Megacon-tinued

Continuing my con report from MegaCon...

I went to Downtown Disney, and was distressed to find out that they no longer make the little coffee cans that I liked so much. They have the bigger ones, but not in the flavors that I liked. Oh well. I consoled myself with a new Jessica Rabbit t-shirt.

Sunday started and I was a man down. Sandi took ill and didn’t come to the show for the last day. It would have been nice to have her there, of course, but I was able to soldier on as a one-man operation.

I got to be on a panel, my first at MegaCon, for Independent Comics Creators. I got to be on there with such luminaries as Josh Blaylock of Devil’s Due, and my new acquaintence, Stefan Nilson. We spoke of getting started in the industry, staying in the industry, and all that. It was a good time, and I was glad to do it, but it also meant I was away from my table a bit, and I had to leave an hour before show close to make my flight home.

So I needed to get five hours of con into three-and-a-half. And there was definitely five hours of con to do.

Sunday just exploded.My numbers for the shorter day were almost the same as Saturday, where I was at the table all day. I wound up doing eight commissions, including a kick-butt Doctor Doom that I hope to get a scan of, a neat Joker, and a Shadowcat. And, for one particular guy, The Batfan, Harley, Ivy, Batgirl and Catwoman. Well, I would have done those last four if I didn’t run out of time and have to head back to Payless Car Rental and Orlando International Airport.

Fortunately, I’m going to be able to do them back at Art Studio Zee and mail them to him. And normally I don’t name the people who get my con sketches, but The Batfan has business cards with his name on them, so I figure a little online love is perfectly okay.

I also sold a few more sketchbooks, so they are officially A Success. I’ll have to get some more printed up for the New York show. I have a feeling they’ll fly even faster there. And I sold a bunch of Love and Capes. I bring a shortbox full of books to these shows, and the box was half-empty by the end of the show. So yay commerce!

Before you ask, yes, I made it home with my earnings intact. No Lunchbox Incident this show.

My flight was a bit delayed, and had a layover in Chicago that I’d honestly forgotten about. (Hey, I knew when I had to be at the airport. As for when I get back and how, well, I looked at that back when I booked the flight. I couldn’t change it, so there was no reason to have it stick in the old noggin, I guess.)

And I came home to fifteen inches of snow. My Mom, of her own volition and despite the protests of my cold-ridden Dad, shoveled enough of my drive that I could get my car in when I rolled in around 2 am. I didn’t ask her to do it, and would have tried to stop her as much as I could over the phone. Still, I do appreciate it.

All in all, it was a great show. I’d forgotten how much I liked it, and it did well enough to make sure it's on my con plate for next year, too. Maybe I'll even make the time to hit an amusement park or two. Say, isn't there some new a new Simpsons ride starting next year, maybe even a Harry Potter park?

I'll probably post a smattering of random final thoughts later. Right now, it's time to get back to work.

They're Here!

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I picked up the Powerful Women sketchbooks today, and they look sah-weet. I'll have them with me at MegaCon tomorrow, and at shows afterwards. If this goes over the way I expect it will, expect a second volume too.

By the way, the descriptor copy is on the back of each piece. It'll be fine when you see it, but it explains why the copy reads Kitty Pryde and the page image in Red Sonja.

Comedy is Timing

Yesterday, I was at Starbucks. It was Election Day, too, so there were a lot of kids either off for school or having a half day. Anyway, I got into line and was promptly followed by 20 or so junior high, maybe freshman girls. When I got up to the counter, the barista (one of the many that I know) saw me, and then saw the crowd that had filled the coffee shop behind me. I smiled and said "It's my network."

You don't get a lot of chances for those kind of perfect timed visual gags.

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

Normally, today would be a Dark Day. I spent a good chunk of yesterday compiling my tax information to hand off to my accountants and today was the day I dropped them off. I hate dealing with taxes. It's part of the job, I understand, but I hate anything that takes away from me actually being an artist.

But it was unusually warm today. So it was a Convertible Day and those are always good, and took the edge of the Tax Thing. Just mentioning it because I think it's important to appreciate the things that go right.

By Popular Demand

I've mentioned here on the blog that I've been doing more and more con sketches, so many that I'm now taking commissions via the website. I've also been asked "When are you going to do a sketchbook?" Well, the time is now.

I've looked into a variety of options and formats, and what I've come up with is this: Powerful Women. It's a collection of 25 pieces I've done, either at cons or as commissions as well as a ton of original pieces. They're all in full color. The book also features some commentary on each piece. The book comes in at 8.5x5.5, is spiral bound and will go for $15.00. For a limited time, I'll throw in shipping for free, too.

It features characters from all across comics, including Supergirl, Zatanna, Emma Frost, Enchantress, Red Sonja, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, and (surprise) Amazonia.

I'll have it with me at MegaCon, printer willing, and definitely at cons after that.

Let's Hope Nothing Big Happens

I should be on the radio just about now, as long as there's no breaking news again. I'll be on Stump the Panel on WTAM-1100, and you can listen live here.

Bumped

Well, I was supposed to be a guest on the Bob Frantz show, and was even there in the studio, but there was breaking news with the Bobby Cutts verdict coming down. So I got bumped. We're going to try to reschedule and see if I can get on later.

On the Radio Right Now (I Hope)

Barring any Breaking News or a traffic tie-up, I should be on the WTAM-1100 right about now. (Posted through the miracle of time-delayed blog posts.)

Hey, That Sounds Familiar

JK Parkin over at Newsarama is linking to my Comic Pants interview. Promotional love like that must be noted.

The Post I Wish I Wrote

By the time this posts, I'll be flying over the Midwest to Dallas, where I'll be at Wizard World Dallas and hangin' with my bud Jesse Jackson. No, not that one. (That never gets old.) But I caught this thanks to Kevin Melrose at Newsarama, and I think it's a great blog post o'advice to prospective artists. As I just did a Career Day at North High this morning, it kind of hit home. If you're interested in this Koo Koo Crazy Whirlygig Career of Art, it's worth checking out.