Con Sketches

jasong888 · 05-09-2011, 12:02 PM

Hey all,
What's the best way to ask these comic book artists, who may not be doing commission work, to draw a sketch/commission for you? Is it best to bring your own paper, book, etc. that you want them to draw on or would they have their own stuff?

Mean Green · 05-09-2011, 12:04 PM

I've only been to a couple so my knowlege is limited. I'll defer to the specialists here (who I've found to be more than helpful

)

Only thing I can offer: I would go with your own paper and reference material. Never hurts to be prepared. The artists will most likely have their own paper but if you want something uniform to all your other pieces, it helps to bring your own. You also don't want to go all that way and find that the artist needed ref to draw your character and you're forced to change your request or accept something less than accurate.

jasong888 · 05-09-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Green

I've only been to a couple so my knowlege is limited. I'll defer to the specialists here (who I've found to be more than helpful

)

Only thing I can offer: I would go with your own paper and reference material. Never hurts to be prepared. The artists will most likely have their own paper but if you want something uniform to all your other pieces, it helps to bring your own. You also don't want to go all that way and find that the artist needed ref to draw your character and you're forced to change your request or accept something less than accurate.

Thanks for the insight Green. The artist I want to get a sketch piece from is J. Scott Campbell. He is one of my all-time favorite artists. Hopefully he won't be too busy at the phoenix comic con and can do a few pieces for the fans. I don't think there's been a piece he did that I didn't appreciate. I several of his art prints which are mostly 13x19. So I guess if I wanted something to match the rest of the prints, I should go out and get something similar. Should I bring some markers and such too, you think?

Is it better to compliment them on their work and then possibly ask for a sketch or just cut straight to the chase and see if they could do a quick sketch?

Mean Green · 05-09-2011, 01:12 PM

Oh, J Scott Campbell probably won't do anything on 13x19... lol. His bust sketches run $300 a pop I think? Check the artists' rates thread to be sure.

You won't have to bring markers or anything; they all have their own stuff if they're sketching.

jasong888 · 05-09-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Oh, J Scott Campbell probably won't do anything on 13x19... lol. His bust sketches run $300 a pop I think? Check the artists' rates thread to be sure.

You won't have to bring markers or anything; they all have their own stuff if they're sketching.

Dang $300? There's an artists' rate thread?

I guess sketches aren't free anymore, huh?

Mean Green · 05-09-2011, 04:22 PM

Probably not from big name artists like Campbell... signatures are still free though

jasong888 · 05-10-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Probably not from big name artists like Campbell... signatures are still free though

trust me...i've got a LOT of JSC autographed stuff

i'm ready for the next level of original art now. i just don't know how to go about it without having to pay too much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Sam · 06-14-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Probably not from big name artists like Campbell... signatures are still free though

Not if you're in Neal Adams' line they ain't. $5 per item to be signed on Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday.

mwf6171 · 06-14-2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam

Not if you're in Neal Adams' line they ain't. $5 per item to be signed on Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday.

I saw that at Heroes. I was going to have him sign the program book, but when I saw that he was charging for his signature, I got out of line. Wasn't worth $5 to me.

Sam · 06-14-2011, 02:12 AM

My brother had my hardcover Green Lantern/Green Arrow and paid the $5. Had I known beforehand, I would have told him to nevermind. I don't have a problem paying for his art (and did pay for the sketch he did on my GL Jam) but I draw the line at paying for signatures. They said it was because people would bring their hoards of stuff otherwise. You can deal with that by restricting the number of items you will sign per person. I've been meeting authors, artists, and celebrities for more than 15 years now and I have seen those that will only sign promotional materials, the last book that was published, and everything their fans want to bring. I even saw one fan bring a literal shopping cart full of paperback books to be signed by an author who didn't have that many novels in print. But I have only seen one or two that charged for signatures, and every time I have felt it was for the money, not to keep fans from bringing too much stuff.

Even if you will only sign the FIRST book free and charge for subsequent books, you're still signing for the real fans.

On a side note, I have seen many instances at conventions where celebrities sold their autographs, but they also sold pictures and other merchandise with the signature coming with any purchase for free. Oh, and they often signed the convention program for free as well.