John Fleskes, president and publisher of Flesk Publications, teams up with renowned portrait photographer Greg Preston to produce a special book created on the showroom floor of the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live event, held May 9-11th in Kansas City, Missouri. Sessions: Spectrum Fantastic Art Portraits will feature the art, a brief bio, and a portrait created by Greg Preston of at least 50 of the creators behind today’s best contemporary fantastic art.
This project is a singular opportunity that YOU can make happen, and as an added bonus you are invited to witness its creation. John Fleskes is sponsoring the project through Kickstarter, and the chance to be a part of this unique art book begins NOW. The amount needed to make Sessions a reality is $9,000 and this Kickstarter project offers several pledge levels to choose from, each with special items attached to thank you for being a backer.
Publisher John Fleskes explains: “I have invited noted portrait photographer Greg Preston and his crew to SFAL to set up a photo studio right on the show floor to take artist portraits throughout the event. With the permission of the artists, Greg and I will choose our favorite portraits and make a high-end, fine art style book collection. I really want to show the people behind the pictures; those who give us so much beauty, who entertain us and who fill our lives with wonder. Let’s celebrate the artists and who they are, which goes right along with the mission of the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live event: The artists are the stars and let’s showcase them in the best possible light.”
Artists to be included in the project include: Allen Williams, Annie Stegg, Bill Carman, Camilla d’Errico, Cory Godbey, Craig Elliott, Dan dos Santos, Daren Bader, David Palumbo, Donato Giancola, Edward Howard, Frank Cho, George Pratt, Greg Spalenka, Iain McCaig, Jackson Robinson, J. Anthony Kosar, John Picacio, Justin Gerard, Justin Sweet, Mark Chiarello, Mark Schultz, Omar Rayyan, Paul Bonner, Rebecca Yanovskaya, Steve Rude, Terry Dodson, The Shiflett Brothers, Tim Bruckner, Virginie Ropars and Wayne Barlow.
If stretch goals are met, even more artists may be included in the book.
In addition to the opportunity to bring this project to fruition, you can attend Spectrum Fantastic Art Live and witness Greg Preston work directly with the artists. It is open to the public. This is an amazing opportunity for you to see your book being created, and meet the artists who will grace its pages.
In the event that you need more incentive to come on board, Flesk Publications is noted for the quality and craftsmanship of the art books they have created in their twelve years of business. The book you are helping make will itself be a work of art, created by a publisher with a passion for fantastic art and the artists who create it.
The view from the Flesk booth. We had a prime spot right as you walk in off of the main sky bridge.
Emerald City Comicon is a wrap. The show was incredibly well organized with friendly staff and volunteers, plus easy to get in and out. The show was sold out in advance and packed with people for most of Friday and Saturday. I noticed that it was a little easier to get around on Sunday, but just a little.
Our friend’s at Bud Plant were just a few steps away from us. This picture was taken from our booth, too.
I brought three times the amount of books that we brought last year and by closing time on Sunday I was able to fit all of the remaining books into one small box. It looks like I’ll need to bring even more next year!
Here’s a picture of Brom at the Flesk / Spectrum booth just before opening time on Friday morning.Brom sketching in The Art of Brom.
Brom was with us all three days. His line was steady throughout with only the briefest of lulls. We sold out of the Art of Brom books that I had brought by early Sunday. In this picture above, Brom is adding a pair of drawings to a deluxe copy of his art book.
Some people talk about how big of a fan they are of Brom. Others show it. Here, Brom signs his name below the tattoo depicting his art during Emerald City Comicon last weekend. The owner requested Brom’s signature to use as a stencil for the tattoo artist to apply the final touch.
I observed that Seattle has a huge tattoo presence. I saw far more body art than cosplay at this show. Many beautiful tattoo arm sleeves had Asian influences, sea life or fantasy elements to them. I can only imagine how skilled these tattoo artists have to be as they don’t have the luxury of an eraser.
