Starting out

[jel-migration]

Hello Everyone.

 

I'm Jo - longer time voyeur. I am interested in getting some original comic art, mainly interior pages (covers are a bit beyond my price range at the moment) and was wondering, how did you guys start out? What was your first purchase and where was it from? Living in a small town in the UK, opportunity to buy locally doesn't exist. Any pointers? I've been reading comics for a number of years now and think this is the next step for me. I have an idea of what I like - I find Finch and Hitch particularly good at their craft - but am open to anything that I like the look of.

 

Thanks,

 

Jo

[Marty B]

Hey Jo,

 

What are you doing with that gun in your hand? Sorry ... couldn't resist.

 

I too am VERY new to the original art scene. My first piece was a bargin on eBay for an interior page from Green Arrow. It was less then $25.

 

I'm sure some of the pros around here would look at some of the stuff I have and laugh a little. You know, newbie cracks and the like. But I'm just buying what's in my price range featuring characters I like and or creators I like.

 

Ubie X

[Thomas]

But I'm just buying what's in my price range featuring characters I like and or creators I like.

 

Ubie X

 

I think that's the key. Buy what you enjoy looking at and owning but that is also within your budget.

 

My first page was a Randy Green Superman page that was a birthday present that cost less than 100.00 off ebay. In fact I think about half of my pages I own have come from ebay and the other half from dealers and other collectors.

 

By the way, welcome aboard.

[Ares]

Hello Everyone.

 

I'm Jo - longer time voyeur. I am interested in getting some original comic art, mainly interior pages (covers are a bit beyond my price range at the moment) and was wondering, how did you guys start out? What was your first purchase and where was it from? Living in a small town in the UK, opportunity to buy locally doesn't exist. Any pointers? I've been reading comics for a number of years now and think this is the next step for me. I have an idea of what I like - I find Finch and Hitch particularly good at their craft - but am open to anything that I like the look of.

 

Thanks,

 

Jo

Welcome.

I stared out the same way all others did.

I saw a page from a series I liked and bought it.

 

The rules are same in collecting OA as Collectign Comics art.

Buy what you like.

 

Also keep yours eye open at conventions.

You might find something you like there at a good rate.. even covers.

Thats how I got mine

[jel-migration]

why, i'm going down to shoot my ol lady,

y'know i caught her messin' round with another man?

 

Sounds like good advice guys. Thanks. Favourite characters wasn't something that I had considered, believe it or not. Was to busy concentrating on the artist himself.

[micmack]

Here is a start for your Finch and Hitch connection:

 

Finch Rep

 

Hitch Rep

 

Comic Art Fan Web site

 

Finch I happen to have on sale

[RaccoonRaccoon]

I am pretty new to the OA space too and I have gotten lots of good advice from this forum. I guess the best advice I got was to WAIT and learn about original art before plunking down your money. Also, QUALITY far outweighs QUANTITY.

 

Good luck with your new obsession!!!

[the blob]

there's still good, not terribly expensive, stuff out there (though i admit i haven't shopped for a while, but there are like 10X as many listings as 2 years ago), but it is important to get something that is appealing to you (and thus, likely appealing to others). i have some pages that i mainly bought for the artist because they were really cheap (buscema) and 20+ years old and, honestly, they're not that interesting. my $30 could have been spent elsewhere. think about it this way: is the page interesting enough to hang on my wall?

[Ares]

What are you looking to collect?

[Darrell F]

I am just starting to collect OA as well and this place is a good source for info. I have spent some time on Comic Art Fan as well.

 

I think the most important thing is to collect what you like and to do a lot of looking before you buy.

[Mister Trent]

Hello Everyone.

 

I'm Jo - longer time voyeur. I am interested in getting some original comic art, mainly interior pages (covers are a bit beyond my price range at the moment) and was wondering, how did you guys start out? What was your first purchase and where was it from? Living in a small town in the UK, opportunity to buy locally doesn't exist. Any pointers? I've been reading comics for a number of years now and think this is the next step for me. I have an idea of what I like - I find Finch and Hitch particularly good at their craft - but am open to anything that I like the look of.

 

Thanks,

 

Jo

 

Well, I live in a small town in the UK myself. Buying locally is neither a consideration nor opportunity. If you're sat behind a PC, with Internet and E-mail access, the world's your oyster . . .

[Erato]

Collect what you like can not be stressed enough. Collecting quality over quantity is also a good piece of advice, that way you can more easily upgrade your collection by selling and trading. But there are alot of different routes to go.

 

Collecting by artist, collecting by character, collecting by publisher, collecting commissions, collecting by theme.

 

I suggest looking around and finding what fits your style and what you enjoy most.

 

I've never, personally, bought a piece intending to sell it. And I have bought cheapy pieces of artists/books that I have enjoyed.

