General / Art Usage / Commissions

General Questions

Where did you go to school?

I received my BFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

How do you work?

Most often, I will scan a sketch and paint digitally, using Photoshop CS 2 and Painter IX. I use a lot of the hard round brush in PS and marker brush in Painter for blocking in, and then various texture brushes in PS with the round camelhair and blender in Painter for final touches.

Can I see more of your work?

Certainly. Head over to my DeviantArt gallery - that has a lot of the stuff I haven't posted here, or that's too old and has been deleted.

Do you have an LJ?

gryphart is my art blog. It typically has sketches, finished work, and news about projects and conventions.

Can I chat with you via AIM/have your phone number?

Sorry, but I give out my screenname quite rarely, and am not typically signed on in any case - too much painting to do! Similarly, it's a lot more efficient for clients and fans to email me than call, as it leads to better recordkeeping for me and usually a faster response time, as well. So, please email instead.

Art Usage

Can I repost your work on my website?

So long as you give me credit for it, it's a non-profit site, and the image you're seeking to use is not copyright to one of the companies I've worked for (check the credits beneath to see), sure. I'd appreciate a link back to here, if possible. However, please do not hotlink to my site - instead, host the images yourself.

Can I make stationary/web graphics out of your work?
No stationary, PSP tubes, or similar graphical modifications, please. However, if you want to use a detail of a piece as an LJ icon or somesuch, feel free. Just give me credit in the keywords.

Can I get your work tattooed on me?

Sure! Just send me pictures once it's done - I'm always curious to see how it turns out.

Commissions

Will you paint me something for free?

No. This does include working on spec and/or royalties as well.

Will you do an art test for my company?

If it's paid, certainly. If not, then the likely answer is no.

Can I license your existing work?

As long as a piece belongs solely to me, (check the description underneath the individual piece to see) I am certainly open to licensing. Please send me an email denoting your desired usage, and I'll be happy to discuss prices.

Can I pay you to do work for me?

Of course! I am always available, whether for private work or for a business. In case of any questions about commissioning my work, please email nicolec @ artofnicolecardiff.com.

Can you tell me your payscale?

Current price listing (click for samples):
Pencil sketch of a character/person - $35

Photoshop, Web sized (1000 x 1000 px or smaller), minimal background - $75
Photoshop no background, single character, 8.5 x 11, 300 dpi - $150

PS with background, one to two characters, 8.5 x 11, 300 dpi - $275

More than two characters - $325-?

Please note that these prices assume an image roughly as complex as what is depicted in the samples, a private client, and no rush deadline. More complex/larger images, publication, or quick deadlines (four days or less) may up the prices here.

How does the process of commissioning you work?

Generally speaking, I do up to three versions of a line sketch until the content is approved, then send a color rough to make sure my client and I are on the same page about color and lighting, then finish up the piece. That way there's a lot of communication to make sure my clients are getting what they want before going to final.

For clients who need more than three sketch revisions or three revisions to the painting, extra fees will apply; however, it is rare that this is necessary.

Please note that for new clients, I typically request a deposit before sketching begins. For established clients, this can wait until approval of the line sketch.

Artprocess.jpg has examples of all three stages from a wraparound cover project. Depending on client response time and my current schedule, illustrations typically take between 7-14 days to go to completion. I do strongly recommend that clients wanting work in June, August, and September schedule ahead of time, as these tend to be busier months.

Will you do something not on the payscale?

Of course! Email me.

Who have you worked with in the past?

I've done concept work for FunCom, RedMist Castle, and Isotx, among others, and in-game illustration work for Playfirst.

I've also done cover illustrations for Dragonmoon Press, Troll Lord Games, Intergalactic Medicine Show, Leading Edge Magazine, Dark City Games, and Profantasy, interiors for Wizards of the Coast, EdenCo/Hachette, White Wolf, Vajra Enterprises and Pinnacle Entertainment, and CCG illustrations for White Wolf, AEG, Fantasy Flight Games, and Tenacious Games.

I've also done textbook illustration for National Geographic/Harcourt and promotional illustrations for GenCon UK and Fantasybookspot.com.

I've also been honored by ImagineFX Magazine as a Rising Star, or featured artist under 25, in issue 7 and was recently published again there in March 2008. Art Scene International also honored me in Issue 76.