John Flesk, Frank Cho and Brom at the Flesk booth #1702 today at Emerald City Comicon.
Hi, all,
We’re having a great time here this weekend in Seattle at the Emerald City Comicon. The show sold out in advance and the crowds have been thick. We’ve been having a lot of fun and appreciate how many people have been stopping by. I brought three times the amount of books that we brought last year and we are already down to the last 10% of stock with one more full day to go!
Camilla d’Errico’s booth today at Emerald City Comicon.
Here’s a picture of Camilla d’Errico just before Saturday’s opening time at her booth. Camillia will be a special guest at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live this coming May!
Here’s a video showing highlights from the Spectrum 21 judging event which was held on March 1, 2014 at the San Jose State University’s Animation/Illustration department building. The five member jury, comprising of Cory Godbey, J. Anthony Kosar, George Pratt, Shelly Wan and Allen Williams, reviewed over 5000 entries during the daylong event. A Special thanks to the SJSU faculty for making the space available and to the twenty-plus students who volunteered making the day run smoothly!
If you will be attending the Emerald City Comic Con, we’ll be there and we would enjoy seeing you there. The shoe is in Seattle, WA this March 28-30. We have an excellent spot located right at the entrance when walking into the show off of the sky bridge. Our booth number is 1702.
There are a number of artists who we publish that are special guests of the show. Brom will be signing at our Flesk / Spectrum booth for the full three days. Frank Cho, who we are working with on his Drawing Beautiful Women: The Frank Cho Method that will be available this fall, can be found at his guest table MM-07. Terry & Rachel Dodson are at table II-01. And Richard & Wendy Pini, who we have two books in development with, can be found at table E-09. We look forward to welcoming you at our respective locations where you can learn more about our future projects with these exceptional artists. Plus, the artists will have original artwork and prints for sale.
We will have our full line of Flesk books on hand, as well as information regarding the Spectrum annual and the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live event. Free catalogs and promotional postcards will be available. We will be bringing a number of books with slight scuff marks or dings at greatly reduced prices. This is an excellent way to try out a new title or artist, or to fill in your Flesk library for a deal.
Full details about Emerald City Comic Con can be found here.
I visited the LA Art Show for my first time on January 18th. The thought of viewing original paintings by contemporary and past masters was strong enough to lure me to L.A. for the weekend. Here is a batch of pictures that I took at the booths that showcased the artworks that appealed to me the most. The Maxwell Alexander Gallery had a handful of paintings by Joseph Todorovitch (left) and Jeremy Mann (right) on display.
This is another picture of the Maxwell Alexander Gallery booth, this time from the outer aisle. There’s another painting by Jeremy Mann, sixth from the left.
Look who I found at the event; none other than Mr. Craig Elliott, who is shown here admiring a fine art painting.
Zhang Xinquan titled Fishes Play in Heyuan Pool. The sculptures are by Lu Zhenyuan. The work in front of the painting is titled Kisses. This booth represented artists from the Phoenix Art Center from China.
The Museo Maya de America featured an exquisite display titled Guatemala: Treasures of the Maya Spirit.
Another ancient object at the Museo Maya de America booth.
More from the Guatemala: Treasures of the Maya Spirit exhibit.
This is a detail from a painting for the Sacred Palace Series by Li Guan Lin.
Paintings by Jean-Leone Gerome, Norman Rockwell and Camilla d’Erricco are but a small example of the wide-range of artists featured at the LA Art show. This one by Morgan gave me pause.
These are two recent paintings by Brad Kunkle at the Arcadia Contemporary booth.
Another painting by Brad Kunkle. Brad is currently working on fifteen new pieces that will premiere at his third one man show at Arcadia Contemporary in New York City in December.
We wanted to remind everyone that this Friday, January 31, the cost for exhibiting space at Spectrum Live will rise. 10’x10′ premium booths are current $350 and 6′ Artist Alley tables are $100; prices increase to $450 and $200 respectively at midnight 1/31/14.
