N.I.C.E. Northampton International Comic Convention 19th/20th September 2015

NICE is coming up fast. It's pretty much the best con for real comics fans in the UK and I'm not just saying that because the artists and writers get looked after better than at any other UK con. If you're after sketches and the chance to meet up with and mingle in the bar with the pros then this is the con to go to. 

As always I'll be sketching all weekend. I sketch for free on the day. As a result my list is booked up pretty quickly. So come by on the Saturday to ensure you're on it!

I'm taking commissions for the con, these would be the nicer ones that are more finished pieces of art.. Same deal as always, pay on the day. As well as the pre-ordered ones I always bring a selection of different sketches to sell at the weekend too. So come by and have a look, there may be something you think is nifty!

Here are some examples, first A4 black and white Copic marker, pencil, ink.

Each of these would be priced at £40

Next up we have film or TV likeness pieces, same size, same price. The images are below are scans unlike the photos above they give a better idea of what I can draw!

An example of an A3 likeness. I did a nice John Watson for the last con but forgot to photograph or scan it.

The above pieces would be £80. Makes sense as it's twice the size of the £40 pieces.

Here are some examples of A4 coloured pieces I did for LSCC earlier this year, £50. I can also do coloured likeness pieces.

Again, not great photos, but you get the idea!

And finally some examples of A3 coloured pieces that go for £100. Not too unreasonable. The coloured ones were an experiment for the last con, they did pretty well, so there'll be more, if I get time.

I'll also have a selection of prints for sale at £10 each, see below for a couple of them...and I'll be bringing copies of my latest booklet too.

Get in touch by the usual channels if you're after anything, and remember, don't leave it too late!

LFCC: London Film and Comic Con Postscript

First up, I drew a headshot on an X-Men blank sketch cover, it had some sketches on it already by different artists. I have the comic here. If the man who left it with me could contact me and tell me which con he'll be at next then I can sort out getting it to him! Just let me know which characters were already on it so I know it's you!

A hectic weekend. The con was packed, well some of it was, hardly anyone knew there was a level 2 on the Friday and much of the Saturday. There was a lift to get to level 2 where the comic zone was, but there was a 45 minute wait on the Saturday to get into it. The YALC con was advertised as being there though...some stairs appeared eventually and then quickly got clogged up. It was a lot cooler on our level than the others. People were thankful for that.

I met a lot of nice people over the weekend, many were sweating from the heat, signed a lot of comics, mainly Hulk and Civil War.

I finally got to meet Geoff Johns when he turned up for an hour on the Friday to see Gary Frank. I worked with Geoff on Hawkman and we'd exchanged phone calls, emailed etc but had never met. Very nice man!

I shared an alcove in the comics zone with David Roach, Laurence Campbell, Roger Landridge and Lew Stringer. It was good to get to know them all better and share experiences about the industry. All great guys and talented artists.

Me sketching, Lew Stringer and David Roach in the background

I enjoyed seeing a Leonard Nimoy impersonator. He was awesome, remained in character and had the voice spot on, replying to questions as if he were Spock. He was really tall too! I had to have my pic taken with him...

Myself and Mr Spock

Here's a link to his Instagram account

This year the actual journey was pretty straightforward. I went with Russ Payne again. We had to set off at 6am as the show began at one on the Friday so I was pretty wrecked before we got to the hotel. We stayed near Chiswick at an independent place called Brook Hotel. Awesome. The tube took us to near the Olympia where the con was. It was a pleasant walk, for me anyway. Russ walks like a giant old man. When we arrived we took some time to find level 2, none of the staff downstairs knew where the comics zone was. I walked past a lot of cool merchandise which I unfortunately didn't really get to browse. Biff's jacket from Back to the Future was on display. Awesome! Russ was given a table in a different alcove. I could have moved to the one next to him but I stayed put as I'd already had people come up to the table, ask for sketches and then leave to pick them up later. So I didn't see much of Russ at the con. We ate, rather late, in a pub. It was full of cosplayers, a great sight in a pub full of civilians!

It turned out that the hotel we were in was round the corner from a friend's flat. He has an empty fish tank in the living room. It used to contain an axolotyl. Apparently when they're ill you put them in the fridge. Unfortunately it didn't work the last time...

Saturday was another early start, 9am. It was pretty much like Friday. Except Russ started sketching again. Recently he's become an internationally acclaimed artist. It happened by complete chance after a local newspaper ran an article that mentioned he drew the X-Men and Captain America for Marvel Comics. Another local paper picked up on that and, as he was exhibiting some work in an arts exhibition, proclaimed him as an internationally acclaimed artist. Russ failed art at school and has never drawn anything resembling art in his life. He's a writer, for the BBC, and a poet.

Anyway, he began sketching, for £2, and did a ton of sketches. I think at the next con he'll be in the small press section, look out for him! His banner shows some books he's written, a drawing of him as a Jedi, that I did, and some gears in a circle.

Russ won't be sketching at N.I.C.E. unfortunately for his fans. The organisers know about art.

