Aki Con 2012

After much planning, preparation, and work work work - as I previously announced, I made my first appearance tabling at an anime convention! My sister and I tabled together under our combined title "Jesting Monkey Studios."

Here I am at my table:

Oh and what an experience it was! First of all, I think it's hard for all artists to step up and try selling their art. Especially when what I do with anime is fanart, which made me extra nervous - there is a negative stigma associated with fanartists in the anime art community (one I certainly understand, although I also dispute - but honestly I don't take it seriously enough to bother really fighting it). Appearing at Aki-Con was definitely me stepping outside of my usual comfort zone. I tried to bring no expectations - just show up, learn a lot, and try to make it fun!

And it was. I usually get feedback about my art through the internet, so watching people's faces as they looked at my work was a whole new experience. I was flattered by the interest people took in my work and the comments they had about what I've done. I got to meet some great people and have some very interesting conversations. I recall one guy who really loved some of my Inuyasha work commenting:  "They may say Inuyasha is Dragon Ball Z for girls, but I don't care. I love it!"

My view from behind the table

I like to go to conventions in "costume" - I feel like it makes me more approachable

The two pieces I sold the most were:

Which I found pretty interesting, especially since the piece I got the most comments on was:

Now to the not-so-fabulous part about Aki-Con - the location where they put the artists. They placed us outside the convention, literally across the street from it in a parking garage with no heat and no power available for most of the artists (when you're going to be behind a table all day, you'd like to be able to charge your phone or work on creating new product while you're stuck!). And it was pouring rain outside. Which shouldn't be an issue - unless the particular parking garage leaks.

They had some blue buckets stuck up overhead, but they didn't stem the water seeping in for very long (as you can see by the puddles in the picture to the left)- some patrons got dripped on or just plain soaked when a bucket tipped.

None of us artists did very well in sales - I'd say the conditions probably had a lot to do with that. So financially it was definitely a loss for me. But the experience itself wasn't a loss. I ended up selling a giant 11x17 print of one of my pieces that I had to go have specially made overnight. Which was the most amazing feeling ever, knowing someone wanted my art that big to frame on her wall!!

All in all - I'm glad we did it. There is a thrill to sharing your art with others I don't get to experience much (mostly my own fault but whatever, we artists are often very insecure creatures!). I know I'm just a fanartist, but I don't care if the anime art community takes me seriously or not. I don't take myself seriously! I'm just having fun and spreading the love ♥ And that's what I did at Aki-Con.

So really, how could I go wrong?

~md
Inuyasha © Viz Media, Ouran High School Host Club © Funamation