Experienced Concept Artist avaliable - Updated with a 5:th page
by Jan-Ove Leksell · in Jobs · 09/08/2006 (2:56 pm) · 11 replies
Paid work only, I do not work on revenues or "paid when published" deals.
Hello,
My name is Jan-Ove "Jove" Leksell and I am currently available for contract work.
I specialise in conceptual artwork and design but can also produce promotional artwork as well as any other illustrational/painting/logo need you may have. If needed I can also produce photo manipulations and compositions, comic styled artwork etc. If you need a specific style or kind of artwork I can produce sample pieces if it is not to time demanding, feel free to ask.
I have a solid education and experience in working with teams, I have my own company set up and I can also handle the contract etc. if needed.
Please contact me with any requests at: Jove [at] narcissisticstudios [dot] com
(I answer all mails so if you do not receive a reply within a couple of days I am currently unavailable or the mail did not come trough)
Below is a sample page with some previous work of mine.
Best regards
Jove Leksell
Narcissistic Studios
Hello,
My name is Jan-Ove "Jove" Leksell and I am currently available for contract work.
I specialise in conceptual artwork and design but can also produce promotional artwork as well as any other illustrational/painting/logo need you may have. If needed I can also produce photo manipulations and compositions, comic styled artwork etc. If you need a specific style or kind of artwork I can produce sample pieces if it is not to time demanding, feel free to ask.
I have a solid education and experience in working with teams, I have my own company set up and I can also handle the contract etc. if needed.
Please contact me with any requests at: Jove [at] narcissisticstudios [dot] com
(I answer all mails so if you do not receive a reply within a couple of days I am currently unavailable or the mail did not come trough)
Below is a sample page with some previous work of mine.
Best regards
Jove Leksell
Narcissistic Studios
#2
09/09/2006 (2:50 pm)
@Jonathon: I had some time of today so I decided to do a werewolf, thanks on the suggestions :]
#3
09/10/2006 (1:53 pm)
I made some conceptual mood pictures today. I'll just keep building my portfolio as long as I have time enough on my hands, let me know if you want to see a specific style or setting. 
#4
It's when you take something that's been done a million times (mummies) and you make them unique and different that people really get the 'wow' factor.
Again, this is all just my opinion, so don't take offense ;)
09/11/2006 (8:07 am)
I must say Jan-Ove, I'm very impressed with the last shot. I'm actually building a gothic world that will be much like what you show there. It portrays a very good mood. As far as the werewolf, I don't have many kind words other than the drawing is good. It looks pretty much like every other werewolf. The reason the art style of Forbidden Dawn is so unique, IMHO, is because we take a different spin on classic monsters like the werewolf. Instead of being a 'dog that stands on 2 feet and is vicious', our werewolves are closer in style to how WoW portrays the 'bull who stands on 2 feet and is humble' (Tauren). Vampires in our world aren't 'dracula' style vampires, but instead are sexy 'anne rice' style vampires like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in 'Interview With the Vampire'.It's when you take something that's been done a million times (mummies) and you make them unique and different that people really get the 'wow' factor.
Again, this is all just my opinion, so don't take offense ;)
#5
And while I have no problems portraying a unique kind of canine humanoid, a werewolf in the strict sense is a werewolf. I'm simply displaying my ability to render an image and I would have no problems in doing another version if the customer specified the direction of the piece, I'm fairly versatile and imaginative. A good concept artist is one who can be creative within the bounds of the customers imagined world. You say werewolf and I paint one, chances are that's what you meant as that's the most common version, it's hard to know with a single word. If a customer would ask me to draw a zombie and I drew a zombie astronaut playing tennis with a cat I would have to start looking for another source of income.
And while I partly agree on the need for originality I'm a little confused as you speak of originality and then refer to a gothic theme, World of Warcraft and a movie based on a book written in the seventies, which in term draws inspiration from Bram Stocker's Dracula published in 1897 (A gothic tale depicting a brutal yet romantic gentlemen version of Dracula, Anne Rice just took it a step further). And I'm also a little baffled to why you see it fit to promote your own game in my job post. Anyhow, if you ever see the need for a well rendered art piece in any style or form for your game feel free to hire me.
