[Guest]

 Fantastic cards Rich! Here are the 6 i received back from Topps, unfortunatly all have been spoken for 



But dont worry, great cards like these will still out there 





-Kyle

After reading Jim's post it has come to my attention that i never introduced myself here. My names Kyle Babbit, im a collector as well as an artist. I've done work on Breygent's Wizard of Oz set, and Topp's recent set Lord of the rings Masterpieces as a sketch card artist. I stated im a collector myself, so i really put everything into my cards making sure anyone that pulls one of my cards will be pleased. Im looking forward to posting here (more) and can not wait for Masterpieces to be released so a little be of me will be out there in all of your collections


-Kyle

I sent in a request to do more card as well, no reply

Chandler?... Eowyn?... Where???

I'de have to go with my Ring

Jess, your 2 parter is jaw dropping! Its great to see more variety of your work, i didnt see to many of your oz cards
-Kyle

I did 106 cards for this set and i think it came out to 100 being full color. In the begining i did a few in white ink and pencil that wouldnt look right if i went back and added color
-Kyle Babbitt

I just ran across this on ebay, anyone know anything about this set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ARAGORN-COLOUR-SKETCH-PROMO-FOR-NEX...QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The description reads

THIS IS TOM HODGES' PRE-PRODUCTION CARD FOR THE NEXT RELEASE OF TOPPS LORD OF THE RINGS. THIS IS AN ORIGINAL SKETCH CARD AND NOT A COPY OR PRINT!!! I GOT THIS FROM TOM PERSONALLY AT WIZARD WORLD PHILLY 2006 (I COLLECT HIS STAR WARS CARDS BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WITH HIM) AND HE TOLD ME THIS CARD IS THE ONE HE SENT TO TOPPS TO SHOW WHAT HE HAD IN MIND FOR THE NEXT RUN OF LOTR CARDS. IT IS ON ONE OF HIS PERSONAL CARDS AND BACK SHOWS A PICTURE OF HIM WITH HIS BIO AND FUTURE PROJECT INFO. IT ALSO STATES IT IS A 1 OF 1 SKETCH. I DO KNOW HE ALSO DID A PENCIL DRAWING OF THIS IMAGE AS WELL.

Very interesting, find it odd that Topps is coming out with another sketch card set so soon. Everyone is still recovering from Evolution. Perhaps this will be a full color sketch card set?

Im here as well guys! I did 50 sketch cards total, 8 different pictures, and all are colored uniquly varying from pencils, markers and paints. I also realised when i was done with all my cards i only did one loli-pop kid. So there really is one true, one of a kind sketch card in this set I cant wait for this set to be released as well!
-Kyle Babbitt

[some artists did not like that he did a ROTS card and contacted Topps about it]

Well, some artists did not like that he did a ROTS card and contacted Topps about it. Rich now has the card in the mail back to him because of all of this. That beautiful piece of art is going to be destroyed because of a couple people. You know, it really stinks, but It just acts as a reminder that some people really are pretty nasty people. I love your work Rich, I hope you do aftermarkets for LOTR again, because I am thinking of buying that other orc you told me about and sending it to you to be the 3rd card I keep from the set.

Um...Bryan...no one knows who contacted Topps...All of these companies watch these boards and with the buzz and traffic generated by the LOTR cards, all it takes is for an intern or someone else affiliated with the companies to say something. I find it kinda harsh that you jumped to conclusions like that. When I saw the card the other day I contacted Rich within minutes. The problem was not his art, the problem was he was not approved to work on the card. I have had numerous requests to do work on Heritage cards.. I can't, why? Because I did not work on the Heritage set. I am not approved to work on the cards. What Kyle posted is somewhat incorrect. The card itself is a licensed product the image on the card has to be approved before they hit the streets. As do the artists. All artists working on Official Star Wars projects HAVE to be approved before you can work on it.Now what happend here again is unapproved artist doing unapproved work on an licesen ed trademarked item and who is now, unfortunately paying the price for it. All i can say is I am sorry this happend to Rich he is a good guy and a popular artist, as seen with the LOTR set.

I dont want to start an argument, but if Rich is getting burned for this then how come every artist doesnt have to get their aftermarket images approved? To me seeing a darth maul or luke skywalker on a ROTS card done by an approved artist is far worse then a non approved artist doing a sketch on a card for a friend. Are you saying i cant take any of the ROTS sketch cards that i own and do with them as i please? they are my cards, i can burn them, rip them up, or have my 3 year old cousin marker the hell out of them. The only way i can see this being wrong is if Rich tried to pass it off as a legit card, and that he was an approved artist. Which i have seen absolutly no evidence of.

Hey Rich,
 You should not have to apologize. When an artist sends out their cards after they finish them and Topps puts them into packs it is no longer their property. It should make no difference if you drew on a 5 by 3 note card, or an official blank or erased Topps revenge of the sith card. I love your work and i am looking forward to you working on future sketch card sets whether it be by Topps or Breygent. Any card company should honored to have you as an artist. As i beleive it was YOU Jeff, Kayana, Cat, and Cynthia that truly sold this set. KEEP ON ROCKEN!