usagiguy - Usagi on e-bay

07:53 am May 22nd, 2007




			usagiguy - Usagi on e-bay

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usagiguy


	Usagi on e-bay
	I was a guest at the Motor City Con in Novi, MI this past weekend. It is a wonderful con, and I had such a great time. The people there were terrific. One great pleasure I had was getting to know Mouse Guard creator David Petersen a lot better, and getting to meet members of the Usagi Yojimbo Dojo website. Whenever I return from a con, I log on over at e-bay to see how many of my free sketches wind up for sale. Yes, I do still draw free sketches, but that will change. I demand four things for these sketches: 1-you supply the paper; 2-it has to be personalized; 3-I don't do requests; and 4-one drawing per person. I think my demands are very reasonable. After Mega Con a couple of months ago, there were about a dozen drawings for sale. Even the personalization did not stop people from selling them, or from buying them. Here's a link to one of my drawings from the Motor City Con, with a BIN option of $45.99 plus $7.99 for mailing the sheet of typing paper: http://cgi.ebay.com/stan-sakai-original-art-usagi-yojimbo_W0QQitemZ330122485809QQihZ014QQcategoryZ972QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/usagiguy/pic/00054ax4/"></a> Except it is not completely my drawing. Someone (the seller I presume) has drastically altered the art , using a broad marker to darken the border and drawing some grass to obliterate the personalization. Drawings usually fetch a higher price if they are not personalized to someone. I assume it is the seller that did the alterations, because he is selling a piece by another artist with the drawing drastically cropped to leave out the personalization. I don't know if it technically it is counterfeit, but it certainly is fraud. Most cartoonists will not do these free drawings anymore because of dealers reselling them. I think I will have to join this majority.

27 comments or Leave a comment


	Comments

	From: catystorm	Date: May 22nd, 2007 04:04 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I really don't get people like that. I think I would foam and die if I ever got personalized artwork from one of my favorite artists and it would be friggin' framed on my wall. Never mind altering it, good lord.

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	From: cynlee	Date: May 22nd, 2007 04:20 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Can't you alert eBay to this fraud? Or should we just go there and PM the seller ourselves?

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	From: giza	Date: May 22nd, 2007 04:36 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I would definitely alert eBay to this fraud.

Since the seller is selling other works which they claim are original, I think this instance may just be the tip of the iceberg.

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	From: unclekage	Date: May 22nd, 2007 05:22 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Or I could buy the artwork, and then leave scathing feedback that this person sold a "counterfeit" work of art.

You have a very darling reputation for being one of the "nice ones," Stan, a reputation which is richly deserved. I think it would be tragic to see you forced to join the "sorry, I don't do sketches" set because of a few smelly rotten apples in the bottom of the bag.

Still, whatever decision you make, you know that I'd support you. Just give me the opportunity to work some deviltry before you decide! >:)

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	From: jasontheartist	Date: May 22nd, 2007 05:28 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	NO EBAY

I will NOT sell the wonderful sketches you did for me and my kids!!!
Sergio's, maybe. ;>
KIDDING!!!!!
just kidding.
don't tell Sergio I said that!

Hope the rest of the con went well for you.
Jason

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	From: lord_kingsley	Date: May 22nd, 2007 05:42 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Of course, you could always have Mark Evanier drop them a line: http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_05_17.html#013472

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	From: aignatius	Date: May 22nd, 2007 07:25 pm (UTC)		(Link)

That is sad to hear about that. I've enjoyed getting convention sketches from you Stan, usually on the inside cover of books I've bought at your booth. I hope you will continue to do those, at least.

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	From: chickrockguitar	Date: May 22nd, 2007 07:26 pm (UTC)		(Link)

*sighs*

That is just wrong. Very very wrong.

catystorm said it well: I think I would foam and die if I ever got personalized artwork from one of my favorite artists and it would be friggin' framed on my wall. Never mind altering it, good lord.

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	From: usagiguy	Date: May 22nd, 2007 09:01 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Thanks to a lot of friends, this has gotten a lot of attention, even on Heidi MacDonald's blog over at Publishers Weekly:

http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/05/22/stop-ripping-off-stan-sakai-you-dolts/#comments

So much so, that the seller has withdrawn the item because of "an error in listing".

Thank you all.

However, I see he has a lot of other sketches by artists who were at Motor City. They were not altered like mine was, but it still ticks me off.