Best regards
Jove
09/11/2006 (12:12 pm)
Thanks for the comment, glad you like it and no offence taken, as you say it's just your opinion.And while I have no problems portraying a unique kind of canine humanoid, a werewolf in the strict sense is a werewolf. I'm simply displaying my ability to render an image and I would have no problems in doing another version if the customer specified the direction of the piece, I'm fairly versatile and imaginative. A good concept artist is one who can be creative within the bounds of the customers imagined world. You say werewolf and I paint one, chances are that's what you meant as that's the most common version, it's hard to know with a single word. If a customer would ask me to draw a zombie and I drew a zombie astronaut playing tennis with a cat I would have to start looking for another source of income.
And while I partly agree on the need for originality I'm a little confused as you speak of originality and then refer to a gothic theme, World of Warcraft and a movie based on a book written in the seventies, which in term draws inspiration from Bram Stocker's Dracula published in 1897 (A gothic tale depicting a brutal yet romantic gentlemen version of Dracula, Anne Rice just took it a step further). And I'm also a little baffled to why you see it fit to promote your own game in my job post. Anyhow, if you ever see the need for a well rendered art piece in any style or form for your game feel free to hire me.
Best regards
Jove
#6
Hmm.. Didn't realise my comment about my game would be considered promoting it. I was merely pointing as to why _I_ wasn't too impressed with the werewolf. It was to give you a picture of how taking a common thing and stylizing it would, IMHO, make your art stand out even more.
Nothing is truely original anymore. Something always takes from something else. When I use the term, I'm speaking more of 'think outside the box' and 'a new take on an old idea' type situations.
Either way, if it offends you like it seems, I can edit out my comment about the werewolf.
Edit: I didn't actually put 'original' anywhere. And the last comment about the 'wow' factor was the word 'wow' not the game (just to be clear).
09/11/2006 (12:38 pm)
I'd actually think the zombie astronaut playing tennis with a cat would have amused me to the point of hiring ;).Hmm.. Didn't realise my comment about my game would be considered promoting it. I was merely pointing as to why _I_ wasn't too impressed with the werewolf. It was to give you a picture of how taking a common thing and stylizing it would, IMHO, make your art stand out even more.
Nothing is truely original anymore. Something always takes from something else. When I use the term, I'm speaking more of 'think outside the box' and 'a new take on an old idea' type situations.
Either way, if it offends you like it seems, I can edit out my comment about the werewolf.
Edit: I didn't actually put 'original' anywhere. And the last comment about the 'wow' factor was the word 'wow' not the game (just to be clear).
#7
Well for future reference you may want to use external "material" as a source as the reference would only make sense to someone involved with the project in question. I've never even seen it, makes it kind of hard to understand the point you're trying to get across even if you describe it shortly.
That's partly true; few things are indeed truly original.
I'm not offended in any way and there is no need in editing the post. I appreciate any critique I can get on my work and make a great effort to use all comments I get, good and bad to help me grow artistically. After all that's my life long passion ;)
And while the word original is not in there specifically I guess I could have used "uniqueness" instead, excuse a Swede with English as a second language.
Best regards
Jove
09/11/2006 (1:03 pm)
Haha, well I'll get right on it ;)Well for future reference you may want to use external "material" as a source as the reference would only make sense to someone involved with the project in question. I've never even seen it, makes it kind of hard to understand the point you're trying to get across even if you describe it shortly.
That's partly true; few things are indeed truly original.
I'm not offended in any way and there is no need in editing the post. I appreciate any critique I can get on my work and make a great effort to use all comments I get, good and bad to help me grow artistically. After all that's my life long passion ;)
And while the word original is not in there specifically I guess I could have used "uniqueness" instead, excuse a Swede with English as a second language.
Best regards
Jove
#9
09/16/2006 (2:29 pm)
How much on average would you want for a picture when you are given the written description to follow?
#10
It all comes down to how much time I have to spend on it and how many pieces you order, less time per piece and more pieces means a lower cost. Feel free to send me an e-mail with a description of what you are looking for so I can give you a fair price estimate.
Best regards
Jove
09/16/2006 (5:05 pm)
@Graydon: It depends on what kind of image, what size and what style (colour, sketch, line art, etc.) The simpler colour illustrations like the environments on the third page would be cheaper then the fully rendered pieces like the second and fourth page and if it's a written description and I don't really need to design the element myself that will also lower the cost. It all comes down to how much time I have to spend on it and how many pieces you order, less time per piece and more pieces means a lower cost. Feel free to send me an e-mail with a description of what you are looking for so I can give you a fair price estimate.
Best regards
Jove
Torque 3D Owner Jonathon Stevens