Ma, Simon :: Comic Art

The Hulk convention drawing (Swansea 2023, Part 1) – Simon Williams

Artist: Simon Williams (All)

4 Comments - 631 Views - 1 Like

The Hulk convention drawing (Swansea 2023, Part 1) – Simon Williams Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	The Hulk convention drawing (Swansea 2023, Part 1) – Simon Williams
Artist:	Simon Williams (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Convention Sketch
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	631
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	4
Added to Site:	5/13/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I did not make it to the biggest comics-related convention in the world this weekend but I did manage to attend what is perhaps the second-best comics-related convention which runs over the weekend of 13-14 May, 2023. What the Swansea Comics and Gaming Convention lacks in scale, footfall, location in comparison to the Lake Como Comic Art Festival it more than makes up for in Celtic “Hwyl”.

In the almost 40 years I have spent going to comic conventions off and on (admittedly more off than on over the last 25 years) there has been only two occasions when an artist has stated upfront that they are going to be charging for convention sketches/drawings, and although free sketching might have been seen to be normal when comic conventions were in their infancy in the UK it should be a given nowadays for an artist to charge for their time like any other artisan. My experience was that the two drawings I knew I was going to pay for before the artist put pen to paper were not unmistakably considerably better than the ones I received for free, and, in fact, some of the ones I had gratis were as good as and even better than the drawings I had been charged for. However, when I hit what would be the equivalent of Artists Alley at the Swansea Comics and Gaming Convention, 2023 there definitely was a step-up in terms of time and effort expended in drawing what was requested when you were required to pay, and the chasm yawned much wider between the quality of a free drawing and one you would pay for and could watch being done at a convention.

The first artist I approached was Simon Williams, whose table was adorned with samples of the Hulk and so I played to his strengths by asking for a Hulk. He had worked on the character for Marvel UK and also drawn Transformers and Death’s Head. He asked me which version of the Hulk was my preference and after giving me the options I went for the classic flat-topped Jack Kirby/Sal Buscema version which being the one I myself grew up reading via Marvel UK reprints seemed appropriate. What also impressed me was that SW was able to carry on a conversation about his work, influences and cultural tastes whilst at the same time drawing. His current project is a horror comic which features Boris Karloff as the host introducing short stories. This has been approved and endorsed by Boris Karloff’s daughter, Sara, and the publication will be released in 2024. I was very pleased with this version of the Hulk, which kicked off a new dedicated convention-drawings sketchbook.

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About the Owner

	Simon Ma ( 2 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	April 2013
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
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Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

Posted on 5/14/2023

Nice addition to tthe sketchbook! Whenever you turn to this page, you will be reminded of Williams' stories! The heavy brow and the flaring eyebrows do a great job of framing Hulk's angry stare!

Simon Ma
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 6/16/2023

Marcus Wai wrote:

Nice addition to tthe sketchbook! Whenever you turn to this page, you will be reminded of Williams' stories! The heavy brow and the flaring eyebrows do a great job of framing Hulk's angry stare!

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, it is good, ain’t it?

Neil Patel
Member Since 2012

Posted on 5/14/2023

That's a great sketch by Simon, he's a great artist and he truly knows the essence of the character and his various incarnations.

Simon Ma
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 6/16/2023

Neil Patel wrote:

That's a great sketch by Simon, he's a great artist and he truly knows the essence of the character and his various incarnations.

You have one of the most impressive collection of Jolly Jade Giant commissions and convention drawings I have ever seen so you obviously know what you are talking about. Thank you. And Simon is one heck of a nice guy, too (who evidently has no problem multi-tasking).

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