Cards from the Crypt: Sketch Cards and Art by Ryan ⓡ

[harrison ryan]

Sketch cards are hand-crafted miniature original art pieces that come in a variety of sizes, including the standard trading card size (2.5"x3.5"), a "pano" (panel) size comprising two standard cards (3.5"x5"), a triptych (3.5"x7.5") and a "twice-up" size (5"x7" or four cards stacked 2x2). Each one is an original 1/1 piece and not intended for reproduction.

The cards lend themselves well to creating in a series, are not as time-consuming as larger pieces, and are quite affordable to buy, trade and collect--and they're easy to ship. Plus, they don't take up a lot of space in a collection and display very well using toploaders, card frames, easels and other trading card supplies. In short, they are a lot of fun for both creators and collectors. Aside from "official" sketch cards mixed at random into retail packs for lucky collectors (and dealers) to find when purchasing card releases at stores, many artists create their own personalized card blanks to commission, create tribute fan art and parodies, or craft their own original characters and series. In this thread, I'll be sharing some of my creations--both "official" and personal, starting with my Inktober project, a series of horror tribute cards I think of as the Cards from the Crypt! 🦇💀☠

https://i.imgur.com/BNEvY4z.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/q1fszMi.jpg

With apologies to Al Feldstein...
EC Comics tribute card (2.5"x3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[stroppygoblin]

:cool::thumbsup:

[mattgreenbean]

?
More info yo! That's cool.

[harrison ryan]

?
More info yo! That's cool.

Check the edit.

https://i.imgur.com/PKwB8zO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w8MfNZc.jpg

With apologies to Reed Crandall...
EC Comics tribute card (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/maGKp6p.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vswrBin.jpg

With apologies to Jack Davis...
EC Comics tribute card "PANO" size (3.5" x 5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[Cook]

?
More info yo! That's cool.

Check the edit.

https://i.imgur.com/PKwB8zO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w8MfNZc.jpg

With apologies to Reed Crandall...
EC Comics tribute card (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

Is this thread about just showing these items or are they for sale?
(sorry if I missed something)

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/UBYFPwU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8e5IAj4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0GUisee.jpg

I love these old Signet Bachmans.
The Long Walk tribute-trading card size (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/gZaeEBC.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mkTj7bq.jpg

With apologies to Joe Orlando...
EC Comics tribute card "PANO" size (3.5" x 5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[dnemec]

These are great! Where have you been Ryan?!? I'm still in love with my Ryan original Poe picture!!!

[harrison ryan]

These are great! Where have you been Ryan?!? I'm still in love with my Ryan original Poe picture!!!

Hi, dnemec! Great to hear from you. My King book collecting hit a wall years ago when I pretty much got everything I can (or am willing to) afford, but I still check in from time-to-time. These days, I mostly just buy his new releases. I've made this thread to share some of the card art I've been doing for the last six or seven years, and to motivate myself to keep working. I'm glad you're still enjoying your Poe!

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/KRztr2w.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DQroGOe.jpg

Inspired by Jack Davis...
EC Comics tribute card (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/DvWKqVZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/w0mCvcU.jpg

First time using screentone on a card. Super fun.
EC Comics tribute card (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

SOLD

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/fXRqnOI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I3zSwcj.jpg

EC Comics tribute card (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/gYnbZEd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9bav0lY.jpg

Horror Comics tribute card (2.5" x 3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/BWQYOwX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yMpl1fQ.jpg

EC Comics tribute card (2.5"x3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

For several years, I took on commissioned sketch card projects for the Topps company, working on licensed properties like Wacky Packages, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Stranger Things. But my favorite projects--mostly due to nostalgic reasons as I was the perfect age for the original releases in the mid-80s--were for Garbage Pail Kids. There was always a stipulation in the contract that I had to use characters already established in the series--I couldn't use my own original creations--but I did manage to sneak in some original designs and scenarios surrounding them. The horror-themed sets were my wheelhouse, and they had established a number of King parody characters I jumped at the chance to interpret in my own style. I'll share some of my favorites.

https://i.imgur.com/1eaVliw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nWRbsAN.jpg

"Plungin' Penny"
GPK Stephen King Parody (2.5"x3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/dpF6TUt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nWRbsAN.jpg

"Haunted Hollis/Batty Barney"
GPK Stephen King Parody (2.5"x3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/40kljXk.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8TSa61h.jpg

"Benny Wise"
GPK Stephen King Parody PANO (3.5"x5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/dRowCUa.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/52K9ODE.jpg

"Shining Sheila"
GPK Stephen King Parody (2.5"x3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/affefJ8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Oj9UdsI.jpg

"Chet Sematary"
GPK Stephen King Parody (2.5"x3.5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

Okay, that's enough of that. I drew hundreds of these things, but I don't think I'll ever do another one.

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/sGePv6B.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jM7Anem.jpg

EC Comics tribute card (4.5" x 5.75")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/c8Qs03v.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0nZnGsu.jpg

EC Comics tribute card (3.5" x 5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[harrison ryan]

https://i.imgur.com/0Z6RzFU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qwOXXFu.jpg

EC Comics tribute card (3.5" x 5")
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[George at C-Springs]

Hey Ryan! I mistakenly stumbled outside of Calvin's Corner and Starkblast and into this thread ... and glad I did, because these are absolutely awesome! I actually just became aware of art sketch cards about two months ago, came across (and bought) a Charlie Blackmon (Colorado Rockies) one put out by Topps, thought it was cool as hell. Are yours done in india ink, or something similar? I still have the Wastelands case that you designed the art for me on years ago, and of course all the prelim sketches that we went through. I'll need you to go ahead and become super famous so my great-grandkids can show up on Antiques Roadshow someday with all the stuff! :rock: Hope you're doing good!

[Lurker]

I'm sorry, but this has kinda been bugging me. I love your work, but am unclear on what the little r in a circle is suppose to be. It's not a trademark notice.

[Randall Flagg]

I'm sorry, but this has kinda been bugging me. I love your work, but am unclear on what the little r in a circle is suppose to be. It's not a trademark notice.
He is attempting to copyright/trademark the lower case "r" as related to his original art.
I'm not too savvy about copyright/trademark law, but there are only 26 letters in the common alphabet. I sure hope that 52 people won't be able to copyright/trademark the upper and lower case letters.
Of course if the letter is a unique artsist created font, perhaps it could be copyrighted, trademarked as an image but once again, it's a very complicated question.

[Lurker]

If he is saying "Art by Ryan" is his trademark, one can only use a capital R in a circle if the mark is registered with the USPTO. If not, it should be a TM in a circle for an unregistered mark.
If he hits it big I'd hate to see the TM police go after him.

[Randall Flagg]

If he is saying "Art by Ryan" is his trademark, one can only use a capital R in a circle if the mark is registered with the USPTO. If not, it should be a TM in a circle for an unregistered mark.
If he hits it big I'd hate to see the TM police go after him.
Actually in a PM to me clarifying if he could change his member name:


"Lol, no, really I sign with a lower-case r in a circle that is not meant to be a registered trademark symbol--it's meant much more humbly than that, but that was the closest symbol I could find.

I just found a better one. Will the board support this:

Ryan ⓡ

?

thx"

[ur2ndbiggestfan]

On a completely unrelated note (I think F minor), I've been collecting sketch trading cards for years and was very happy to add one of Ryan's to my world famous (in my mind only) collection!

[Lurker]

OK. It's just as a (retired) trademark attorney it kinda set off bells.
Good luck Ryan!