Welcome to my world. I'm a interactive designer working in the Seattle area. I love anime and have been an anime artist for about 4 years now. I love meeting new people and commenting on work. I also love receiving comments and criticism too. I want to be a better artist and The Otaku is the place to do that.

Convention season is over, for now

Whew, and Sigh . . .

Its finally over. The two conventions in Seattle were Emerald City Comic Convention and Sakura Con. Together they boasted over 25,000 people in attendance and (I believe) brought in more than a million dollars. As I'm sure many of you know who read my posts, I've been preparing for these conventions for the last 4 months now. The challege was that they were back to back one weekend after the other. I made over 350 prints with 30 variations, 150 copies each of the two issues of Hypergate Studios' Comic book Artemis, teaching materials for my photoshop panel, and 900 business cards. I worked 11 hours the first weekend at Emerald City and 35 hours this weekend at Sakura Con, (Friday Included). I am beat tired, exhausted, excited, happy, ect. ect.

It was an amazing experience. I was at the Artist Alley at Aki Con this last November and that was all the experience I've had being in an Artist Alley. Both of these cons are at least 10 times larger than Aki Con and they were back to back. Its the first time I've been to a major con as an artist and though I didn't have many fans starting the cons, I think after meeting some of the wonderful people at both, I may have some now. I will spare you the details of the leads the company made but as an artist I have been asked to be a possible guest professor at two schools, sell my art work in two theme specific stores, I've been favorably reviewed by a major online publication and gained the opportunity to start doing professional commissions for some wonderful people who were intersted in my style.

It was the best possible outcome you could get being a new artist at a MAJOR con for the first time. I feel accepted, welcomed, and justified in my work. Months/Years of practicing, planning and working for the posibility to be considered a professional illustrator amongst so many other more talented artist seems to be more of a reality to me now.

These conventions are over now and the amount of work I had to put into it to be prepared seemed impossible but now that its over I feel like its just the beginning. As tired as I am, I am still energized and excited to keep pushing forward. It doesn't feel like being considered a "professional illustrator" could happen but more that in time being considered a "professional illustrator" will happen; so long as I stay my course.

To everyone that I met at both Emerald City Comic Convention and Sakura Con, it was my pleasure. A special thanks to all those of you who bought a print or multiple prints from me, and an even more special thanks to those who took a chance on HGS' comic book and helped out a local company realize a part of their dream.

If you wanted a print but didn't get one or are interested in having my draw something for you feel free to contact me here, at hypergatestudios.com or even through email. I can make sure that you will get what you were looking for from the conventions.

All that I can say is thanks again, this has been unreal!

~The Space Cowboy