2007 Review and 2008 cel/sketch resolutions

[cutiebunny]

I figured I'd revive Sensei's topic from last year regarding the highlights of collecting this year since it was such a nifty topic. Hopefully he won't too much that I did


So..

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?
(see http://www.anime-beta.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=20365 for quick reference)


1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

Hmmm..probably the retouching of images and the gradual modification of the set-up. I say 'gradual' lightly - it'll probably take a while for everything to come together.

2. The best thing that's happened to your collection.

Expanding to several other anime. This year, I've purchased cels/rilezu from Saber Marionette J, Naruto, Cardcaptor Sakura, Inuyasha, etc. I've also purchased a few sets of sketches too, surprising since I've more or less rejected them in the past because they lack color.


3. Things that concern you about your collecting experience.

Prices and supply. In 2006, there were many lovely Sailormoon cels up for auction YJ. It seemed that every week this seller had at least 2 quality auctions up. Now, it seems, the supply has really dwindled to almost a trickle and because of that, prices have shot up drastically for those pieces that are for sale. In 2006, I regretted that I had spent so much on the hobby, but, seeing how I didn't purchase as much this year, it evened out.

4. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch resolution posted in 2007?

In 2007, my resolution was to focus more winning pieces I really wanted instead of every piece of pretty acetate I've found. I added screencaps to all my Sailormoon stuff this year as well and did some slight modifications to my gallery. So, all in all, I think I stayed true to my resolution.

5. Cel/sketch resolution for 2008.

If the supply and prices are any indication, I may be purchasing even less than this year. Prices for cels skyrocketed for what I collect. It's difficult for me to justify spending a small fortune on something that really doesn't speak to me. And since supply has dwindled for what I primarily collect, I may be looking at adding to the sections of other anime I collect.

[otakusin]

1- The best thing that’s happened to your gallery:

Not much has changed or happened to the actual gallery this year, it's basically the same as always. I guess if anything I resized to larger images but even so that little undertaking has yet be completed, several tennimon's still remaining.

I think winning first place romance in the Beta Awards was quite surprising. When submitting it I mentioned to my husband "never have been a romantic one but here goes nothing" actually wondered if I even had a sense of romance so when it won I was very surprised and ecstatic.

2- The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery:

I was con 'd for the first time ever since I started collecting cels for myself in early 2000. It was only 37.50 but regardless it was still theft. So I tip my hat to you Karissa Gilbertson of Magus's Search (Rubberslug) for being the first and hopefully the last to swindle me.

3- Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience:

I can never go back to being a blackhole collector but I find myself at times missing how it was before becoming public. Sometimes (even though others may not notice) I get very quiet in the community, those are the times I get a tad overwhelmed by it all. Makes me wonder about where I am in the whole scheme of cel collecting, I am having to find where I fit into it all again, where I feel comfortable. I have no clue if that makes any sense but it's a concern of mine.

4- A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008:

Purchasing a new scanner, my scanner opens like a book making it near impossible to scan pans and other oversized cels. And again same as always, I hope to have everything scanned and uploaded.

5- Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007:

Yes and No...

First things first, I truly hope to have everything scanned and uploaded.

Secondly, I have always been one to balance my collection with my life. Where I absolutely love my cels I will not put them over food, clothing and life itself but I discovered something about myself when updating. In the past I would receive my cels, stare at them for some time and then set them in their new home. Now having a gallery, I scan them, upload them, visit galleries, notice a cel I like... my mind starts to wonder if anime-link, mandrake or milkacow has anything and before I know it I have spent more than I wanted that month. So my cel resolution in a round about way is to never tap into my savings again, lol. It wasn't much but I was disappointed in myself, thank god I refuse to use credit or I might have been in trouble.

...still have several cels left to scan from the past years, one day I swear!!

I did however keep true to my main resolution. While continuing to acquire absolutely wonderful cels I never once tapped into my savings again nor asked my husband for a bonus in pay.

[EternityOfPain]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

The best thing would have to be obtaining a ton of JK sketches. Originally back in 06 (when I started collecting) I felt that 2007 was going to be not as substantial, meaning not much JK art obtained. However, the opposite came to pass and I got quite a bit throughout this year. Many high end pieces that I regard as my favorites.

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

The most surprising thing would have to be in obtaining as much JK art as I did. At the close of 06 I thought I wouldn't be able to obtain much, ie. (not much is left out there) but of course I was in store for a rude (for my wallet) but pleasent (for my gallery) surprise.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

I tend to buy anything that looks good for a series I collect *cough* JK. Meaning if I have to go in debt, I will for a sketch. My set-mind of "never lose" will surely kill my bank account, for this I am sure.


4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

Honestly buying less, way less would be awesome. But if great things pop up, I have to get em, just how it is.

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?

Nope, I had hoped to spend less money, but spent way more more then 06.

[iwakuralain16]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.
A new layout... I love it! I also started up a *New cels* section or something similar to that. I change the name of it every so often. I really like it. haha


2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.
People actually visiting it? That is surprising. Oh, I actually put all of my cels in the AnC section in order as they appeared in the series. I copied Buttr's idea and so glad that I did. haha

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.
A couple of things actually. None that I will mention here though.


4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.
Um.. buy very few sketches. Try to obtain wishlist cels more often(I have moved the majority of my wishlist off of RS so if you have a cel to sell that I may be ineterested in PM me or feedback me on RS). Um... not sure about updating my gallery. May stop updating on RS and begin scans for a private gallery. I am so so about this idea. I guess resolution wise make up my mind and have a seperate gallery set up for people to visit. hmm.. yeah.


