My second day at the Toronto ComiCON 2011 was full of wonderful art acquisitions. The show ran from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and the crowds were a little thinner than Saturday: Hobbystar needs to crank the PR machine into high gear for all their shows other than Fan Expo.
I drove to the show on Sunday so I had two bags of collected editions to get signed by Templeton, Darrow, Pham, McLeod, Sprouse and Gleason. Everyone was very hospitable and courteous about signing; Gleason was the only artist with a specific signing time that day but he was ever the gentleman. Pham and Darrow did quick sketches in my books which is always appreciated.
Darrow is one of those artists who don’t like to sketch at the show so they bring completed pieces for sale. It’s great because you can see what you’re buying: convention sketches can be hit and miss. The funny thing is he does quick sketches in any book you bring him to sign; best of both worlds I guess.
I had spoken to Pham and Sprouse about getting sketches and landed on their lists. Pham was at the table directly behind Comic Book Daily so I had the chance to see him working on all his show commissions: they were all stunning. I requested a Galactus head shot but asked, as always, for the Kirby hand to be included. Wow. Sprouse had me on the last spot of his list and he stayed past the show closing to complete it: greatly appreciated.
Van Sciver and Gleason were sketching but there wasn’t room in the budget; I maintain a list of sketch pricing by artist at my art site. I overheard Van Sciver saying to Gleason he had no pages to sell; he had been selling whole books to collectors for the right price.
This show marked an interesting turn in original art: pages and even covers were going for very low prices, mostly lower than the price of a full body sketch. I had switched to sketches two years ago because page prices had skyrocketed but perhaps that’s finally hit its plateau.
As well I was finally able to pick up a Green Lantern piece Michael Cho had completed for DC last year: he didn’t want to sell until it was published but I believe it was passed over for the Green Lantern Omnibus Volume 1 cover. It’s an amazing gouche painting; very vibrant.
Hey, is that GL by MC the original… or a digital print? I’ve been meaning to commission him to do a triptych of all the tier 1 Marvel characters for me but I’m what they call “comic rich, cash poor” these days. Really love his stuff: http://chodrawings.blogspot.com/
Hey Scott… here’s an idea for you. CBD art show! I don’t usually attend cons but I’d make an effort to go to an art show. I’ll even contribute a few pieces for the show, framed and ready to show off. $20 bucks a head to cover the venue, chardonnay, crackers, some smelly cheese… etc. Not a lot of comic art shows around… maybe run it by the AGO or some of the galleries at 80 Spadina as pop art or pulp culture with the usual “social commentary… blah, blah, blah” concept. Love looking at original (good) art!
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Original art only for me. I started long ago collecting prints and portfolios but moved into originals about seven years ago; check out my collection.
That’s an interesting idea, and one that quite a few people have discussed doing similar things with. I’ve set up at and attended a few gallery shows in my years and the problem is finding enough people to pay to cover your costs. Over the years a few people have organized comic art collector gatherings, and I’d personally love to see more public versions of these events occur where collectors can show off and swap or sell pieces with one another.
Sweet collection Scott. Love Darwyn Cooke as well (viva la Canada!). Original art is the way to go. I shake my head when ever I see people buying or selling high priced colour copies…
Instant art show at Scotts place, bring your own cheese…
Here’s a beautiful DKR page from FM up for sale.
No shading, all line work… but see how the thicker lines suggest the glow of the city from down below. Their action caught at the height of their leap… still feels like they are in motion… like a tennis ball at it’s peak just before gravity and momentum pulls it down and forward. Only if I had a $100,000…
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