 

The best advice I have is have fun with it. Once you stop having fun, it's time to move on to something else.

 

Brian

[aaron568]

Collect what you like can not be stressed enough. Collecting quality over quantity is also a good piece of advice, that way you can more easily upgrade your collection by selling and trading. But there are alot of different routes to go.

 

Collecting by artist, collecting by character, collecting by publisher, collecting commissions, collecting by theme.

 

I suggest looking around and finding what fits your style and what you enjoy most.

 

I've never, personally, bought a piece intending to sell it. And I have bought cheapy pieces of artists/books that I have enjoyed.

 

The best advice I have is have fun with it. Once you stop having fun, it's time to move on to something else.

 

Brian

 

What would you consider quality I'm just getting into art and i have seen a lot of cheap pages floating around and i don't want to buy some thing ill never be able to get rid of if i find a really nice piece and when i mean cheap im talking 50-200 for pages that seem to be nice but still dont waht to get stuck with something that cant be moved in the long run if somthing relay nice comes up.

[Erato]

Collect what you like can not be stressed enough. Collecting quality over quantity is also a good piece of advice, that way you can more easily upgrade your collection by selling and trading. But there are alot of different routes to go.

 

Collecting by artist, collecting by character, collecting by publisher, collecting commissions, collecting by theme.

 

I suggest looking around and finding what fits your style and what you enjoy most.

 

I've never, personally, bought a piece intending to sell it. And I have bought cheapy pieces of artists/books that I have enjoyed.

 

The best advice I have is have fun with it. Once you stop having fun, it's time to move on to something else.

 

Brian

 

What would you consider quality I'm just getting into art and i have seen a lot of cheap pages floating around and i don't want to buy some thing ill never be able to get rid of if i find a really nice piece and when i mean cheap im talking 50-200 for pages that seem to be nice but still dont waht to get stuck with something that cant be moved in the long run if somthing relay nice comes up.

 

Another Sticky subject, Since art is so subjective. If you are already into comics, you already have a head start. You know what books/characters/artists tend to be popular. Use the same judgement as you do for a comic book.

 

Usually a good splash, or other good representation of a character(s) will demand more than a panel without the character. Pieces by "hot" or "Respected" artists usually demand more. Pretty much the same as with comic books.

 

But on the other hand, You can find the greatest representation of a character in a cheaper page because it is a less known/popular artist or a spin-off books etc. And the most mundane panel (not judging) with out any major character will cost an arm or a leg, if the artist is "hot" or unfortunatley no longer with us.

 

Chances are If you go about buying art to flip it, or to collect it, you will pick up some different pieces. I feel that if I collect what I like and choose to part with a piece, there is prolly someone out there who likes the same thing.

 

So we are back full circle, "Collect what you like can not be stressed enough"

 

But then again, I'm relatively new to this.

What do I know?

 

Brian

[aaron568]

Some nice info there thanks a lot

[Hart1000]

Welcome aboard Jo!

 

I began with 2 pages that were at my comic shop (Marvel Team-Up by Kerry Gammill)...asked the owner how much...he said "$75"...and that's how I started this hobby. That was back in 1999.

 

My suggestion would be to pick a favorite character of yours...and buy pages with said character.

This way you get to buy various artists doing their own rendition of your favorite character.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Stop by my CAF gallery for some ideas...Click HERE

 

Best,

Hart

[fable]

I buy most of my art from Ebay - lots of choice there nowadays.

 

There can be pieces for sale at UK marts but in general they are massively overpriced.

[Mighty Hal]

The blob (whoever he/she is) is right: Don't grab a piece just because it's by an artist you admire or because it's a part of a comic series you like. Grab a piece that you find personally interesting.

 

Trust your seller. Come to the boards and look at the dealer horror stories. Look at the good dealer stories. And remember that those eBay feedback ratings count. If a seller has a low percentage of positives to negs, don't bid on a piece just because the price seems low. IF you get the artwork, it may arrive scrunched, discolored, stained or stat-heavy...when it was advertised as mint and all original artwork.

 

If you want a commissioned piece and anticipate selling the piece later for a profit -- you might want to reconsider the situation. Commissioned pieces are great for getting the piece you want from an artist you love. They ain't so great at selling for a profit at a later date (unless, as appears to have recently happened, you convinced DeCarlo to do a porn version of Betty & Veronica).

 

If you know what you want and you see it -- grab it. I've lost some pieces that still haunt me because I hesitated at the last moment. I have, on rare occasion, regretted a purchase. Much, much more often I've regretted NOT making a purchase.

 

Enjoy the hobby for what it is. For me, it's a joy and fascination. I love it. But the mainstream doesn't get this hobby and never will. Buy a scribbled spasm by Picasso and your neighbors will pretend to admire it. Buy a masterpiece by Gene Colan and they'll only be confused.

 

Welcome, Jo!