Art collector?

[caelum.livejournal.com]

Anyone else (Elfwood specifically) get a letter from one Jeremy Adolphson?

Hello,

My name is Jeremy Adolphson and I am a 24 year M.A. student in Sociology at Northern Illinois University as well as an art collector. I was browsing through your Elfwood Gallery work and wanted to write you an email. I hope you don't mind the intrusion?

For the past 7 years I’ve been collecting artwork on 4x6 inch cards (10x15cm) from various artists around the world, including but not limited to the following: Howard Terpning, John John Jesse, Mike Diana, Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, Seth, Mark Dean Veca, Will Eisner, Gary Taxali, Frank Kozik, Gilbert Shelton, S. Clay Wilson, KRK Ryden, David Choe, Seth, etc. For a more detailed view of my collection, please view my website at: http://www.4x6-art.com I currently have about 1/2 of my collection up online, I have roughly about 1700 pieces from all genres of artwork: graphic novels, figurative, erotic, still life, traditional, abstract, fantasy, pinup, religious, therapeutic/holistic, as well as modern.

I was wondering if you may be interested in making a sketch for my personal collection? In turn, I would place the drawing (with your permission of course) on my website along with a link to your own portfolio/site whereby other interested parties may contact you with more information about your work. I would never sell the cards for my own personal gain, I’m a true collector of art, and I appreciate you taking time to look at my website.

If you are interested in making a piece of art, please email me back with your address to send the card to. Along with the acid free card, I will send you a self addressed stamped envelope to cover the return postage. If you live outside of the US, I’ll mail you an IRC (international reply coupon) that would pay for the return postage back to the US. If you are uncomfortable with providing me your address, you can feel free to send the drawing to:

Jeremy V. Adolphson
::address omitted...::

Please don’t feel obligated to do anything for my collection, whatever your decision may be, I respect it. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Adolphson

What's the deal here? I ask because I'm a little annoyed by people who mass-email and don't take time to deal with an artist personally. I have no way of knowing if they actually like my art or they just grabbed my email at random. He sounds okay, but I dunno. I'm probably just being oversuspicious.

EDIT: Thanks for the input; I might consider doodling something.

Comments

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

I remember this guy (or someone similar) from a couple years ago. He seems legit to me.

[joecifur.livejournal.com]

Aren't those art card things he's talking about REALLY popular now? I see tons of people doing this.

[animecat.livejournal.com]

Same general idea, though ATC (Art Trading Cards) are typically 2x3".

[tigrr-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Same idea but not a true ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) or ATC (Art Trading Cards). ACEO's/ATC's are specifically 2.5 x 3.5.

I'm in the ACEO ebay group, lots of fun. ;)

-Tigrr Wildcat-

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

He's nice, mails you a free card, return envelope with postage and everything. I did a small painting for him years ago, thought I fear it never reached him, as I moved during the time it was sent.

[giza.livejournal.com]

How is this email not spam? Report him to SpamCop (http://www.spamcop.net/), I say.

(Yes, I'm a bit jaded about spam. Take my advice with a grain of salt.)

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

doesn't look like spam here. usually they're from Nigeria. >.>

skim the other comments, seems other people got them over the years and did a small drawing for him.

[ultimatekingrat.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, those nigerian men love me very much and want to send me alot of 12 000 (twelve million) dollers.

But seriously. First thing when I saw that letter from "art collector" I thought it was spam

[theblackdragon.livejournal.com]

wow. he's got a pretty impressive gallery there. if he's serious (considering he's offering to send the card itself to you along with a stamped/addressed envelope to send it back to him in, it sounds like he might be), it's not like you'd really be losing anything major if you didn't want to put a whole lot of time into it. some of the cards he's got are fairly simple, after all.

He's cool.

[arshes.livejournal.com]

I did one for him a while back

http://www.anime.net/~arshesnei/art/newart/sjani4x6121603.jpg

http://www.anime.net/~arshesnei/art/newart/sj052304-animage4x6.jpg

[thaily.livejournal.com]

If the art site gets a good number of hits it may be nice exposure and you can decide how much time/effort you want to put into the card I guess.

[yuuago]

Hmm. I've re-read it a few times, but I don't see it mentioning payment anywhere (unless you count the "free exposure" from the website as payment, but I don't).

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

[neongryphon.livejournal.com]

This guy is legit and very nice. I did him a card for his collection a little while back. He makes no money off of them, and they really are just to go towards his hobby. He sends you the card, and includes a return envelope and postal cheque to cover return shipping. You draw whatever you like and send it back.

If you feel like being a nice guy, go ahead and add to his collection. If not, well, it's not as though you owe him anything. I did it just because he asked so nicely and I don't mind dishing out a freebie to the good guys now and again.

Here's mine which I did for him:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/40648711/?qo=3&q=by%3Atheneongryphon+in%3Ascraps&qh=sort%3Atime

You keep the copyright, you just give him permission to post in his galleries.

He is pretty slow getting back to you though. I agreed to do him a card, and it was several months before I eventually got one in the post. But like-wise, there’s no rush sending them back.

[maui-dolphin.livejournal.com]

Its just an art card sketch and you retain the copyright it seems. It doesn't seem like it'd hurt anyone. He's got quite a few famous artist in the comic industry in that gallery.

[arikla.livejournal.com]

He is an exceptionally nice fellow. I have doen two cards for him in the past. He isn't asking for any money, even sends a SASE for return so all you are providing is the drawing. It can be as simple or complex as you like. No time limit on returning it (though if you have it for a few months, he may politely ask if you recieved the card or have sent it back... he is not pushy about it, however).
Generally, with the artists he as in his collection, I felt rather flattered to be asked :)

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

usually i'm worried about stuff like this, but with everyone else giving a thumbs up, it doesn't seem too bad now.

that's got to be a lot of photoalbums he's got there lol

[wereblood.livejournal.com]

I've been wanting this guy to ask me to do a card for him, but I'm to afraid to approch him.

Joy