Hmmm. I guess I should have flipped back a few pages to actually see the art.

I am still in.

But I have to say that I am not really excited about the work. It is fine work, but it just seems rather "unacaeumlike" to me. Ok, I see the building, whatever.
But this piece is more action oriented - a piece befitting a forum that is focused on "play" rather than the "research" nature of the acauem. I hate to say this, but that is a Dragonsfoot piece if ever I saw one.

Did the board really have no impact on the subject matter of the piece? I am not complaining. I didn't do anything to move it along so I really can't be too judgmental. But I am paying for it.

By the way Gnat. The dragon thing is wounded so I think the fighter got a shot in.

This might sound odd, but will the sketch be part of the finished product in any way?  For example, on the back or part of the cert of authenticity or something?  I think it would be interesting to compare the sketch to the final in detail.

benjoshua wrote:
And here it is!

[ Image ]

The "Acaeum" citadel is in the background to the left and outside the cave.  The monster is, as of yet, unnamed.  The fighter is in the middle, the cleric is behind and healing and the magic-user is at the bottom left.  Enjoy! :D

EO did the Dragon 55 cover, and it totally rocks.

kgreene wrote:This might sound odd, but will the sketch be part of the finished product in any way?  For example, on the back or part of the cert of authenticity or something?  I think it would be interesting to compare the sketch to the final in detail.

The sketch is not a part of our plans as of now.  An interesting idea. Thanks for sharing.  The Certificate of Authenticity layout has not been finalized.

smarmy1 wrote:Chris,

I thought there was a distribution list you or Foul created via the Acaeum messaging system for this project.  You could always use that list to broadcast a private message to indicate continued interest in the print.  It may not catch everyone; however, those who have configured their accounts to be notified via email of a new private message will at least be sent notification that a message is waiting.  In particular, this might be a useful method to notify those who do not monitor the threads or are infrequent visitors to the site.

Thanks.

There is indeed a list.  It is now up to date.  I'm working on sending the message.

Finally, after 48 hours we now have 55 people who have said they'll pay and one more to drop out.  It appears that almost everyone on the waiting list can get a print!  Please, help us get the word out to those who have not yet responded.  

I am still in.

Here who has yet to confirm and the countries where we think they reside.  I've heard ExTSR is on a family emergency of some kind in PA.

1. bombadil                        USA
2. Serlean                                USA
3. Rakeesh sah Tarna         (Edit: aka Faro?)       ?
4. AdderMcOne                        USA
5. ExTSR                                USA
6. Rabbit_67               USA
7. johnhuck               UK?                       
8. stumbling tiger                   USA
9. jcp                                USA
10. Busman                        ?
11. Ethesis                                USA?
12. Zenopus76                        USA       
13. silver                                ?               
14. Burntwire Brothers        USA       
15. JiveMiguel                        ?       
16. Kastegir                       ?

If you can help contact them, it would help move things along.  

Looks like even with the small waiting list you may be left with surplus copies.
Let me know if you have surplus prints to shift. I'll take an additional copy if stock permits.

TBH, if I picked up a second copy, it would be for investment purposes. That being the case, the obvious solution from the commitee's point of view would be to stick them on eBay themselves, auction a copy or two at Gencon, that sort of thing.

I think having a wait-wait list was a fair idea considering this was some unseen work. I would not blame anyone from "whining" if they missed something cause they didn't log in here soon enough... that situation was rectified I derived pleasure from reading people "whine" for what it's worth!

I think if there's any "surplus" at this point it's because people simply don't like what they see. This is fair as well. I'm one of those people.

I hope that all the prints get bought up and everyone is happy!

I think this is fine for a personal work. I feel like it's more of a Fantasy Forest type of piece. There's a strong green element in the painting with the green cave and green creatures/wizard and maybe some detail is lost in there with the green on green. It also lacks a spatial element. It feels very overcrowded. The artist has a good sense of space and action in his earlier classic pieces and I think that what happened here is that by forcing the inclusion of that background ACAEUM academy (or whatever it is) cramped up the rest of the work. That's how I would critique the art.
Art is subjective though (extremely so) and I own many pieces that people would think suck balls and that's the way it goes

As far as the committee "work" goes...

It appears that EO did 1 thumbnail sketch (or very rough sketch) and then did a final. I don't see a prelim or anything so I could be wrong... So, he did that and there was a conference call. I'm unaware if more work went into it then that? That's fine and dandy but it appears that the production budget here is $5600. Print costs should be low'ish' (my family runs a printing company so I have a good idea what the prints will cost) and then I assume the rest goes to the artist. + the artist keeps the original to boot (which is more payment $$$). Again, this is fine and dandy as long as everyone is happy  I was thinking maybe those certificates would be printed as well but read that they haven't come to fruition yet. There's also the shipping costs to Badmike and he really will have to do some work. Whether he's compensated for that work I'm unaware and will not comment on that further.

All that being said, I think that somebody was grossly overpaid.
As far as I know from my reading:
1) project is discussed.
2) group is formed to get the project done. I'm unaware how this group was formed and how it was determined who needed to be involved.
3) EO is contacted.
4) Group concedes to EO that he can do whatever he likes to do as long as there's an "Acaeum" incorporated in the artwork. (note that I subscribe to this logic in an individual commission if the budget is LOW and I have little to lose)
5) payment is agreed upon to where the artist gets a considerable amount of $$$ (Brom money mind you) and he keeps the original- AND as far as I understand the site doesn't have rights to the art even?
6) thumbnail sketch is revealed.
7) final is revealed for the very cheap price of $80 USD + shipping and handling + there may be additional costs dependent upon amount of buyers.
I think the committee did a great job of actually getting this thing made! I think the committee succeeded in getting the work made due to gross inflation of the artists market value. Kind of those "yeah, if you win the lottery you can afford to pay me" to some lesser extent. I think the artwork is very marginal. I think that if I was 12 years old I would love the art That's very important of course because most of us are here due to our inner 12 year old... the piece is nowhere near his classic work. My issue with that is he's being paid like it's a classic.

I apologize if I'm too critical. If the end result is a bunch of happy people that's all that matters. I think the committee (or another incarnation) could learn and maybe improve upon this 1st group who got the project completed (which is remarkable in itself...).