My last sketch from The Dragon Mini-Con, this time from Becky Cloonan. She’s promoting her upcoming self published work The Mire online and that promotion features a very nice image of a woman in period clothing so I asked for that woman. Hopefully I’ll learn the character’s name at some point.

My third Galactus sketch from The Dragon Mini-Con and my favourite: Agnes Garbowska has a wonderfully whimsical style, plus her sense of colour really helps.

Another sketch from The Dragon Mini-Con, this time the Silver Surfer with Galactus and the “Kirby hand” coming forward.

I attended The Dragon Mini-Con 2012 over the weekend and picked up four wonderful sketches from local artists. First up is this Galactus sketch by Marcus To.

Wow, this was a big one for me.  I saw this last year on Cho’s website and really wanted to buy it.  The first opportunity I had was at Fan Expo 2010 and when I arrived at his table he said it was sold; someone was buying it as a gift for Gaiman.  Some months passed and I was shocked to see it in Cho’s portfolio for sale at Toronto ComiCON 2011: apparently the deal had fell through and he had it available again.  I had already committed to the Green Lantern cover so I couldn’t get this piece but then TCAF 2011 rolled around, I had the cash and Cho still had it!

I was able to get two Paul Pope sketches at TCAF 2011.  They were quick free sketches and were greatly appreciated.

I’ve saved the best for last for my art acquisitions from the 2011 ComiCON.  This was completed in 2010 by Michael Cho and I saw it at Fan Expo and immediately committed to owning it, even though it was a little out of my budget.  Cho didn’t want to sell it until it was published: it was supposed to be the cover to DC’s Green Lantern Omnibus Volume 1 but they went instead with an old Gil Kane image.  Hopefully it will make it onto a future volume.  This piece is stunning in person and has instantly become a favourite.

Chris Sprouse was at Hobbystar’s Toronto ComiCON 2011; I wasn’t sure about getting something from him but couldn’t pass up the opportunity so I ended up as the last sketch on his list.  Always the gentleman and professional he stayed after the show closed Sunday to finish up my sketch of Pneuman and Solomon from Tom Strong.

I didn’t get much at the Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event.  I had the opportunity to sit behind Khoi Pham and saw the quality of sketches he was producing so I put my name in for a head sketch of Galactus but asked for the “Kirby hand” to be included: you can’t have Galactus without the outstretched hand.  He was very gracious, good-humoured and wonderfully talented.  I commented on the frown and menacing expression and Pham said “never miss an opportunity to tell a story”.

My last item from Wizard World Toronto 2011.  I had seen Breitweiser in Chicago and admired his work.  I’m disappointed in this piece and I’ll explain.  He was charging $25 for headshots and $100 for full figures.  It just doesn’t seem like much detail was put into the full figure: waist down is flat fill in with no details.  No real background which is fine if the character had more definition.  I chose a figure that has a rotating costume and should have specified Red Skull’s Nazi uniform or went with a headshot.