Art anectdotes

So as you probably know i collect sketches from comic book artists sometimes there are good stories behind those meetings i'llshare some of them here hope you enjoy.

Here's one that i found at a convention in Montreal Marvel comics somtimes release blank covers for people to bring to conventions so artists can make up their own cover.
Agnes Garbowska made that one for Secret Invasion where the Skrulls who are shape shifting aliens have been on earth for many years and have replaced some of the marvel super heroes the storyline helped redefine the Marvel universe.

I love Agnes's art and finding this in a bin at a show was a very pleasant surprise....
But that's not the end of the story as i took the comic out of the bag to scan it here's what i found on the back cover.

Another sketch by Francis Manapul featuring a skrull Black Widow, that was a great surprise so it pays when you are at a convention to take an hour or two to checl out the comics bin.

Finally!!!!!

This beautiful brick (888 pages) found its way to my home the 9th volume of Steven Erikson's Malazan books of the fallen.
After realizing that the Canadian release date was going to be the same as the U.S i ddecided to order it from amazon.uk.
No way am i going to wait until January to read this.....

On the Letherii continent the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore begins its march into the eastern Wastelands, to fight for an unknown cause against an enemy it has never seen. The fate awaiting the Bonehunters is one no soldier can prepare for, and one no mortal soul can withstand - the foe is uncertainty and the only weapon worth wielding is stubborn courage. In war everyone loses, and this brutal truth can be found in the eyes of every soldier in every world. Destinies are never simple. Truths are neither clear nor sharp. "The Tales of the Malazan Book of the Fallen" are drawing to a close in a distant place, beneath indifferent skies, as the last great army of the Malazan Empire seeks a final battle in the name of redemption. Final questions remain to be answered: can one's deeds be heroic when no one is there to see it? Can that which is unwitnessed forever change the world? The answers await the Bonehunters, beyond the Wastelands.

Home again

From Toronto with a crapload of art here's a little teaser i'll put some up in this blog but since there are 39 new pieces they will all be on my comicartfans page and my facebook album.

This beauty is from Alex Maleev who worked on Daredevil , new avengers and now on the Spiderwoman motion comic and soon to be released regular edition comic.
Needless to say that this painting blew me away thanks Alex for this fantastic painting.

Toronto fan expo

Is this week-end i'm hoping to put up quite a few new sketches from the amazing artists that i will meet there ....the countdown has begun.

Craig Rousseau commission

Just got this commission from Craig Rousseau today i've long admired his canson pieces so i was very happy to get this one made for me.
(title links to his commission page)

2 new pieces of art

These two beauties found their way to my home today courtesy of very talented artist Gary Shipman and e-bay
I love his unique style and these will not be the last ones you see on this blog :)

Why doom

Because i like the way it sounds try it DooooooooooM see? it sounds very good.

Widow #50

Got this beauty in the mail today (well technically yesterday but i picked it up today)
This is my fiftieth piece of art featuring the Black Widow (click on title to go to a page about her)

She's been a favorite character of mine ever since i first saw her in those old issues of Daredevil i always dreamt of having some art featuring her (this was before the internet yes i am that old)

Comic book conventions were rare in Montreal in those days and frankly i really didn't know how to go around to contacting artists to get commissions.
That changed about when ebay and internet shopping started up but i still wasn't getting a lot of stuff i was watching and enjoying art a lot but rarely buying.
To make a long story short i decided two years ago to start collecting art more seriously and to give in to my passion and to the stuff that makes me happy and this latest version of my favorite character makes me very happy indeed.

Now who shall i get to draw #100?

Another sketch just came in.....

A nice Black Widow from artist Matt Wagner better known for his work on Grendel and Mage (waiting anxiously for series 3).
I was really surprised to see this on e-bay having rarely seen art from Matt for sale so i was really happy to win this one.

Currently listening to..

Rancid's latest 6 years after "indestructible"the band does not disappoint throw that Green day cd in the garbage and listen to a real modern punk cd.

PLEASE DO NOT FOLD!

This is something every artist who is sending a piece of art should write on the envelope containing the art that the customer (me dammit!!!) and as an extra precaution they should also put a stiff cardboard backing so said envelope won't bend when a mailman tries to put it in the mail slot.

Why am i describing the obvious you ask my little minions well this came in the mail folded neatly in two thankfully the drawing wasn't much damaged but it is still very annoying.

Hey i finally got my art !!!

So a month ago i won a Black Widow painting by one of my favorite artist Mark Beachum it usually takes about two weeks to get to my home.
Well three weeks later still nothing and me standing at the door threatening the mailman each time he came with no packages (them mailmen they wants my stuff i know they do )

Past experience with e-bay sellers has taught me to send them a friendly e-mail to ask if they shipped my winnings , by the way always e-mail through e-bay so you have a record of every communication attempt with the seller.

Mr Beachum answered very promptly that due to work obligations he didn't get to send my art but was doing so immediately and would include a little extra for my patience.
So i thought "yeah a little extra probably a print or a piece of promo lying around in his studio"
so imagine my surprise when i got this today.....


This is the painting i won.



And this is the "little' extra Mr Beachum sent me thanks a lot Mark you are a great artist and a gentleman.