tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post8522255858461998722..comments2024-01-18T13:48:18.998-05:00Comments on Push And Pull: Frequently Asked Question 2: AlterationsSteven Belledinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02798269170915291454noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post-59533059931297304062010-11-15T09:04:56.600-05:002010-11-15T09:04:56.600-05:00Chris,
Yeah, the kind of thing Terese Nielsen doe...Chris,<br /><br />Yeah, the kind of thing Terese Nielsen does is gorgeous. I wish I had the time or the patience to work at such a tiny scale, but I'm trying to force myself to work bigger, not smaller!<br /><br />SteveSteven Belledinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798269170915291454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post-45180653652795879432010-11-11T12:41:32.852-05:002010-11-11T12:41:32.852-05:00lol, the alterations I do don't add value (I c...lol, the alterations I do don't add value (I can't imagine how, anyway). The painted alterations I've seen are another issue entirely... they can be gorgeous if done well.<br /><br />ChrisChristopher Moellerhttp://www.moellerillustrations.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post-15489689447013493512010-11-10T13:50:41.606-05:002010-11-10T13:50:41.606-05:00Adrian,
Thanks for your input. Your points are w...Adrian,<br /><br />Thanks for your input. Your points are well taken. I think there's room for all opinions on the subject. Some people will dislike me for my policies on this. Some people will be indifferent. Such is life.<br /><br />I can't say that I feel that alterations deface the art, so much. After all, the original oil paintings exist and are (hopefully) intact in their original forms. If people want to alter their own stuff, I'm not going to complain about it so long as they don't insinuate that I'm the one who did the altering.<br /><br />For the most part, I have had nothing but respect from the fans and collectors out there on my decision. The fans throughout my tenure have been extraordinarily gracious and I feel really lucky to have any fans at all. No matter what, I'll continue to sign, write dedications for, draw for, take pictures with, and chat up anyone who wants it, as long as there's still demand. It's the least I can do. Alterations just take me out of my comfort zone.<br /><br />SteveSteven Belledinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798269170915291454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post-37658747378475284662010-11-10T13:00:09.108-05:002010-11-10T13:00:09.108-05:00I agree completely with both of you. I have seen ...I agree completely with both of you. I have seen some interesting alterations done by artists other than the card's original artist. However, those artists have time that a convention or an appearance does not allow the original artist. I can also see where the card's original artist would see the process as defacing. If someone did that to my art I would probably feel the same way.<br /><br />I have to say I am surprised at the market that alterations have created on eBay. It is an interesting way to bring life (read as hide defects) of highly played (read as abused) cards. Both of you rank among my favorite artists (Magic and otherwise) and I think that fans should respect an artist's decision to alter or not alter cards.Adriannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post-24382314817901054632010-11-10T11:55:37.891-05:002010-11-10T11:55:37.891-05:00Chris,
This post is actually a response to many e...Chris,<br /><br />This post is actually a response to many emails I got after the Bochum event. Rather than write a lengthy explanation to each individual, I decided to write this.<br /><br />I guess part of my reluctance is just how pushy certain people have been. For instance, there was a guy that approached me repeatedly at Bochum on what seemed like an hourly basis trying to find a way to make himself the exception to my rule. At the same event there was another guy that got angry with me. That makes me want to do alterations even less.<br /><br />As for the added value/fun of it all. Several people at many events have stated it was for one reason or the other - or both! So, it IS about added value to some people. But I really don't care why someone wants it done. Their reasoning doesn't change how I feel about doing it in the first place.<br /><br />I certainly don't begrudge those who do alterations such as yourself, and I appreciate that you folks who do them keep from hammering me over the issue. Each of us, in life, must do what we are comfortable with. Perhaps some day I'll relax about how aesthetically offensive they are to me. Perhaps not. I just get asked about it enough to address it.<br /><br />SteveSteven Belledinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02798269170915291454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245662519209286682.post-20554028821905943142010-11-10T11:34:39.358-05:002010-11-10T11:34:39.358-05:00I admit that, early on, I hated alterations too. ...I admit that, early on, I hated alterations too. It felt like I was being asked to vandalize paintings that I'd worked hard to make beautiful. I didn't get it, and I let fans bully me into doing crap I didn't want to do.<br /><br />"It is likely that it’s not even about value, so much as having something special and unique."<br /><br />I'm a gamer. I KNOW alterations are about fun, not about added value. I do alterations now, but I limit the number and I no longer hate doing them. I'm asked to do them on a limited number of my images (the "fan favorites"), and I've got a stock way of doing them that's not a lot more work than signing them. I write a comic-book-sound-effect "BOOM" on my Lightning Bolts, for example, that the gamer in me finds quite satisfying.<br /><br />If you don't like doing them, just tell the fans. They're generally very polite folks (and the ones who aren't, shouldn't get extra goodies anyway).<br /><br />ChrisChristopher Moellerhttp://www.moellerillustrations.comnoreply@blogger.com