Unneccessarily lengthy recap of my weekend hanging out with illustrators from TOR Books
I had a... mindblowing weekend. I went to Boskone after work Friday to see a panel with Dan Dos Santos and Donato Giancola showing their sketching techniques. It was fun to see. I thought I'd appreciate watching Donato more, as I tend towards sketching by hand as well, but getting to see Dan's style, which was on his laptop, inspired me to drag my own tablet out and dust it off. I love the way it just works when I plug it into my Mac. Who knows how much use I'll get out of it (it's a Wacom Graphire 2 from something like 2001), but it comes in handy for doodling on the computer without irritating my carpal tunnel. I don't intend to "go digital", but Dan Dos Santos made some good points about its uses for concept work.
I stuck around for the reception under Mercutio's suggestion to "schmooze". Their reception food far outshone anything I've ever seen at Arisia. And I even ran into a few people I knew. And then I went home.
Sunday I headed back out early to catch a bunch of stuff. Bob Eggleton toured his work. And then there was a panel with Irene Gallo, the art director at TOR, answering questions from a panel of artists. After the panel, I did the dorky thing of offering my business card to Irene Gallo. I didn't have any sort of presentable portfolio I could throw together in the short time between when I decided to attend the con and when it happened, but I just wanted to get my name out there. I'm not really looking to throw myself into this career path just yet (I really appreciate my stable day job, and I don't want to give it up until Mercutio completes his nursing degree).
I ended up going to a panel on digital work since Friday had perked my interest. I stuck around in the same room for the panel on lasers since I knew Merc would be joining me. And after that I attended the last panel I went for: The Illustration Master Class.
It was great to learn about exactly what goes on. It only made me want to go more. I asked the question I'd been most curious about, which was whether it was truly going to stay an annual event. It seems like it does have enough interest and attendance to stay such (a third of last years students are returning, and it's already almost sold out of its 70 slots). I can't make it this year due to money. Next year I'm going to be drowning in wedding plans. But currently I'm aiming for 2011.
After the panel, Greg Manchess approached me, having noticed my attendance at the art panels that day I assume, to ask if I was a painter too. We chatted for a bit which ended in him inviting me to join everyone for drinks in the lobby after he was done clearing out of the Art Show. My initial nerves made me give an appreciative but wishywashy response, after which Mercutio urged me to GO (he's good for me). I loitered in the con until I saw Greg (who must have understood how much his invite meant to an aspiring illustrator) had joined the group, and then made my way over while people were looking through Rick Berry's portfolio. Greg ended up leaving soon after to help Dave Seeley drive his art away, I stuck around for a couple hours just hanging out with the illustrators and staff from TOR. It was very relaxed. Everyone was planning to head back to Rick Berry's studio afterwards and he invited me along. Turns out it's just down the street from where I live. I departed to make good on my "cheap date" plans with Merc for the Valentine's weekend (we decided to do Taco Bell), and then rejoined the group, plus some, back at Rick's, where we hung out for another couple hours.
It was awesome getting to wander around his space. Seeing the way other artists work is neat. I couldn't help but see all the paints and be reminded I had a few personal coupons from work in my pocket (where I get to fill out the back for whatever discount), so I decided to be dorky again and handed some out to these guys who made me feel so welcome.
Look! Some of us have our coats on 'cause we were just heading out.
I also ran into an eccentric man, Jon Singer, who turned out to know my old professor Chris Couch, and thought it was absolutely hilarious that he'd been my professor. I've been instructed to pass on Chris that I met Jon Singer, 'cause apparently he'd also find that amusing.
I've been planning to write Chris for a while, but wasn't sure what to say. I'd decided to wait until I had a gallery show and just send him a postcard invite. But between Jon, and having also been discussing Chris with my animation professor Janet Benn over brunch, I finally wrote him a letter. Hopefully UMass' campus mail will get it into his mailbox.
Okay, there, I got it all out. (and with less squeaking than Katie and Bruce Campbell)
And now I just have this driving need to be painting. I'm working on sketches for a painting inspired by Lucifer's Hammer that came into my mind while I was unable to sleep some night last week. And I got a cheap canvas pad to work on sketching/painting some portraits as further practice to loosen up my hand.
I should, soon, have the small archival printer I've been lusting after for a year. And might possibly end up showing some work at Pandemonium books in the future.
