Fan Expo 2013

I'll be there at table A70 with Andrew Barr and his giant black sign with a bright pink and green skull monster on it.  It's hard to miss, trust me.  A70 is just about in line with the Lego booth if that helps at all.  The map of the vendors floor looks incredibly packed, even more so this year than others, so getting around will probably be a challenge, even with the celebs moved to another building.

I've done a clean out of my prints and am not brining as much this year.  Some of the prints are from (quite a few) years ago and my style and quality has changed a lot (for the good?).  I have some new prints (Nerds, Gamer Girl and a version of my Amelia Earhart image) plus my Killer Fangirls, my black and white 1950s caricatures, sugar skull and a few others still for sale.  Plus my art book and the last of my haul of buttons.  Buttons are 25¢ each, cheapest on the floor!

I'll be tweeting and hopefully posting from the table as our weekend chugs along.

Apparently I have some homework to do while I'm there, meaning work I should be doing at home but will try and get a head start on while I'm there, so if my head is down over my sketchbook just clear your throat loudly or throw as useless penny at my head to say "Hi".

1950s Gamer

I was wracking my brain trying to think of a least one new pinup for the Fan Expo this month and as much as I love the 1950s ladies (the hair, the clothes, the expressions), I felt that I couldn't do another one looking pleased at her cooked roast dinner or confused at her coffee.  So I thought I'd mix two things that I like and made her a gamer.

I'll be selling this print at the Toronto Fan Expo this month (table A70).  Look for the scary giant ANDREW BARR banner and I'll be tucked away in the corner of his table.

Artbook for sale at Etsy

I have some leftover copies of my artbook from the FanExpo last month.  I thought I'd try selling them on Etsy so I can offer a sketch inside each book.

So!  I'm selling my artbook at Etsy and am offering a sketch inside each book with purchase!  I have 12  left so it would be pretty amazing to have them sold by the end of this year.

I'm also including with every order, a freshly drawn sketch card.

FanExpo 2012 Wrap-up

So this sketch pretty much represents my feeling for the FanExpo.  Me being the girl, my art being the cat.  It was a bit of a bust.  Don't get me wrong, there were thousands of people walking around, there were some pretty big corporate displays like Lego, Marvel and Ubisoft with displays and demos and freebees, there were some pretty amazing A-list celebrities, but all of that didn't add up to a great weekend for us in Artist Alley.

The organizers moved Artist Alley from one long wall along the back of the room to a shorter wall along the side of the room.  We were 3 rows from the farthest corner of the room.  The main feeling was that once people started at the opposite end of the Artist Alley, got to the half way point, they either got tired or ran out of money so they turned around and didn't make it to the final few rows where we were.  We were also quite close to the CTV area (a TV station here in Canada) so I think people saw that and figured 'Boring, I'm here for comics not TV' and turned around.  We were also close to one of two giant TOWER OF T-SHIRTS! towers so people saw that and probably figured they'd seen one, they don't need to see another.

So overall it just wasn't as successful as last year's FanExpo.  I would like to thank those who did stop buy to chat or buy, especially those of you who remembered us from past years and always seem to buy something new from us.  Thank you!  You made my weekend.

Something else I think messed me up was autograph hunting.  I haven't been the one who goes out for autographs from the celebs, I sit back and watch the table while Andrew does that.  There's never been anyone who I just really, really wanted to meet.  Until this year.  Yes, I scraped up the courage from somewhere and got Alan Tudyk's autograph on my Tucker and Dale image.

I was taking a walk and happened to see he was there a day early so I thought better do it now before I lose sleep with anxiety and anticipation.  So I got in line and the volunteer announces that the line is now closed.  I was the last one.  What?!  So I joke to the guy in front of me, 'Does that mean I'll be the one he remembers out of everyone today?'  And he says 'Yeah, when he's lying in bed tonight he'll be thinking of you.'  WHAT?!  And the volunteer jokes that I should toss my hair and be all flirty.  Double what?!  Like I needed all of that to make me any more nervous.  But he was very kind, shook my hand, seemed to be amused by my piece (I gave him one with my autograph on it :P) and signed it as well as the photo that I got for the price of the autograph.  As I walked away I thanked him for not cancelling to which he smiled and nodded a 'You're welcome' kind of thing.

I also got Norma Reedus and Jon Bernthal (from The Walking Dead) autographs for my Mom since she's a huge fan of the show.  That should be a fun addition to her birthday presents!  Sarah Wayne Callies who plays Lori just showed up out of the blue at Norman's table while I was lining up but I didn't have enough money on my for her's too.  Talk about awkward.  She's twiddling her pen as I'm standing there waiting for Norman, NOT getting her autograph.  But she did compliment me on my owl t-shirt.  

So all that autograph stuff had me on edge for three days.  Right now I'm suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.  I keep flashing back to how much of an idiot I may or may not have made of myself.  I haven't even looked at the few photos I got of me and them since they were taken.

So that's sort of it in a nutshell.  We hung out with some convention friends (Ghoul Friday and Mummy's Little Monster, I'm looking at you!) I bought some great new art to freshen up our art wall.  I'm not quite inspired to jump back into my own art right now but I'll give it some time.

