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I was always of the opinion that I would never ever go digital. However, a month or so ago I got a cheap tablet and put some comics on it and now I'm about 50/50. Do I prefer having a comic in my hand? Probably yes but with over 12,000 of the buggers plus countess trades, the practicalities of the situation are proving to be big factors.

I've found that getting a con sketch tends to work in one of three ways.

1. The artist takes a list at the start of the day with a fixed number of spots. This can be troublesome as some artists will start a list of only 10 or so spots. If you don't visit them in the first 10 mins of the show it's possible you won't get anything from them.

2. The artist again takes a list but doesn't have a fixed number of open spots. They'll often work on the list overnight if they are there all weekend or just tell you, 'If I have time I'll do it but I can't guarantee it'.

3. The artist doesn't take a list and you have to wait your turn. Sean Phillips and David Aja are examples here. Sean can crank out sketches in about 20 mins and David is about 30 mins. The main difference between these two is that David sketches for free. At Thought Bubble 2011 he only left his table twice each day for about 5 minutes each time. By the end of the weekend he was knackered.

My top tip if you're thinking about getting some sketches at a con is the pre con email. Fire off some emails to the artists you would like to get something from and ask them if they are doing any pre-con sketches that can be collected at the event. If they aren't, they still might do a pre-con list that you can get on. I started doing this recently and it makes the choice of who to visit first at a con that much easier if you know you already have some spots in the bag.

[Chief]

Anyway, well done on all of your art you bagged, Chief. It is all fab. I think I need to take lessons from you in getting round a Comic Con because I pretty much failed to bag anything 

Thanks. It was a strange con. Short queues as most people were there for the film and tv stuff. The Sunday was especially dead in artist's alley and pretty much every artist still had room on their lists for sketches. It did mean that you could stop and chat to them for longer than usual though so for me it was a good thing. My wallet doesn't think so though.

That commission is full of yummy awesomeness. Jealous.

£200!  That's taking the piss!

He had a massive stand with loads of pre done sketches/commissions. There was a coloured A4 Superman piece (no background) that I thought was so-so. I then looked at the price tag. £1500. Ouch.

Some awesome stuff there. But... £50 for a sketch? :-0

£50 is my upper limit for a con sketch. (I've paid a bit more for a pre con sketch. I paid £80 for a Paulo Rivera Deathlok but that was more of a commission to be honest).

Can you believe Neal Adams was charging £200 for a bust sketch! and even worse £20 to get a comic signed. He's the only comic creator I've ever known to charge for signatures.

I can't compete with all this fabulous stuff but here's some bits I picked up at The London Film & Comic Con this month. Check out the non-2000 ad thread for more great swag I got.


I picked up the finished Kev Hopgood commission. He explained that he did a rough pencil sketch, scanned it and digitally inked it. Printed it out and added a grey wash by hand. It's brilliant.


Chris Weston tries out a new pastel style on black paper.


Roger Langridge comes up trumps again with this awesome piece. Check out the small details like the sam shoulder eagle and the SP on piggy's badge.


Steve Baskerville was amazingly cranking out sketches like this for free!

This are from my camera phone and better scans will be put up on CAF.
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=87116

So, just came back from day 2 of the London Film & Comic Con and have some cool swag to show off. Check out the 2000 ad original art thread for lots more sketches I picked up. As usual I was over budget by 11am on day one.


I had to get something from Mike Ploog and opted for a Werewolf by Night. Most people were going for Ghost Rider.


As he was only charging £10 I thought I'd go back and get another one. This time I went for The Spirit.


Roger Langridge is always someone who gets my money and this is a cool Fred the Clown and The Fez piece.


Laurence Campbell with a 5 Ronin sketch.


I umm'd and ahh'd and couldn't decide if I should get a Risso piece. £100 for full figure was out of my price bracket but when I went up to him on the Sunday and asked about his schedule I was shocked that he said he was free for sketches. I ended up getting a headshot for £50 but it's a good un and I didn't know if I 'd ever get another chance to get something from him. Out of interest I provided him with reference for a Dredd sketch but said he'd rather do something else, hence the Viking.


Enemy Ace by Chris Weston


Destro by Geoff Senior


Usagi Yojimbo by Jack Lawrence


Moon Knight by Laurence Campbell


Cobra Commander by Andy Wildman


A Crazy good Mars Attacks piece by Lee Bradley


Iceman by Gabriel Hernandez Walta


Zombie Combat Colin by Lew Stringer


Wilfred by Henry Davies. Context - I had taken some home made cupcakes to give out to artists who did me sketches.

These were taken on my phone but I'll put up some scans on CAF when I get the chance.
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=87116

It's a great piece, you must be well chuffed with it. Was it your own design, or something Kev suggested?

I had this one done originally by Staz Johnson



Basically I gave each artist a list of 10-12 characters and said they could choose whoever they wanted to draw in an identity parade style piece. These are the results. I also have a Ben Willsher one in production.

Very nice and seeing as you are collecting it at LFCC, why not get a picture of yourself being arrested by the Judges, when the exchange goes down

Done

I know they're not 2000 ad characters but thought I'd post this anyway. I had fun doing them.

http://chiefy2shoes.tumblr.com/

Quality.

Thanks. John tweeted yesterday that I won the prize! Not sure what it is but could be a sketch.

So, continuing with my identity parade theme, Kev has just emailed me the finished pen and ink piece (I'll pick it up at the London Film and Comic Con in July). A couple of teasers of the four figures before I post the whole thing.

It might not be on Deviatart but here is Art Adams take on the Dark Judges via Bendis' blog

http://brianmichaelbendis.tumblr.com/post/53994833347/the-dark-judges-by-arthur-adams

I know they're not 2000 ad characters but thought I'd post this anyway. I had fun doing them.

http://chiefy2shoes.tumblr.com/