5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?
I did not announce one last year nor did I really make one. LOL

[darksuzaku]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

Same as last year ^_^

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

Same as last year ^_^

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

Nothing really anymore ^_^

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

Same as last year ^_^

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?

You can bet ^_^

[ReiTheJelly]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

Purchasing a long-time wishlist character in the form of a hanken genga!

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

My absolutely phenomenal luck this past year, in terms of finding (and buying) rare and beautiful items for my collection.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

The VERY steep increase in price for CCS Card cels. It killed some of my love for the series, but I think I've rebounded well from that kick. I'm still a bit concerned with how much money I've sunk into this hobby.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

Cut back on the number of cels per month. Concentrate on getting cels of superior quality. I'd also like to attempt a full re-do of my Rubberslug gallery.

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?

Hah! (no, not really)

[Cenbe]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

I started it!

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

I didn't anticipate that I would be the most frequent visitor! It seems obvious, but at the beginning I didn't even consider that it's such a great way to look at your collection without dragging out the cel/sketch books.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

I'm starting to like more and more different shows, and of course I just have to acquire a nice cel or sketch from every show I like! This runs contrary to my experience in how to build a good collection of anything, which is generally to narrow and concentrate your focus into a smaller area. This upcoming year will be all about how I reconcile those viewpoints.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

Try to do more to put individual items into the context of the show they're from. I always enjoy seeing other galleries with commentary and screen caps. Now that I have a quick and easy way to do video clips too, I'm going to use more of them when it's appropriate.

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?

Well, if I had made one when I started collecting, it would have been something like: Have fun and learn a lot. And I've certainly stayed true to that!

[Cordelia]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.
I opened my RS gallery after 3 yrs *weak laugh*

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.
I'm surprised at which cels are the most popular. But I guess everyone has different preferences

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.
The cels I collect are still expensive. Although I notice less competition for a particular series, I guess most of the heavyweights for that series have retired. I'm still more of a cel person so it kills me when the prices on Bleach sketches are so crazy. Haf learnt much abt sketches since I started branching into them....am still learning....

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.
Erhmm....save/ make more money so that I can buy more cels/ sketches?

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?
N.A - no resolution for 07

[JWR]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery?

I reached the 15K hit mark while adding in many nice additions.

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery?

Finding artwork from Shakugan no Shana which I never thought I would find up for auction.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

I don't really have any concerns.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

To limit my purchases to just a few special pieces for we plan to put away extra funds for a trip to Japan in March of 2009.

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?

Yes I did for mine was to be selective and to collect what I want.

[star-phoenix]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

I was finally able to find my dream cels that I thought I would never find, which I have been looking for over 9 years.

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

Nothing really surprising except for some things popping up for sale that I never expected to such as the Yokai Sesshoumaru sketch set from Inuyasha.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

A few sketches that I bought by "accident", I ended up losing about 90% of the money just to give it to someone else. A lot of the prices of my cels and sketches (atleast the ones I tried to cut down on from my collection) have dropped tremendously in value, even though I bought it just this year.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

Trim down half of my collection and ONLY collect the ones that I must have, and to not buy things from a "spur of the moment".

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?
My resolution for this year is the same as last year, only buy things that I absolutely MUST HAVE. I did buy a few "spur of the moment" items, but have been relatively good for the most part.[/b]

[Cloud]

Thanks for the recommendation, star-phoenix.

[JuniorMintKiss]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.

I FINALLY figured out the identification of my KSK cel that had been Unknown for over two years:

http://juniorscels.rubberslug.com/galle ... mID=132425

And I've found only two other RS galleries that have cels from that show: Fetish4Minx and vrillusions. I would like to get some more, but have fun with that needle in the haystack.

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.

Nothing really surprising that I can think of at the moment. Probably the fact that I pulled off a killer Niari theme for my gallery that I actually like.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.

How prices are going up for everything! Even my lowly Gokudo cels seem more popular and dealers that I correspond with are jacking the prices up unbelieveably.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.

More KSK and More Gokudo!

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?

I didn't have one.

[graymouser]

The best thing that's happpened to your gallery.
Thanks to the advice from others, I created a recent addition section. A close second would be getting better scans in several sections of my gallery.

The best thing that's happpened to your collection.
Even though I increased the overall size of my collection I still managed to thin down in some areas.

The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery
I collected a lot more sketches than I thought I would. It was still not much, but I really was not expecting to collect any.

Things that concern you about your collecting experience
How much harder its getting to buy cels that I am searching for. They are becoming both rarer and more expensive.

Did you stay true to your cel/sketch resolution posted in 2007
not applicable

Cel/sketch resolution for 2008
Try to be more particular about what I buy. Don't just throw in a bid on something because I haven't bought any artwork in a while and am bored.

[Cloud]

becoming both rarer and more expensive are becoming both rarer and more expensive .

[ZombieBunny]

1. The best thing that’s happened to your gallery.
I would say the best thing to happen is my whole re-vamping of my gallery and the *Top Picks* section!

2. The most surprising thing that happened to your gallery.
I am collecting sketches more and branching out to other shows.

3. Thing that concerns you about your collecting experience.
How prices are going up and how hard it is becoming to find pieces I want.

4. A cel/sketch-related resolution for 2008.
Go for the items that I truly want and no side tracking.

5. Did you stay true to your cel/sketch-related resolution posted in 2007?
I dunno XD