MEETING SHAG

I strolled on down to artist alley pretty early on, because a lot of great artists were going to be hanging out there.  I was shocked to hear Shag had a table there, because I assumed he would just make a couple short, quick appearances, and be otherwise unapproachable.  Looking at his booth, he had a sign saying the times he would be available and signing.

I came back at the designated hour, and there was a line of maybe ten people, and the line was moving fast, because they were all just saying hi and buying postcards or a print and then moving on.  I handed him my comic and asked if he ever read comics.  He said a very sweet answer: “No.  But I’ll definitely read this one.”  I thought that was the greatest.  I didn’t bother to ask him about doing a pin-up, because I was too intimidated that a “high artist” whose work is in galleries in L.A., Tokyo, Paris, New York, in art books, postcards, magnets, and everywhere else in pulp culture, wouldn’t bother with low-brow comics.

Later (maybe a day later), I was just poking around in artists alley again.  I saw Shag still had a line, about the same as the one I had waited in, even though he wasn’t at his table yet.  But behind the line, all by himself, just standing around, there was Shag!  I suspected he was either just arriving, and gearing up to begin his signing, or maybe taking a quick break and stretching his legs.  But in any event, no one in the line realized he was right there behind them.

I walked up and said hello, and to my pleasure, he remembered who I was.  I asked about his education as an artist, and drawing in different styles besides the “Shag” look.  He said he had gone to school for art, and of course had taken figure drawing classes and the like, in which he of course didn’t do the “Shag” look.  And when he got out, he did design for a while.  But he said he feels lucky, because if he had to choose a style to draw, he said it would be the “Shag” style.

I told him I had to ask, because I was right there with him.  I said that my comic has a number of drawings of giant monsters by different artists, and does he ever consider doing commissions.  He said he stopped doing them a few years ago, and his reason was just fantastic…for him, anyways.  He said now that his paintings are so popular, he doesn’t need to do commissions any more.  He can just draw whatever he feels like, and he knows they will sell.  Talk about success.

I happen to know that his paintings sell out before he even finishes them.  His dealer basically takes a list of names, and I assume payments, and these people just pay up front to get on a waiting list to receive whatever painting he finishes next, without having a chance to see what the painting will even be!  They just want to own one of his works that badly!  What a successful artist!  I’m blown away…

So then I told him that I know he’s drawn a number of giant monster images in the past.  I knew he’d done plenty of tikis, and some Abominable Snowman paintings.  I asked if he might consider giving me permission to publish one of them.  He said that was a possibility and gave me his email.  I told him I would write my info on one of my little promo cards.  I had two, of the two upcoming Doris Danger comics.  I asked if he wanted outer space or war, and he said outer space, and I realized how obvious that choice was for him. 

Wow!  I just got the personal email of Shag, and I’m going to contact him to discuss publishing one of his pieces in my next comic!  I am in shock.  That would be amazing, if I can only afford him.