This is the opportunity to reach both well-known collectors and new patrons with your work at a friendly and focused event where the artists are the stars. Spectrum Live continues to grow in popularity and we anticipate yet another substantial increase in attendance: We are promoting the show regionally and nationally and will be advertising on television, the radio, and in print. With an area population of 2.5 million and another 50 million within a day’s drive, we intend to make sure everyone in the region knows exhibitors are in Kansas City. The convention center, hotels, theaters, clubs, and restaurants are all within short walks of each other and we’ve negotiated special room rates at the Aladdin and Marriott. Visitors have discovered that Kansas City is both welcoming and affordable: Spectrum is a show that won’t break the bank to exhibit at or attend. If you’re interested, please click on the link to book your space:
Besides sales, SFAL is also a prime venue for networking: artistic opportunities stem from interaction and Spectrum Live has many activities that allow attendees to learn and spend time with fellow creatives. Panels and workshops share tips and insights, life drawing sessions will be hosted by The Art Department, multiple artists will be giving live paintings drawing, and sculpting demonstrations, while art directors from the publishing and entertainment industries will be on hand to talk shop and review portfolios. Plus there’s the presentation of the Spectrum 21 Awards at the beautiful Midland Theater, a national landmark that provides a red carpet showcase for fantastic artists of all sensibilities. Not only does the awards ceremony offer the opportunity to socialize with fellow creators, but it allows everyone to join in a celebration of the community as a whole.
Unlike any other convention or show, big or small, Spectrum Fantastic Art Live is your event: Like the Spectrum annual, the artists are what make it tick. If you believe there should be a place that all artists are welcomed without prejudice, in which the art and the artists are the purpose, where artists aren’t bumped by corporations or excluded because of style or methodology…please join us, either as an exhibitor or attendee. As Donato Giancola said, “This weekend will go down in history as one of the greatest gatherings of talent in our field…we’ll all be proclaiming in years to come ‘I was there!'”
Over 200 artists will be exhibiting at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3. Here, Justin Sweet paints at his booth at SFAL2.
The early-bird price break for the exhibitor registration for Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3 has been extended to January 31, 2014. Prices go up $100 starting on February 1. You can download an exhibitor application here, or go straight to the online registration here.
But why is it important to exhibit at shows? Here are my five top reasons why I exhibit at shows; and how Spectrum Fantastic Art Live meets my criteria.
Short answer:
1. For promotion
2. To meet the artists / industry colleagues
3. To get inspired
4. To grow
5. To sell books, prints and original art.
Long answer:
Last summer I wrote a blog detailing the five main reasons why I exhibit at shows. I’m going to share them again, but this time I will add some additional information and include how Spectrum Fantastic Art Live meets my own requirements, and by extension I hope to those who decide to exhibit with us as well.
But first, a little bit of history: I’ve attended and exhibited at over one hundred comic, book and art shows combined over the last 20 years. I’ve helped friends run their comic and rare book booths before I was a publisher and my own booths as Flesk Publications since 2005. Now recently I exhibit with Flesk and Spectrum booths side-by-side at shows
I’ve been to terribly mismanaged shows and others that were exceptionally well run. I’ve taken mental notes over the years and aim to put the positive aspects into practice with SFAL. I’m in a unique position in that starting in 2014 I am part of the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live organization. This group consists of me and five other key, smart and incredibly hard working individuals who I am honored to work with. I can have a say in a range of topics including those ideas that I like the most, caution about the things I see as being negative, and suggest new directions and ideas. SFAL is organized by the Spectrum founders, Cathy & Arnie Fenner.
Let’s get started:
1. Promotion.
It’s essential that I create a presence for Flesk Publications, Spectrum Fantastic Art and for the artists that I publish regularly. I look for opportunities to meet people and share with them what we do. Shows are, in my opinion the best and most cost effective way to do this.
