No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on October 15, 2012

The dinner Saturday night was with our friends the Spectors. It was one of those long multicourse meals with lots of lovely conversation with wonderful people. Almost three hours later, we found ourselves back at our hotel and we started watching SLN. It was then we discovered our one slight problem with an otherwise excellent hotel, there is a night club on the roof which we could hear the thumpa thumpa of the bass until they shut the club down about 2:30. This explains why you needed your card key to get the elevator to stop on your floor. But we still managed to get some sleep.

After a decent free breakfast, we made our way back to the convention. It was nice to walk the floor and be able to get some speed going. We ran into friends and acquaintances along the way.

Peter has a signing at the Marvel booth at 11 so he agreed to stand in line to get Caroline’s Big Nate books signed by the author Lincoln Peirce while I went downstairs to see if I could say hi to the Frouds before they spoke to the public at large. I lucked out and caught up on news with them. They have a new book out called “Trolls” and there is an exhibit currently at AFA Gallery in Soho. You can find more information here.

I went back to the line where Peter was standing and we both met one of Caroline’s favorite authors. He asked that if she was around later to bring her by his second signing so he could meet her.

Peter went to sign at Marvel and I went back to the table to set up for the day. Gwen brought Caroline back to the convention and we timed it out pretty much so she got to meet Mr. Peirce. They talked about Big Nate and drawing in general. Caroline had a lot of fun.

The rest of the day was spent in Artists Alley either at the table or talking to friends. I introduced a couple of people to each other that I thought should meet. At one point I was using the back route to the table when I heard a familiar voice and turned to corner to see Walt Simonson finishing up a portfolio review for a young artist that I found out later had been a student of Walt’s. I got my hug and kiss from Walt. We really didn’t have much news to catch up on since we read each other’s Facebook pages but it was nice to talk in person. He was on his way out of the convention. We walked and talked and got called over by Chris Claremont. I am standing there talking to Walt and Chris while my inner fan-girl is doing backflips because I am just standing there talking to two people who mean so much to my love of comic books.

The day ended on a rather nice note and we packed up and got out of there in good time. We got the car and headed home.

I am grateful for all the people I talked to at NYCC.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 13, 2012

Started early for us since we wanted to get to the city and our hotel before Peter’s first appointment.

We got into the city and settled before going over to the Javits center for the convention.

Started with a press junket for “Epic Mickey: The Power of 2” where we saw all kinds of neat stuff for the game. This one is going to blow the first game out of the water.

Caroline and I walked the floor of the exhibitors’ hall and saw a lot of neat stuff and ran into a number of friends. Caroline went to the Nintendo booth to see if she could get this exclusive Pokemon for her game only to find out that the place to do it was outside the building. We made plans to go to that later in the day and proceeded to wander the rest of the building until we got back to Artist Alley and Peter’s table (BB-1).

We walked to the Pokemon venue only to find a line around the block and some to get in. It was only because of a very nice young lady who works for Nintendo and understood that we had limited time that we got in at all. Wish I had gotten her name but many good points in her book for being so understanding. Caroline got her Pokemon that she wanted so bad. She also looked at various other pokemon related product and meet Pikachu. A happy Caroline indeed.

We went with Peter to his panel with Stan Lee and had a nice chat with various people I have met over the years including a number I had met at SDCC. Caroline was polite but hungry so we survived the food court and got some lunch. Then back to the table we went and explain so many times that my voice was going that Peter was at the Marvel booth but would be back by 5:30. He managed to get back sooner than that allowing Caroline and I to walk back to the hotel were we met Caroline’s sister Gwen. Caroline and Gwen are having a sleep over tonight which is nice because it gives the sisters some time together.

So I am back at the hotel typing this up. Peter and I have dinner plans with some friends of ours, which will be very nice. Then it is up early and back to the convention for Day 2.

I am very grateful to the young lady who helped us today.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 12, 2012

So baseball fans are getting their monies worth along with some serious lack of sleep. I don’t think I am going to wear my Orioles shirt around town today.

Did basketball start? Hockey sure hasn’t.

Caroline and I had to have a heart to heart about homework and activities. She forgot about ½ her homework at school last night. The night before she drug homework out for about 2 ½ hours. I pointed out that unless she can do her job (ie. School and homework) then we were going to have to cut back on the extra activities. This of course led to tears and promises of doing better.

Caroline loves her Girl Scout troop. Third generation Girl Scout, I am so proud especially since this year we are celebrating 100 years of scouting. It is really good for her.

