Stumptown 2010: part 2!

[slr2moons]

Here's the second half of my weekend con adventure. ^^
 

After dropping $40 on the aforementioned books, I went back to wandering and chatting up those artists whose work caught my eye. One woman's stuff really pulled me in, and after a brief flip-through and chat I bought her complete set for $17 on the spot. Not sure why, something about it called me, I guess! The set is Ivy chapters 1-5 by Sarah Oleksyk. She was taken aback when I asked for the whole set. =O She actually stared at me for a second, blinked, then grinned and said "Okay!" I guess she doesn't sell complete sets to those new to her work all that often. *scratches head in puzzlement* Anyway, I had her autograph the obi (I chose purple over the blue and green ones :3) wrapped around the individual books and happily sequestered myself in the hotel lobby, safely away from temptation of buying more books. I read my bounty until it was time for dinner.

I went to eat with SE2 and company. We visited a Thai place and I ordered pumpkin curry, extra spicy. :9 The conversation was excellent! SE2's fellow Viz editor is apparently rather famous in the web comics world. Ah, Tangible proof that manga is not the stamp of death! She also participated in a panel earlier that day about self-publishing that was very interesting. For example, I had no idea how ISBN numbers work. Come to find out they are controlled by one private company, and you buy them in blocks of 10 for $250, or a single number for $200. :/ Yeah, I don't get that either. Anyway, ISBNs help your book sell, and apparently you HAVE to have one to sell through Amazon. It also helps other stores if you can convince them to carry your book. The panel holders boldly gave out the name of a professional mini-comic distributor (NOT Diamond, this is an individual guy) who is a driving force in spreading indie books! Maybe in half a year or so I'll be emailing him myself. ^^V

I made it back home via the train at a reasonable hour and immediately went to bed. After reading more Blankets before nodding off, of course.

On Sunday (and feeling well-rested!) I headed back to Stumptown, attended three more panels, then returned to the con's main room to stand in line for 45 minutes for Mr. Thompson to sign my copy of Blankets. ^^ After that, since I'd missed the start of the last panel I'd wanted to attend, I wandered the tables and successfully managed not to buy anything else.

Then I was stuck with a very difficult decision. You see, I wanted to go out for dinner again with SE2 and her friends....but I also wanted to go out for dinner with Neekaneeks, Mcruthless, EK, and their friends. <:| I mulled it over for an hour and a half, trying to decide. I took refuge in the hotel lobby again, worked on the one little pic I'd started of chibi me in my sketchbook, and debated. T.T Either way, I was going to miss out and regret not choosing to go with the other group. Finally finally FINALLY and in agony, I chose to go with SE2 again.

Mcruthless tracked me down in the lobby for chatting while she waited for Neekaneeks to talk with EK in the main room and figure out where they were going to eat. Mcruthless and I talked art and panel layout style. It was most fun! I showed her the horses I had doodled in my little green notebook while waiting for a panel to start earlier that day.

On a side note, those doodles made me realizes drawing horses is my comfort zone. I don't have to stress about it, I can doodle horses no matter how upset I am. I can't draw a person in public to save my life, but horses? Oh yes, I can whip those out no problem, even with an audience of fellow artists. I suppose my extra 8 years of practice drawing horses over drawing humans is making itself known. Nrgh. I should just draw a comic with horses as characters for the hell of it. *laughs at self* I remember I started one once, when I was in high school. The main character was a handsome equine named Tristan who was a runner for a delivery service. And yes, he was a horse. *grins* I don't remember any plot beyond that...I only drew two pages, I think. Ah, memories. I DO recall it was going to be a serious adventure story, not a comedy or dopey romance. Hmmmm. /fond tangent

Uh...waiting to go to dinner with SE2! Neekaneeks joined us in the lobby for some more fun conversation, then it was time for me to run off and accompany SE2 and friends for dinner. This time we ended up at a multiple-country Asian food place. We ordered 6 dishes, to be enjoyed family style. They were all very delicious, even the green beans, which I did try and normally can't stand. I had almond bubble tea to drink and it was amazing. :9 The conversation was also excellent. SE2's crowd knows some very...ah....unique people. *laughs* I get the impression that comickers tend to be a rather weird bunch as default. *snicker* Interestingly, before our food arrived and once she was done eating, SE2's fellow editor pulled out her artwork and was busy inking word balloons and panel borders on her next set of pages. O.o Apparently working like this in public is perfectly normal for her! I have to say I am impressed and a little intimidated. If I drew and comicked that much, I'd accomplish tons of stuff to sell and show people, too. *has guilt over not trying hard enough* So, um...

SE2 and Coccinellidae drove me home, which was awesome. ^^ We chatted the whole way about manga and whatnot. It was so much fun! I really would like to see my San Fran cronies more than once a year. All it takes is time and money, right? *sigh*

The one down side to Stumptown was the webcomiker I looked most forward to meeting, Spike of the amazing Templar Arizona (NSFW-violence, language, odd bouts of nudity, and completely awesome and original), was unable to come. T.T I was going to squee and scream "OMG I LOVE YOU!!!1!1" in proper fangirl manner, but alas. One of these days I'll remember to post about Templar AZ, a webcomic found through my webcomics poll, since so many people's declared it as their personal fave in the last question. Thanks for the rec, guys! You're right, it's amazing. ^^V

It also appears that I have contracted Con Plague. It seems as if I've avoided a serious case so far, but I definitely feel worse today than yesterday. *grumble* I don't wanna be sick. I have deadlines, damn it! :P This is why I'm posting now instead of waiting until evening. I want this up while I have the energy.

Aside from Spike not making it, the agony of deciding who to have dinner with on Sunday, and the chance I really will develop Con Plague, Stumptown 2010 was a most enjoyable experience. I look forward to 2011!! Maybe I'll even have a complete comic of my own to share by then. :D

In that vein, I'd better get busy! ^^V