Friday, July 20, 2007

COMIC CON 2007


I've been so busy this week that I haven't had a chance to post anything. We've been busy packing and getting ready for our trip to San Diego for the annual Comic Con. For those who don't know, this convention is the biggest comic book/pulp culture conference in the country. There are others through out the year in other cities but aren't as big. This draws thousands of people a day. Tons of famous industry people and hollywood people running around. It's very exciting! It is a three day event and is located at San Diegos Convention center which I believe is 2 football fields in size. It takes the full amount ot time to really see and hear everything. There is a lot of great indie artists that set up booths and sometimes that work is the most interesting. There is also a big presence of plush and vinyl too.
My husband is a comic book artist who has been nominated for an award called the Eisner Award for best publication for a younger audience for his graphic novel Chickenhare. So yes this is a business trip but it is fun business. He'll have lots of book signings and such while I get to go scout out the floor.
I plan on taking lots of pictures of all the craziness and trying to not spend a ton of money. I'll post some of my finds when I get back.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

CARD COLLECTION



I'd completely forgotten about this nine card collection I had done almost a year ago. Here's pics of two of them.They are in your local Hallmark stores now. It's nice to see a grouping of your work highlighted all together. Shoebox (a tiny little division of Hallmark) has a 4 foot display at the front of store for the summer. Lots of funny stuff. It's kind of in the area of the store where holiday cards are usually displayed. Since there aren't any big holidays after Father's Day and the 4th there is always a summer collection that fills that spot. It's just cool to not have to search through a sea of cards for your work.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

LET THE STUFFING FLY




Here it is. I finished it Sunday but have been a bit under the weather so I just took photos of it last night. I'm pretty happy with it. I didn't get a good shot of were the cats leg goes into the back of the dog and keeps the cat standing up right. I should have taken a pic of the back. I stands really well. The only other place the cat is attatched to the dog is his left paw to the dogs ear. This just keeps the cat thing from tipping. After looking at these pics I think the cat needs a little bit of stuffing in this paw that's in the air. I don't have to turn it in for a couple of weeks so I'll loet it sit a while before I decide it needs anything else.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

CALICO


Here's Calico almost finished. He's got a bit more detail to do. He will stand on top of Gingham with just one leg. He has a wood rod that goes through his leg all the way to his head. Now I just have to insert that through the back of Gingham and attach it to a base that Gingham will sit on. I think this will hold and look as if Calico is balancing on one leg. This took a bit of engineering to get just right and so far I'm happy with it. I hope to have it done by tomorrow and I'll post the final pics then.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

GINGHAM


Here is a pic of Gingham. He's not completely finished yet. I've got a bit more to do on him. I think his one eye will be hanging by a thread and there will be bits of stuffing sticking out here and there as well as hanging threads. He's got to look a bit beat up. I know he looks a bit juvenile and much sweeter than most of the plush I do but I thought it was appropriate for the story. I could have gone a bit more gorey and weird but since this is for an art auction and not other artists I need it to appeal to the general public. I personally think my stuff is pretty cute but most people on the outside don't like the whole devils and monsters thing. That is fine with me because I'm not making it for them I'm making it for me.
Calico currently has no limbs or face. I think he will be a bit more menacing in appearance but still cute. I've always seen him as the instigator in this story. I don't know why. More pics to come.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

GINGHAM DOG & THE CALICO CAT


I thought I'd post a picture of the sketch of these two plushies that I mentioned I'm working on for the Art Unleashed Art Auction. I've been working on this most of the week and hope to be done with it before the holiday weekend. So far the dog is done and he looks great. Just like the doodle. The cat however has taken on a different appearance. I decided he needed to be a bit more animated looking. This plush is based on the nursery story the Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat. I still have a lot of detailing and figuring out some technical stuff that I'll discuss later. If you're not familiar with the poem here it is:

The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat
by Eugene Field

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas half-past twelve, and what do you think!
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!

The gingham dog went " Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "Me-ow!"
The air was littered,an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with it hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed,"Oh dear! What shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw-
And oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
Don't fancy I exaggerate!
I got my news from the Chinese plate!

Next morning where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole the pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
The old Dutch clock, it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.