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From: (Anonymous)	Date: May 22nd, 2007 10:52 pm (UTC)		(Link)
Evil Ebay Guys

Stan,

Don't let this guy bring get you down. The group I was with, myself included, were thrilled that you drew sketches for us. I agree it was disheartening to see, and even worse to see Sergio's and Ken Kelly's sketches listed along side it (as all three of you provided a sketch for my sketch book), but all of the fans I know love getting a quick sketch from someone who's work they admire and have no intention of ever getting rid of them.

In fact, if you like, I can send you a pic of a sketch you drew for me years ago at Wizard World Chicago, framed and on my wall.

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	From: fatelvis138	Date: May 22nd, 2007 11:01 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Stupid people ruin everyones good time. I am very impressed that you still do free sketches despite this ebay garbage. If I ever get the pleasure of meeting you at a con, you can just tattoo something on me, then it will be far more difficult to sell. Truth be told, I would gladly pay you what this jerk is asking for something that you personalized to me, but not to some scalper trying to make a buck off your generosity...

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From: rainjax	Date: May 23rd, 2007 01:35 am (UTC)		(Link)

Folks like this spud really screw things up for the rest of us. I purposefully didn't come to your table at Megacon because I had left my Usagis at home & didn't to take up anyone else's signing time (every time I had free time you were occupied). To think that someone would purposefully obtain a nice freebie sketch like you were doing for resale really steams me. I know this is the Real World and all, but it's still crap.

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	From: ihnatko	Date: May 23rd, 2007 07:30 am (UTC)		(Link)
	The eBay Rathole

In the end, you gotta do what you gotta do to stay sane and to keep people from limiting your enjoyment.

The neat feature about not giving away free sketches is that it's a perfect filter to separate the true fans from the eBay bandits. The fans are the ones who drove for two or three hours just to shake your hand and tell you how much they've enjoyed UY and maybe ask, er, Usagi isn't going to become possessed by Jei at some point, is he?

But for the bandits, that's only a formality...a prelude to a profit.

Anyone who leaves your table steamed about your new policy has a messed-up set of priorities. There's such a thing as p***ing off the right class of people, methinks.

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	From: jasontheartist	Date: May 24th, 2007 03:44 am (UTC)		(Link)
	wrote back

Stan,
I actually found a sketch of Sergio's on Ebay as well, cropped off the personalization and could still see a bubble from the thought bubble!!! But I wrote this wretch and gave him a piece (which is all I had left) of my mind. He wrote back telling me to get off my high horse and that I was lying when I said Sergio will not do free sketches anymore because of these kinds of things. Suffice it to say, I think other fans should write this guy. And Ebay.
http://myworld.ebay.com/comicman182/
Give 'im Hell, Dojo!!!

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	From: usagigaijin	Date: May 24th, 2007 07:49 am (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: wrote back

I sent comicman182 a message through ebay not too long after the Usagi sketch was first posted, as well as a second message after Heidi MacDonald wrote about the situation on her Publisher Weekly blog, but I never received any reply from him. :(

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	From: usagiguy	Date: May 24th, 2007 01:23 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: wrote back

Sergio was the person I was referring to in my LJ--the artist whose work was cropped.

He and I were talking before, during and after Motor City. I think this con was the last time we would be doing this. He, I, and a bunch of other cartoonists are talking, and these quick drawings will probably no longer be completely free.

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	From: jasontheartist	Date: May 24th, 2007 01:39 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: wrote back

I'm truly sorry to hear that. If we could have bought something we would have. Those sketches you did for us and the one Sergio did mean alot to my family and we appreciate it. I'm one class from graduating and still commuting 240 miles a week to get to school. I deliver pizzas to pay bills so just getting to the convention was a struggle. I tried to raise funds to be able to buy a commission piece or two, but couldn't scrape enough together for a sketchbook (which looked great). So I was thrilled to see that you and Sergio were kind enough to do free sketches for your FANS.
Would you like some copies of the photos taken at the show? My wife Melissa took great shots of you sketching. I might even to a drawing of one of them. I have photos posted on my Myspace.
www.myspace.com/nuttallart I also have my fine arts there. I would love to see your block prints and fine arts as well.
Thanks again

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	From: jasontheartist	Date: May 27th, 2007 04:42 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: wrote back

um, is there any way I could use you as a reference? I'm one class away from my BFA and I don't have a job (other than pizza delivery). I'm trying to apply for part time faculty positions in Michigan.
Unrelated, What did you think of my book, MIA: Mime In Action?

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	From: usagiguy	Date: May 30th, 2007 07:34 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: wrote back

I have a BFA (in drawing and painting) as well, and worked my way through college as a fry cook in a fast food place.

