What Should Be on Your Bill/Invoice July 3, 2008
Posted by leskanturek in Bill/Invoice, Professional Practices.add a comment
After the finish is handed in you are going to have to submit a bill to your client. Here is the basic information that I have on my bill.
My 2-part bill. The white copy(left) goes to my client, and the yellow copy (right) stays in my records.
One thing you should keep in mind when you are designing your bill/invoice. You are submitting it to an art director or designer who will then turn it in to the accounting department. Save the fancy illustrations and graphics for another time. This is the time to be clear and straight forward.
Your name and address, Phone number, e-mail
Your SS #
Ask if your social security number is needed. Your client would use it to report the amount to the IRS
A Job No:
Your client Purchase Order No: ( if there is one)
The date:
Attention to: A description of the job:
The total Amount Due: (Payment is Due within thirty (30) Days of receipt of invoice)
Original artwork to be returned to the designer/illustrator
along with any preliminary comps. All artwork will remain the property of the designer/illustrator unless purchased by payment of a separate fee.
Authorship Credit
Authorship credit in the name of the designer/illustrator shall accompany the work upon its reproduction.
Rights Transferred
First time North American reproduction rights are granted unless specified otherwise here. Any usage rights not exclusively transferred are reserved to the designer/illustrator, usage beyond that granted to the client herein shall require payment of a mutually agreed upon fee subject to all terms.
Cancellation
In the event of cancellation by the client, the amount charged to the client as the fee has been computed as follows based on the fee originally agreed upon:
- Cancellation prior to the finished design/art being turned in and after preliminary sketches: 50% of the total fee.
- Cancellation due to the finished design/art being unsatisfactory: 75% of the total fee.
- Cancellation after the designer/illustrator’s completion of the finish due to assignment being cancelled: 100% of the total fee.
Arbitration
Any disputes arising out of this agreement shall be submitted to binding arbitration before the Joint Ethics Committee (GAG) or a mutually agreed upon arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator’s rule shall be final, and the judgment may be entered in any court having Jurisdiction theof. The Client shall pay all arbitration and court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees and legal interest on any award or judgment in favor of the designer/illustrator.
Picture Files and Reference July 3, 2008
Posted by leskanturek in Handout Sheets, Picture files and Reference.add a comment
Norman Rockwell\
Always start an illustration with as much information as you can possibly get. Notice I’m saying information and not simply reference material. It’s your job….it’s what makes an art director choose you over another illustrator/artist, your expertise. Information is what allows you to collaborate with an author and art director and not simply act as a pair of hands. Have integrity in your work, go the extra mile. Research your subject.
• Viewers out there know when something doesn’t look right, be it anatomy or something technical.
• Looking up scrap helps you generate ideas/concepts.
• Serendipity: you never know what you might find by accident. Sometimes under the same letter heading in a picture file (like “T”) you find your concept. While looking for photos of tanks I passed toys. That gave me an idea for an image. The same thing occurs when you surf the web, some odd things come up that you might never have occurred to you
Here are some resources:
Library Picture Files
PSD /Gimbel Library (Of course)
The Mid-Manhattan (NY Public) Library Picture Collection
Many local libraries have good picture collections(when artists die , many leave their collections to local libraries)
The Queens Borough Public Library in Jamaica Queens has an excellent picture collection
Children’s books
This is a fantastic resource for reference! 
t’s of photos and illustrations. Grouped by subject. Ie: What 
a fireman does, how cars are made etc.
Catalogs
Sears / JC Penny, IKEA, pottery barn Etc. All catalogs that have general household items in them. And already grouped too. Specialty catalogs: Science equipment, fishing, police uniforms
Stock photos
Photo houses are also a source for royalty free photos for use and reference. Be careful!,there is a very real copyright attached to the images.
Your Client
Ask your client for the reference you need for the job. (They will not do your work for you . Research is your department). Ask particularly if the subject is obscure or technical and your client is a repository of photos and images. Newspapers traditionally have their own Morgue that you might be able to use.
Reference books
Like the illustrators Reference manual of Hands and Faces, or the visual dictionary.
How Too Books
Time life etc. fixing your home , etc.
Keep your Own Picture files
• Spend less time running around town, when you should be drawing.
• Convenient even at 1:00 AM
• You know what you like to draw or have trouble drawing.
• Shoot your own photos, get friends to pose, you should know how to handle a camera anyway to shoot your own artwork and scrap) .
• Suggestions about groupings, follow the model of the Public Library, Occupations: Fireman, nurse etc., Men: Standing, sitting, young old etc.
What does Iron Man and this toaster have in common?
When you use reference use it creatively. Can studying an old car’s chrome bumper help you draw Iron Man? Would looking at the segmented armor of a pangolin (look it up) help?
The Internet
As you all should know, an amazing source of imagery
• Use a general search, Google, Yahoo. Click on images as a view option.
• There are a lot of Stock photo sites you can browse for free. again There is a very real copyright attached to the images. That’s how these agencies make their income. This is for reference only!
• Government sites have in many cases copyright free images and Hi-res that you can use. The Library of Congress, NASA to name a few.
Beware copyright infringement, just because it’s on the web does not make it free, or mean it can be used without permission. .
Free (or Low Cost) Image Resources
NASA Image Exchange
http://nix.nasa.gov/
Typically, NASA information is considered public domain, however for a full understanding of NASA guidelines for use of images, see:
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html
NOAA Photo Library
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/search.html
U.S. Department of Defense
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/
U.S. Navy
http://www.news.navy.mil/view_featured.asp
National Library of Medicine
http://wwwihm.nlm.nih.gov/
The Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/
Final Project Proposal July 3, 2008
Posted by leskanturek in Class Assignments, Final project.add a comment
You are going to submit a proposal for a final project. This is an independent project for this class.
The project can be about any subject, in any medium.
Pick something that you are really psyched about, Don’t propose something simply because you think it’s traditional illustration, or what you think I want to see, unless it coincides with something you’re excited about.
It should challenge you and give you room to creatively stretch. It should comprise more than one piece of work. All your pieces should explore a common theme.
The number of pieces depends on the size of your work ( ie; 8.5 X 11” approx. 4 pieces if they’re 18 X 24 approx. 3 pieces) and the complexity, this is an estimate not a science.
We will be meeting individually in class to discuss your project at least twice during the semester. Once near the beginning of the semester an again past mid-semester at the half way mark. I’ll give you the date of these meetings in class.
Please type your proposals neatly and include the following info:
- The topic/theme (title?)
- What medium are you going to work in? Any particular materials? What kind of research will you be doing?
- Size of works, and the amount.
- What aspect of this project is an exploration for you.
- Include any sketches you need to explain your project
- If you’re written a story please include a copy.
A large part of this assignment is the formulation of a project, writing a proposal and following through with a finish. Don’t short change this part of the process. If you come in the last day of class and present a project we have not discussed I will not accept it. Your final project will also count as a larger part of your grade than regular assignments.
If you need help selecting a topic, let me know as soon as possible and we’ll discuss some possibilities.
