How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
About 5 years ago I was contacted by Steven Frank and he was doing a fund raising event for the March of Dimes. His idea was to have artists do sketches on these 4 x 6 cards that were imprinted by the March of Dimes. He asked me to do a couple, which I was more than happy to do. The fund raiser was very successful I guess. From there I got a few more inquiries from other organizations to do sketch cards on the standard 2.5 x 3.5 format. Then Steve started 5finity and asked me to participate in a couple of their projects. Since then I have always been doing something with sketch cards. Even if it’s creating my own, and selling them on eBay.

What is your favorite subject to draw?
Superheroes. But I don’t get asked all that often to draw a sketch card of them. Somehow most requests for sketch cards are for boobs and butts! LOL. And can I really complain that I get to draw those?

 

What is your favorite character to draw?
Whatever someone has asked me to do next. HA! There are so many. Probably towards the top of the list are Power Girl, Supergirl, The Hulk.

Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
Color. As an Artist, I feel you can convey so much more depth and emotion using color. Black and white can be effective when used here and there. But for me when it comes to sketch cards, color is better.

What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
Right now I am using any and all markers that will get the job done for a specific image. I use Prismacolor and Copic markers. I also have a couple Faber-Castell brush markers I will pull out every now and then too. Finishing touches could be Faber-Castell colored pencils and white gouache.



Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
Wow. There are so many of them. I know I am going to leave someone off this list and piss them off (If that is you, please accept my humble apologies!). How about Jim Kyle, Meghan Hetrick, Bill McKay, Axebone, Amy Clarke. The list goes on and on.

What are you currently working on?
I just completed cards for 5finity Bill Tucci’s Shi collection. I am currently working on Ken Galan’s Contemporary Pin-ups. And after that is a project for Bad Axe studios next card collection.

Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
Sure. One sketch card project can lead to another. Which is wonderful. I am always so grateful to be approached to participate on a sketch card project. But if you are asking do sketch cards lead to other type of artistic work? Then the answer is not really. When someone sees one of my sketch cards, it leads them to ask about doing more cards. It never leads to asking about doing full comic pages or a large commission piece. They are just very different disciplines and I am finding out they are like parallel universes and rarely do they collide into one another.



Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
Nope.

Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
My website is www.artofm2.com
My deviantArt page is http://mmunshaw.deviantart.com
And I am on Twitter at @mmunshaw

From Versicolor Productions:

We would like to announce that Versicolor Productions will be releasing Bettie Page Box 2 at the end of this year!  We have a great lineup of sketch artists from the original set plus many new ones that are just fantastic.  Plus, we’ll have some great surprises to be announced in the coming months involving the set.  Below is a list of participating sketch artists to this second installment of Bettie Page.



Richard Pace
Kristin Allen
Jessica Hickman
Sara Richard
Craig Yeung
Tim Shay
Leah Mangue
Chris Hoffman
Dan Bergren
Danielle Soloud
Frank Kadar
Goony Toons
Chris Henderson
Bill Bronson
Charles Hall
Scott Blair
Scott Rorie
Jeremy Treece
John Haun
Alex Alderete
Richard Cox
Ted Dastick Jr.
Steve Oatney
Axebone
Veronica O’Connell
Newton Barbosa
Gary Kezele
Elaine Perna
Trev Murphy
Peng Peng
Eisu
Jerome Dabos
Remi Dousset
Nestor Celario
Heather Cromwell
Uko Smith
Angel Palacios
Julius Abrera
Babis Kourtis
MAX!
Jack Redd
Rob Baker
Wu Wei
Shane McCormack
Edward Cherniga
Eli Rutten
Judit Tondora
M. Jason Reed
BOO
David Desbois
Mark McHaley
Gabby Untermayerova
Tim Proctor
David Coalburn
Paul Ballard
Lee Kohse
Mick & Matt Glebe
Kevin West
Andrew Robinson
Russell Walks

How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
I have been a freelance illustrator since the late 90’s, working for pretty much every different type of client you can imagine - from the very big corporations to very small independent publishers, in nearly every genre and style. In May of 2010 and was suddenly laid off from my full time staff illustrator position for a local children’s book publisher, and the situation was looking grim for a while. So I decided to get back to basics, and started drawing for the pure fun of it - drawing things that I WANTED to draw, for a change. So I began to spend a lot of time down at my local comic shop- Comic Connection Oakville -  just drawing comic book characters for fun. A  great bunch of guys work there, and they really liked my work. My wife had picked up a pack of blank art cards for me to try out, so  I started to drawing on them for fun. The guys at the comic shop suggested that I submit my stuff to some of the different nonsport card companies, and my work was met with a good response. Before I knew it, I was working again.

What is your favorite subject to draw?
I love drawing comic book and fantasy stuff. Monsters are my first love, dating back to my childhood, so I find all of that kind of stuff really fun to draw. Dragons, werewolves, giants, that sort of thing.

