I've only been to one convention before, and I had no clue about the etiquette re: asking artists to draw sketches. I asked one chap whose work I was familiar with to draw a Kabuki sketch, instead he drew one of his own characters. How ok is it to ask this? And also, what about artists whose work I've never seen before? "Hey you bub, draw me Batman fighting Wolverine!" or sommat.
― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 23 April 2003 22:42 (twenty-two years ago)
They usually charge, Leee. At big cons, they will make themselves available in fixed places at specified times for sketching, and will make clear whether they will charge and how much. What value you get varies. I sat with Sergio Aragones once. While the guy next to him managed to draw all of Batman's head (yes, a whole head) Sergio had drawn Groo having a fight with a big dragon, with a crowd watching, lettered in a bunch of gags and coloured the whole thing.
If you're paying them, you can ask for what you want, but they'll charge accordingly. If they aren't charging, you can't be too fussy.
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 24 April 2003 10:34 (twenty-two years ago)
Huh, I remembered that no one charged anything when I went to WonderCon last year (so far as I know, possibly excepting Jim Lee, with tons of people in line for him).
― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 24 April 2003 16:32 (twenty-two years ago)
Well, to report, it was bregt. Grebt I mean. I wish I had money, else I'd have gone again today.
When I first got there, didn't really know where to go, Jill Thompson was the main person I knew of who I wanted a sketch from, but me being me, I couldn't find her at first. But I ran into some old class mates at the place who work for a retailer, so chatte with them a bit. One of them knew Ron Lim, and offered to get him to do a free sketch for me. But someone ahead of me in the queue presented Ron Lim with his sketchbook, and I see Hellboy. I exclaim, "Mike Mignola's here?!" The guy sez, "No, Scott Morse did this." "SCOTT MORSE??!?" I bolt, looking for Morse for almost 10 minutes, finally finding him and proceed to geek out. I found out that his Soulwind series is getting compiled into a single book (due out June folx!) and that he and Rucka are doing a longish series on Mt. Everest. Definitely the highlight of my day.
I get a couple more sketches, I'm tired as hell, and I'm trying to find Greg Rucka (I had a backpack full of Rucka trades, probably what caused a pulled muscle in my shoulder). (Last year, I tried looking for him too, to no avail.) "Doesn't look like he's on the floor," I thought, so I decide to head to one of the panels, and "How many great writers can we fit on this panel" seemed interesting. I walk into the room, sit in the back to rest my legs, and there on the end, RUCKA. I had to leave before the discussion was through, but at least I know now for sure what he looks like. YOU ARE MINE NEXT YEAR, RUCKA.
Anyhow, I love the sketches I got, here they are:
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/redhalcyon/lst?.dir=/WonderCon&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/
― Leee (Leee), Sunday, 27 April 2003 23:13 (twenty-two years ago)
It sounds like you had a fantastic time, Leee!
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 28 April 2003 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)