I'm having a bit of trouble trying to recruit a pixel artist for an independent project (a game); I'm not really sure how much I should expect to pay.

For the record, although this project is small-time, by all measures, the project is being managed by a registered LLC; the artist will be able to work under contract, and not have to worry about getting stiffed.

Also, keep in mind that I am approaching artists individually; this should not be considered an offer. If and when I decide to make a public offer, I will post under a company name in the appropriate forum.

That being said, I'm hoping you guys can help me out in determining how much material I can expect with my limited budget: The initial offer could range from $3000-$5000 USD, with potential for another $3000-$5000 (for additional material, of course) depending on the direction and promise of the project.

I'm also interested to know what kind of influence an offer of royalties on sales (in addition to the above) would have on the amount of material an artist might be willing to contribute, considering the risks of working with a start-up.

I'm not looking for a level of quality at those prices; I'm much more interested in understanding the amount of material I can get at the highest quality.

So you have some idea of the nature of the material I'll need, the project is an side-scrolling beat 'em up at 512x320. I will need level backgrounds, playable characters and enemies (animated), and a splash/menu screen.