How I wish I had been able to get to the Baltimore Comic-con this year and get to the Superman panel or at least find the new creative team and chat with them! While I wasn't able to go, I was able to go to a local show yesterday up here in Boston.
The Boston Comic Book and Pop Culture Spectacular is a small one-day show here and is organized about 3 or 4 times a year. The dealers remain fairly constant, so I usually only go if anyone of note is going to be a guest.
The show will often get 1 or 2 creators a year that are really worth trying to see. In the past I have met Denny O'Neil, Norm Breyfogle, Cliff Chiang, Rick Leonardi, and some others.
Yesterday's big name was Ethan Van Sciver of Green Lantern (and soon Flash) fame. I love Van Sciver's detailed art.
I will also say that living legend inker Murphy Anderson was also a guest there too. I love meeting the old time creators.
As I said, I am a big fan of Van Sciver's work and think he draws beautiful women. In particular I have been impressed with his Pheonix and Wonder Woman renditions.
So I went early to get in line to have some books signed and to grab a commission sketch. Luckily, I was first in line and was able to get a solid head shot commission. I like how he put tiny s-shield earrings on her. The commission is at the top of the post.
So yet another piece to my ever growing collection to be displayed on the wall of fame. I also bought a bunch of back issues, so all in all it was a great day!
Very cool commission!
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with the art work of Ethan Van Sciver so I did a little searching around to see what I could find...
I saw his cover for World War III Part 2 The Valiant. His Kara looked fantastic! Clearly the cover shows her in a tough situation, but Van Sciver also shows Kara's determination and strength to overcome it.
I also read this interview:
http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006576
I really liked his comments about how Supergirl should not be sexualized, the type of characters who can appeal to young women readers, and about what good cheesecake art should be.
I love how in your commision Kara looks so wonderfully cute, kind, fun, and like a hero! You can tell she is full of joy about being a hero!
John M said...
ReplyDeleteI love how in your commision Kara looks so wonderfully cute, kind, fun, and like a hero! You can tell she is full of joy about being a hero!
Dude, my sentiments EXACTLY ah! :D
John M said...
ReplyDeleteI love how in your commision Kara looks so wonderfully cute, kind, fun, and like a hero! You can tell she is full of joy about being a hero!
Dude, my sentiments EXACTLY ah! :D
Thanks for the kind words. I really like it too. She does have a joyful expression and exudes energy.
Van Sciver was a really great guy too!
mhunt said:
ReplyDeleteThat's a good commission, you know, it's not that hard to find some of those artist on the web. I once got in contact with Bruce Timm and of course, I wanted a drawing.. $500
ouch !
nope, didn't ordered.
The quest for commissions depends on your money and patience and the artists availability.
If you contact via email or through an agency, the cost can be quite high. So a Timm piece for $500 sounds about right. Because the artist has time to do the commission, it is often of very high quality.
But since the commission becomes another free-lance job for the artist, it can be bumped for work on issues or until the muse hits.
That's where your patience and money comes into play. For example, a friend of mine has been waiting over a year for 2 high price commissions to be finished. He already paid the artists around $500 a piece. He has much much more patience than me.
I usually go for the convention commission instead. Sure it won't be as detailed. But it will be cheaper (con commissions are usually around $100). And you know it will be done before the convention ends ... instant gratification!
Other things I have learned about conventions sketches.
1) Always make a list of who you are targeting for commissions, get to the conventions early, and head straight to those artists' tables. Artists usually have a set number of pieces they feel they can finish during the convention and make a list of names. Sketch lists can fill quickly. At a con like Baltimore, some lists filled within the first 15 minutes!
2) Always bring a pad of paper or a sketch book in case the artist hasn't brought any. I recommend Strathmore bristol board, both 9x12 and 11x14. If not, your commission might end up on a comic backing board.
3) Bring 'resource material', a comic or pics which showcase the character you want in the costume you like.
I have a sheet of Supergirl pics in the Matrix costume in a variety of angles.
wow anj! Much obliged for sharing all of that there kind info pertaining to this all mate! :)
ReplyDelete