alxjhnsn

I keep a list because I'm forgetful. Well, two lists - stretch goals that seem unlikely and goals that might be possible.

Alex Comic Art Want List (Stretch Goals)

• Swan/Klein Superman or LSH page
• Shuster Superman
• Kirby Thor or New Gods page
• Marshall Rogers Detective (Batman) page from his wonderful run with Steve Englehart and Terry Austin
• Sprang Batman
• Everett Sub-Mariner page
• Mayer Scribbly page (if there are any; I saw one once, but couldn't buy it. )

On the possible horizon are:

• Swanderson Superman page
• Aparo B&B page (art and letters by Jim)
• Steve Ditko Creeper

Special cases:

• The splash to JLA 29 (1st series) or the cover, but I'd prefer the splash.
• Cover to The Official Legion of Super-Heroes Index #1. The cover to #2 would work, but it's in David Mandel's collection and I doubt that I could pry it loose.

I can't afford any of these, but ...

Comic Strips

• Skippy strip by Percy Crosby [Never seen one for sale.  ]
• Peanuts by Charles Schulz [Just takes money.  ]
• Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson [Fakes available, but unless I rob the Billy Ireland, won't happen.  ]
• Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson [There are a few in the wild.]

There are a number of other pages and strips of interest, but they are less hard to get.

On 11/8/2019 at 10:49 AM, Unstoppablejayd said:

Scott- it is!! Part of the reason I finally popped on this (I actually think I asked your opinion on another medium)  was the story behind it and now the video is the cherry on top! After watching it there originally was a tiny wolverine in the background and I found the ghost of it now lol. Maybe I can get him to add it back in in the future! 

I saw the Wolverine in the brief part of the video that I watched and I wondered where he went. Did Jim say why he removed him?

Of course, if he was smart, he'd stay out of that battle anyway.

20 hours ago, AJCohen said:

Wow thanks David! This is referenced in the same piece as the two I am discussing and he is quoted as saying “four pages of full color.”

Does anyone have copies of the published pieces or were they never published? It is crazy to look at the two pieces you linked coming up and to think they may have gone with these two pieces.

You might talk to J. David Spurlock. He's the executor of the estate. Here's his Facebook page; he's quite active on FB. Here's the contact page on his publishing company website. This is where I'd start.

+1 one on both Metropolis Gallery and Anthony Both have physical places to visit. 

I doubt that there is anything in this auction that I could afford, but lots that I'd like to look at.

As a reminder of the kind of things that they do, I offer this write-up. Click where it says "alxjhnsn replied to a topic."

43 minutes ago, PhilipB2k17 said:

That seems a quite high to me. It's a great splash, no doubt. But, of an obscure character. This kind of art is for niche collectors. Michael Finn might be able to give you an idea of its value. Golden Age art is his primary  focus. https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerydetail.asp?gcat=9834

Really good suggestion to contact Michael.

My collection makes me happy, but there's always something being created that I'd enjoy adding. There are, of course, older things that I'd enjoy as well.

The worst commission I ever received was exactly what I asked for it to be. I should have given the artist more room to play. I've learned that lesson.

Other than that, I've had great luck. Here are a few (horizontal, color). Click the image to see them all on the CAF.

Kathy and I attended Baltimore Comic Con and returned with two new pieces of art:

• Sea Sirens pg 68 by Janet Lee
• Blacksad and Kitties by Andy Price
   

The first is a page from Sea Sirens (A Trot and Cap'n Bill Story) by Amy Chu (words) and Janet Lee (art). The book is beautiful and the story is sweet - a girl, her cat, and her granddad take a Little Nemo like adventure.

I recommend it and will put a link to it in the comments though I'm sure you can get it at your Local Comic Shop or bookstore.

One other comment, lots of people say that there are no comics for kids. It's just not true. I will agree that they are generally not packaged in 32 page floppy magazines, but there are some truly wonderful stories told with sequential pictures and dialog. This is one, but there are so many more including books by Ben Hatke, Mike Maihack, Raina Telgemeier's Comics, Faith Erin Hicks, Andy Runton, The OFFICIAL Jeff Smith page, Thomas Zahler, and so many, many more. Most can be enjoyed by folks of any age. 

 

Check the page out here: https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1586023 or click the image.

 

The second piece was intended for the con's yearbook. The theme this year was the character John Blacksad, a hardboiled noir detective living in an anthropomorphic world. From the Baltimore Comic Con site, there is this description:

"This film noir-style series follows John Blacksad through stories set in late 1950s, reflecting a dirty, realist outlook and a dark cinematic style through fairly clean, realistic lines. The series’ art features detailed watercolor drawings, including real-life places and cities, which contribute to the realistic feel of the series. Blacksad is a private investigator whose cases entail researching murders, child abductions, and nuclear secrets. Guarnido’s painted art and rich cinematic style bring 1950s America to life on the page of his books, and Canales’ storytelling of conspiracy, racial tension, and the “red scare” Communist witch hunts of the era make for compelling storytelling. Guarnido’s anthropomorphism in Blacksad is unique."
The art from the yearbook is sold at auction and the proceeds are shared, as I understand it, between the artists and charity.

