Figuring out a theme was really key for me, but I kind of got lucky... The first commission I ever purchased was from Riley Rossmo... I tossed him a few ideas, and he picked up on having the Proof characters in a band. Commission came out fantastic, and he ended up using it on the back cover as a promo-ad. (http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=773218&GSub=32098)
That was the only piece I had for a long time until I finally got it framed and it looked lonely... So I got Jim Lawson to do the same theme with the TMNT, which I love... (http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=773208&GSub=32098)
I now have Joe Staton working on a commission with E-Man and Nova Kaine in a band a la The Kills... can't wait to keep adding to the collection. Having a theme makes it so much easier and more fun.
Problem is that I can't think of where to go next... I had a Daredevil request into Gene Colan :( Erik Larsen doesn't do commissions, Sergio is hard to get, Sakai doesn't do commissions... tried contacting Matt Wagner, but no luck so far. *sigh*
Totally cool. Are you into music? I only ask because if you were, then that'd make for one heck of a theme, blending two of your favorite things, music and comics.
I collect Damsel in Distress covers when I buy comics. I just have always liked the idea of the hero saving the pretty girl. It's the romantic in me maybe. Or maybe the fact that I couldn't get the girls when I was younger, so I wanted my heroes doing what I couldn't. Maybe I should include something like that in a theme I come up with...
yep, music & comics are my thing, so it was a pretty great blend for me.
Seems like having the hero do something that you wish you could do is a huge reason why just about anyone likes fiction at all. What you're saying with the hero getting the girl is a pretty obvious correlation, but I think that your statement is a pretty hefty piece of my theme idea as well. Who doesn't want to be a rock star? Better yet, a super hero rock star? Pretty sure getting the girl wouldn't be a problem then.
And here's the new addition... I was in Seattle last week and was able to pick this up from Peter Bagge in person.
Peter Bagge - The Real Buddy Bradley Experience
ComicArtFans listing
EDIT: Sorry... didn't realize the image was so huge... changed to hyperlink instead...