I don't know how I could help you as a reference. I just met you once for a few hours at Motor City Con, so don't know you personally. I like the portrait you gave me. Sharon said you caught me right on. Sergio's was terrific as well. But aside from the drawing and MIA, I don't know your work, so couldn't work as a professional reference.

I was disappointed in MIA. The style of art just did not fit with the story. There were also very obvious mistakes in the art, such as the perspective of the room and table in the very first panel does not go to a common vanishing point. Some of the panels, such as pages 8 &9 are very confusing. I know they're supposed to show some of his antics, but the staging doesn't work. Panel 3 of page 9 is particularly confusing. It's hard to tell if he has something in his hand, or has his thumb in her eye.

The gag on page 12 is over explained. It would have been much funnier and much faster with less panels.

It looks like you used primarily one pen and a brush for all your inking. Try using a different pen, maybe one with a flex tip.

Sorry to sound so down on this. Judging by your portraits, you really do have a lot of talent. MIA was just not your best work.

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	From: grinninfoole	Date: June 14th, 2007 01:33 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	a note of appreciation

Dear Mr. Sakai,

A couple of years ago, on a visit to Northampton, you stopped by my comic book store, and when I started to ask if you were who I thought you were, you identified yourself and graciously offered to do a sketch for us. It is now framed on our wall, next to a flyer Will Eisner signed to us. It brightens my day every time I see it.

Thanks,
Mike Dow

p.s. I still believe that the Green Persimmon is an amazing feat of storytelling. I often show it to people when I turn them onto Usagi.

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From: (Anonymous)	Date: June 14th, 2007 02:11 pm (UTC)		(Link)
Motor City

Stan,
I was a dealer at this show. (I have the old maps) As much as I would have loved a sketch from you or Sergio, I didn't ask. I didn't want to put you in a postion where you felt bad for having said no.
The ONLY solution I can see is to only do sketches in sketch books.
Phil

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From: (Anonymous)	Date: June 14th, 2007 05:06 pm (UTC)		(Link)
free sketches

I wouldn't blame you one bit if you no longer did free sketches. In fact, I refuse to take them: I strongly believe artists ought to be paid for their time and talents. If an artist doesn't charge than I leave them a tip. They can do with it as they please.
Marcus Hamilton, who does the Dennis The Menace daily, charges all of $2 which he donates to his church. Every year at Heroes Con in Charlotte (coming up this weekend!) I buy two, and pay him ten dollars. They are easily worth that much to me.
BTW, Marcus is absolutely the fastest sketch artist I have ever seen. I've watched both Sergio Jack Davis in action, and they are sloths compared to Marcus!
My thanks to you for your work and your generosity towards your fans.
James Cassara

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From: (Anonymous)	Date: June 14th, 2007 05:09 pm (UTC)		(Link)
free sketches PS

I should add that I only purchases sketches or commissions if they are inscribed to me. Why else would I want one? It's the personalization that makes it even more treasured.
James Cassara

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	From: colinmurtagh	Date: June 14th, 2007 06:01 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I only managed to make it across the pond once, in 1999. At that convention, you signed a poster for me, which is framed and up on the wall, and did a wonderful sketch in my book. In fact it was so good, Shannon Wheeler copied the pose for a sketch of TMCM a couple of pages later. There's no way I could ever consider letting that go, and I can't understand how folk can

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From: (Anonymous)	Date: June 14th, 2007 10:58 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Only $45.99? Now that's an insult!

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	From: joycemelton	Date: June 15th, 2007 05:05 am (UTC)		(Link)
	Possible (partial) remedy

Do art only for people who have a scrapbook of personalized sketches from other artists. It's not a perfect solution but it is workable.

- Joyce

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	From: misterwolfie	Date: June 15th, 2007 11:29 am (UTC)		(Link)

I should be so lucky to meet you Stan. I'm one of those people who remain unheard and unseen, who turn out to have been reading Usagi since "Critters" ~ there's a lot of us about (it would seem from your letters column :)
Living in the UK, I don't have the luxury of meeting you at a convention, but if I did, I'd be happy to pay a small fee for an addition to my sketchbook ~ even though I'm disabled and have no income.

I note that this particular example remains unsold, and probably is totally unsaleable. Yes, there are *bound* to be unscrupulous people who will flip your free sketches, but don't the many, mnay thousands that are cherished by your fans outweigh that possibility?

While I'd say it's best not to look for those sketches at all. But if you're so concerned about it (not to mention your fans being ripped off for a quickie sketch) why don't you do sketches and put them on eBay yourself. At once, undermining any potential market a flipper would have AND supplying reasonably priced sketches to fans who can't meet you in person.

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