Ok, maybe not necessarily a weight, but the beginning of something NEW I FINALLY had the guts to do. On Friday of the Indy CC, I sold all of my 11x17 superhero prints I had left. EVERY SINGLE ONE! It's SO relieving to finally get rid of them. At the same time, scary. However, I haven't given up on selling prints. I've started selling my studio's cartoon prints featuring my own characters. I know I'm going to take a little hit financially in what I make at the conventions, but, that's ok. It feels good to sell what you believe in and created.
When I started selling superhero prints years ago at conventions, I loved it. As a new professional colorist in the comic book industry, having fans come to my table and buy a print or prints I worked on was fantastic. I had every character from Spider-Man to Batman, Wonder Woman...you name it. I'm not going to lie. When you have those popular characters at conventions, they will sell. Now a days if you sell the prints of characters that made it to the big screen, you're going to make a bundle. Even though the prints I had were selling, something was missing. I was stoked people liked my coloring on those prints, but it wasn't enough.
Anyone can draw a circle. A square. A straight line, or at least a semi straight line. Anyone can draw, Spider-Man, Batman, DeadPool. It's easy. There's a lot of references to look off of to draw those characters. But now draw something from your heart you created. Something that comes from you. It's not easy. Since creating my own characters and putting them in comic strips and upcoming comics, kids books and animations through my studio, I have a whole new outlook on creating and the creators. I have a much more higher respect for the masters who created those characters and the animations I grew up with.
So I'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased a piece of art from Jeff Balke Studios featuring our own characters and giving them a place in your home. It may seem like a small thing, but it's huge to me.
I've enjoyed coloring up the superhero prints, it's something I've worked very hard to do, especially with NO schooling. All self taught. But now I'm taking that talent and applying it to my own characters and prints. If you see us set up at a convention stop by, say HI and check them out. See for yourself what I'm talking about. And again, THANK YOU!
So I'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased a piece of art from Jeff Balke Studios featuring our own characters and giving them a place in your home. It may seem like a small thing, but it's huge to me.
I've enjoyed coloring up the superhero prints, it's something I've worked very hard to do, especially with NO schooling. All self taught. But now I'm taking that talent and applying it to my own characters and prints. If you see us set up at a convention stop by, say HI and check them out. See for yourself what I'm talking about. And again, THANK YOU!
