[Groop] Con Report Addendum

[Gary Grossmann]

Emphasis on the "dum"

Hi Folks!

OK, one more thing about the con to show to what degree I leave what little
brains I have at home when I go to the con.  (As if any more proof is
needed.) When Sergio & I were leaving the Con, we stopped at the booth of
one of his countless friends.  This gentleman, whose name I can't remember,
does some of the best Dragon art I have ever seen.  He uses lighting in the
paintings to a particularly dramatic effect. Anywho, after telling him how
fabulous I thought his work was, I stupidly asked how long it took him to do
one of his paintings.  Sergio immediately interjected that it took 30 years
of study and practice.

The guy was very polite and gave me an answer, but afterwards Sergio told me
you should never ask that question because (paraphrasing) different artists
take different amounts of time and that has nothing to do with quality and
too many people equate time with quality and value and what they think they
should pay.

That would never have occurred to me, but that sure IS the way a lot of
people I know would think.

Sergio Trivia

Many jokes have been made over the years about how Sergio does not fit the
stereotype (whatever that is) of a comic book artist, being a handsome,
athletic, strong looking guy, especially when he was young.  I think my
favorite is when Al Jaffee did a Convention scene cartoon in MAD  that had
an obvious Sergio caricature labeled something like "A rarity.  A comic book
artist that has actually known a woman."  And anyone who has read the
description of his "drunk on the diving board" routine in the Gorilla suit
story in Streetwise can figure out he'd have to be a good athlete to pull
off those stunts.

Well, I found out that one of his accomplishments as a teen was to be a
member of a Mexican National Champion 4 with Coxswain Rowing team, Juvenile
division. I can also tell you that at 65 he is still strong as a bull!

And finally, I can't find my copy of "Comic Books and Other Necessities of
Life"
Now Mark will NEVER let me back in the Groop!!

Take care all -Gary G.