I have a lot of merch left over so I'm planning on opening at etsy.com store.  I figured people might trust that more than just buying directly from me.  Worth a shot I guess.  I also might try the tumblr thing and start one of those.  Like I don't have enough places to update when I have something to update with, but what's one more, eh?

Killer Fangirl 6: Zombie

And finally, a girl's best friend, the zombie.  I went with a Return of the Living Dead theme with this once hence the logo on her shirt.

If you're coming to the FanExpo this weekend, this image is my display on our table so look for it if you're looking for me.

Killer Fangirl 5: The Sawyers

This one's a fan of that friendly southern family, the Sawyers and their world famous chili.

Will be for sale at the FanExpo this weekend!

Killer Fangirl 4: Michael

This one was a little tougher.  I figured the butcher knife and the style of the pumpkin face would give the best clues to who she's a fangirl of.  In the movie it's either Dr. Loomis or the sheriff who asks for back up at "45 Lamkin Lane, the old Myer's house" so I went with that as the address.

This too will be for sale at the FanExpo NEXT WEEK!

Killer Fangirl 3: Freddy

Every girl dreams of her Freddy once in a while.

Will be for sale at FanExpo, in two weeks!  How can time go so fast AND so slow at the same time?

FanExpo Map

So that's were Andrew and I will be, A53.  I think we're surrounded by a few authors with their books. I might be wrong but it looks like they've rearranged the layout this year.  Last year artist alley was pretty close the celebrity autograph area but now it's WAAAY on the other side of the room.  But this map is always a little deceiving until you set foot in the room and see where everything is with your own eyes.  Even then it takes a few hours of walking around to get your bearings.

Killer Fangirl 2: Jason

What girl doesn't love a maniac in a hockey mask, eh?  Especially if that girl is Canadian!  I'll be selling this at the FanExpo this month.

Killer Fangirls 1: Ash

So this is the result of colouring one of those sketches I posted earlier:

It's girly Ash from Evil Dead 2.  I've seen a ton of cosplay of women dressed as Ash and their costumes are usually better than some of the costumes guys put together.  She's not really a "fangirl" but Ash is such a pop culture cult hero that I really wanted to try girlifying him.  Is that a word!  It is now!

I've got 5 more fangirls.  I'll be selling them at the FanExpo this year.  I'm thinking they'll be 5"x7".  So come on by if you're coming and want one!

Tucker and Dale VS Evil

Fan Expo recently announced that Alan Tudyk is going to be one of the celebrity guests this year so I was inspired to do a Tucker and Dale VS Evil sketch.  I'm planning to get it coloured.  And if I can muster the courage (I'm shy!) and he doesn't cancel at the last minute, I'll get a few printed so I can give one to him and get him to sign another.

FaxExpo 2012

If you haven't checked out the guest list for this year's Fan Expo in Toronto, then you bloody well should.  Thank goodness we already have a table because going as a visitor would be a little INSANE considering who's going to be there!  Seriously!  So here's hoping they all show up and no one has to cancel.

FanExpo 2012

I'm a-goin'!  I'll be sharing a table with Andrew of Notchordamnatchoz fame.  They're pretty on the ball this year as we already know where our table is.  I'd post it but I'm lazy right now with a head cold and don't feel like searching for it.  I'll update later.  We've got a few months to go.

I still have lots of prints to sell from last year.  I'm thinking of reprinting some of the ones I sold out of, like my Tattooed Lady and Stare.  I'm also putting together an art book (mainly for myself, details TBA) so I'm excited to get that done.  Plus buttons, buttons, buttons!  Cheapest (in price, not quality) buttons in the room!

I've got a few months of spring and summer to produce some new art for the show and the book.  Not feeling very creative that way right now but things change so fast, you just never know what might come into my mind!

FanExpo 2011 - the sketches

FanExpo 2011 is now over and I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  I think I needed to take a break from it for a few years.  We were in an area with some great artists and it felt like we really belonged in that spot!

This plague doctor is because our table was directly across from Ghoul Friday and got to look at her amazing figures for the weekend.

These two are just for kicks.

I'm really considering doing it again next year, sharing another table with Notchordamnatchoz again.  I managed to sell a HECK of a lot of buttons and some prints.  Me thinks maybe an artbook next time...?

Illustration Friday: Swell

This week's word is "Swell".  All I could picture was some kid from the 40's saying "Ah, gee!  That's swell!"

I bought some small art trading cards to draw on at the convention.  I've never tried them before and I also have some new grey pens so I tried out both with this drawing.  I also got a sweet silver pen to sign any prints people buy so I tried that out too.  They're swell!  Sorry, couldn't help it.

FanExpo 2011!

Yes!  FaxExpo 2011!  After a few years away from selling at the con, but still going to shop, I will be in Artist's Alley this year, helping notchordamnatchoz.blogspot.com sell his art and I'll be selling a little bit myself.  I have prints that are a few years old so they'll be going CHEAP plus I have a TON of buttons to sell, 25¢ each.  Heck, maybe if you buy a $5 print I'll GIVE you a button!  As for new work, I've been embellishing my sugar skull image and will be selling that as a 11"x17" print.

We're at table A249, which by this map puts us over on the side of the major game companies PS3 and EB Games.  Just head towards Rue Morgue, then find EB and you're on the way to finding us.  Please stop by!