Val's trying to convince me to go to WorldCon in Montreal this year, but I don't think I can afford the hotel stay for so long (and still buy food and enjoy a short vacation). Who knows? I'm already planning to attend PiCon, but who knows if, among my painting, I'll find the time/energy to get that steampunk dress done. If I do, I think it'll be the last fancy dress I do for a while (besides my wedding dress of course).
I stuck around for the reception under Mercutio's suggestion to "schmooze". Their reception food far outshone anything I've ever seen at Arisia. And I even ran into a few people I knew. And then I went home.
Sunday I headed back out early to catch a bunch of stuff. Bob Eggleton toured his work. And then there was a panel with Irene Gallo, the art director at TOR, answering questions from a panel of artists. After the panel, I did the dorky thing of offering my business card to Irene Gallo. I didn't have any sort of presentable portfolio I could throw together in the short time between when I decided to attend the con and when it happened, but I just wanted to get my name out there. I'm not really looking to throw myself into this career path just yet (I really appreciate my stable day job, and I don't want to give it up until Mercutio completes his nursing degree).
I ended up going to a panel on digital work since Friday had perked my interest. I stuck around in the same room for the panel on lasers since I knew Merc would be joining me. And after that I attended the last panel I went for: The Illustration Master Class.
It was great to learn about exactly what goes on. It only made me want to go more. I asked the question I'd been most curious about, which was whether it was truly going to stay an annual event. It seems like it does have enough interest and attendance to stay such (a third of last years students are returning, and it's already almost sold out of its 70 slots). I can't make it this year due to money. Next year I'm going to be drowning in wedding plans. But currently I'm aiming for 2011.
After the panel, Greg Manchess approached me, having noticed my attendance at the art panels that day I assume, to ask if I was a painter too. We chatted for a bit which ended in him inviting me to join everyone for drinks in the lobby after he was done clearing out of the Art Show. My initial nerves made me give an appreciative but wishywashy response, after which Mercutio urged me to GO (he's good for me). I loitered in the con until I saw Greg (who must have understood how much his invite meant to an aspiring illustrator) had joined the group, and then made my way over while people were looking through Rick Berry's portfolio. Greg ended up leaving soon after to help Dave Seeley drive his art away, I stuck around for a couple hours just hanging out with the illustrators and staff from TOR. It was very relaxed. Everyone was planning to head back to Rick Berry's studio afterwards and he invited me along. Turns out it's just down the street from where I live. I departed to make good on my "cheap date" plans with Merc for the Valentine's weekend (we decided to do Taco Bell), and then rejoined the group, plus some, back at Rick's, where we hung out for another couple hours.
It was awesome getting to wander around his space. Seeing the way other artists work is neat. I couldn't help but see all the paints and be reminded I had a few personal coupons from work in my pocket (where I get to fill out the back for whatever discount), so I decided to be dorky again and handed some out to these guys who made me feel so welcome.
Look! Some of us have our coats on 'cause we were just heading out.
I also ran into an eccentric man, Jon Singer, who turned out to know my old professor Chris Couch, and thought it was absolutely hilarious that he'd been my professor. I've been instructed to pass on Chris that I met Jon Singer, 'cause apparently he'd also find that amusing.
I've been planning to write Chris for a while, but wasn't sure what to say. I'd decided to wait until I had a gallery show and just send him a postcard invite. But between Jon, and having also been discussing Chris with my animation professor Janet Benn over brunch, I finally wrote him a letter. Hopefully UMass' campus mail will get it into his mailbox.
Okay, there, I got it all out. (and with less squeaking than Katie and Bruce Campbell)
And now I just have this driving need to be painting. I'm working on sketches for a painting inspired by Lucifer's Hammer that came into my mind while I was unable to sleep some night last week. And I got a cheap canvas pad to work on sketching/painting some portraits as further practice to loosen up my hand.
I should, soon, have the small archival printer I've been lusting after for a year. And might possibly end up showing some work at Pandemonium books in the future.
Val's trying to convince me to go to WorldCon in Montreal this year, but I don't think I can afford the hotel stay for so long (and still buy food and enjoy a short vacation). Who knows? I'm already planning to attend PiCon, but who knows if, among my painting, I'll find the time/energy to get that steampunk dress done. If I do, I think it'll be the last fancy dress I do for a while (besides my wedding dress of course).