Death - KC

Now here's a rare bird. A large (11x14) fully rendered character by Katie Cook. And like all good collectors, I'm delighted to capture this bird and cage it in a dark portfolio from which it can never fly away.

Just kidding - I'm so pleased with this one that it's on the short list to be framed so all can enjoy.

Ever since I've been going to conventions, I've been aware of Katie Cook. Her whimsical, striking, and affordable con-characters mean she's a tremendous fan favorite with well-deserved, SUBSTANTIAL lines. I had never been able to get to her in time so I was thrilled when she opened up a commission list.

I'm also thrilled with this amazing result. There is so much character in every element of the composition to entertain the eye and get one thinking about all the little nuances. The way the hair has been rendered adds depth and texture - this character really reminds me of Jill Thompson's self portrayals, but I wouldn't be surprised if there some Katie in the mix too.

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Those of you that know me have probably heard me extolling the virtues of a spreadsheet to track art purchase details / provenance etc. I find, particularly with commissions, it's important to record the details because of the length of time involved from the start of the commissioning process to the end.

I've commissioned a fair amount, and have received (and continue to receive) incredible works of art that thrill and delight me every day. Over the last 18 months, however, the number of "no-shows" or "chase chase chase" or "what the fuck happened, Cam???" have been creeping up.

I'm a pretty patient commissioner. I've waited years. I'm in awe of the artistic process and I want to let the artist do their thing, vibe, and enjoy the work. My expectation on delivery is always based on what the artist or rep says to me PLUS a hefty margin. If you ask for more time I will happily give it to you, because at least you are communicating.

At the end of the day, all I want is a bare minimum of communication. One email every six months. Particularly if you are a rep who is financially benefiting from the commission.

"Hey Champ! XXXX is still working on their list. You're in good hands, thanks for the trust."

It's an unnecessary stress. Set an AI to do it. Take responsibility.




Whew! You made it to the end! So what prompted this fun message? THIS commission, in a rare brain fart fog, I both forgot to log to the spreadsheet AND forgot about altogether. So when the rep wrote to check my address (which I'm glad he did because I moved a year ago) it was a complete surprise and I had to check my emails and paypal history to piece it all together. So for this 3-year wait, I was blissfully ignorant and stress free! 🤣

Katie did upgrade the size, which was very nice of her, and appreciated.