Waited patiently for three hours on Saturday for Dale to show up.  I had always seen him at shows but the lines were long and I didn’t want to wait.  This time around I wanted to get something, but I was in for a surprise.  When he arrived at the show he was told by Fan Expo staff that he had to charge for sketches, so this went from free to $100.  I had waited and knew his work was great so I went ahead and asked for the Hulk.  Judging from the finished product I’m very happy with my purchase.

Finally got around to scanning this year’s art additions.  In January (February perhaps, losing track) there was a one day show in Toronto with Kevin Maguire as the only guest.  I arrived early and waited in line so I could at least get something from him.

Once at his table he had a bunch of headshots done the night before at his hotel: he wasn’t doing any sketches that day.  There was quite a selection but it came down to the best facial expression: it was the Hulk below or a Blue Beetle.   I think I made the right choice.

I should start off by saying I’m not an Ed McGuinness fan.  While at Fan Expo in Toronto I ran across Dexter Vines: he’s an excellent inker and had some nice pages for sale.  This Watcher page jumped out at me, mostly because of that Kirby-esque outstretched hand.

First pieces online from the recent Toronto Fan Expo.  Tim Sale was one of the big names I wanted to get a piece from and he employs a unique system, or rather the two or three associates he had with him employed.  Tim does about ten sketches a day and hands out cards to the first people in his line giving a time that day when he’ll draw your sketch.  This is a great system: you don’t need to waste hours in line waiting for no real reason.  The one caveat is that he only spends 10-15 minutes on each piece, but his style fits the limited time frame.  I was in line the second day and brought a friend to wait with me since he didn’t want a Sale piece and I really wanted two.

For the Doctor Strange I provided reference material.  I really wanted a Dr. Fate but Tim didn’t want to do one: I asked for Hawkman but didn’t have reference material so I went with the Hulk.