Tag Archives: rachel ketchum comics

Archive post: Star Trek and Babylon 5 commissions from the ’90s!

Star Trek the Original Series art commission by Suzanne Forbes aka Rachel Forbes Fall 1995You never know when being able to draw Spock will be considered a valuable skill.

After the DC Star Trek books were cancelled in Fall 1995, I was stranded in Hartford with no job and the comic industry collapsing.

Star Trek Voyager art commission by Suzanne Forbes aka Rachel Forbes Fall 1995I took a sales job at an animation art gallery on the main street of West Hartford.

Because they offered me health insurance, free, starting right away. It was a job, and it served me well during that time. I made some friends there and across the street at the Starbucks.

Star Trek Deep Space Nine art commission by Suzanne Forbes aka Rachel Forbes Fall 1995I worked there for eight months, which for me is a long time at a job!

I brought some of my Star Trek comic pages into the gallery to sell, and made some money off it.

Babylon 5 art commission with J Michael by Suzanne Forbes aka Rachel Forbes Fall 1995Plus, I got a nice commission client.

I am not a good commission artist; deadlines make me crazy. And there is something about commissions that brings out my worst perfectionism. So my client Bobby experienced some stress getting me to finish these Star Trek the Original Series, Voyager, Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 cast drawings.

However looking at them I am glad to say they are damn good!

I worked so damn hard! Bobby had me draw him into them and then was taking them to cons to get the actors’ signatures on the mats. He was kind enough to bring me photos of the signatures he’d gotten so far while I was in Hartford. I’m glad I drew them, and hope he is well.

None of these art records had ever been documented; until now, no record of them existed – if we had a fire or flood they would just be gone forever.

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to take time to document my art archives.