Sketch Up! – April 2012
“It wasn’t until 2008 at Atlanta Comic Expo (a now defunct con that was pretty small, but held lots of talent), that I started to get more and more comfortable and learning art collecting etiquette and decorum. Yes, there are rules. I actually wrote a small guideline that could help newcomers: http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/08/04/comic-art-collecting-101/ . It wasn’t until DragonCon 2008 that I really started working on my Zatanna collection. I’ve always been a fan of the character, and my first job was actually a magician’s assistant, so my affinity for loving brunettes and fishnets can be traced back to my adolescence. So from there, I just got more and more of her. I slowly got the reputation of being a Zee expert and part of the Zee Three, a trio of guys that specialize in Zatanna collecting.” - Lan Pitts
Art by Christine Zullo
This was a birthday present that fellow PoP’er Spazzy got me last year. I picked it up at HeroesCon and was actually Zullo’s last sketch for the con. Zullo’s really been burning up the indie scene and mainly known for her Fables covers and love for Yetis. Super cute, right? – Lan
Art by Charles Holbert & Chris Shields
Charles did this piece for me years ago as a gift. I’ve been a fan of his work for a while and had to get a Zee from him. This one is actually based on a friend of his and it took a while to warm up to the piece since it’s so different from what I’m used to. So I handed it off to my good friend Chris Shields and he put some copics on it and it turned out great and really amped up the piece, I think. – Lan
Art by Joe Eisma
Joe Eisma: Man, I wish I had a proper scan of this. This was actually taken by Joe at a comic con in Dallas, or Austin, I can’t remember it was long ago (well, November anyways). I had Spazzy pick this up for me after I set it up with Joe and his rep, Jason Palmer (who we all know has an awesome Punisher collection). I think it’s great and Joe really knocked it out. – Lan
Art by Jeremy Dale
This is actually in my Zatanna-themed sketchbook. MegaCon 2011. I’ve known Jeremy for a while but never gotten anything from him. This is just killer. His wife, Kelly, did the inks and looks better in person I can promise. – Lan
Art by Mark Robinson
This piece is actually called “Strange Love” or “Prying Open the Third Eye”. I’ve loved Mark’s work for a couple of years. His work is so stylized and carries a certain amount of energy and this is no different. This is something completely different from what I was even imagining and easily one of my favorites in my collection. Got to love the little moons and stars on Zee’s shoes. – Lan
Art by Kristin "Foxy" Allen
This was a Christmas present from Spazzy (she knows me pretty well). I love everything about this piece. The soft colors, the curves, the playful attitude…just everything comes together. – Lan
Art by Dustin Nguyen, Karl Story, and Laura Martin
HeroesCon 2010. Dustin does quick pencil sketches at cons and he’s told me he’s been “owing” me one for a while. So he does a delightful chibi-style Zee, which I take to legendary inker Karl Story, which gets coloring touch-ups by Marvel’s colorista, Laura Martin. Still love this one. Dustin told me it was like he took me on Pimp My Ride where he gave me something boring and I went out and got it spruced up and beautiful. Wish the scan didn’t wash out the colors here. – Lan
Art by Matthew Dow Smith
I became familiar with Smith’s work after he did a variant cover to Witchblade a few years back. I commissioned him to do a Zatanna and few months later this comes in the mail. It’s huge, 14 x 17 I believe. Great style and Matt has become a good pal since. – Lan
Art by Robbi Rodriguez
Robbi did another Zatanna sketch at NYCC 2010, but he hated it. This was a make up piece inside my sketchbook from HeroesCon 2011. Love it. – Lan
Art by Nick Bradshaw and Chris Shields
Originally Chris got this for me as a small “thank you” present. Nick’s work is amazing and if you’ve ever caught his X-Men stuff, you’ll know what it’s all about. It’s tonal pencil on a newstrip-sized piece of bristol. Chris later did a colored version, digital, not copics this time. Both look great. – Lan
Art by Richard Cox
Spazzy likes to spoil me at times. This was another one from her for my birthday and is probably one of the best pieces I have in my entire collection. It’s a rarity that I get a bust shot of Zee, or any character in my collection. But Cox’s grayscales are just dynamite and she really pops out at you. – Lan
Art by Guy Davis
This is actually the first piece in my Zatanna sketchbook. It’s from HeroesCon 2010 and I’m a huge Guy Davis fan and to have this is really something I treasure. – Lan
Art by Mario Chavez
Yeah we’ve established that Spazzy and I are both enablers of the hobby. She got this for me and was a bit of a surprise. I love Mario’s work, and he’s really established himself as a pin-up artist extraordinaire. I love any piece that showcases Zee’s features. I’m a leg man, so this works for me. – Lan
Art by Stephane Roux
DragonCon 2010. What a surprise. I ran into Stephane coming into artist’s alley and he actually showed me Paul Dini’s Zatanna sketchbook and let me tell you, the 2 “sketches” that were in there at the time probably beat all of my entire collection. So he surprised me by wanting to take mine and put this in there. Misty Lee, Paul’s wife, actually stated she liked this one better. – Lan
Art by Franco
Aww yeah, Zatanna! Er…maybe? Franco was wrapping things up when he did this and kinda was a little more goofy than he usually is. Always a good time to hang with that guy though. – Lan
Art by Paul Dini
Because why not? – Lan
Art by Charles Holbert and Laura Martin
These are no strangers to my collection. Charles did this Zatanna piece for me in addition to the other one also on the list. I had Laura color it at DragonCon 2011 just to add a little flare to the piece. Honestly, I think it’s in my top 5 in my Zatanna collection just because of its simplicity and beauty. – Lan
Many thanks to Lan for sharing his fantastic collection. We know it wasn’t easy for you to pick just a few for us to showcase. If you would like to see your collection featured on Sketch Up! please send an email to tcruz@panelsonpages.com. Just a reminder that your collection doesn’t have to be themed.
Filed Under: Features • Sketch Up!
Yay art trading!!!!!!!!!
I’ve never gone and had one of my pieces colored. Thought about it but always decide against it in the end.
Eh, somethings look better uncolored, but the smaller pieces I tend to just add color to give it a little extra oomf.
Digital coloring is a good way to go.
Some beautiful stuff! Love me some Zee!
Proud to be a part of this collection and honored to have Laura Martins colors on something I drew… But I’m amazed by many of these pictures which I think I’m seeing for the first time!
You do great work! I must seek you out next time you’re at a con I’m attending.