Finally! I am sentient enough to write a blog post about DragonCon! This year was my most work-intensive year yet, despite the fact I didn’t have to man a table. It was so wonderful to meet old friends, fellow artists, and attend many cool panels! It made returning home to a backlog of work after all the fun that much more difficult.
My panel on E-Marketing for Artists 101 that I gave during the con is now available online for your viewing pleasure. It was my first time giving it so I was pleased to be applauded at the end. Next time, I’ll be sure to include even more info based on the crowd’s great suggestions!
I decided to be over-ambitious and do a mixed media display of new digital paintings, jewelry, and masks to reflect my new skillset from the past year. I’m happy to report I sold half my masks and jewelry and even a couple of framed pieces! This year was the best I’ve done with a Gallery panel at DragonCon, though Print Shop sales remained lackluster.
Now for a tour of my panel! (See more pics of my gallery this year
here).
Things I Learned
(Because you always learn something new with every con. Even if you’ve been attending for years.)
- Mailing labels are your friend! Instead of wasting business cards by using them as title labels, a simple design printed on a mailing label looks even more snazzy AND saves me money!
- Plastic Sawtooth Hangers look way better than using binder clips on your images (and doesn’t risk creasing your art/bag). The downside: Once they’re stuck on, they’re on for good.
- Gatorade. The cure for hangovers, nausea, and walking multiple blocks in 85 degree Georgia heat in a corset!
- What sold this year – DRAGONS (Derp moment on my part as this never occurred to me. Especially for an event like DragonCon), masks, jewelry, and my darker angel pieces. Seems my craft items are staying my money makers.
- When giving an hour long panel, drink plenty of water (or Gatorade). I was hoarse for a week after because I rambled the whole time at my panel without sipping any liquids.
Personal Stuff
Being able to wander the con and attend panels was great this year! I learned how to make items out of hardened felt, which opens up a whole new world of crafting for me. I also attended a panel on peasant fashion in the 1650s, which was great cultural fodder for my novel writing research.
 |
A butterfly lady sketch
from Stephanie
Pui-Mun Law. |
I also got to yack with
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and, in what’s becoming my DragonCon tradition, purchased her latest Tarot book,
The Tarot: Minor Arcana! Stephanie did a lovely sketch on the inside cover before my eyes, even with my rambling distracting her. Thanks so much for the gift of inspiration, Stephanie! Can’t wait to really dig into this tome. A flip through has already revealed tons of crows, swords, sparkly bods, and awesomeness! It will be good inspiration and motivation for me to get going on my own Tarot project, once I finally sort my direction out.
After two years of saying ‘I
might go’, I finally attended David Mack’s charity body painting event hosted at one of my favorite joints in town, The Shakespeare Tavern! There was much talent packed into one place and also organic strawberry beer to be had. David also signed my present of a
rare Scarab figure from a friend, which was the source of much happiness.
I was also free to wander around snapping pics of costumes this year. You can see my meager collection of costume photos
here! If you want to see videos of my friends and I being stupid at the Night at the Aquarium event, check out
Derpy Eels and
Rockout Fish videos.
I’m not so sure if I’ll be able to make it to DragonCon next year with other events like SDCC and Spectrum Live Art tempting me, but after the success of this year, I’m definitely going to try! Till next time, guys! I’m already plotting a costume.