I oftentimes have artists at my booth to give attendees an opportunity to meet with them. It is not a requirement for an artist to have been published by myself or for them to have been in Spectrum to join me. At times I do this simply because I like the artist and their art and it’s good to have their company at the booth. Another key reason is that I want the fan to have a pleasant experience. I also want to help the show where I exhibit at succeed. I promote every show where I attend since I want the organizers to succeed as well. The more popular the show is the better it is for us too.
This is a little off topic–falling more in how to conduct yourself at shows, but do you ever notice that I only write about positive things on my blog? If I have an issue, I offer a constructive break down and work toward a better goal. I do not use the internet to vent or use as a sounding board. Being negative gets you nowhere and causes a lapse in focus. Staying positive before, during and after a show will take you far–if you are patient and work smart. Back to the main topic…
For an artist, promotion at events builds a growing awareness of who you are. It can take years to build a following; plan on committing yourself for 3-5 years at various shows before expecting things to benefit you on a large scale. It doesn’t matter how good you are, if no one knows you or your work you will not succeed. Shows will help make you better known. For me, there is no better way to make an impact with another person than a face to face encounter.
How does SFAL help with promotion?
The booths at this show are reserved for artists, with very few exceptions being made to non-artists who fall within the art community and therefore benefit the show and add to the ambiance. We advertise and reach out to art collectors and fans that have a specific interest in the arts. The people who come to SFAL have a keen interest for our field. The attendees are knowledgeable and sophisticated and have a deep appreciation for what we do. And we welcome all artists, art directors and industry people to help bring you all together for greater opportunities and networking possibilities. I also want to note that it is not a requirement to have been in the Spectrum annual to exhibit or attend. We keep the entry ticket affordable and even have very reasonably priced artist tables to encourage new artists to exhibit at a show for the first time. We take a great interest in cultivating new and young artists.
2. Meet your fellow colleagues in person.
I met Gary Gianni, Steve Rude, Mark Schultz, Jim Silke, William Stout, Bruce Timm and a host of other people I work with at events where I have exhibiting at in the past. Shows provide a rare accessibility to artists and many opportunities arise there that can pay off three or five years from now.
Having a booth makes you accessible. It is a location where fans and industry people can find you and solicit commissions and work. I know many artists who either pick up jobs at shows, or receive calls a few months later from someone who met them at a show and who are following up regarding a request. You may not make money at a show, but you may make it down the line.
How does SFAL help with meeting the artists?
We do this by keeping our focus on the artists, and an affordable entry for the general public. We cultivate those in the industry and those who appreciate the arts to gather in one convenient and central location with easy access from the East and West coasts and everywhere in-between. My notes regarding how SFAL helps with promotion applies here as well.
3. Get inspired!
Walking the show and seeing what others are doing is fuel that can last for months.
How SFAL will help get you inspired?
This is a fun topic for me. I keep mentioning this because it is so important to the SFAL organizers; almost all of the booths are artists. The show is a network of booth after booth of artists who paint, draw, sculpt, hand-craft and use technology to create a near overload of imagery. Making your way through the isles is an opportunity to be stimulated and interact with others passions. The wide-range of arts to be found will guarantee you will meet someone with like-minded views. You will leave inspired.
4. Grow.
Panels, business meetings and talking with our Flesk and Spectrum supporters helps me make decisions for the future and it provides me with the knowledge to keep me on track.
How SFAL will help you grow?
Besides the topics mentioned already, an important goal of ours is to have the best panels by artists for artists, and for the fans who want insight into how things work in the studios. We are setting up painting workshops, industry panels conducted by top named editors, panels for the fans to interact with the artists, and more. We want people leaving the show with valuable new knowledge that can enlighten, and benefit a growing career.
