Gold star/bitter taste experiences with artists

Solstrom · 01-26-2009, 03:16 PM

Friends, as con season begins to approach, I thought it might be a good time to share positive or negative con/sketch/commission experiences you've had with a particular artist. Highlight the good guys/gals and use a bad experience as a warning to others.
Let's face it, at the end of the day, we're the consumers, and we've got to stick together.

So I'll start....
Big thumbs up to Humberto Ramos. I can't recommend him enough for a commission. I worked with him on a commission last year. He, and his wife, could not have been nicer or better to work with.

Big thumbs up to Joe Linsner. Another artist who's just great to work with, along with being an all-around great guy. He even dropped me an email saying the artwork had just been sent out and to watch for it.

Thumbs down - there's already an EVS thread right now that should serve as a warning to people about him (feel for ya Monster).

So who else wants to share....

**MONSTER** · 01-26-2009, 03:27 PM

Back on the EVS subject. If you want something from him at a show and he'll do it there, I'd say go for it. The only thing I would not do is pay him to do a commission at home. That's where things went south for me.

My recommendations for convention pieces:

Marko Djurdjevic-super talented and does amazing penciled commissions that will blow your mind. Hell of a nice guy too.

Lee Bermejo-Another amazingly talented and nice guy who does fantastic penciled and inked commissions.

Tim Sale-My alltime favorite. Love the guy.

David Finch-Another amazing talent that does not disappoint when it comes to commissions.

IronFist · 01-26-2009, 03:39 PM

The only thumbs down experience I've had was with a small time artist who, as far as I know, has faded into obscurity.

Thumbs up: Mike Oeming made an impression on me when I met him. His con sketches are (or were at the time) very fast, simple head sketches. But he more than made up for it with pricing on his original pages, and because I hadn't read the miniseries he had worked on at the time, he handed me the complete 4-issue series off of his table, gratis.

Underdog07 · 01-26-2009, 03:57 PM

Not a thumbs down but a word of caution: when dealing with charity groups that host artists be sure to find out the exact level of detail that you will be getting from any artists doing sketches for their organization.

I am not saying to avoid, and I myself will not avoid any of these groups, just be sure to find out what you will be getting for your money.

punisher129 · 01-26-2009, 05:44 PM

Ernie Chan and Whilce Portacio get two thumbs up from me

---PUNISHER KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE----

Fat Head · 01-26-2009, 05:46 PM

These are artists I absolutely recommend, hands down, my experience with them was outstanding.

Convention Sketches:
Oliver Nome
Eric Basaldua
Stephane Roux
David Quiles
David Nakayama
Paolo Rivera
Tim Sale

Arranged (in-person or online) Commissions:
Nick Bradshaw
Mike S. Miller
Chris Uminga
Comfort Love
Marcus To
Gene Gonzales
Carlo Barberi

I've really only had two sour experiences, one was just a purchase of some already finished art, the other was a commission. I won't mention their names here though, because both of them took care of me in the end and I was happy with the outcome, even if the journey there sucked.

dagouch17 · 01-26-2009, 08:18 PM

I'll have to agree with most of the people on here but i'll a few more.

Mike Zeck. This guys is a true professional.

Jimmy Cheung. He rarely does take home pieces but his con sketches/commission are amazing.

John Byrne. Say what you want about the man but he's professional when it comes to setting up the piece and the wait time is pretty quick.

khazano · 01-26-2009, 08:37 PM

I havent done many... But... Jonboy Meyers turned around a cover quality commission for me in two weeks...

Argonus · 01-26-2009, 08:40 PM

Huge thumbs up for Aaron Lopresti, who contacts you as promptly as you contact him via email.. if you leave him email sometime during the day, by the next morning he'll have responded.

Plus, he's a great person to engage IN person... and doesn't charge you for work unless A. you're happy with the finished product, and B. he's DONE with the commission and ready to ship it to you.