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Collecting comic art commissions

Collecting comic art commissions

Posted on 20 May 2018

As a boy of 6, I remember my Mum coming into my bedroom with a large, beaten up black leather suitcase with a smile on her face that's clear as crystal to me, even now. This was the day she was passing down her huge collection of silver-age DC comics, and my obsession with reading and trying to draw my heroes began. 

We still have them in the family - beaten up issues of Superboy/Superman, Detective comics featuring Batman, a complete run of the original Teen Titans and my personal favourite, The Legion of Super Heroes. This band of teenagers from the far future worked from a rocket-style club-house, with our link to the present being a time-travelling Superboy. The heroic sacrifices of members such as Ferro Lad and Triplicate Girl (who later became Duo Damsel) still resonate to this day. I had discovered the power of sequential art, and as young boy who couldn't go out much, they were a cornerstone of my childhood.

This is probably why I still love the medium today. My office wall is adorned with original pages from comics I owned as a child, including Marvel UK artwork from Transformers (Jeff Anderson's "Prey") and X-Men (Andrew Wildman), alongside more modern pieces from Bengal (Spider-Women), Nick Roche, Jack Lawrence and Alex Milne (Transformers). Most of these were purchased either at auction or from comic fairs, but only more recently have I fallen down the rabbit hole of seeking commissioned art pieces from my favourite artists, and it's bought me a great deal of pleasure. Not only do you get a personalised piece unique to you, but it also helps the artist to make ends meet while they ply their craft. It's a painstaking business run to tight deadlines and subject to running change, so buying direct is always my first option.

So how do you go about commissioning artwork? There are 3 major routes to contentment, and I'll go through them with you here. The fruits of my labours are in the gallery below, and I really hope you enjoy looking at some of these wonderful original pieces!

Step 1: Visiting conventions, events and launches

This is the most time-consuming way to find your art, because it requires research, patience, some forward ordering and not a little luck. There are myriad independent comic events across the country that will attract a smattering of talent such as the Nottingham Comic Con, but for a solid list of events around the country, try starting with ComicConventions.co.uk

You may also find people at events you wouldn't otherwise expect. Last year the mighty Marvel's Bob Budiansky attended TF Nation, and I am now the proud owner of a signed copy of the iconic Transformers issue 5, featuring Shockwave and his graffiti proclamation that the Transformers "Are All Dead!". Mr Budiansky has worked on a huge number of Marvel titles as a writer, artist, colourist and inker, including Spider-Man and The Avengers, so having him fall into my lap this way was an excellent stroke of luck.

Of course there's also MCM Comic Con, which has a varied Comics Alley at locations in Birmingham, London and Manchester. But the big bad Grand-Daddy of them all is Thought Bubble in Leeds, which is huge! Truly an incredible amount of pro and amateur talent on display. Last year it took over the Headrow in the City Centre and worked wonderfully, so I can't wait for this year's event!

Step 2: Find an Artist on social media

If you are trying to hook up with a specific artist, check twitter and look for their posts and websites (many have them listing appearances). Some, like Alex Milne, will open a window before the event in order to get as much done as possible and won't always take commissions at the event, so check early and check often! I don't have any commissions from Nick Roche or Alex Milne, so I am checking online regularly for the schedule to open! DeviantArt and Pixiv also feature artists that advertise commisions if you're willing to browse around and do some research.

Step 3: Kickstarter and Patreon

In the new digital age, many artists are trying to create artbooks of their own to showcase their work via Kickstarter, and stretch goals will typically include some custom artwork either inside the artbook itself, or as a separate piece for you to frame. Other stretch goals I've seen have included adding a portrait of you if you back them with enough money, so while this is usually an expensive way to obtain a single piece of artwork, it's a terrific way to get one among a lot of other goodies! One of my favourite artists, Rachta Lin, has created 2 artbooks on Kickstarter, and both of mine have pictures she's sketched for me (Street Fighter's Juri and Macross Delta's Mirage Jenius).

If you are very lucky, your favourite artist may also frequent Patreon. This has proven to be a great way to pick up sketches, with my all time favourite being Andrew Wildman's attempt to draw every G1 Transformer in his awesome gritty style! Every month a list of 'bots would be posted for backers to pick from (so speed was essential to get your favourites!) and you would get the original sketch which Mr Wildman would later add to a book. I managed to get 11 sketches from this endeavour, including Bluestreak (my first ever Transformer), Skids, Frenzy, Wheeljack, Sludge, Shrapnel, Octane, Mirage, Hardhead, Broadside and Needlenose - what a haul!!

Other artists may give away art by raffle or take commissions for a little extra kick, so have a good dig around and hopefully you'll find the next piece of artwork to hang on your wall :)

Enjoy the gallery below:

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