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Jim Lee’s $20,000 commission price causes uproar
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My wife got a free small sketch from Jim Lee last year at NYCC. If you catch him in the right mood at the right time it happens. He runs twitch streams semi frequently where you can get his art as well.
Secondary market at least for his more recent work isn't as terrible. Getting a commission directly from him has always been crazy expensive. Especially since COVID a lot of artists are changing more and more. I used to buy a decent amount of original art but that's slowed to a crawl. Getting smaller and fewer pieces the last few years.
Good for the artists tho. I have a few friends in the industry and it's rough. Most publishers pay like shit and it's a grind with little to no support network.
Secondary market at least for his more recent work isn't as terrible. Getting a commission directly from him has always been crazy expensive. Especially since COVID a lot of artists are changing more and more. I used to buy a decent amount of original art but that's slowed to a crawl. Getting smaller and fewer pieces the last few years.
Good for the artists tho. I have a few friends in the industry and it's rough. Most publishers pay like shit and it's a grind with little to no support network.
No issue with it
The best thing to come Out of it was the comic industry not only defending this because as they pointed out, by devaluing this a too in the industry it has ripple effects to lower the value of all artists in this industry, but also using it to tell wholesome jim Lee stories
my favorite was the one Gail Told. I'll post the start but will need to click to read the whole story.
View: https://x.com/gailsimone/status/1807351404735967240?s=61&t=TpdmZCHoaXyI2omhxqW9Ow
View: https://x.com/gailsimone/status/1807352336983195935?s=61&t=TpdmZCHoaXyI2omhxqW9Ow
View: https://x.com/gailsimone/status/1807357731768267050?s=61&t=TpdmZCHoaXyI2omhxqW9Ow
The best thing to come Out of it was the comic industry not only defending this because as they pointed out, by devaluing this a too in the industry it has ripple effects to lower the value of all artists in this industry, but also using it to tell wholesome jim Lee stories
my favorite was the one Gail Told. I'll post the start but will need to click to read the whole story.
View: https://x.com/gailsimone/status/1807351404735967240?s=61&t=TpdmZCHoaXyI2omhxqW9Ow
View: https://x.com/gailsimone/status/1807352336983195935?s=61&t=TpdmZCHoaXyI2omhxqW9Ow
View: https://x.com/gailsimone/status/1807357731768267050?s=61&t=TpdmZCHoaXyI2omhxqW9Ow
I mean, context is important here. And this happens in the context of a fan convention that already costs a whole lot of money to attend and which is aimed at enthusiast hardcore fans who get to meet their idols. Chargin that amount of money in that context is kind of preposterous, because you aren't there to make as much money as you can and you aren't selling a comic to Marvel, you are there to meet fans and give them an opportunity to interact with you and maybe take something home they couldn't get anywhere else. That's what a contention is supposed to do, imo. Doesn't mean that stuff should be free, just that it should be affordable and realistic for the people attending the convention. Not really the place for something like this imo.
Try getting Steven Spielberg to direct your wedding video and try to get him to do it for a few hundred dollars.
I have no issue with the price here. First, it's Jim Lee. Dude is a legend. This is also nothing compared to stuff you see in Art Basel and other high brow art shows.
Second, this also tells scalpers to get fucked as well. One of the biggest issues with signed items and such is the huge scalper market behind it. Here, Jim gets paid for his work. Yes, I know the man is rich, but a worker is worth his keep. It's still labor. It's a skill and reputation he build over many decades.
So I don't get the uproar myself. It's a non-essential item, by a legendary comic artist. You're not entitled to affordable custom art just for existing.
Jim Lee's $20,000 commission price causes uproar
A listing of prices for Jim Lee art commissions ranging from $1000 to $35,000 prompted a lot of discourse on the internet.www.comicsbeat.com
Spot on, OP. I hope this gets him more commissions.
People drop huge amounts of money at comic conventions when purchasing rare comics, memorabilia and so on. Not sure what you're talking about.
