Collecting Comic Art: An interview with Francisco Sanchez Jaimes (Mexico)

What makes someone fall in love with collecting original comic art?

For today’s collector, Francisco Sanchez (Mexico) it all started with a sketch by Giuseppe Camuncoli in 2013—and a lifelong love for Spider-Man. From that first sketch came pages, artists, conventions, and friendships that changed his life.

In our latest collector interview you’ll discover the pieces that mean the most to him, the artists who shaped his journey, and the golden rule he follows when buying original art.

How did you get into art collecting? 

It was in 2013. Renowned artists had already visited the country before, but that year, the country’s comic convention had the great Italian artist Giuseppe Camuncoli as a guest. He was particularly important to me because Marvel had recently decided to kill off the company’s most iconic character—and my favorite, The Amazing Spider-Man—in favor of a new version of the character. Giuseppe was going to be part of the creative team bringing this new version of the wall-crawler to life.

The idea of getting a sketch from the artist working on my favorite title blew my mind. Around that time, I started becoming familiar with the terminology commonly used in collecting: “blank cover,” “sketch,” “half body,” and so on.

That day, I accomplished my goal, and from that moment on, I started collecting sketches, pages, and friends!

Was there a specific moment or artist that sparked your interest in comic art?

The first artist who really caught my attention was Michael Turner. I find his work at Image, DC, and Marvel visually spectacular. Thanks to him, I discovered that the comic panels I was reading had a face and a name behind them—an artist creating them month after month. At the time, though, I knew nothing about conventions, sketches, or, much less, the fact that you could actually acquire original comic art.

Another is Humberto Ramos, for reasons I’ll get into later. And today, the artist who has kept my passion for original art alive is undoubtedly Pepe Larraz. I don’t see another artist who delivers such an incredibly high level of work in both traditional and digital media. He’s in a league of his own.

What’s your favorite piece in your collection?

Not long ago, I managed to acquire a page from The Amazing Spider-Man #700, drawn by Humberto Ramos. To me, it’s one of the most significant stories in the character’s history. That particular issue was one of the main reasons I started attending conventions, since writer Dan Slott was going to visit Mexico.

Another piece I treasure is a page by French artist Olivier Coipel from the Spider-Verse storyline, a story that eventually made it to the big screen and expanded Spider-Man’s lore.

Is there any piece with a special story behind it?

Not one particular piece, but rather one artist: Humberto Ramos. And it’s not just because of his work on Spider-Man or the fact that he drew issue #700. My decision to meet him at a convention changed my life forever. That’s where I met two of my closest and dearest friends, whom I consider family. It was through collecting original art that I was able to meet these people who changed my life.

What makes you choose one piece over another?

Definitely the artist. If an artist captivates me, I follow their work. And if they eventually draw one of the titles I read, that’s the perfect combination. That’s when I try to get a sketch or page by that artist.

But I do have one rule when it comes to acquiring original pages: I don’t buy pages from titles I don’t read. No matter how incredible the art may be, if I haven’t read the story, the piece lacks history and meaning for me, even if it’s visually stunning.

What do you look at first when evaluating a new piece?

The artist. If you like an artist, it’s probably because one of their works has already made a visual impact on you. And, well, if you’re reading a story and it moves you in some way, maybe that’s the right time to start looking for some original art.

Has your taste changed over time?

I’ve always stayed true to my own tastes. Over time, I’ve expanded my tastes, discovered more artists, and gained a deeper understanding of the hobby, which has helped me acquire pieces through the market and specialized online platforms.

What’s your favorite piece from our gallery?

That’s a very difficult question… I’ll take the easy way out and say one by Pepe Larraz—a Rogue print based on one of Pepe’s drawings.

But let’s be honest, the roster of artists represented by The Green Room Art Gallery is overwhelming. The work of Álvaro Martínez Bueno, Belén Ortega, Javi Fernández, and Javier Rodríguez’s work on Absolute Martian Manhunter is simply spectacular. The art from all of them is enough to make your eyes pop.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in art collecting?

Collecting original art is all about patience. Sometimes, getting a piece by a specific artist can take years. Sometimes it’s because opportunities are scarce; other times, it’s simply a matter of budget. But in the meantime, you have to enjoy the journey and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way with other artists you have your eye on.

That said, I promise you, it will always be worth it.