Collecting Comic Art: An interview with Terry Clark (USA)

At The Green Room, we like to think what we do goes beyond art. Yes, we work with incredible artists—and very we’re proud of it—but what truly defines us are the relationships we build with the people who trust us.

Today we’re introducing Samuel Terry Clarck—Terry, to friends—a passionate comic and original art collector who has, almost without us noticing, become part of the family.

In this new edition of our collector interviews, we talk with him about how he got started, how he approaches collecting, and the stories behind some of the pieces in his collection.

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How did you get into art collecting? What’s the first piece you bought?

I got into collecting through my love of comics. I started reading them when I was 10 or 11, but then life got in the way and I stepped away from them for a few decades, haha.

I came back to comics in 2017 and fell in love all over again — not just because of the nostalgia, but also because I was really impressed by the quality of both the writing and the artwork in modern comics.

Once I realized that original art was something you could actually collect, it felt like a very natural step to dive in.

 

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

When I returned to comics in the late 2010s, I was genuinely blown away by the overall quality of the art. I don’t recall a specific artist who pushed me to start collecting.

The moment I knew I wanted to buy original art came at a comic convention in Phoenix, Arizona, where I picked up my first commission — an Erica Slaughter sketch by Jae Lee. Jae is a great guy, and since it was my first piece of original art, it has a lot of sentimental value for me.

 

What’s your favorite piece in your collection?

My absolute favorite piece to date is Atali by Tehani Farr. It was an SDCC exclusive cover for one of my favorite Conan the Barbarian stories, The Frost Giants’ Daughter, and it features Atali alongside the Frost Giants. It’s absolutely stunning.

It wasn’t originally for sale, so it took a bit of convincing for Tehani to part with it.

 

What role do galleries play in your collection?

At the moment, there are only three online galleries that I regularly follow, and The Green Room is my favorite.

I’ve made a few one-off purchases from other galleries, but I mostly stick with TGR, a well-known British gallery, although the strength of the pound against the dollar can sometimes make prices prohibitively expensive, and a third gallery that I’d rather not name, as the customer service leaves a lot to be desired—though I keep going back because they represent two artists whose work I really like. I’d estimate that about one-third of my collection comes from online representatives, while the other two-thirds have been purchased directly from artists. Álvaro’s pieces are a bit of both, since he’s married to his representative, haha.

Getting to know the artists is one of the best parts of collecting comic art. Over the years, I’ve made several new friends, along with many more casual acquaintances.

 

What makes you choose one piece over another?

The artist, the story, and the visual impact all play an important role. The best pieces, of course, have all three. Meeting Tehani was a real pleasure, the artwork is incredible, and it’s the cover to a story I love. I do have a few unpublished pieces by lesser-known artists that I bought purely for their visual impact, but that’s not usually the case for me.

 

Has your taste changed over time?

My taste has remained pretty much the same. I like what I like.

 

What’s your favorite piece from our gallery? What makes it special to you?

My favorite piece from The Green Room is one of Álvaro’s interior pages from Justice League Dark. The artwork is incredible, and I really enjoyed the story.

What makes it especially meaningful is how difficult it was to acquire. The piece went missing for several months, to the point where Iciar actually refunded the purchase. We both assumed it was probably gone for good… and then, out of nowhere, it resurfaced. I bought it again, and when it finally arrived, it just felt like it was meant to be part of my collection. I’m sure Icíar will remember the story.

 

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

My advice to new collectors is to set a budget and buy what you truly love.

Many people recommend focusing on published pieces. I agree that’s probably the best approach from an investment standpoint, but I own several commissions and pin-ups that I honestly prefer to some of my published pieces. Commissions are also a unique way to collaborate directly with your favorite artists, and that’s (almost always) a really fun experience.