Sketchbook Page

Sketchbook Page 11-20-12

I've been taking something of a depression-fueled break from creativity lately, but yesterday while chatting with a good friend on the phone, I pulled out a sketchbook and did some sharpie doodles. A couple of good things came out of it. I'm especially liking the sugar-skull and lotus combo.

Monday's Inspiration: Vandy Hall

Egyptian Fizzgig (and model) by Vandy Hall

One of the best things about being an artist is that you tend to just naturally develop a circle of creative friends. One of my best friends, Vandy Hall, inspires me every time she turns around. A few weeks ago, she came down to my house for a visit and art retreat. One of the pieces she put together, Egyptian Fizzgig won an award at Orycon.

And I got to watch her process unfold, which was just awesome. It was so good to see someone so talented going through much the same creative process as I do: move some paper around, do a little drawing, stare at it all for a while. add more paper or color, stare some more, wander around and think, add another detail, do some research, think some more... It makes me feel like I'm doing something right too.

In addition to her obvious fine art skills, she knits, she felts, she juggles, she does acrobatics, she does metal casting, and on top of all that, she is a professional glass-blower. Check out her work at her Etsy store!

Art Show at Orycon

My panel at Orycon's art show

Sorry to be so quiet lately! I've been getting ready for (and then recovering from) Orycon. Orycon is our local science fiction/fantasy convention. I've been going to it since 1991, and for the last few years, I've entered my artwork in the convention's art show. And this year, since I've been doing so much mixed media collage, I decided to enter my recent work in the show.

This is probably the best, most polished entry I've ever put together. Bear encouraged me to frame everything, which made a big difference. (I also had a table with some of my felties and overflow artwork, but I let myself get too busy to take a picture of it, silly me.) Nine collaged pieces and three original illustrations.

Overall, it was a great experience. I sold a couple of my felt pieces, and Discovery was claimed by a friend of Bear's, who saw it in the picture he posted to ye olde Facebooke. I think the big lessons I learned for next year would be to make prints of a few pieces to place in the print shop at the show and to target my artwork more carefully.

My friend Vandy didn't sell any of her original pieces, but multiple prints of her work sold. It seems like convention goers are somewhat more likely to buy artwork at print prices rather than original prices. Also, cats and dragons and Dr Who inspired artwork seemed to be the most popular, so I may try to work in more cats next year. Happily, I love cats.