When it comes to commissions, I consider myself a late bloomer.
Being a without liquid assets for much of my early life, and being in a place remote from conventions for a long time, I will be honest that I hadn't even heard of commissions before the early 2000's. When I moved to my current locale, I was suddenly able to attend a bunch of small, humble conventions where artists were going to be guests.
In 2005, I purchased my first commission ... this Supergirl commission by artist Mark Texeira. Suffice it to say, I was not prepared. I had no bristol board or sketch book. It is on the back of a comic backing board. I had no resource material. I had to run to a dealer to buy a Supergirl comic to give Texeira so he could see the costume I wanted.
I got this great piece. Sure, she has an impossible female figure. But the face is soo perfect, smiling and upbeat and cute. And it really was a representation with the costume elements I love about the Matrix version, the pointed sleeves, the pleated skirt, shape of the belt.
Suffice it to say, I was hooked.
I have been asked in the past to write about my convention commission preparation and I don't know if it is worth it. But if I knew then what I do now, I probably would have a slicker collection.
Texeira has been around for a while. At the time, I loved his Birds of Prey covers and that was what led me to his table that day.
That was over 50 commissions ago!
2 comments:
Wound, salted. Mark Texeira was the artist I most wanted to come to Comicpalooza 2013, and he was instead the first to cancel, months ago. The con was a disappointment in large part because my hopes were set too high too early by his announcement, and never recovered. He's a lifelong favorite, one of the first artists I actively followed (even if I didn't immediately realize I bought books specifically because he drew them.) Where many past favorites have fallen out of favor, I still love staring at his feisty art.
This piece is so lovely, I can't believe it's squeezed onto a backer board. You lucky S.O.B.
For the record, my first sketch was by Phil Jimenez, of Wonder Woman. I was utterly clueless, and similarly got it done on the board of a back issue I had handy. On the one hand it was free, on the other hand it was boring, and a reminder of my stupidity. I sold it cheap through my shop, and about a decade later, finally got into the commission game proper like.
That piece is just GORGEOUS!!!
You're SUCH a lucky guy to get that one! :D
I'm heading to NYCC, this October & I plan on getting as many Linda Danvers/Matrix Supergirl outfit pieces as I can. 😉
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