5. Sell art, books, prints, sculptures and more.
I love selling books, packing books, shipping books and getting them into the hands of those that support Flesk and Spectrum. I’m not selling a product that I bought for resale. I am selling books that we made, oftentimes that took months or years to create that I was heavily involved with and that I am passionate about. When someone buys one of our books I am especially grateful since it allows me to continue making more books, and pay royalties to the artists that goes toward the creation of new works.
How does SFAL help to sell your art?
I imagine that some artists feel the same way about selling their art as I do about selling books. Regardless of your motives or what you get out of it, the SFAL organizers work hard to attract buyers who are looking to purchase art direct from you and not from a dealer. What I enjoy most about buying from an artist is that in a small way I have contributed to the artist to produce more work. We welcome and encourage fans and other artists to help one another to succeed.
That wraps up my top five reasons for attending a show and how as one of the SFAL organizers I am working to make Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3 a fun and rewarding experience for all involved.
There is one more topic to discuss, and that is important to consider. That would be making money at a show. I’ve never looked at exhibiting at a show as an immediate financial reward. I’m always happy if I break even. I’ve exhibited at plenty of shows where I lost money, sometimes thousands of dollars, but that never was reason enough for me to quit or to stop exhibiting. For me, embracing my top five is far more rewarding and always pays off in long run.
I’m looking forward to SFAL3 and hope to see you there.
Here are a few stories and pictures during my travels to The Netherlands in late October.
As my flight prepared for departure from the San Francisco airport for Amsterdam the announcement was made to turn off all electronic devices. I gladly shut down and packed away my phones and didn’t turn them back on until my arrival back home in the states. I quickly and easily defaulted back to my days of no phones and no online access. I always feel good when I can temporarily disconnect from the grid, even if just for a day. I survived just fine without a phone, internet access or online maps. A little bit of pre-planning, local help, physical maps and asking people for directions on the streets kept us going in the right direction. It was quite liberating to be free of gadgets. One of my favorite things about traveling is how I tend to look up and around when walking, rather than looking straight ahead and thinking about where I am going when I am moving about on my home turf. This picture (above) is looking straight up into the canopy of a tree that looked remarkably similar to our California Sycamore native trees. It was located on the edge of a walking path that ran along a channel of flowing water that bounced a reflective light along the large broad green and yellow leaves, with the blue sky peering through in the background. It was like seeing a rich pallet of animated oil paint constantly undulating on the leaves and branches. I sat and watched this light show for a while, completely lost in its beauty. Coming from California, the nice weather experienced during our visit, which we were told was exceptional during our stay, was not that unusual for me to experience. But what was impressive was the clarity and lighting of objects during our stay. The days are shorter than where I live, and not just that, they sun travels lower across the Dutch sky making for morning to mid-morning light that blends right into a late afternoon and then evening light. The harsh and bright lighting that washes out color during the middle of the day that I am used to in California was non-existent. This made for perfect photography lighting during much of our stay in the Netherlands. It was like having a Hollywood film crew control the lighting to my advantage everywhere we went. Also, I didn’t have to get up early to catch the morning light.
Terry and Rachel Dodson, Mark Schultz, our pal Jim Reid and I spent the afternoon walking in Schiedam. Terry stopped a few times, pulled out his sketchbook and start drawing a scene that interested him. In this case, Terry was standing in the road to get the angle he wanted. I was watching for cars and bikes, while watching him work. He quickly blocked in the large masses and then continued to ease into the finer details. Twelve minutes later he got down what he wanted and we continued our leisurely walk through the city.
Mark Schultz, Mark Theloson and Thomas Yeates viewing the Will Eisner Exhibit.
