Apollocon Rocked!

     This is a little late in coming because I've been so busy with school and updating the new site design. Apollocon was a very wonderful event for me despite the fact that I ended up working the entire first day of it and was pretty much on call for the rest. A Prince of Thieves actually made it to the auction and had a minor bid war over it. This made me very happy with it being my first time out with actual prints in a show. Fire Spirit also had a bid, but the bidder didn't pick it up. The art show director is working to try and get the money for it. I had three artist proofs in the charity auction. Titania sold to one of the author guests. Phoenix also sold. Only Oberon came home with me. I didn't sell any of my ACEOs, but I wasn't expecting to so that's quite alright. The best thing that happened at the show was having Artist Guest of Honor, Alain Viesca, compliment my print of Stinger. I was totally geeking out over that. It really made my cartoon.  

    Other good things that happened at the con: 

•  I got to sit in on a demonstration with Alain Viesca and see how he works. It was very fascinating and helpful and I learned a few new techniques.
• I got a request for a design which will eventually be up in the Cafe Press store. I need to hammer out the details on that.
• Several people took cards so they can contact me later for merchandise and other things.
• I have a possible sale for another print of A Prince of Thieves to the lady who lost it in auction.
• My art got an overall positive reaction which has done wonders for my attitude.
• I also got to sit and discuss digital art with alain and some other artists on a panel, which was fun.
• I got to watch Alain make a dragon sculpture out of cotton candy and pretzel sticks at the Artist's reception Friday night. It was nice to not be the only one in the room with those kinds of tendencies. LMAO! We tried and tried to come up with some way to preserve it but, alas, cotton candy isn't something that will stand up to preservation. It was humid enough that by the end of the reception, the poor thing looked more like a dracolich than a dragon. *chuckle* Some people got photos of it, but I couldn't get any because my camera on my phone is screwed up right now. *pout* If I can get a hold of the images, I'll post a link to them so people can see. It was VERY cool.

Next Round of Prints

     I'm currently trying to make the decision on what images will be going to the printers next. So far, the only one I know for sure will be going is Dark Angel since it wasn't proofed in time to make it with the first batch. My goal is to have another five or six pieces in the next set. This isn't an easy decision since I have so many works available to choose from. If anyone has any images they want to see in the next round of prints, please feel free to contact me at aazaris_world@sbcglobal.net  with your suggestion. I can't promise it'll be included in this round, but I will note it for the future if it isn't.

Upcoming Shows

     I've applied for space at Armadillo Con, Fen Con and Conjecture. I won't be attending as far as I have planned so far, but my art will be there. (You never know, I could win the lottery before then and end up going. *snicker*)  The information for those is below.

Armadillo Con, Austin, TX; Aug. 11-13, 2006  http://www.armadillocon.org

Fen Con, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; Sept. 22-24, 2006  http://www.fencon.org

ConJecture, San Diego, CA; Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2006 http://www.conjecture.org

     These shows will be receiving the first six limited edition prints I had at Apollocon as well as a variety of ACEO works more than likekly. If I can get the order in soon, Fen Con and ConJecture may be getting a mix of the new and old limited edition  print series rather than the ACEOs and old prints.

On the More Personal Front

     I am currently in my 6th module at school and have managed to maintain my 4.0 average so far. I have one more module to go before my externship of 160 clock hours. After that, I get my certificate and I sit for my certification with AHIMA so that I can work as a professional medical/insurance coder. Needless to say, I'm very excited. I'm working a crap custodial job in the evenings to help pay bills while I'm in school. The guy I work for is talking about promoting me into management already and I haven't even finished my  probationary period with the company.  I figure if I can talk him into $10 an hour, that'd be fine with me. LOL That'd give me just under $900 a month working just part time. I could deal with that considering my half of the bills comes in at around $600.  I might actually be able to save up to upgrade my poor old beast of a computer making that kind of money. Gods know the poor thing needs replacing.

Closing

     That's all for now. I'm looking for more conventions to send out to before the end of the year. If you know of any with a good art show or would like me to send out to a convention near you, send me the information and I'll check them out.

May your summer be blessed and entertaining!

Jolie