I'm a software developer through and through. A relatively decent one, I think, with 20 years of professional experience, mostly with C++. I'm also a writer with two published books and I have decades of experience as a DM for pen and paper RPGs. I even have some sound editing, producing and voice acting experience from a podcast I used to work for. But art? Seriously, art is totally beyond me. Everything I draw, on paper or at a pc, looks like it is done by a six year old. A six year old with very limited talent. I just don't have the eye for it.
I have a list of games I would love to make and I'm pretty sure I can pull the programming and writing side of it off, but I feel I really need an artist to hop on board. But game development is just a hobby for me and I don't think I'll ever make any significant money from it, so I can't really offer any advance payment (I would willingly share any profits made later, though, of course). I hope more for someone who wants to join me as an equal partner and develop the art style for the game together with me from scratch. Where would I go to look for someone like that? Are there forums, Facebook groups or the like where aspiring game artists hang out? Is it even ethical to ask an artist to work basically for free?

    Disclaimer

    1. Everything I say is my personal opinion.
    2. I use a translator, so some terms may not be translated correctly.

    Capella Everything I draw, on paper or at a pc, looks like it is done by a six year old.

    You don't have to draw by hand. There are enough 3D-graphics programs nowadays that make it much easier to create game content.

    Is it even ethical to ask an artist to work basically for free?

    "Asking", i.e. asking a specific person for free labor, is not quite ethical in my opinion. But offer (for everyone, in general) — quite acceptable. And if a person agrees — it will be his voluntary choice. However, we can try… You can join me in the project, on the terms you have stated. I'm going to start by creating a character generator for Godot. A C++ programmer would be very useful for the project. And you could use the developments of this project in your own games.

      I think you could look at multiple places (here being one of them). But also checking out more artist-based platforms such as Artstation and Behance would be a good idea. The only thing I would do before approaching anyone is flesh out the idea into a concept first. So when you approach someone you can "sell" them the project. Especially if you are approaching people that you don't have an established relationship with.

      If it's ethical? Yeah, as long as you can come up with a fair deal where you both gain from it, you wouldn't be asking the person to work for free, more that you are asking for a partner where you both share the risk and rewards. But I would also make sure to communicate and agree on all terms and roles in the project before.

      Capella Hit up Art Threads (or rather, the artist scene on Threads). You'd be surprised.

      If you're also doing casual/hobby development, plenty of artists offer free resources on Itch.io and only ask for crediting. That will also give you an idea of who you like to work with.

        a year later

        it's easier to get artists if you have can show a functional demo, but easier to get non-artists if you can show you have an art direction so it won't be programmer art in the end

        the further you can get alone the better, because people are more likely to be interested in a project that looks like it can succeed