I was contacted by Upper Deck Company Entertainment to illustrate a mark they could use on a card game for 'World of Warcraft' the mark they wanted was a two headed eagle. In all I did 3-4 incarnations. The character was based on a part of the game apparently and the creature had antlers as well which are not shown in this version.
The mark incarnations I created also contained an eye on the chest with flames above and below. I've worked with this art director before and he's excellent. I feel the problem in this creative pursuit was the classic 'too many chefs in the kitchen.' It's hard to gauge perception and feedback when each stage of the project seems to contradict the original brief and the previous feedback and suggestions.
Years ago I remember a marketing person coming up to me and deciding he was going to play art director and saying "I think what we are looking for is a post modern edgy retro feel!" Well I have never bothered to learn how to speak psycho-babble so I just responded "What does that mean?" He just looked at me not sure what to say. In essence I couldn't get a radar fix on what his or any other marketing weasels expectation was.
This project felt like that. I'd get some very nebulous feedback along the way and it felt like I was shooting in the dark hoping it would hit the mark. In the end I felt like I struck out and that really bugs me. Doesn't happen often but when it does I have a hard time shaking it off and stepping up to the plate. (Yes I like baseball analogies thank you)
This version never made it past a pencil rough I scanned in and emailed for consideration. They pretty much wrote it off immediately even-though I felt it had some good solid potential. So as not to feel like a complete loss creatively speaking I took that sketch and refined it and then did the finished work for no other reason then to show myself what it would have looked like fleshed out fully. Personally I didn't like the eye or flames which looked kind of corn-ball so I removed those and simplified the art.
Thus you have the bird that didn't soar.
PS: Years ago when I had my yearly review with my then boss and art director I remember him telling me "Von you can't be so married to your artwork." Now looking back and fully understanding his business, how he worked and trying to interpret that statement now I know it was his way of saying "You have to allow me to control it." At the time I thought that is what he might have meant but the statement even if not meant that way bugged me.
I feel like I am not being honest with myself or investing the needed part of 'me' in my art if I don't feel attached to it. I am not a short order cook. Order up! One logo with a side order of identity. Heres your art and I move on to the next order taken. Part of what I like about what I do is being passionate about it, investing my interest and drive into something and seeing it through. I am reminded every so often that just isn't always possible when you have too many people who are non-creatives deciding to play the part and wanting to treat design as a creative ala carte.
Maybe I could change my name to 'Greasy Spoon Graphics'? Ok I need to go check and see if that domain is available.....
