidently use without having to guess how the characters are supposed to look and feel. A Note on the Creative Process I'm flexible and always open to learning new things! If you feel that the three-phase approach I've outlined doesn't quite fit your workflow, or if you have a better way of tackling the project, please tell me! I'd be more than happy to discuss it. Ultimately, the goal is: explore different visual styles, settle on a direction that best suits Art and Ren, refine and finalize their designs, and use those finalized designs to create solid reference sheets for future use. How we get there is something I'm happy to figure out together! Compensation and Payment The starting budget for this project is $500 USD. Wait, what does that mean? Well, let's say you're thinking, "Man, I really dig this project! I'm totally vibing with the vision, and I have the experience to finish them. And my reference sheets? Bro, you haven't SEEN reference sheets until you've taste what I can cook up. But $500? I'd need [amount here] to make this work." Then tell me, and show me your experience! If you're genuinely interested in the project but feel that the scope warrants higher compensation, please include your proposed quote in your comment. I'm absolutely open to considering higher offers for the right collaborator. The last thing I want is for us to agree on a price that one of us isn't genuinely comfortable with. I'd much rather have an honest conversation about compensation upfront than have either party feel frustrated later on. I will use $500 as an example for payment structure, however: The total budget for this project is $500 USD, divided into two payments: $250 USD upfront: A non-refundable deposit paid before work begins. $250 USD upon completion: The remaining balance, paid upon completion and approval of the final character reference sheets. Wise is my strongly preferred payment method, although Artistree is also acceptable. Alternative payment methods, such as PayPal, may be considered on a case-by-case basis for an exceptionally strong fit. Legal, Usage Rights, and Licensing The characters, world, and underlying intellectual property are owned by Game Of ThrowsTM. The artwork produced through this commission is used for internal development and reference purposes. It will not be directly incorporated into commercial products or services. To help me confirm that you've read through the entire post, please include a brief description of a fictional character or world that you particularly enjoy, and what makes it memorable or meaningful to you in your comment below. It can be from any medium—anime, games, books, movies, or your own creation! The illustrator will retain copyright ownership of their original contributions and may display the commissioned artwork in their portfolio or use it for personal promotional purposes, provided that Game Of Throws is appropriately credited. However, the commissioned artwork and character designs must remain exclusive to Game Of Throws and may not be independently reused, resold, re-licensed, or commercially used by the illustrator or third parties without prior written permission. The specific licensing terms will be clearly established and mutually agreed upon in writing before work begins. AI Policy The use of generative AI in any part of the illustration or character design process is strictly prohibited. All artwork must be created by the illustrator through their own technical skills and creative judgment. How to Apply If you're interested in the project, please leave a comment below with a link to your portfolio. I'll carefully review each relevant submission, so please make sure your portfolio includes examples of character reference sheets you've created for previous clients. I'm particularly interested in seeing your experience with character design and development. If I think we might be a good fit, I'll reply to your comment and ask for your Discord username. From there, I'll add you on Discord so we can discuss the project in greater detail, get to know each other, and see whether we'd work well together. Closing Thoughts Thank you for taking the time to read through this ridiculously long post! As for general artistic direction, I really like the stylized and playful anime aesthetic established in Art and Ren's 1.0 designs. While I'm not asking anyone to replicate my previous illustrator's style exactly (that would feel disrespectful to both artists!), I am looking for someone who has experience designing stylized anime characters (prioritizing clarity/readability) and can bring their own artistic sensibilities to that general direction. If this post doesn't lead me to the right collaborator, that's perfectly okay. I'll try again another time! After all, the right person might simply miss this post by a few days. And on that note, if you happen to know an illustrator who might be a great fit, I'd really appreciate you passing this opportunity along to them. At the end of the day, I have a rather “silly" dream, trying to build something meaningful one brick at a time. If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.   submitted by   /u/GameOfThrowsTCG [link]   [comments]