What is your favorite character to draw?
That’s a tough one, there are so many. The Thing is amy all time favorite character, but I don’t feel like I ever get him quite ‘right’ when I draw him, so he remains my eternal challenge, my white whale. I guess the character I have drawn the most is Iron Fist. He is great fun- simple, striking costume and he’s fun draw in any pose, really dynamic guy. I could also draw Conan or Usagi Yojimbo all day long and never get bored.



Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
I much prefer to work in black and white, with washes of grey, but most card companies prefer color work, so that is what they get from me.

What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
I usually pencil lightly with a 2H pencil first, then get out my brushes and work in India ink and wash, water color, and sometimes markers (Pitt, Chartpak, COPIC) to get really intense pure colors.

Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
There are so many great ones out there it is hard to pick. Cat Staggs is brilliant. I also like Jim Kyle’s work.



What are you currently working on?
A bazillion things. I have a couple of top secret comic book projects in the works, a pile of private commissions on my desk, some pinups to do for some of my favorite comic books, and I’m working away at a big mural for a local Japanese restaurant. Heh, I’m also a part time custodian.

Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
I believe so, yes. Working with such limited dimensions forces me to get creative in how I use that space, and really tightens up my small brushwork skills. The internet exposure after a new sketch card set launches is also pretty cool, and usually gathers me a bit more work.



Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
I wish I could, but my available funds are quite limited, and any extra I have left after bills and whatnot goes towards buying the few comics books I read each month. I’d love to collect some sketch cards though- so many great artists out there.

Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
I have a web gallery displaying my sketchcards/sketch covers, illustrations and commissions- www.mikerooth.com

I will have a blog (one day!) but until then anyone interested in learning more about me or checking out my artwork can follow me on twitter, where I post my sketches and any new artwork I’m doing nearly every day.
https://twitter.com/#!/uncouthRooth

Better late then never… I took this interview with Craig Yeung back in june 2011. Lost it, found it… and here it finally is!

How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
My first introduction to sketch cards was when a collector approached me at a con and asked for a sketch of Rogue on one of these tiny cards (Cough Elaine Cough). At the time it was more a one off, but then there were more requests at cons for sketch cards so i started to look more into it and submitted samples to Rittenhouse Archives who subsequently offered me a chance to work on their Xmen Archives set.

What is your favorite subject to draw?
I enjoy drawing female characters.

What is your favorite character to draw?
I’ve drawn quite a few Black Widows. I think it’s one of my favorite characters in comics.

Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
I prefer to do mostly tonal work (black and white), but have gotten used to coloring now on the smaller cards as well.

What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
My cards are usually a mix of graphite, watercolors and gouache.

Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
There are many talented sketch card artists out there, but I like the Pernas, they are cool peeps.

What are you currently working on?
I’m working on an upcoming Rittenhouse set as well as Axebone’s Dungeon Dolls set. I have also finished some cards for Vampirella from Breygent which should be coming out shortly. You can also catch my inkwork on various comics coming out. =D.

Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
It has definitely exposed me to a whole new fan/collector base aside from comic work. I enjoy working one on one with a lot of the sketchcard collectors.

Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
I used to collect back in the 90s during the boom, mostly hockey cards. Today not so much. I have started a small collection of Underworld sketchcards though hehe.

Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
You can find more of my work at http://csyeung1.blogspot.com/ , also at http://csyeung.deviantart.com/ where i dump a lot of my newest artwork. And you can follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/csyeung

It’s time for Star Wars Episode 1 3D! Well, almost is…. for now check out this cool Star Wars Galaxy 7 sketch card preview by Mark McHaley.

How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
I got into drawing sketch cards after meeting Jon Hughes at a comics and toy show in Houston and he introduced me to them.

What is your favorite subject to draw?
I really dig superheros obviously lol , and I am dipping into the vintage type style pinups as well.

What is your favorite character to draw?
I really enjoy drawing the HUlk because he represents a huge challenge to me visually and a good drawing of him is a huge pay off lol

Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
It al depends on what I am trying to convey in the piece… but I do enjoy color, it pops the picture!

What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
I love me some lead holders with a harder lead, pentel brush tip and pentel stylo for inking and mixed prismas and copics or the colors. 

Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
HMMM wow what a huge and hard to answer question lol…. everyone brings something unique and awesome to the table… but if I had to pick just one, itd be Jim Kyle, followed closely by Gary Kezele, Charles Hall, Lak Lim,Joshua Flower, Melike Acar and the list just goes on and on

What are you currently working on?
I am currently working the upcoming Avengers set(s) and a few projects from Capstone Comics as well as mine and Patrick Yarbroughs own web comic S.S.D.D.

Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
I believe it has benefitted me greatly and defeinitely expoed to an audience I might not have been able to reach if not for an appreciation for what sketch cards are, which is a moment in comic time and a great way for collectors to score original art! 

Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
I do, I buy the Rittenhouse sets and I have a Joker collection I have been building in trades and purchases from other sketch card artists.

Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
Of course I do… you can check me out and hit me up at the following:

www.christopherforeman.com
chris-foreman.deviantart.com

And of course, I have an ebay store here:
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Art-of-Chris-Foreman?_rdc=1

Thanks guys and dolls and see you at the cons!!!

How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
The first time I heard about sketch cards it was in the Otis Frampton blog. He had lots of videos with the process of his cards and I thought: “Hey, I can do this!”. But I had no idea of how to start. So I began to investigate about that business, and that took me to the Scoundrel forum where I read tons of threads to learn about the artists, companies, how to submit my work, and all that. Then I started a thread to show my work. The same I submitted to the companies. Months passed waiting for my first project and nobody called me. Finally, when I was about to give up, I read a comment by Mark Slater in his Facebook page about the Cult-Stuff company. I had nothing to loose so I submitted them a few samples. And the same day I recieve the offer to work in the sets they were preparing.

What is your favorite subject to draw?
I like characters of epic fantasy as Conan or Red Sonja and Nordic mythology.

What is your favorite character to draw?
Thor.

Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
To draw I prefer color. To buy I don’t mind if the sketch is in b/w or color.

What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
I work mainly with markers mixed with color pencils to get the colors I don’t have in markers. Also I use white ink for bright effects. I can work with acrylics and watercolors too, but aren’t materials I use the most.

Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
I’ve got lots of them: Otis Frampton, Mark Slater, Katie Cook, Hanie Mohd, Melike Akar… but the one I like the most is Jason Keith Phillips (Mayonnaise & Bread). His work is awesome. He’s a very talented artist. Love his style.

What are you currently working on?
I am doing The Avengers and Doctor Who for Strictly Ink. And I will do two sets for their new company Unstoppable Cards.

Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
Absolutely, because before sketch cards I never had anything published. And since I never received any art education, the contact with other artists makes me to improve my skills learning from them.

Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
I’ve got a little collection of sketch cards, and I hope that it grows in the future.

Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
They can go to my Deviantart page: http://reznorix.deviantart.com/ and can buy sketches and commissions in my online store: http://reznorix.ecrater.com/

How did you get into drawing sketch cards?
A friend of mine, that was already working with sketchcards for some time, invited me for a test. I didn’t know much about the whole thing, but I sent the drawings anyway and I were aproved. My first set was “Women of Marvel”.

What is your favorite subject to draw?
When it comes to cards, it’s comics’ super heroes. I like drawing specially portraits related to music and cinema. I always have fun with everything.

What is your favorite character to draw?
I don’t have any favourite carachter to draw. I think I have more facility to draw women. Venom is a character that I always love the results. I also enjoy any carachter of mutant universe.

Do you prefer black & white sketches or color sketches?
I prefer black and white. On how I will use the white spaces and what I will fill with shadows. My lines have a lot more strenght this way.

What kind of materials do you prefer to work with?
Graphite and charcoal. Watercolour and acrylic paint to colour. My 0.5 propelling pencil with 2b graphite… this is what I need the most.

Who is your favorite sketch card artist?
It’s hard to mention names… I appreciate my friends’, Edde Wagner, Eduardo Ferrara and Alex Magno, works. They are always inspiring.

What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a new set for Marvel (I want this one to be the best). I conciliate this with my freelancer illustrator jobs… editorial and didatic works.

Has your career as an artist benefited from doing sketch card work?
Since I started doing sketchcards, my biggest pleasure is the proximity with the fans. They become friends and also order comissions.

Do you collect trading cards for yourself?
I don’t  collect cards. I think when you’re married with two children, it’s very hard to collect anything.

Do you have a website / blog / online presence where readers can find more information about you?
Gallery/Portfolio: http://tomagaleria.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://andretoma.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andre_toma/
Facebook: http://pt-br.facebook.com/people/Andr%C3%A9-Shitetsu-Toma/100002019720979
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/andretoma

By Will Brinkman

I’ve spent the week digging through some of our trading card inventory to share a couple pieces from upcoming sets. Below, you’ll find a 9-piece Beanworld puzzle from artist Rich Molinelli that will be inserted into one box of CBLDF Liberty Trading Cards.

Below are two snapshots from Rusty Gilligan. Milk and Cheese! Yum!

And finally, you can see our Comic-Con San Diego promos for The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, and the CBLDF. Visit those respective booths to get yours!

(Source: cryptozoic.com)

Recently, sketch card artist George Webber updated his Sketch Card Portfolio.

George Webber got into doing Sketch Cards for shows around 2007 and started doing them professionally for card companies in 2009. Some artist like to do 50 or 100 sketch cards in a series, were as George prefers to do only 10 or 20 cards in a series.

Here’s are some samples from Sketch Cards By George:

Comic book Legal Defense Fund - Fund Raiser - Cryptozoic

Treasure Chests & Booty - BadAxe Studios

Manga Mandy - 5FINITY

Check out George Webber’s full Sketch Card Porfolio here and be sure to read the interview we did with him here.