Help-Sketches at conventions and NYCC

[fury143]

I have never gotten at sketch at a comic convention before. I was wondering how much do artists usually charge to do a sketch. Also on friday at NYCC what valiant artists will be there doing sketches? I want to get one of the blank covers sketched.

[ncameron]

Honestly, just talk with the artist, most have a price list just check and see if they are taking anymore as they often book themselves to capacity.

Also don't try to haggle as im told artists find it insulting.

[IMJ]

There's good and bad when walking artist alley at cons.

The cost really varies, and if an artists detects for a second that he doesn't like you (just through basic shallow-guy bias - you are bigger than them, smaller than them, looked them in the eye when you said "hi", whatever) then he's going to charge you an arm and a leg or claim he can't do it. But if you BS a bit and try to show that you are fans of the work then they tend to come down in price. This tends to happen with the prima-donna artists (I practically had to worship Bagley just to get an Iron Man head sketch a few years back - it was ridiculous and I'll never do it again). You'll find this more often with high profile artists who don't know how to handle anyone with any kind of presence.

Rule of thumb? ncameron is on the money regarding haggling. So, I've found that rather than haggle, I try to avoid that bias altogether. One way to do this is to linger by the table of the artist who you want a drawing from and hear what they want to charge the different guys who request commissions. This way you get a general price before you get your own "passed judgment pricing" from that potentially biased artist and you'll know to ask for a price, or just walk from the artist. Some of the better guys do it right by having a pricing sign at their table. I'm taking this perspective with my input because if I said it was all a great experience, then you'd have no real input to use.

I've had a lot of great experiences at artist alley collecting Iron Man sketches though. I also try to land only one or two big name sketches at a con, and then I spend my time with the smaller guys. On the other hand completely, a lot of the up and coming guys have their nice hats on and are still excited when guys want sketches. Some of the best pieces I've gotten were from up and comers or guys who haven't cut their path out yet. Jason Sobol is one of the smaller name guys who does a lot of sketch cards and he's always incredibly gracious and does great work too, btw. If he, or other guys who worked on the Iron Man or Indiana Jones sketch card sets are around, they always seem to do great work. Good luck and post your grabs when you are done!

[Matesamo]

If you buy the blank sketch cover books they will sketch for free. I got four that way, lol.