What the difference 24 hours makes ... in graphic design...

So when I have ideas for new layout, I try them out BEFORE the actually see the light of day on paper of on a computer. I am guess that is very typical for graphic designers and art directors like Rick Hershey, @Marc Radle at Kobold Press or Sarah Robinson at Paizo. So instead of keeping that progress in the dark, I thought I might show you and cover idea are am working on with a new adventure series tentatively called Strange World.

As you see it is kind of a split cover where you could use one piece of art and split it OR take two pieces of art and use it. But like I said I am just working out some ideas here. Who knows what the final version will look like. Enjoy!

See what the difference 24 hours can make...

Talk to you later...

The last rough pieces of artwork for Obsidian Apocalypse!!

Just like the title says, this is it. Enjoy! Talk to you later...

Always looking for a new artist…

One of the hardest things that I do OVER and OVER is look for new artists.  The reason isn’t that I keep losing artists, it is there are so many new artist to are coming on the new and showing off what they do, with many of them outside of the US and North America. With such a worldwide market of artists I get to see so many interesting styles and techniques which I can use to help inspire my own artwork on my project. So always take a second or two and look for new artists. It’s a great way to add cool ideas to what you are doing.  Talk to you later…

BTW: Artwork by  Chester Ocampo -- The Goblin Hunter

Obsidian Apocalypse: Second draft sketch of Asi Magnor

So you can see that we picked #2. We think it give more power in the images.  This looks like it is going to be a great image. Talk to you later...

Obsidian Apocalypse: Five Artists now onboard…

We are took another step in the direction to helping make ObsidianApocalypse an amazing success with the signing of FIVE artists to work on this project, including several of the original artists who worked on ObsidianTwilight.  This is the part of designing a world that I love the most, the visual appeal of the Obsidian Apocalypse setting.  I feel that people do judge a book by its cover and I want to make sure that we have the best looking cover (and interior artwork) possible. When the artwork for a campaign setting is right, it only helps make the work MORE believable and real.  We want Obsidian Apocalypse to be the most visually striking and appealing artwork dealing with such a powerful subjects and genres as post-apocalypse and survival horror. Both of these genres have been built with iconic images and we also would like to capture that feeling with our setting. 

While we will be using some artwork from the original Obsidian Twilight setting, we will be updating a few of the original drawing to give them more impact such as the character design of Harrowed race and Asi Magnor for example.  Plus the addition of more headshot portraits and half page images only help make this project a greater success. I would like our artwork and graphic design to rival that of Paizo’s.  I hope to release an Obsidian Apocalypse: World of Abaddon starter book very soon so people can get a taste of what we have done and what we have planned and give you that first glimpse into this amazing setting.  Talk to you later…

You want to know the names of the artists we used? Sorry that information is classified

I normally let people access to 95% of everything we do at LPJ Design.  The last 5% of stuff that we don't let people know is: 1) How much money we make (That is none of your business) and 2) The artists we use. Why do I keep our artist under wraps? It is obvious, we have GREAT artists working for us.  Now some of them you do know, Jason Walton, Storn Cook, Bradley K. McDevitt, and Anthony Cournoyer. But there are a lot more that you have seen their artwork but you don't know who they are.  And they do great work!!!!  I mean AMAZING work. Some even say as good as Paizo.  I have to agree since Paizo hired one of artist I used to work with them and two of my regular artist art trying to get freelance jobs with Paizo.  I know how to get GREAT artists.  Now do you want to know my secret about how I get these great artist? Let me tell you....

I work hard searching website and searching the internet to find these artists. That is it.  I work hard and I get results. It is not rocket science here.  

But I am going to do you a favor and help you get started in finding your hot new artist.  Check out Deviantart for artist.  It is where I go to find all my GREAT artist. So if you like the artist I use check them out.  The rest is up to you. Stop being lazy and do some work.Talk to you later...

Rough draft artwork for upcoming LPJ Design products

Here are some rough draft artwork from the upcoming LPJ Design products Enemies of NeoExodus: Crimson Hand and Obsidian Eclipse: The Well of Dead Flesh. As you can see Ean Moody has been a busy man. You can chek out mour of our cool artwork at the LPJ Design Facebook pages also. Just because we are quiet, doesn't mean we are not busy.  Talk to you later.

While NeoExodus simmers, I go back to Pirates of the Bronze Sky

For those who did know, Pirates of the Bronze Sky's rough first draft has been completed for nearly a month now.  It is a solid rough draft and while I am still going through it, I know this one is going to be a success.  One small change I have made with the look and feel is to increase the amount of steampunk visual elements that the setting.  I think this setting will be a great way to add the "steampunkiness" to a setting that already oozing that kind of coolness.  With this being a Eberron and Spelljammer mash-up, I think this will only help really define and redefine what we are doing.

So I am starting to look for cover artist on this project.  As I said before, I would love to do a computer generated and hand drawn image for the cover. But the real issue is finding 1 or 2 artist would could work together like that.  I don't know of any who have done anything like that in the RPG industry.  But who ever I use, the cover will be BAD ASS. I know some of you are tried off looking at the Boob Pirate (Hi to all our friends at Go make me a sandwich! I know you how much you love this cover!) so we will have to find something more interesting for the cover.  Maybe we could get some like Kendrick Lim or Michel Ivan or Chen Wei or even Ben Wootten.  Guess we'll keep looking, until then it's Boob Pirate!!!!  Talk to you later...

Have you meet our newest artist, Aaron Anderson?

Maybe you should meet him.  Talk to you later...

