Back when Indiana Jones sketches were hitting the streets I was looking at nice sketch — it was a portrait of Indy, but it was looking a little Mikhail Gorbachev to me. . . I showed the card to an artist and asked in dismay “Is that ON the card?” I was referring to that strange red map thing in the background of some of the Indiana Jones set, and sure enough it was on the card. I couldn’t believe that a manufacturer would put a background on an original art card that would complete with the art. . .

I sort of just lived with it. . . chalked it up to a bad design decision, but then the strange backgrounds kept coming. . . that grid thing (Star Wars), the blotchy thing (Heroes), a Death Star thing, and others, I’m sure. . . and now the colander thing on the new Star Wars Empire Strikes Back 3D set. I couldn’t believe how bad that background was when I saw it on ruining some great work by Cynthia Cummens — even the color cards have that never ending colander effect.

The question is why? Why put backgrounds on the cards that artists don’t like drawing on, and collectors don’t like collecting? Why put a competing design on the card? I kept asking myself why? Why would they do that. . . then it dawned on me — Topps must not know it’s a problem! So I decided to publicly send them a letter:

June 8, 2010

Dear Topps,

Thank you for producing some excellent card sets! I particularly enjoy the licenses you’ve picked up over the last several years, and I am very excited to see what you do with Avatar!

While I’m writing I wanted to let you know that the background designs you have been using for many recent sketch card releases detract from the art on the card! Collectors and artists would prefer a simple, solid background in a very very light, neutral color. Luckily this change will result in less work for your art/design department!

If you have any questions or concerns on the matter please feel free to post on any public trading card forum!

Thank you!

Jon
(On Behalf of artists and collectors everywhere)

Hopefully that was a constructive and concise way to describe the issue. . . now we wait for the next sketch set!

Happy Collecting,

Jon