Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

I am new (to the forum), and was looking at all of the amazing galleries some of you have posted. I can't believe the wealth of pieces that are out there.

I have always wanted an original piece. More specifically the Fantagraphics #27 with Usagi being dragged into the deep. I think this goes with my liking of oceans, lakes, water...

or #16 with Zato-Ino. You have to love Zato.

I guess my question is:
Does Stan give away or sell his original work?! That kind of generosity to fans just astounds me. I guess those could also be reproductions or does he do commissioned work?

He does sell original art: portfolio drawings and covers, mostly. He doesn't sell pages. He has been known to take commissions as his schedule permits...just PM him through this board.

Vol I #27 is almost 20 years old, though, so it would be a very rare and lucky find if you came across that one.

Hmmmm, okay thanks. I'll wait until after the holidays to bother him. Plus I imagine the pieces are expensive.

Do they ever show up at the comic conventions? I have always wanted to go to the one in San Diego.

Tinlantern wrote: Do they ever show up at the comic conventions? I have always wanted to go to the one in San Diego.

Hello Tinlantern,

Welcome to the UY Dojo.

Your question is a FAQ and a good one. We should add it to the UY FAQ maybe?

Here's what I know (anyone feel free to correct and add):

Question: Does Mr. Sakai sells original art?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What kinds of UY original art does he sell?

Answer: Mr. Sakai sells covers of individual issues, sketches (pencils and also pencils that are inked), commissions, water colors paintings, comics art from SDCC book, and UY pages that did NOT make it into published UY comic, etc. He does not sell original art pages from the comic book. There has been one exception from a fan who offered $1000 for one page.

Question: Does Mr. Sakai offer original art via mail order?

Answer: No.

Question: How much does UY commissions or original art cost?

Answer: There is no answer to this question because it varies. If you buy it from Mr. Sakai at a convention the cost is usually based on the amount of work it took for the piece. For example:

Commission are usually based on how many characters you request, the more characters, the more expensive. Covers (which are larger and published) are more expensive than inked sketches. Non-published comic art is more expensive than covers, usually. Water colors are usually the most expensive of all.

Question: Okay, so you can't tell my the cost but is it a lot?

Answer: Once again, there is no answer to this question because "a lot" is different for each UY fan. However when original art surfaces at on eBay, it often goes for much more than what Mr. Sakai sell it to us fans for. Mr. Sakai tries to have a variety of prices for most fans with jobs could afford. I think he is more than fair in his pricing.

Question: Does Mr. Sakai do free sketches at conventions?

Answer: Yes/No.

Yes: Mr. Sakai does free head sketches with his signature on UY products you buy.

No: Mr. Sakai no longer does free UY sketches because some people took advantage of his generous nature. They would only get sketches to sell on eBay. Originally Mr. Sakai tried to discourage this by personalizing the sketches with the name, but that didn't stop these people. They even went so far as to try and alter the art (to get rid of the personalize name).

Question: How do I request a commission?

Answer: Private Message (PM) Mr. Sakai using the PM tool on this board. Most of the time Mr. Sakai will post what conventions he is going to attend at least a month in advance. You can PM at that time to see if he can or can not do a commission. Keep in mind there are various projects, deadlines, and others who are requesting Mr. Sakai's time so he may not be able to honor all commission request. But he will tell you if he can or can not.

I sure there is more to add to this list but I have to get my kids ready for school and I have to go to work now.

Once again, welcome to the Dojo.

Peace, maka

Tinlantern wrote:

I have always wanted an original piece. More specifically the Fantagraphics #27 with Usagi being dragged into the deep. I think this goes with my liking of oceans, lakes, water...

Ah yes, tentacles.

I do still have that cover. I did a gallery show about 20 years ago, and had that piece framed for exhibition. I was too lazy to unframe it and bring to a con, so hung it in our dining room. It's still there. Most of the other pieces from the show are in an upstairs closet, and one is hanging BEHIND a bookshelf (I think).

Stan, what's Usagi's page count at this time? Just curious to to know because I know you still possess about 99% of them. Where do you store them all? How do you file them?

Todd Shogun wrote:Stan, what's Usagi's page count at this time? Just curious to to know because I know you still possess about 99% of them. Where do you store them all? How do you file them?

I don't know how many Usagi pages I've done. If you multiply 24 pages per issue with 160 issues, you get 3840. But then, I've done more than 160 issues, and that doesn't count anthologies or Space Usagi. I would guess, maybe, 4500?

I keep all the story pages in the studio--the older ones in a closet and the newer ones on shelves. Each issue goes into a plastic poster-size bag and then in a large used FedEx box (I like to recycle). The FedEx boxes (17.5x12") are the perfect dimensions for my originals (11x17"), and each can hold about an entire trade paperback-full of art.

Did somebody say tentacles!!??










mmmm tentacles!

If you ever run out of space just bang a sticker on the front with my address - come on, they're already in boxes!