Project Runway is going to another All-Star version next. I thought the past seasons challenges were OK but nothing to knock my socks off. The final designers are OK but not great. The collections I have seen so far are OK. And it comes down to do I have time to watch OK? So far my answer is yes but I am on the edge of no. I think it is the going for the drama that is killing it for me. I still do love Tim Gunn.

Right now all the cats have found different sunny patches to sleep in. Which reminds me that I have litter boxes to deal with. * sigh *

I need to find my car keys. I have a suspicion where they are and which cat did it but that is all that it is.

Making a list of all that needs to get done today. Boy, that’s a long list. Hope there are enough hours in the day.

Speaking of getting things done, I should wrap this up and get everything onto the next thing that need to be done.

I am grateful for cats and sunshine.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 10, 2012

This weekend is New York Comic Con at the Javits Center. I will be there Saturday and Sunday this year. Peter’s table is BB1 in Artist Alley. Other Crazy 8 people will be dropping by from time to time. Caroline will be selling drawings. I will be bringing some puppets.

My advise for NYCC, go online and plan your visit to the convention center. They have all the information for the weekend listed and a clever app so you can record what you want to look at and where the people you want to see are.

Assume that it will take about 30 minutes to get anywhere and be happy when it does.

Comfortable shoes are a must. This covers as much ground as SDCC and the floors are harder I swear.

And like SDCC they have exclusives. Lots and lots of exclusives. They can be found here

Hydrate. I’m not kidding.

Make sure you take breaks during the day. Sitting in a panel counts as a break if you are sitting.

Assume that there will be a line for everything and anything including food, the bathrooms, and the ATMs. So plan accordingly especially for your bathroom needs.

Sunday is Kids day and there is a lot for the children to do. Ergo there are going to be a lot of kids on Sunday at the convention and the things that go with children like strollers.

Have back-up plans.

Don’t count on your cell phones/smart phones to work. The Javits center can be the black hole of cell service especially the lower you are in the building. Make sure you have a meet-up point and time if part of a group.

And if it does get to be too much, hey you are in NYC which has tons of other things to do.

I hope to see some of you this weekend.

I am grateful that I pretty much know my schedule this weekend.

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Posted By Kathleen David on October 9, 2012

I had an interesting discussion with a fellow artist and friend of mine about this past year conventions and what sold for her and what didn’t. Among the trends that we both saw and liked were people buy original art again and sales being up over all for most of the shows we both did. I think it was one of my best years for sales over all. We’ll see if I can match my NYCC total from last year to make it truly the best year in sales in a rather long time.

We also talked about playing to the customer and putting out what we like to see if anyone else likes it and is willing to buy it. I talked last week about shoulder dragons and that the structure is such so there are only so many ways you can weight them and get them to work properly. Also these are dragons and in our minds we know what looks like a dragon and what doesn’t.

Other than commissions, I tend to make things that I like and amuse me. Things I am passionate about just work better for me to make. I have made things that others wanted or things that I thought others wanted. And those tend to sit around for a long time. I think I have found my niche in the Fandom Convention Art World. I make puppets and dolls. I want to continue to show my dolls. I am still playing around with them to find my type of dolls that I can sell. I think I am on the track for that.

Some artists can judge the market very well and set their skills into filling that market need. Others see what is selling and make things along similar lines hoping to sell them too. Considers what you see from year to year at these art shows and at Ren Faires. It is the artists that figure out the next trend that seem to make the most money.

Fan art is a whole other kettle of fish. Fandom is a funny beast. Some fandoms have a few loyal fans so the market is small. Others, even over the years, have lots of fans and a larger market. But one has to understand the fandom to be able to cater to it. I have been making noises of about a set of Firefly hand puppets I have wanted to make. I have also been thinking about Torchwood first season puppets. Now I know that both fandoms are still very active. Browncoats are a little like B5 fans in that they take pride that they are still fans of the show even though it has been off the air for a while. Doctor Who fans continued to support the show while it was on hiatus and bought art based on their favorite TV show. Other shows seem to be a flash in the pan and the audience moves onto to the next show. I tend to make things in fandoms that I like.

We talk about knowing your market. And figuring out if what you do is a hobby or a business. Hobby seems to have one set of rules and business has a totally different set and some serious reality checks. I have had friends who have worked very hard to get to the point where their hobby became their job and they couldn’t be happier. I have had others find out that they liked what they were doing when it was a hobby rather than their job. Both are fine. Not everything suits everyone and it is good to learn what suits you. Just know that when it becomes a job, it has to be thought of as a job not just something you do on the side. And not everything you make is going to be a hit. Know your audience that you are trying to appeal to and make things that you have passion about because it shows in the work.

I am grateful for the passion I have about things.

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