2009 Sketch Card `TOPPS SERIES 1 received TODAY

[A_Pharis]

Paul! I have always loved your work! Your series 2 ones are INSANE!
Yeah, some people don't associate time frame and volume when it comes to these sketches. At least you don't trace!

 

[allstars]

I just want to thank you for posting to this thread Paul, I admire you for that. I think you're on the right track with the low quantity/high quality approach.

 

[goldenegg1]

Sorry about your first impression of the board. I am glad you are posting and hope you continue to post. I always looked forward to seeing your hand painted baseballs over on the Beckett boards and I hope you will continue to do the same here. Your series 2 sketches look unbelievable!

 

[phalm]

I am the one you should be sorry for..I received a sketch made in haste from a good artist...all after waiting for 4 months to get the sketch....also what did people say wrong on this board.....they just said the sketch was bad....

I DO THINK the artist PAUL LEMPA is a stand up guy by responding to the thread but he did produce the sketch....

 

[plempa13]

Thanks again for your comments. I will definitely be hanging around here more often.

Phalm, I don't think you were out of line in your comments, after all you are entitled to your opinion. What I hope happens is that people like sketch cards enough to keep them going, but demanding better quality. With that, of course, means there will be much less of them to go around. In Series 1 sketches fell 1 in say 10 boxes. In series 2, a product where artists tried to step up their game, sketches fell 1:13,800 packs or 1 in about every 380+ boxes. I much prefer the latter. I would rather someone pull one of my 10 painted cards, and say "Wow" then pull 1 of my 250 sketches and say "crap!"

One thing that also needs to be set are collectors expectations. These are called sketch cards. Look up sketch in the dictionary and you get (a simply or hastily executed drawing or painting, esp. a preliminary one, giving the essential features without the details.) I would say that the Howard fits under that definition, but that probably doesn't make Phalm feel any better. I have suggested they call them "Art Cards", and make them more scarce going forward, so that collectors can appreciate each and every one. We'll see. One thing I know is that I will try my best to put out cards that I have a hard time giving up because I would want them for myself.

 

[Moonlight Graham]

Excellent response(s) Paul.

After seeing the Series II cards you've done, I suspect that the days of picking up cheap sketches on Ebay may be coming to an end...

Randy S

 

[AMAZIN HOF COLLECTOR]

I am the one you should be sorry for..I received a sketch made in haste from a good artist...all after waiting for 4 months to get the sketch....also what did people say wrong on this board.....they just said the sketch was bad....

I DO THINK the artist PAUL LEMPA is a stand up guy by responding to the thread but he did produce the sketch....

Is it any different then pulling 1:3000 odds card and it being that of a scrub? We have all been there. You see the checklist... autos of Ripken, Jeter, Wright, Pujols, etc, and you get the scrub. You dream about the "what could have been". They all cant be winners....

To put it in perspective....
250 sketches from an artist. Lets just say all are serial numbered for laughs.
200 serial numbered to 200 are a quick 5 minute sketch. 40 serial numbered to 40 are a 10 minute sketch. 10 serial numbered to 10 are an hour sketch. And for kicks one masterpiece that took 3 hours to complete and is serial numbered 1/1.
Someone has to get the ones numbered to 200, and you did. See where I am going with this..... (I know all the sketches are 1/1's, but they all can't be winners).

I pulled a Sheffield that I thought was an amazing sketch. Then I saw some others that blew it out of the water. Does it make it any less of piece of art?

To Paul for facing the music and explaining his side, your a standup guy. I miss seeing your painted baseballs (talk about AMAZING).

 

[plempa13]

Just to follow up, I see that your card went for $51. I was bidding to buy it back from you, but got out bid. Congrats.

 

[markakis8]

NICE! very good sale. should be no complaints now!

Just to follow up, I see that your card went for $51. I was bidding to buy it back from you, but got out bid. Congrats.

 

[aminors]

Holy bejeebus those painted cards are sick. I very much admire your thought process behind the quality before quantity decision. Wow, I really hope to pull one of those. They are so so so so sick, and much better (if I may say so) than the countless other ones that were produced with the mindset of quantity before quality. Are they going to be hobby-only or retail as well?

Anthony

 

[Captain Feathersword]

Paul,

I too remember the painted baseballs you used to show us on the old board. Those were incredible, especially when you incorporated the autographed sweet spot on them as well.

Nice to see you over here and great to know that you have furthered your career in sports illustration.

 

[plempa13]

Anthony, thanks a lot for the compliment. I am not sure whether they are hobby only, but I will ask. Good Luck.

Also thanks Cap'n for your kind words as well.