We had the good fortune to visit the Belgium Comic Strip Center. Unbeknown to us, a stellar special exhibit on the life and work of Will Eisner was on display. What was originally planned for an hour long visit, extended into a full afternoon of pure enlightenment. Our group this day consisted of Thomas Yeates and his daughter, Mark Schultz, Mark Thelosen, Terry and Rachel Dodson and myself. I would guess all, if not most of us had met Will Eisner at least once, if not multiple times. I would also bet most of us have seen numerous examples of his originals before. Even with those experiences, this homage to Eisner was staggering in scope, detail and display. There are hundreds of originals to view. The care and attention that the Center put into celebrating Eisner is a work of art unto itself. They did a remarkable job. I was impressed by every nuance and corner of the Comic Strip Center. Never have I seen comics and creators so well presented to the public in a museum format. I was delighted that here we were, in the middle of the week, and the place was busy with visitors. The respect and appreciation of the comic arts by the general public throughout Europe is far greater than here in the U.S. And here’s another interesting aside–there was practically no superhero art on display, a genre of which dominates the American comics culture.
Mark Schultz standing in front of the Spirit display. Mark has written a few Spirit stories and drawn a couple of covers.
The Eisner original art displays were designed like a city outline, perfectly complimenting a theme that runs through Eisner’s works.
The Marks’ looking at one of the many displays of comics perephenilia.
Walking back to the train station in Brussels, we came across The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. The lighting crew continued to do their job.
Another picture of the Cathedral with our friend and guide, Mr. Mark Theloson.
Mark Schultz takes a picture of Terry Dodson during our walk through Brussels.
Two days later, the Prince Valiant team of Mark Schultz (writer) and Thomas Yeates (artist) were asked to give a lecture and workshop at the art department of a high school in Breda, The Netherlands. This was done during the early afternoon on the day before the Strip Festival show. These guys are always willing to share some of their knowledge with future professionals. I left for a few hours, but found out later that Mark and Thomas came up with a Prince Valiant story concept and sketched out the strip in front of the class. That’ll teach me to go goof off.
We were pleasantly surprised to see a large Dan Brereton drawing on the door leading into the art lecture room.
Later on, we found another drawing by Dan inside an art supply cabinet. Thomas added his own drawing on the interior door. Even Mark drew a small dinosaur right before we left. I suppose I won’t be surprised if that door ends up missing one day. The justification being that it would make it easier to get to the art supplies.
I have more pictures which I’ll share once I find a spare moment.
We are pleased to announce the Gallery Edition of Frank Cho’s “Drawing Beautiful Women.” This massive edition will be 12 inches wide by 17 inches tall. The Gallery Edition will feature a new oil painting of a reclining nude woman on the printed boards cover. (The cover sample shows the painting and rough design, both of which are in progress.)
This oversized version will meet the high standards of the discerning collector, plus benefit the student by showcasing the artwork at a large scale, many in its original size. This format will allow for a close and personal study of Cho’s line and brush strokes. Plus it makes a nifty tray to serve various beverages of your choice.
There are three offerings for this book.
Gallery Edition
The Gallery Edition hardcover with an extra 16 pages is 128 pages, 12×17 inches. At $150, you get the extra 16-page section which includes bonus artwork and an exclusive Frank Cho interview, plus an alternate designed cover featuring a new painting of a nude woman. This is only available from Flesk and Cho. This edition will not be available through the book trade.
Deluxe Gallery Edition
The Deluxe Gallery Edition hardcover is 130 pages, 12×17 inches. Each copy comes signed on a special bound-in signature page which features a new piece of art. The book is hand numbered with only 500 being available. At $200, you get the extra 16-page section which includes bonus artwork and an exclusive Frank Cho interview, plus an alternate designed cover featuring a new painting of a nude woman. This is only available from Flesk and Cho. This edition will not be available through the book trade.
Deluxe Gallery Edition with Original Art
This copy of the Deluxe Gallery Edition includes an original ballpoint-pen drawing by Frank Cho of a woman on a blank page inside the book. Only three copies are available with the price of $5000 apiece.
Adding an entire new edition to our campaign adds a whole new risk factor for us since the printing for this new edition will be quite expensive. But, it’s a dream edition for us, and one in which we hope will have your support.