OP
OP
I thought the convention was understood. Where would he be doing this otherwise? Maybe I'm in my comics bubble.
Creative work of high caliber is some of the most rarified service you can ask a person to perform for you. Their ability is the result of decades of intense learning and experience.
I can see where you're coming from, but have you considered this line of thinking has also resulted in the entitlement of fans who feel their obsession with creators is some kind of transaction resulting in the fan being owed things.
If I met Alex Ross at a convention the last thing I'd feel entitled to was pestering him to sit down and create a piece for me for a couple hundred bucks.
I can see where you're coming from, but have you considered this line of thinking has also resulted in the entitlement of fans who feel their obsession with creators is some kind of transaction resulting in the fan being owed things.
I see absolutely no problem with this. First of all, as an artist, he has the right to set up the price he wants, it's up to the potential buyer to decide if he wants to buy it or not. Then, it's fucking Jim Lee
Nah, we're talking original artworks where the customer gets to pick the character etc. i.e. a commission.
An autograph or a photo are things I would expect to be affordable, maybe even a quick doodle if he's in the mood but not the kind of thing he does for a living. That you paid money to attend a convention does not entitle you to have the guests work for free for your benefit.
What's your request then peeps?
All his originals sell for over 20k.
All his originals sell for over 20k.
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The artists decide the price. If you won't or can't pay for it, someone else will. They shouldn't have to feel bad about that. That's why prints exist. When you hit the level Lee has, that's the privilege that should be taken advantage of. Because it is a rarity in the art world.
$20k is nothing for a commissioned art piece by a well known artist. 10 years ago I was charging $15k to build stupid corporate websites and I am an absolute nobody doing cookie cutter bull shit.
Aaron Archer, whom I enjoy quite a bit, especially because of his impact/involvement with Transformers, touched on this last night in a stream. He also has an amazing story about Jim Lee too
www.youtube.com
LIVE BOTCON tales and JIM LEE ART
Botcon stories and lets look at some Jim Lee art...Aaron C Archer - a veteran Toy Designer, Podcast Host, independent comic artist, and concept designer. F...
www.youtube.com
To be fair, I don't think the people who are upset about this know of, or think much about the rest of the art world.
If I could afford it I'd want Jim Lee to make a Batman portrait signed to my brother who's a big fan.
I'm sure he'll be using proper inks this time =)
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C80Z9kvS3J8/
Pretty cool restoration process though I get the heebie-jeebies looking at the faded lines on Wolvie's mask >_<
He was kinda anxious about doing it though lol
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8hxE_Bvjuh/
I'm sure he'll be using proper inks this time =)
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C80Z9kvS3J8/
Pretty cool restoration process though I get the heebie-jeebies looking at the faded lines on Wolvie's mask >_<
He was kinda anxious about doing it though lol
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8hxE_Bvjuh/
It's Jim fucking Lee, if I could pay, I would pay to commission him drawing my OC.
God damn
Also this video is pretty much spot on what I think
www.youtube.com
God damn
Also this video is pretty much spot on what I think
Why Do People Get Mad When Artists Make Money?
NEW COURSES: http://bradsartschool.comLinks from this video:Jim Lee Commissions: https://albertmoy.com/artistcommission.asp?artistid=380Gail Simone's Jim Lee...
www.youtube.com
I appreciate that artists are actually paid for their work.
And we are talking about Jim Lee, if anything this price tag is fair.
And we are talking about Jim Lee, if anything this price tag is fair.
I'm assuming the uproar is mainly from folks wanting to flip them. Think about it, if you can't afford one at the current price but got one for $150 or $200 but saw they were selling for $20,000... You're gonna sell it. This way Jim Lee is actually paid what his art is worth.