We ate at Wetherspoons on Saturday, it's the same everywhere, the prices don't shock, and I can order what I do in Cleveleys back home. We then went for a walk along the Thames to talk about a project we're working on together. We planned to make it to Tower Bridge but failed. Russ' shoes fell apart.

I drew a lot of sketches on blank comic covers this weekend. The DC ones are fine, they're matt, have a slight grain, and accept all the normal forms of drawing implements and tools, pencil, ink, Copic Markers etc. Marvel however, for the most part, print theirs on a shiny stock that likes to repel anything you try and use. They especially hate erasers, ink and markers. It's a challenge!

I got to look round for half an hour on Sunday, 20 minutes of that time was spent getting between floors...Russ kindly watched my table. It was nice to stretch my legs. It made me realsie that I do need a helper at cons. I can't draw and talk at the same time!

I also was made aware that a lot of people didn't know if I was accepting pre-con commissions for the show. They don't look online so much for things like that, but on Twitter...so I may add a Twitter feed down the side of my blog. I don't particularly want to, but it may be a good idea!

We actually got home before 2am. It was 20 past one but still, we've knocked almost an hour off the first London con 2 years ago! We did miss a tube on the way back from the con, the stairs defeated Russ. I think it was the S.T.A.R. Labs mug that tipped him over the edge. And the 40 miles of roadworks on the motorway didn't help either. Still, we got to chat for six hours about the previously alluded to project. More on that soon!

Altogether it was a pretty good weekend. In my opinion, not as good as last year, but the main issues were with the venue. The fans and the other guests were great!

Next up is N.I.C.E! More on that towards the end of the week!

STAR TREK: BOB OKSNER STYLE PRINTS

Thought I'd do a quick post about these. Eventually, as time permits, I'll get around to doing a series, probably including some of the original series too.

These prints are available from any convention that I attend. I could also post them, although I'd have to use a tube as the cost would be prohibitive otherwise!

They went down well at the LFCC this last weekend!

They cost £10 each!

BALTIMORE COMIC CONVENTION 25th to 27th SEPTEMBER 2015

I'll be attending the Baltimore Comic Con in September. It's my first US con and I'm really looking forward to it. It's a totally new experience for me!

I'll post more about the convention as it gets nearer as I have a few more cons to attend beforehand, but below is a list of commission prices and other info that people have been asking me about regarding Baltimore.

Firstly, my commission list is now open. So feel free to contact me with any enquiries or commission requests.

 Contact me with a request and I'll add you to my list, do the commission, bring it with me and then you pay for it at the con! The pre-ordered commissions are more finished and better looking than the ones I can do at the convention. I've been told they're priced very reasonably. Here is, I'm hoping, a comprehensive list of what I do commission wise!

A4 (about 10 by 7.5")B/W pre con sketches $60. These are done in Copic Marker, a little pencil, and ink.

The following examples aren't great photos! I snapped 'em real quick as I was heading out of the studio to a con...if I get chance I'll scan some pieces I'm doing for a con next week! Imagine them with nice crisp whites instead of gray backgrounds!

A4 B/W movie and TV sketches $60. These are better scans!

I can also do the movie and tv likeness pieces in the bigger size (I did a nifty John Watson from Sherlock earlier this year). Here's one of Julie Newmar for example...

A4 Color Sketches $75, Copics with watercolour mixed in. Again, ropey photos, not scans...but you get the idea!

A3 (about original comic book art size) B/W $120

A3 Color sketches $140

Cover recreations $300, including all text and logos. B/W pen and ink. I don't do straight copies, only reimagined, like below.

Colour Cover recreations $400. For this price you get the original art and also a print of the digital colours. It won't be reproduced for anybody else, it'll be the only copy! Here's an example of a piece I did recently.

And one I did for fun (this will be available as a print as it wasn't a commission for anyone)

 

Fully rendered tonal art $400

I won't have time to complete any oil paintings beforehand but can add you to my commission list and I'll get to them when my schedule allows! Here are a couple of examples, a single figure piece and another slightly more complicated one!

I do all these examples pre convention and bring them with me (except the oil paintings which I've just spoken about!). Payment upon collection at the con.

I'll also be bringing with me a decent selection of finished sketches and cover recreations to sell on the weekend of the convention, prices the same as above.

I will also have a selection of coloured prints with me for sale at $15 each. They're about 18" in height on litho paper stock. Some examples below.

And finally, I will be sketching at the convention too. The price of these will be $20 for a 10" by 7.5" Copic marker sketch. They're not as finished as the pre-ordered ones but more often than not they're pretty neat! Come up to my table (booth?) at the con and get on the list!

However, as a bit of fun, I'll be putting together a series of Legion of Superheroes based questions along with my co-pilot for the weekend, Aidan Lacy. If you can answer the question correctly then you get the sketch for free (this would be a sketch drawn at the con, not a pre-done one that I bring with me, just want to be certain on that point!)

I hope all the above is clear. If not then feel free to email me with any enquiries or questions!

I'll be posting some updates as we get nearer to the con. If you're going then I hope to see you there and be sure to come over and say hi!