There was a question asked in the comments section about sketching at conventions and I thought I would answer it here for everyone to read about-
Hi Terry , does it means people dont wait while your drawing their sketches .
Well , in France we do wait religiously in front of the artist until he has our sketch done .
Very cool sketches by the way...so when are coming to France????
Ok so is how it works and I will use the past Chicago show as my example -
DAY 1 - So Friday, first day of the show runs from 1- 7PM. I get to my table at about 1:10 (I had to find it!) and there is a line of fans there already (which is very cool!). I set up my stuff, pull out my paper and start signing books and writing down names for my "Commission" sketch list (where I charge the individuals a price for a full sized rendered drawing). It takes about a half hour to get to everybody that has been standing there and I usually write down around 15-20 names and no one pays for their sketch until I'm done with it. Now for the next 5 1/2 of the show I'm signing books, selling artwork, talking with fans and pros, remembering how to socialize with multiple people at once (it's a skill and after 7+ months away from cons I'm a little rusty and end up with a banger of a headache by the end of the day) and when I have a second I begin my first "Commission" sketch. In addition to the "Commission" sketches I do "Free" sketches for almost anyone who asks and especially for those who bring me a hardcover book and I draw a free sketch regardless (as I figure anyone who has payed this much for a book must really like it and I thank them for their patronage with a sketch). These "Free" sketches are always done for the fan standing in front of me, like at an average French convention. Now, I don't leave my seat until 7 except to stand up and stretch. By 7PM, I've had enough time to rough in a figure and ink the head and part of the body of my 1st "Commission" (VOODOO).
DAY 2- Saturday I get up and decide I'd better get a few of the "Commissions" drawn before I head to the show as I will never get enough done this weekend otherwise. So after I eat breakfast, I finish the VOODOO from the previous day and I do 3 more "Commissions" ( EMMA1, MSMARVEL, EMMA2) before Rachel and I head out to see the Field Museum (before I need to be at the show). I get to the show around noon and and sign,sketch, etc until 2 where I have to go to the Marvel booth and sign from 2-3 which ends up being until 3:20 doing "Free" sketches. When I get to my table, the fan whose "Commission" I'm currently working on is leaving today so I really start cranking on it and manage to find a little time to finish it by 6PM. Once that is done, I start next "Commission", #6. And at this point, I've drawn about 100 of the "Free" sketches.
DAY 3-Sunday, I get 5.5 "Commissions" done before I head to the show at noon so I can relax and just sign and do "Free" sketches until I have to leave to catch my flight at 3PM. I do my final "Commission" as well, a head and shoulders shot on a Blank Cover.
So that is a fairly typical convention "Sketch" recap. It's a lot of work but I really enjoy drawing for people and it's great to meet and talk with the all fans and other pros!
TD
PS- YANN - I will probably be doing something in France again, by next spring at the latest. I'm working on another exhibition for Galerie du 9ème art in Paris, so most likely there.
