"Time" Pieces
As a comic book fan, I've been fortunate to attend a number of conventions — from small local get-togethers to medium-sized alternative press gatherings to huge, huge events such as the San Diego Comic Convention. Along the way, I've met a number of talented writers and artists working in the industry, and I soon discovered that many are willing to do simple sketches on a pad if you're a fan of their work.
I'd filled two sketchbooks with sketches before I decided to try a theme book. This is by no means an original idea — this one in particular is inspired by the Cliff Sketches collection, but I've seen "hot air balloons," "Batgirl", "Max Rebo," "cows", "Green Lantern," "jars" and "Legion of Super-Heroes" in my day. Some people focus on a character, like "Lois Lane." Others have tried something allowing more artistic freedom ("artistic interpretations of literary figures"). After much thought, I picked a single word: time.
As I tell the artist, it could be the cover of Time Magazine, a time-related comic book hero or villain, a historical figure, a clock, a time machine, or anything else the word inspires in them. My first few sketches, all from local convention visits in 2000 and 2001, began to show how broad the theme could be. All the additions from the 2001 San Diego Comic-Con bear that early sample out.
Please enjoy these sketches and feel free to start a theme book of your own. If an artist does a sketch for free (and they often will), do not take advantage of their generosity and resell the sketch on eBay. This kind of thing ruins it for those of us who don't have the income to commission tons of sketches. If possible, please offer to buy their book or donate to a good cause like the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund or Friends of Lulu. It's the least you can do.
Last updated July 2, 2004.
