Thursday 2 January 2020

Commission Prices 2020


I'm not changing my commission prices, for the most part.


I accept postal commissions all year round. So, if you can't make it to one of the very few comic cons I attend then no problem, we can sort it out online! 
Because of the cost to send a blank sketch cover in a mailer to the US, almost doubling for some reason, (seriously, gone from £4+ to £7+ since my last trip to the PO) I'll have to start charging for postage to places outside the UK. It'll be £5. For postal commissions within the UK, postage is free, unless it's a massive piece or there's some other one off situation involved.

How to pay: First, I take payment upon completion of the job, it makes the wait easier and also gives me incentive to get the commission finished. If the piece is for collection at one of the comic cons I attend, then cash on collection is fine. Also, if you have a phone, Paypal is obviously possible at cons too. Cheques are ok, at least until the last bank within several miles of where I live closes. 


Here's the full rundown of what I do with examples and prices.


 SKETCH COVERS


These are still £50 for a b/w Copic sketch like the examples below, a single figure bust, a close up etc, even a single full figure or basic background. For a wrap that'd be £100. Colour (Copics and ink with watercolour wash) will be £60, £120 for a wrap. For anything like multiple figures, detailed background, complicated compositions etc then it'll be on a per job basis. We're not talking hundreds of pounds or anything, but they will be more money than the base price!

Also, I must point out, that the quality of blank variant titles varies greatly depending on the publisher. For example, DC generally have the best surface to draw on, it's a decent surface. Except Adventures of Supergirl which has a surface like 1970's school toilet paper and has my vote as the worst blank variant ever made. 

Marvel tend to be hit and miss, some are fine, some are ink, Copic, paint and even pencil repellent. The most recent ones are the best but they do have a tendency to soak up the colour from paint. Also, be mindful that some Marvel blanks have a massive logo plastered across them that inhibits greatly where they can be drawn on. Why? No idea, it's inane. Consider that when considering those blanks for commissions!

Dynamite...every tool I use skates across the almost plastic surface and coagulates in a pool of frustration. So, not all art options that I do will be available for every blank variant. We can always talk about it beforehand. Just be aware that occasionally, I can't do what you want on a specific sketch cover so you may have to be prepared to accept an alternative.Time for the art!


Julie Newmar, £50


Julie Newmar and Adam West, £65


Josh Brolin, Thanos, £50


Adam West, yes, I like drawing him! £50


Michael Rooker, Copics with colour wash, £60


Brie Larson, £50


Reeve and Kidder, £65




Poison Ivy portrait, £60




Adam west portrait, £50


Poison Ivy v Batman, £65


I can also do the above style of detailed sketches on regular paper, either A4 sized at £50 (£60 for colour (Copics with a watercolour wash) or A3 sized for £100 (£120 for colour), if you don't want them on blank variant covers. Again, it's a similar situation regarding detailed backgrounds and multiple figures. They'll be priced on a per job basis. One thing I no longer offer, on any surface, is likenesses of people who aren't celebrities, by that I mean family members, friends etc. It's just a load of hassle. Sorry.


Examples of A3 Copic tonal sketches



Joker's Daughter, A3 £110 (splash of colour)


Medusa A3 £110 (splash of colour)




WATERCOLOURS 


 These aren't to be confused with the Copic pieces with a colour wash, these are true watercolours, no ink or marker involved. 


Prices start at £200 for a watercolour piece A3 in size. That'd be with a fully rendered figure, or two if it's simple, with a basic background. For a more detailed background, for example with rendered buildings, it'd be more money, say £250. For multiple figures involved in a battle, then it'd go up in price again. See examples below with listed prices for an idea of the different costs.


Jakita Wagner, A3 watercolour, £200




Brie Larson, A3 watercolour, £200


Black Cat A3 watercolour, £200


Black Canary A3 waterolour, £225


Poison Ivy v Batman A3 watercolour £225


White Queen A3 watercolour £200


Web of Spider-Man #1 watercolour recreation A3 £200

The following are examples of A4 watercolours. First up are some profile pieces that proved to be very popular. I'll be doing more of them to sell at conventions and, very occasionally, online through my Facebook page. 



Emma Frost, £60


Jean Grey, Black Queen, £60


Wonder Girl £60 


Guy Gardner £60
Speedy from Arrow based on Green Arrow #1 cover. £60



Banshee, full figure watercolour A4, £60

COVER RECREATIONS/ RE-IMAGININGS 

I enjoy doing these, for the most part, especially by artists who's work I like. Standard price, $300 (about £220) for the linework ones. That includes me drawing in the logo, price etc. Unless you don't want it on...The full tonal pieces are $400 (£270), they're obviously more time consuming, but they look pretty nice. I also colour recreations digitally, the cost of the digital colouring (a full size colour print is included too) is $100. Cover recreations are approximately regular comic art size 15.5" by 11".

I also do completely original linework commissions and also original tonal pieces done in pencil, ink and Copics. Same pricing as the recreations. See an example of those below after the recreations!

The linework recreations, $300






Digital colouring, original art and colour print included, $400. An example of an original (non recreation) commission.




Another example of an original linework piece, coloured digitally.



The tonal recreations, $400 each





Example of digital colour over tonal b/w art.




The following are in another artist's style (Nick Cardy in this case) but are original compositions.




OIL PAINTINGS

I paint in oil on canvas board. I can work to specific size requirements but the usual size is approx 18" by 13". I used to paint on stretched canvas but various postal services seem to enjoy bending the art and trying their best to damage it. 



Below are a some examples. I'll talk about pricing underneath each image! I price each piece according to the size and subject matter. It's easier that way!



Oversized canvas, 24" tall, $2750 (£2000)


Oversized canvas 24" wide, $2750


Surfer cover recreation in oil, approx 18" tall $2000 (about £1500)


About 18" tall, $2000


Batman C-44 Colector's Edition oil recreation, $2000 


18" tall about $2000



Oversized 24" tall, based on Silver Surfer 4 cover, $2750


18" tall, $2000



Oversized, 24" tall, $2750

If you're interested in me doing a commission, then get in touch via johnwatsonart@gmail.com or message me on FB!