Sac Con Report

Happy Holidays! Sac con was Amazing. So much art love and creative people all rolled up in a one day event in Sacramento. I wasn't sure what to expect but there was a great turn out and I had the opportunity to talk with so many art enthusiast and anime lovers. Even met a guy who use to work for Pixar and he bought one of my art pieces!! And he can quote from the Hogfather (EXTRA exclamation points inserted here!)

A really big thank you to everyone who stopped by my table to say hello. It was great to see familiar faces and chat with friends.

I was even busting out some sketch commissions that day. My new trend is drawing a new fanart piece after each convention (all the fandom and cheer gets to me that I just need to revisit some nostalgic anime and show it some love).

This convention it was Utena, which means I will probably do an Utena marathon while working on the piece.

I am pretty messy sketcher, but it helps the creative flowing by not worrying about perfect lines. Here is a preview of the updated linework:

Working title for it is "Breaking Castles", because sometimes you have to let things break before you can let change in. My plan is to add in a crumbling castle and some merry-go-round horses.

-cheers!-

***EDIT:  December 20th

The final of this piece can be found here:

Breaking Castle by *DarkSunRose on deviantART

Getting ready for Fanime

As I am frantically getting everything ready for Fanime (picture scissors thrown about, excess paper trimmings, plastic, pretzels...) I thought I'd take the time to share my newbie experience.

Having an artist table and prepping for one is definitely something you never feel completely ready for (unless your pretty awesome in delegating your time). You reach a point where you go "I've done all I can so it's now or never!" And I hope you all opt for now. I was lucky and had pretty awesome friends that took the leap with me when I first tried (keep in mind, I have only had 2 artist tables so far. n.e.w.b.i.e...). Or better to say I had an awesome brave friend who is always the first to go out and conquer (Allie, I'm looking at you!). 

We both ventured into the unknown of elite crowd of professional artist savvy table holders. Oh yeaaaah! Or at least back then, in my mind it was that mysterious and cool. When you hop in you realize that it's a bunch of creative artist who are just trying to figure out everything too. Which is great because it means it's your chance to learn what they know, chat, and make new friends.

Now I'm slapping myself in the face for not attending more often, but I am correcting that by taking a positive direction now. Around the end of 2010, I had a goal: "I'm going to attend Fanime 2011!" At the time,  covered in a mountain of work to get done, I had no idea how I was going to accomplish it only the resolve of "it's going to happen. I'll make it happen."

I'm realizing it's the key ingredient to everything you want to happen. Will power and positive thinking.

Now, there were times I thought I was way over my head (part of me still does) and I keep having those pesky fears: Not enough new work, wont have enough items in general, how am I going to balance getting my work work done (with deadlines looming), not good enough, etc., etc...

BUT, I had to smack those fears aside. Counter it with blazing awesome rationale. Why am I going? To meet new artist, to have fun, to learn, and to talk to people who love art.

None of my fears meshed with the objective. Not enough new work? BAh-hum-bug, this event is to propel me to start making new artwork, not just for the event. Not enough stuff? Who cares! Have fun talking with everyone and learn. Work Work? I want it, so I'll have to make time.

I read an article that gave really good advice about resistance, they said to stop feeding the monster. Look, there will be a hundred reasons why you can't make it happen and there will be the one reason why you can. Passion/love/call it what you want but it's the one reason you should be feeding instead of all the No's.

 So, fast forward to three days before the big event. I am still no where near ready, but the journey has been fun. Doing a lot of last minute packaging and printing but I've already decided it will all work out. Even the stuff that hasn't been figured out, it will all come together.

Woke up at 7 this morning to hit up a downtown print shop and made some new friends (puppy above). He was just sprawled out in the front ready to give affection to all the customers. Also, a shout out to TC Graphics, the woman who helped me was so kind with helping me make all the illustrations look wonderful printed.


When you sign up to be an artist at artist alley, you'll find that getting ready for it will be as fun as attending the event.

There were times I said "Your not ready!? Why did you sign up?" only to realize that by doing so it pushed me to get more things done creatively.

The artist behind TeacupBee Creations. I have a face!
And yes there is a naked doll behind me.

I'll be seeing you at Fanime 2011 Artist Alley!

-cheers-

2nd Cup of Tea...

I am very excited to finally have my website completed. Well, enough so to put it up. Perfectionist me keeps saying "there is still much to do and improve upon!" but that is quickly hushed up by excitement.

First of all, happy 2010! A new year to make good on new beginnings and seeing new possibilities. It's true, when you set up smaller goals and you can achieve them it does much for your moral. With so much going on, it's easy to get caught up with a list that keeps growing.

Someone close to me said "Just give yourself an hour to focus on one thing you really want to do. And do that everyday." Simple, eh?

Here is my new growing list:
• Sketch everyday
• Go play with Prosculpt
• Continue my Magdalen story