Meet the newesrt artist to LPJ Design: John Tyler Christopher

Maybe you have seen his work at Wizards of the Coast. Or maybe you have seen it at Marvel Comics. Or maybe you have seen it at Top Cow. But now you can see John Tyler Christopher's artwork at LPJ Design starting with the upcoming monster, the Necrostruct.  Take a looke at his gallery and expect to see his fantastic artwork on our products very soon.  Talk to you later... 

Various stages of NeoExodus artwork on Khaynites

Showing you a little behind the scenes stuff so you can see what the initial art looks like BEFORE we make all the choices to create the final piece. You can find may more pieces of work like this at the LPJ Design Facebook Fan Page.  Talk to you later...

Are you an artist and wish you could work at Privateer Press, now is your chance...

Matt Wilson of Privateer Press placed this on his Facebook account and I thought many of you artist who read this blog might find this of great interest.

To all my artist colleagues: Privateer Press is hiring a new full time concept artist. Please feel free to pass on the contact info of myself and our art director to anyone you think would be interested in whiling away their days dreaming up robots, monsters, and beautiful women with swords and guns.

email: mw@privateerpress.com or Privateer Press art director Kris Aubin: Aubin@privateerpress.com

Good luck!  Talk to you later…

Just two pieces of art left for Obsidian Twilight RPG Setting...

It is kind of funny to realize that this whole Obsidian Twilight project that started on Thursday October 9th, 2008 with this post is days away from being completed and released at RPGNow.com and Paizo.com. This has bee a complete labor of love for me from beginning to end and I have enjoyed just about everything with it (There are always ways some bad spots when developing).  I am glad I had the change to do this setting since I know this is something I wanted play and no one else would have done it.  Plus this gave me the chance to build my second fantasy setting (NeoExodus: A House Divided being my first) from the ground up. When Obsidian Twilight is finished I hope you pick it up and enjoy it as much as I had making it.  And if I have not said it yet I would like to thank everyone who worked on this project: James ‘Grim’ Desborough, Nicholas John Oefinger, Gleydson A. Caetano, Carlos Herrera Portilla and Jason Rainville, Guillermo Angel , Eduardo Bromhbley, Gleydson A. Caetano, Anthony Cournoyer, Ean Moody, Alejandro García Palomares, Carlos Herrera Portilla and Jason Walton. This could not have been done without you.  Thanks again!  So enjoy this rough sketch of the Blood Duelist Prestige Class and just hold on for a few more days.  Talk to you later...

Pirates of the Bronze Sky Sketches

Just a little something to make your weekend a little more exciting. Our newest artist is finishing up the newest artwork he has sent to me and I thought you fans might enjoy seeing what goes on behind the scenes in the area of artwork.  Enjoy!  Talk to you later...

What we pay for artwork at LPJ Design…

Several of you who like the artwork always wonder what we pay for artwork.  Other freelance artists are interested in what we pay freelancers.  So I decided to kill two birds with one stone and I am list the pay rates of LPJ Design:

Black & White Artwork

• Head shots or Items: $10
• Character / Monster Design: $45
• Half Page Image: $35

Color Artwork

• Items: $15
• Head shots: $20
• Character / Monster Design: $65 (See the image to the right for an example)
• Half Page Image: $50

That’s right, this is what we pay.  No more, no less.  Shocked? Surprised? Calling me a cheap? Maybe! But one thing you can said about LPJ Design, if you work for us, you will mostly likely be paid within a week of you submitting the final artwork.  So if you are interested in talking to me about being an artist, well now you know what you can expect paywise.  Are you a good artist looking to make some money, then come see us at LPJ Design.  Talk to you later…

Want to see the cover for Obsidian Twilight?

Well here is the line art for the cover of Obsidian Twilight done by the fantastic artist, Jason Walton.  Color version coming soon.  Talk to you later...

Suits - The Webcomic Coming Soon! Maybe...

It look very close to actuallu hiring an artist to work on on my webcomic, Suits.  I know what you are thinking, and YES we have had a "few" false starts, but I think this one might be real. No really!  So before I announce the name of the artist, I just wanted to show you a sample of the artwork he sent me.  If everything works out we "should" have an announcement by next Friday.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Talk to you later...

Fantasy Monster Patronage Project from Empty Room Studios

Here is something that I thought anyone interested in the RPG publishing business shown know about AND become a patron to.  Empty Room Studios has created the Fantasy Monster Patronage Project and since they are doing some work for me on the new Quartermaster series that I started this would be helpful.  Talk to you later...

FANTASY ITEMS & GEAR ARTIST NEEDED

I am looking for artist that can draw full color quarter page (4.25w x 5.5h inches) designs of items and gear like swords, spears, armor, wands, and items like that for a fantasy based setting (with no backgrounds) that would fit in a D&D setting for example. Artist styles we are looking for should be solid clean and professional. Very much influenced by comic book artist like Jim Lee, Alan Davis, Paul Pelletier, Jim Cheung, Luke Ross, Jim Cassiday, Brian Hitch, Greg Land, Tom Grummett, Mark Bagley, Barry Kitson. Here are some samples of our work to give you an idea what we are looking for visually and style-wise: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/images/85/51559.jpg, http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/images/85/51240.jpg, http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/images/85/25770.jpg

Since we are a small company, I have to tell you right up front our pay rate is not as high as major companies. The payrate for a job like this is between $5 - $20 per each piece and we need over 100 pieces done. If you are interested please let me know by contacting me via e-mail at LMPjr007 (at) aol (dot) com. Serious replies only and must have gallery / portfolio available. If you don’t have the skill set we are looking for, we will not respond to your e-mail.

Keep picking at that scab and it will never heal...Zebadiah in full color

Sometimes you can be on the bad end of a battle between yourself and a Vampiric Lich and this is what you get for your troubles.  Keep picking at that scab Zebadiah and it will never heal.   Talk to you later...