Eric Seffinga

Either that, or I joined earlier than I think and just didn't post any work until June of 2007, and am dumb for not remembering that. I just checked stats and looks like I actually joined in 2005 some time... started posting in 2007. Ah well...

I'm 89,824, and I joined in 12'. I think its pretty impressive tat in just those two years membership nearly doubled. Its probably over 100k at this point. I joined in December and I'm 109659. So yes. Damn, over 100,000 people have joined since I became CAF member #74 in early 2003. I think the leaps in membership numbers, especially post 2008 is fascinating. So, I resisted joining CAF longer than most old timers. I too, once had a website for some of my art collection. Specifically the theme collection I was growing for a time. But then I dumped my website after 9/11 for unrelated reasons, and I just went full art hermet. I wasn't buying any art, and I wasn't sharing anything from my collection. I was aware that CAF existed, but I wasn't so keen on people knowing what I had. A friend of mine had been after me to put up at least part of my collection on CAF for a number of years, extolling it's virtues, and telling me the connections I could make were worth it. I finally went along with it in the summer of 2007. I'm number 7723. So CAF went from nothing in 2003, and in 4 years it crept up to 7000's by mid 2007. But then to see how much it ballooned with 47,500 in 2010, and 90,000 in 2012. But since then it's looking like the numbers have slowed down, only adding roughly 20K members the last 3 years. The reason I find that post-2008 date so fascinating is that it coincided with the big economic slowdown. Probably just coincidence, but interesting to see how the two intersected.

Finally finished the second one. These are so great, and much of the conversation finds me feeling odd pangs of nostalgia for those 90s years, when I was chasing art by phone, early emails and yes, even faxes. Waiting on xerox end catalogs to arrive in the mail, and scouring things like CBG for ads or classifieds mentioning OA. Don't often have cause to get all reflective like that, but these interviews have brought those days flooding back.

Neat pages. His art reminds me a little bit of Jason Shawn Alexander's work on Dead Irons from a few years back. Werewolves, ghosts, vampires, western. The story was ok, but the art was amazing. Give it a look, you might dig it.

This is great, Felix.

Yeah, I saw that one some time back, but remember enjoying it as well.

First teaser trailer up...

is there an explanation for that triangle? Surely it must mean something?

Charles did a lovely pencil drawing for me one year at Small Press Expo. What a lovely guy to talk to and watch draw. And super clean drawing, even in pencil. The Burns quality was there.

Marwencol is very good.

I adore documentaries. So much so, I forget sometimes where I've seen them, but a few off the top of my head that should be or were on Netflix. By art, some of these are different disciplines than painting or drawing. Universal interest: Drew: Man behind the Poster Art of the Steal I figure most have seen this by now, but it' really worthwhile. Exit Through the Gift Shop Because it's hilarious. The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa Not because it's particularly good, but because of the context it gives to the history of art and it's perceived values. Far Out isn't Far Enough: The Tomi ungerer Story A bit more of a stretch for some... Gerhard Richter: Painting This won't appeal to a lot of folks, but I enjoyed it. I'm also a huge fan of his less abstract pieces because he really can paint his off, beyond just the abstract work. Herb & Dorothy Want to talk about art collector stories... Bill Cunningham: New York Especially of interest to people who follow photography I suppose. I liked it. Beauty is Embarassing If you aren't familiar with Wayne White, now you are. I found it creatively inspirational, but again it's a personal thing. Eames: The architect and the Painter Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child In the Realms of the Unreal Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters Herblock

I found it and him, very investing. Especially as a casual fan in my teens who know little to nothing about the actual man, but owned both necronomicon books, and had seen articles about his work outside of just painting. It had an overtone of sadness to it that was not entirely unexpected.

Miracles do come true?

How high did it go (roughly?)

Or Christmas is coming and folks are taking it easy, so you'll catch a break and walk away a stud...

The only thing I see that goes against all that is the comparisons are being made of a prelim against finished pieces. The lack of blending, the cut corners, hastily unattended areas could just be the nature of it being a prelim, could it not? The only true comparison that makes any sense here would be of this piece against a stack of other prelims, correct? I'm no expert, but I would expect someone knowledgeable with Barks' brush work specifically in regards to his other loose prelim work would be able to say fairly definitively what's what, though it might require actually laying eyes on it. A persons signature painting technique is pretty hard to forge. As much or moreso than a signature, when experts are involved. My somewhat uneducated .02¢

Thank you so much for taking the time to put all this down and let all of us read it. As you have said, it is meeting the great and generous people in this hobby that really makes it special. And it is threads like this one that make all the one liner snarky jokes, and goofy gifs worth sifting through. Your wonderment and love of the medium shines as brightly as the vibrant colors of the books you hold in the photos. What a wonderful tale and experience... for all of us.

funny.

I heard back the scoop yesterday right after I posted. He is working mostly digital, but that piece is 100% physical art. It was indicated that it probably has an owner already though.

Oh, I was there during the opening of hundreds of packs. As I said, my friends/coworkers were heavily into this for many years. They had "Magic" nights once a week. I used to sit around during lunch breaks when we'd go to comic/card shops so I could look at books and they'd shop for the latest series cards. I'd listen to the banter as they whooped or groaned, or just silently sifted through the packs as they opened them. Listened to them work out occasional trades. Etc and so on. And I eventually got them to let me see what they got each time, so I flip through and look at the art to see how many people I knew personally had work in them. It was a weekly ritual at the office. Really good times that I look back on very fondly.

Oh, I definitely get that! The prices for those McSpidey covers? Bleah! I kid, McSpidey fans. Sorta. But yeah, I get it. Just didn't know how harshly those rules applied to the MTG cards vs comics, and what the contrast is like. Pricing on a gradient, or more severe? But yeah, the more beloved or groundbreaking the series, the more interest people have in wanting a piece = the more $ irregardless of how it looks. Which always makes me kinda sad, but we don't need to go there again.

So this is probably a dumb question, but is it truly a case of awesome card for game play but blah art can = $$$$$$ Lousy playing card with amazing art can = $$$ Probably obvious to others, but at the risk of picking up from yesterday, I find that a curiosity. It's probably already been addressed in the thread. I'll go back and re-read it.

No sweat. I've reached out. I'll shoot you a PM when I hear back.

It's been ages since I bought anything of Brian's. Probably back when Mitch was repping him. But I can check on it with Brian if you're seriously interested.

I just spit water all over my screen.... thanks!