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Message 152744
Subject:  Re: "Flipped" sketches?

Actually, Dave, I've been doing free sketches for fans since 1992 or so. So there are literally hundreds if not thousands of quickie head shots and hundreds of more involved sketches. All as a way of saying thanks to the fans who have supported me over the many years. In fact, most of the sketches on the msn site are freebies.

It just may be that the sketches appeal more to fans and less to art collectors...*shrug* or as someone suggested--maybe the waiting in lines is the deterrent, cause I don't necessarily draw sketches every signing session for a number of reasons.

That being said, I think if a lot started showing up on Ebay, yeah, I would probably rethink my policy but with few exceptions, I haven't been disappointed yet.

Best,
Jim Lee

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Message 152746
Subject:  Re: Jim Lee's Sketch (was Chaykin..)

Actually, Jose, I beg to differ--I think you are missing the point. I apologize in advance for the dryness of this reply; generally I like to keep things pretty lighthearted ^_^.

Consider 3 scenarios:

Scenario One: Sketches as Business.
You want a sketch. I figure out a rate based on my opportunity costs and the amount of work involved. We agree on a fair price, do the transaction, and we both theoretically walk away happy. Now I rarely do this because when I'm at at the office, I have what I consider to be "real" work on my desk. I love drawing illustrations and sketches but my job is to tell stories (no snickers from the peanut gallery please! (^_^) and every day I spend drawing a pinup is one more day that I lose on my deadline. Now when I do do the rare commission, I do charge a lot, factoring in opportunity costs. Some fans have gotten bent out of shape by this, complaining I have forsaken my fans by putting my original art out of their reach. But really, that's what the comics are for, no? A relatively cheap way of seeing your favorite artist's work.

Now I don't take on commissions for money at cons because I like the idea that the fans can get something for nothing. To me, cons are a celebration of the medium, a time for everyone to promote comics, meet like-minded fans and is the most public opportunity for us as a business to show the general public what it's all about. And frankly, the best sketch you can give is the free one to a little kid who is at their first con ever because he/she was so amped after seeing Spider-Man or X-Men. It takes it from the realm of a business transaction to a more personal one, and it makes cons a whole lot more enjoyable to me. Keeping lists and doing sketches for money feels more like real work to me. Now, I'm fortunate enough not to have to draw commissions at shows to recoup my travel/booth costs but that's more reason as far as I am concerned to keep on this track. I realize how lucky I have been in my career, and it's why I do free sketches (and have for over 10 years) at cons which brings us to scenario two...

Scenario Two: Sketches for Fun.
You want a sketch. I'm at a con to promote my comic, my work, the company I work for, comics in general and myself in particular. You are a fan and I'm in the mood to draw and the con/booth organizers are cool with me slowing down the line and clogging up the aisle to draw free sketches. Sketches are a great way of saying thanks to the fans, a way to show people what it is that we do for a living and a great way of passing the time.

So yes, given I've been doing free sketches at cons, I have no problem with the concept of literally handing a fan here or there a sketch which may command hundreds of dollars on the open market. Sometimes you get one which is only worth 10 bucks...maybe twenty, but I like the freedom of drawing without having a price attached to the product. I do resent those who wait in line with the sole intention of reselling it right away (at least let the ink dry!), because I do feel that it defeats the purpose of the event, and it often denies those who who really, really want one.

Scenario Three: Sketches for a Good Cause.
You want a sketch. You offer to give money to charity in return for a sketch similar to the one you linked to (http://groups.msn.com/artofjimlee/wizardworldeast2003.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=996...which incidentally was a freebie as well. Last year at WWEast, there was nowhere near as many fans in line as this year so I had more time and latitude to spend more time per sketch).

Now if I gave you a sketch worth more than 200 for your payment of 200 to a charity...the way I see it, since the whole point of this transaction is to raise as much as money for charity as possible (at least from my point of view), then the charity just got shortchanged. Now if I deliver a sketch worth 200 and you pay 200, then I just gave 200 to charity. You gave nothing since you essentially traded green paper worth 200 dollars for a piece of paper with ink on it worth 200. You are even in the transaction. I'm out my time and opportunity cost attached. Again no problem if that's what I am comfortable doing. Sometimes, it's just good to draw attention to a charity or an event.

In my mind, the ideal situation as far as charities goes is when both buyers and sellers go above and beyond the market value of the art itself. This way, the charity gets the MAXIMUM amount of money possible which makes us all feel good inside. So if I did draw, say the Batman sketch you linked to, I would draw it and then auction it off the the highest bidder because I want to help the charity as much as possible. Which is exactly what occured at the WWE con this past May. I turned down an offer of 200 for a large Batman sketch and gave it to the CBLDF to auction off. It raised over 1100 dollars.

The fact that there may be many people on this list (or not) who would pay 200 dollars for a sketch worth 200 (or worse, more than 200 on the open market) doesn't make any sense to me and does the buyer a favor at the artist and the charity's expense.

Sorry to be so longwinded but like Hari, I take my profession very seriously--probably too seriously but since you asked... ^_^.

Best,
Jim Lee

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