Preparing for Sakura Con

Preparing for conventions is a lot of work. And a lot of money. For the last several weeks straight (excluding Sundays) I've done nothing but work, come home, get on the computer, and prepare for Sakura Con.

To give you an idea of the many hours (and dollars!) involved in preparing, let me list some of the things I've done so far:

• designed/created business card (I still need to do the backside, I've conceptualized it just haven't made it yet!)
• created 4 new pieces of artwork (SO. MANY. HOURS.)
• scanned artwork
• retouched artwork
• touched-up and recolored 3 pieces of existing artwork  (this is always so satisfying, like figuring out how to scratch an itch that's been pestering you for ages - feeling like your art finally looks the way you've been wanting it to look but never quite had gotten it there before!)
• resized artwork to appropriate crops for having prints made
• if I change anything about a piece of artwork after this resizing (which happens a lot - I will be using the artwork for creating a bookmark or something and will make a change in coloring or design that I like, or will be zoomed in and discover blemishes I want to remove), then I have to go through and resize artwork again (using the new, changed image file).
• designed a set of 10 bookmarks (and redesigned several - I'm a perfectionist)
• ordered plastic bags/dealt with a damaged order
• researched construction of an artist alley display (we have to build it ourselves, so I was learning about common materials and where they recommend you go to buy them)
• created etsy shop (which I will use to sell anything leftover from the Con, I needed to establish it so I could get an URL and print the URL on my business cards)
• ordered metal headbands (for an idea I have for an item we'll be selling)

ANNNDDDD what's left to do:

• fix one more tweak on a piece of artwork (my mom pointed out something to me last night that's been bugging me ever since. . . it's minor, but now I see it I have to fix it!)
• order prints (also, I need to determine how many of each to get for each piece, all the art sells very different and it can be hard to predict!) - 5x7, 8x10, and 11x14 posters
• order business cards (after finishing back of card design - I think that will be pretty quick, my business card is pretty basic)
• finish keychain designs - I have the artwork done, it's the design that's taking a while (I have this feeling that the keychains are going to be the last thing I finish. . .)
• buying materials and constructing our artist alley display (this step is vital but it's going to be a lot of work!)
• buy storage bin for protecting artwork while at Con
• get prints/label and bag (I sell my artwork in protective bags with a label with my name and contact information on the back)
• create headbands
• buy tablecloth
• create signs to advertise for different products and pieces

All before March 29th. Think I can do it? Think it will be enough?

I intend to get the prints and business cards ordered this weekend (that's becoming more urgent as the Con approacheth since there is shipping time involved) - and hopefully I can at least start preparing to construct our artist alley display as well. Although I may need some down time, since I'm pretty exhausted and I haven't been sleeping well lately. So the display may get bumped to next week and I will probably work on finishing up keychain designs instead (it is better to finish a project than start a huge new one when you need a bit of a mental break).

Updates sure to come. . . hopefully with a preview of my zodiac keychains (because there will be a point in time in the future when they're done. . that's a happy thought right now!!)♥

~md

A good start.

When you're an artist, you have a huge, heavy question you have to face - what is it exactly that you want to say with your talent? After all, you've been given a unique voice of expression - a voice no one else has quite the same as you.

So certainly, there's a statement you've been cultivating it to use for. . .right?

. . .

And that's where I find myself.

Honestly, I envy artists who know what they want to say with their art. Whose work makes strong, clear, fascinating statements. Because that is so not me.

If you're not an artist, you may not understand. But I feel like I should be saying something with my art, building up towards an expression of meaning. All paths leading to some sort of climatic realization of self and the world actualized through visual medium.

Observation is a part of how I think. So art is like me taking notes on my world, but in a way beyond words. I didn't cultivate my drawing ability for anyone else. I never worried about making a statement with what I did. I drew a rose because I wanted to understand the shape. I sketched a cartoon character because I wanted to understand the visual elements that made it interesting and meaningful. I painted a person because something about the angle spoke to me, and I wanted the statement on record.  I photographed a sunset because I loved the warm glow of light. Or a person because they made a face in an instant I wanted to keep forever.

But I feel like somehow, this is doing the whole thing wrong. Like learning a dance because you want your body to understand the motion instead of learning to preparing for a recital. To play the piano because the sounds fascinate you, writing music intended for interest rather than rhythm and song.

It is the nature of the world to present what you're good at, to use it to establish who you are. But if there's anything I don't have a talent for, I'd say it's that. I'm just me and I'm often too busy thinking about the world to worry about making the world think about me.

So I wonder about the statements I'm unintentionally making with my work. I wonder if it even matters. Maybe I was given some talents for other people. And maybe I was given some talents. . .just for me.

So I guess if my work is to make a statement, at this point it'd be this - I'm here. I'm thinking. I'm watching and exploring in my own ways. And my art? It's not its own entity. Just snatches of the complete reality of my experience. Meaningful to those who share aspects of it, share interests. Meaningless to those who don't.

Hmmm. . . I think I'll stick to that for now. It's a good start, at least.

~md

So much, so little!

Oh I remember the time that I stretched to put something in this blog. When I would dig around to find some kind of art of mine to post. In fact, I created this blog because I thought it'd encourage me to be creative. To have something to show for my love of creating art (and share it with the wwwoooorrrrrllllddd!!!).

But that time has come and gone my friends. And now, I live in a world of artistic INSANITY.

Let me tell you a little story. It begins with my decision to try to sell some of my anime fanart at an anime convention being held next year (Sakura Con) in Seattle.

I've never done anything like that before. I've been doing anime fanart stuff as mindless fun for years and years, and my supportive friends (those special few who I've shared my secret stash of fanart goodness with) have insisted that my work would sell. So when my sister decided to buy booth space and sell some of the earrings that she makes at the convention, I gave it some thought and decided to go in halfsies and sell my artwork alongside her (they allow up to two artists per booth).

(a piece I did inspired by the anime Vampire Knight)

After all, it'd just be fun to say I did it. I don't know if I'll sell anything, but it's one of those things I know I'll look back on later in life and giggle that I did.

I like doing things like that ♥

Well with the date I'd have to have my art ready to sell safely set FAR in the future, I knew I didn't have to worry about starting any art projects soon to prepare. Although I knew I was going to need to do some preparing eventually - all my existing fanart was pretty old (and my skillz are even more awesum now!!). Also, I wanted to expand my work to cover some new anime series (more chances of appealing to potential customers).

I had work to do, but it could wait.

Until of course my sister found a smaller, cheaper anime convention in October (Aki Con) that she decided it'd be a good idea we attend as well - sort of a test to see if we wanted to do SakuraCon in the future. . .

So much for leisurely deadlines.

Since I made the decision to do this, my time has been devoured by art projects (such as the two pieces I have posted with this entry). It's wonderful though. My creative juices are constantly flowing, and I've done more drawing in the last month than I've done in the last year.

I'm also working on a non-drawing art project to sell at the convention as well, but I'll reveal more in a bit after I get some photos taken.

 

(Part of a two-part poster set I designed. I even did the calligraphy myself - forgive me all you beautiful calligraphy artists. . . )

I've been having a blast, but with the art eating up my time I haven't really had a chance to do much else! And with my creativity turned on the CRAAZZYYY setting, I find my artsy to-do list expanding far beyond fanart. . .

There are things I want to knit for Fall!

There are old clothes I want to modify/update and wear!

I have clients who want me to do some photography for them!

OH. THE. MADNESS.

I'm glad things are different now, though. Crazy busy as they are, it's wonderful. I feel so very alive when I am full of ideas :-)

~md

Vampire Knight & Inuyasha © Viz Media