Design Partner Search --- Results

We put out the call, and you all responded, and I am grateful for every single person who reached out and I got to see lots of amazing artists. Some work was so compelling that it inspired my words.

Sadly, I was not able to accept candidates at this time.

Many who responded sent portfolios, which was not what was requested, and at first I gave critiques on them and a message to do the prompts.

I had nine to do for a design partner, and it was a big ask, but I had dropped my personal investment silently from over 500 K through the years to 270 K as my part of the equation and thus as I was investing 230 K in them at a bare minimum, they had to really bring it. When I responded asking for prompts, some misread the situation entirely and thought I was looking to purchase their services. I was not. This was always about partnership, not a transaction.

I do not need a design partner or illustrator when seeking traditional. Most traditional houses have their personal artists, but if I could find a Garfunkel to my Simon as a shot in the dark, then they were worth the investment in both time and money.

Some were genuinely talented and I would love to work with them someday in a different capacity. But that was not what this was about.

A few told me I would never find anyone of real talent willing to do this. I disagree. But I placed a single advertisement as a shot in the dark. That is it, to see if in this one area the right person saw the light.

There is one out there, and whatever is guiding the universe said no. The most communicative candidate gave me real hope for a lot of weeks.

They had the spark of curiosity required and communicated well. And I love the hope, but they ultimately disqualified themselves.

What is unfinished in the pictures above?

I will not go into full details but the disqualification came down to submitting Yolunda in her altogether with a statement of 60% done, no explanation besides that. Artists 60% must be specified on submission, we cannot guess on what you consider 60%.

In the body of the email, they said some are uncolored. Uncolored is not unclothed. "Uncolored" I assumed meant their panels of Bunny Fo-Fo Gang as they were black and white.

A coloring book image without crayons or markers adding its flair is uncolored, but all of them are clothed, right?

Even if they listed it as being in a structural stage, it should not have been submitted as it was for all ages. Compounding the error was no message as to where the image was at and I'd see that and it had clothes to add.

But submitting art in that state for a children's submission must result in immediate disqualification regardless of intent, especially with no statement to alert me they intend add clothes.

This is a digital rendering. Unlike hand drawing which gets erased and layered like this. Placement should be fast and in mind. It should be done all layers and presenting it.... just no don't.

If applying for a position in kids, make sure you come prepared to the interview and have an understanding of the market and standards.

For those who don't know — Disney fires employees for adding inappropriate material to children's content, whether accidentally or on purpose. The standard exists for good reason, and I hold the same one here.

For now, I move forward with seeking traditional publishing. The words are there. They always have been. Someday Garfunkel will come, just not today.