Convention Season begins. Here's a list of conventions, events, and shop visits. MoCCA Fest- April 5-6 New York City
Asbury Park Comic Con- April 11-12, Asbury Park NJ
Free Comic Book Day- May 3, The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington DE
Ladies Night- May 30, The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington DE
Illuxcon- September 19-20 Weekend Showcase, Allentown PA
Illuxcon Part 1
This year I decided that I wanted to attend Illuxcon, I bought my ticket in January during my winter break and knew that all the work I created from that moment to the beginning of September could end up being in my portfolio. Luckily between my thesis and generally nonstop drawing, it wasn't to difficult to choose 12 images for my Illuxcon portfolio.
Thursday night, after my 10:00 class ended, I jumped in my car to head to Allentown. Unfortunately it rained the entire drive from school to Allentown, at some points I was driving less then 50 mph because of rain fall. But I made it there in one piece. I checked into the hotel, and quickly passed out from the long drive.
The next morning I got up early to be at the Allentown Art Museum as Illuxcon opened. For the first hour, not to many visitors where on the floor, making it easy to move around and see lots of the paintings. Very soon, the floor filled with students and other illustrators, some getting portfolio reviews, some purchasing prints, and others buying the paintings off the walls. For the good portion of the first day I talked to the illustrators exhibiting in the main showcase. I was very excited to have Chris Seaman review my portfolio, as he is one of my favorite illustrators. His paintings have a great sense of color and stylization that is often missed in the fantasy genera because most often its realistic oil paintings (not that there is anything wrong with that). Its easy to relate to more stylized work for me. I even purchased an illustration from Chris Seaman and happy to say its my very first original illustration that I have purchased.
Later on in the day I went to a lecture about illustration verus concept art. It was interesting to here two different opinions, one being Robh Ruppel from Naughty Dog and the other Jon Schindehette of Dungeons and Dragons. It all leads down to what answers are being found, a final answer or an explorative answer.
I also purchased to white backed magic cards from Ryan Pancoast and Ralph Horsely. A white back is a printed magic card with out the normal logo of Magic written on the back. Its left white and illustrators often sell them with a nice sketch of the back. From Ryan Pancoast, I got a goblin and from Ralph Horsely I got a tree folk.
Later that night was the showcase at the Holiday Inn a few blocks away. Many students, up and coming illustrators, and seasoned pros set up tables with originals and prints. It was great to see so many people passionate about one thing and it made the experience even greater. I got to meet Sean Murray, who worked on the game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, one of my favorite games I've ever played. I purchased his sketchbook and it is amazing to look through.
There were the books, prints, and the original painting that I bought on my first day of Illuxcon. After the showcase, I headed back to my hotel to do some home work with all the energy from Illuxcon.
The past 2 weekends was extremely busy. I had Asbury Comic Con one weekend and the next weekend was MoCCA. Luckily Asbury Park Comic Con is down the street from my house ad I didn't have to deal with public transportation like I had to for MoCCA.
Claire (claireconnellycomics.com) and I shared a table. This is our 3rd time exhibiting at Asbury Park Comic Con and have been there since it's beginning in a small bowling alley down the street from convention hall. This year was the biggest con yet and had a great time meeting new faces and sharing my work. Next year is going to be even bigger, with a new location and many exhibitors.
Over the past weekend, my school had a table at MoCCA fest in New York City. Claire and I split half the table with our classmates. Chris Gash, one of the head illustration professors, got my school the table for all of us to share. It was great to have people recognize my work from the internet as well as other cons I have attended. The weekend was very busy but was worth it.
I got a lot of cool books and prints while at MoCCa. I am really excited to spend the week reading the books I got and displaying the prints I bought. If you live near New York, MoCCA is a great con to attend to get indie books and hand made products.
On Free Comic Book Day, I will be at The Comic Shop in Wilmington DE with my finished Senior Thesis and prints from my book along with my sketch book 'Conjured Thoughts' and comic 'Warg'. Hope to see you then