How do you decide what cels you buy/persue?

[hanaeleh]

I don't have enough money to buy everything I see, so I try to concentrate on "specific series, specific character... and anything else" Essentially, I concentrate on one character from the series, but if I see a cel that is incredible and isn't that character, I'll usually bid on it.

[SongGirl11]

I mianly focus on a specific series. But I feel like I should broaden my collection so when I see cel artwork that I like, I go watch the series. If I like the series I buy the cels.

Sam

[Keropi]

Pomidor where art thou?

These days I don't have real goals as to what to collect. I have links that I check daily, but I prefer checking general categories just to see what's available. I save all links for noteworthy auctions that I have even the slightest chance of bidding on. Before I go to sleep I check to see which auctions end the following morning. Then I decide if any of them are worth bidding on.

Lately it's been pretty easy to "Just Say No".

I no longer feel the need to have seen or even LIKED the anime before I bid on something. Maybe someday I'll even buy artwork of characters I hate from anime that I hate.

Nah...just kidding. I would never get to THAT point.

[toonybabe]

I only collect production art from series/features that I've seen. Most of it is from what I grew up watching as a kid in the late 80's, early 90's. I think Inuyasha is the only series that I collect from that does not fit this critera. Also most of my gallery has American production art in it. I am just not that familiar with a lot of anime yet - eventually I want to explore it more when I have the free time.

For most of the series/features I hold out for the primo amazing wishlist cels, and this is especially true of Inuyasha. But when it comes to Unico in the Island of Magic, I'm a vulture. I will buy up any cel that is decent if its at a good price. I seem to have this idea in my head that Unico cels are rare, even though I now have more Unico cels in my gallery than any or series or feature.

As for everything else, these are the reasons I will go for a cel:

Its a wishlist
Its from highly emotional/climatic or enjoyed moment in the film/series
Its hard to find
Its a great shot/pose/compostition
The energy of the lines (for sketches)
Its of a character that I love
Its not the best cel but its being sold at a great price
I can afford it at the time

In this hobby I have learned to pace myself and be very very selective as to what I buy. Being in college and only working part time provides me with a limited budget. Also, I have really good luck with finding wishlist cels so I always try to save my money for the day they come along. I've only been collecting for a little more than 2 years and I have 11 wishlist cels, many cels I thought I would never be able to find or afford.

I've also learned to stay within my budget because if I charge a cel or buy beyond my means, I feel so guilty and foolish, I don't enjoy my purchase. This hobby should be fun, not stressful. There are many Disney cels and production art that I would love to have but they are just not attainable right now and thats ok - it gives me something to look forward to cel-wise later in life.

[sugarcels]

I try my best to focus on specific series to cut back on temptation from others and make shopping less overwhelming. Though, if I come across a good deal on something cute (even if I've never seen or heard of the series before) I might get it (take Tonde Buurin for example).

I also try to make sure I have some kind of emotional reaction when I look at it. I don't want to waste money on a figure mid-blink, or with a missing middle due to where a table layer would've been placed, or things like that. Even if it's a show I really love and stuff is rare, I don't want to have something JUST to have something.

[Belldandy16]

I've also learned to stay within my budget because if I charge a cel or buy beyond my means, I feel so guilty and foolish, I don't enjoy my purchase. This hobby should be fun, not stressful. There are many Disney cels and production art that I would love to have but they are just not attainable right now and thats ok - it gives me something to look forward to cel-wise later in life.

youre very wise! i really need to learn to pace myself too. its getting to a point where its going too far for me so i have to put the breaks on right now. *cries*

myself i focus on specific series, specific characters, and anything else that catches my eye.
specific series (like ones i grew up with, ones i enjoy now)
specific characters (b/c i cant afford everything. )
and anything (CHEAP) that catches my eye... around $10 apiece. it can be either the subject matter or the colors that attract me (sometimes ive never even heard of the series till i saw the cel it was from)

[lcatino]

I've also learned to stay within my budget because if I charge a cel or buy beyond my means, I feel so guilty and foolish, I don't enjoy my purchase. This hobby should be fun, not stressful. There are many Disney cels and production art that I would love to have but they are just not attainable right now and thats ok - it gives me something to look forward to cel-wise later in life.

youre very wise! i really need to learn to pace myself too. its getting to a point where its going too far for me so i have to put the breaks on right now. *cries*

myself i focus on specific series, specific characters, and anything else that catches my eye.
specific series (like ones i grew up with, ones i enjoy now)
specific characters (b/c i cant afford everything. )
and anything (CHEAP) that catches my eye... around $10 apiece. it can be either the subject matter or the colors that attract me (sometimes ive never even heard of the series till i saw the cel it was from)

Yeah, I'm in the same boat.

I have been trying to stick to wish list stuff only. At least until some of the bills get paid down.

[Cordelia]

I collect mainly from 6 series and for some series, only specific characters. Unfortunately, all these series are popular and hence, pricey. So it makes sense to be selective, I try not to stray even though there had been many temptations.

The bad point (or good?) is that you buy less but when you see something you like, you are more prepared. And it's more satisfying to have a few cels you really like rather than a whole lot that you don't mind selling off.

[Belldandy16]

very good point!

[kizu]

It's very easy to buy anything you just like, especially after watching a relatively good series. It's also easy to buy because it's at that moment a "good deal". I've bought like this before but now I refrain because there are shows and character in those shows I love more. I guess when you get to collecting longer, you learn of making sense of your collection, making it less cluttered and employ purposeful buying. I think though this comes with time. It certainly took me at least a year to learn what I really want and where I want to take my collection.

My collecting goals are these;
1) favorite characters - I'll probably keep at least one cel of a favorite character (or couple) regardless of series but I take it to the extreme for my most favorite character. LOL...
2) a few select series by major character and important scenes - childhood and current
3) any Shinsengumi themes from a variety of shows whether I have seen them or not.

Since I've started collecting this way, my gallery has grown at a much slower pace but that's ok. I'm trying to get to a point that each cel I have gives me either the satisfaction of liking that particular cel/sketch OR contributing to my collection goals such that selling it would be like removing an important piece in my collection. I'm getting there... Kind of.