While I cannot afford that, it seems like a fair price for a piece by a legend like him. Ultimately, artists HAVE to account for the flippers. A few years ago there was a con where Amanda Conner was doing special meet and greets where you got a photo, got to chat with her and Jimmy, got a bunch of stuff signed and got a 8x11 original drawing. My Harley Quinn picture was full color and took up the entire page. The price for the event was like $500 CAD. It was a steal and sure enough I saw a few of those drawings go up on ebay for like 5x the price.
A also liked the approach of Don Rosa, a famous Uncle Scrooge creator. In order to get a sketch he first wanted to have a conversation about Scrooge and his stories to kinda prove I was a fan. On top of that he won't sign or sketch anything unless he adds a "To CorporateClown" or whatever your name is so it's more difficult to flip. He didn't charge anything, though.
A also liked the approach of Don Rosa, a famous Uncle Scrooge creator. In order to get a sketch he first wanted to have a conversation about Scrooge and his stories to kinda prove I was a fan. On top of that he won't sign or sketch anything unless he adds a "To CorporateClown" or whatever your name is so it's more difficult to flip. He didn't charge anything, though.
As an artist he's absolutely allowed to charge what he wants for his work and oh by the way he's JIM LEE, a legend.
Let's not criticize artists for their rates.
Let's not criticize artists for their rates.
OP
OP
He does live twitch streams drawing. He's mostly an executive these days but it's cool he still creates art.
Has he done full comics recently?
It it is like asking John Williams to make you a personal theme song. of asking to write you a bit code.
Luckily his wife gets free commissions, and gets a free commission from her in return
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C83VaDQRj2X/
Wholesome family night
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C83VaDQRj2X/
Wholesome family night
OP
OP
You also need to charge high enough so you are not booked all the time. Waiting to have time to work on your own stuff because you have a year long list of people waiting for freelance work is hell.
They're wholesome as fuck. They have some sweet extended family stories on his insta as well. They have NINE kids between their first marriages and the ones they had together.
Dude has 9 kids and some of them in college better fucking believe your 20k is going to a good cause - tuition. lol.
Its fine
Time is money and Jim Lee probably doesn't want to do cheap work on the fly if he can do something else
Time is money and Jim Lee probably doesn't want to do cheap work on the fly if he can do something else
This is my stance on anything that folks might deem overpriced. If it's non-essential, they can ask for whatever the fuck they want. It's not "disgusting" or whatever, it's just a higher price than I think it's worth.
People have come to view things that aren't tailored to them and their situation as unethical. He could be charging a million dollars, wouldn't change my view on it at all. I'd never pay it even if I had the money, and that's okay.
Here's a take i'm not seeing much yet in this thread.
A lot of people that would enjoy having his art aren't this wealthy to afford this. Yeah at this point his art isn't for the general public in this kind of society. When scalpers and people that buy this art to display are that far above us monetarily some people need to just realize they are at the bottom.
I get the complaints but it looks like a lot of the people actually upset at this are just upset at the crazy cost. Yeah if he can get this much for his art that's his prerogative. People should be mad at the society that got us to this kind of point. Majority of fans are just priced out with this cost and it made them mad, i get it.
A lot of people that would enjoy having his art aren't this wealthy to afford this. Yeah at this point his art isn't for the general public in this kind of society. When scalpers and people that buy this art to display are that far above us monetarily some people need to just realize they are at the bottom.
I get the complaints but it looks like a lot of the people actually upset at this are just upset at the crazy cost. Yeah if he can get this much for his art that's his prerogative. People should be mad at the society that got us to this kind of point. Majority of fans are just priced out with this cost and it made them mad, i get it.
Stuff like this ends up happening a lot- "be a guest on our podcast/stream" type auctions tend to end up going for more money than a "normal" person could ever hope to get, and something like this would also fit. I think the solution would be doing 1 slot a year or something where it's a $5 raffle or something, with the money going to charity or something. That way, a "normal" person has a chance to get something they otherwise could never afford, and even if they don't get it, it's a $5 donation to charity.