Andy Price's published piece in the yearbook was a commission so it could not be sold at the auction. This one was offered in its place and it amuses me greatly. Read more about it here: https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1586072

8 hours ago, MrBedrock said:

These are great, Richard!

From Huck by Millar and Albuquerque, we have Huck waking to find his life changed forever. I love the expression on his face when he sees what is happening in his front yard. Click on the image to learn more.

Brace yourself for a real DPS unlike any you have ever seen. Not for sensitive people so I put it in the spoiler. It is work safe, however. 
 

Now, open the spoiler and steel yourself for the ultimate thrill.  
 

On 10/6/2019 at 8:36 PM, alxjhnsn said:

Mike Garland has been the colorist on a number of Nick Pitarra's projects. Add one more to their list.

 

Oh, and Mike just fixed my avatar. Enjoy.

I recently started using Microsoft Lens as well as CamScanner (I have the pro-version). I think CamScanner does a better job with colors than Microsoft Lens, but I find MS Lens simpler to use especially for exporting images to my Photos archive on my iPhone. It is free without ads.

Yes, CamScanner for Android had cyber-security issues (since corrected), but the iOs/iPhone version did not.

I have a TPS from the wonderful book, Huck, by Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque. It's quite a tale of a simple farmboy gifted with abilities beyond those of mortal men who spends his days doing good deeds privately until he is outed. I wish there were more.

These are the last three pages of the first issue. Starts off as a normal day, but then...

Click to embiggen.

Justice Society of America 11 pg 4-5 (JSA, JLA, Kingdom Come Superman) by Dale Eaglesham (p) and Ruy José (i)

The JSA, the JLA, and Kingdom Come Superman on two pages. I just wish the head shots were included. For this fan of DC comics, it doesn't get much better. I really liked Dale's work on this series.

Click to read all about it and get a bigger image.

14 minutes ago, vodou said:

Age old question: what are today's 12 year olds reading?

Not old fogeys living in the past and re-purchasing same old in ever more expensive and permanent formats, no, 12 year olds that will be around for a while yet.

They are reading:

• Raina Telgemeier - Guts (#1 on NYT graphic novel list), Drama, Smile, Ghosts, etc.
• Ben Hatke - Zita the Spacegirl series, Little Robot, Mighty Jack series
• Mike Maihack - Cleopatra in Space series
• Faith Erin Hicks - The Nameless City series
• Art Baltazar and Franco - Superman of Smallville & too many others to mention
• Jeff Smith's Bone
• and so many more

We live in the age of great reprints and wonderful new books. I read and enjoy all of the above - I'm sixty-three, but good stories are good stories.

11 hours ago, Stefanomjr said:

I'd wanted a great example of Cordelia from The Magic Order by Olivier Coipel

 

That was a fun book. Congratulations.

Coloring commission from Mike Garland, Nick Pitarra's designated colorist. Here you see Nick's original and Mike's digitally colored version. Click to read all about it.

Mike Garland has been the colorist on a number of Nick Pitarra's projects. Add one more to their list.

15 hours ago, Ricksneatstuff said:

Picked up this great Don Rosa page from the Uncle Scrooge “Incredible Shrinking Tightwad” Story at a little con in my hometown. Pretty happy about it  

If you would like to take better art pictures on your phone, I can recommend Microsoft Lens (free) and CamScanner (free option). Both will allow you to square the photograph.

Matthew Clark does a lot of layouts for jams. I was very happy with mine. Click his name to go to his Facebook page.

22 minutes ago, Webhead2018 said:

Well I am ideally probably just going with all head sketches to maybe bust level. But ya I thinking I may box it out so I know each area be for this character and what not. I was thinking going 9 per side. So then it gives me 18 characters to work on getting probably for awhile. Counting on budget and what artists will be attending shows I plan to go too. I was thinking if I do 9 per side maybe 8 boxes per side be the head/bust side. And 1 per side be a larger box for maybe a full body for 1 character. But like I said I have no other shows I am going to this year. So I got over 6 months to settle on my plans.

Another thought.
Contact an artist, e.g., Matthew Clark, about doing a layout that other artists can use to base their contribution. It can make for a more dynamic scene and reduce the time for the artists that are completing it - which might lead to a lower cost per figure.

I did this with a Sgt. Rock jam and the figures weren't terribly expensive and everyone praised the layout.

+1 on adding prices. I won't ask.