[themaxx]

My second anniversary is coming up, and I'd like to have an illustration of me and my wife. Not a regular old olan mills portrait with a chalk filter applied to it; something more dramatic, more fun, edgier. A comic book cover or movie poster, perhaps. (Just a thought.)

I've started hunting around on the web to find an artist, and I'm amazed at how many genuinely talented artists are out there. With such a large pool of talent and broad array of styles, I'm having a very hard time deciding what direction to go, and which artist to hire.

So I had this idea: I'd put up some prize money and hold a contest. Artists would submit entries via a web site, and the artist with the winning piece takes the cash. I've run this past a couple of friends and most of them think it's rather stupid, but I'm still not ready to completely give it up so I thought I'd ask.
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there are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't.

[Drew]

Not only do I think this is bad for the artist, I think it's bad for you. Once you commit to giving the money to at least one artist who enters, who's to say that you'll get an image that you like? On the other hand, if you don't promise to pay someone, why would anyone work for a project that perhaps no one will get paid for?

I suggest asking for people to submit portfolios and find one with a style you like. A professional will have a certain way that he usually works that might involve you paying him part of the money for thumbnails so that you can find an idea you like, and then the rest of the money upon delivery of the final product. This way, you are certain to get something that you and your wife will enjoy, instead of something that will sit in storage.

[Anthony]

I think it won't work for a simple reason - the kind of artist you would have gotten otherwise probably won't enter the contest, and you may well be left with a situation where you have to choose from a bunch of mediocre work. Find people you like, ask if they'd do it for that price, and pick the one that you like best of those that accepted. Good luck with it!
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-Anthony
Carpe Carpem
http://www.anthonyfransella.com

[CwStone]

if ur gonna pay 500 $ anyway, why not just hire someone so u know that u'l get something that ur lookin for?
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-Chase

[Wren]

I personally like the idea and i would enter the contest. Mostly because doing this type of "fantasy portrait" is one of my specialites. I've done both realism and caricatures doing exactly the sort of thing you are looking for.

So, yes i'd enter the contest but only because i know i'd stand a good chance of winning

And of course, that being said, should you decide NOT to do a contest, i AM available for commissions. My webpage link is below...
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SASart Studios

[themaxx]

Thanks for the feedback. Based on the responses here and in other forums, I think I'll hire someone outright. Thanks everyone.
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there are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary and those who don't.