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Saturday, July 25, 2009

paper planes and a single perceiver

Rushed downstairs right at 10 to get Karen's box. A sign was up saying they were closed for training and that they were sorry for the inconvenience. Before I swore to the heavens I heard someone behind the closed door and knocked and booyah I got my package. Smaller than I thought.

Raced off to the symposium. The set up took a while. The box contained a lot of large loose letters and extras. Taped them to five lines of string so that it spells out
THE
PERCE
IVERS

in front of the table. Real slick. Karen made little Milagro displays with pins. I never quite got down the pitch for them. She also didn't include a price. Nor have her phone turned out. I sold two for three dollars. One to a lady who knew what they were and one to Nathalie who also knew. Some of the pin shapes are a little ambiguous and hard to identify. Still, the half table filled out.

A guy (Dominic) from Laughing Horse Bookstore took the table next to me. He was pretty cool, into revolutionaries and all that. Cassie and Bethany took my other table half. Pretty cool blond Pacific Northwest chicks. They liked all my little drawings. And were fun to talk to.

Made about 18$. Traded mostly. The symposium is such a hard sell, then again I'm not buying anything.

10 to 5. Spent most of it at my table. Left to grab a free bagel.

I brought a lot of paper to sketch on. I ended up drawing doodles and folding them into paper planes and chucking them at the tables across from me. They then drew on them and tossed them back at me. BT and I had an epic paper plane. I took out half of one tables display but they had good humor about it. Dominic (Laughing Horse, not Snacks) and I made an epic plane. Well one of his friends the the folding. It was out of the paper from one of his poster remnants. It was very aerodynamic. It got one table minder in the chest. He wasn't too happy so we ended up tossing the big one back and forth between us and the F-Bomb table. I had so much fun drawing and chucking the planes. I sort of neglected my pitching duties. Will certainly scan them.

The day moved by really fast.

Lacey came by in the last hour and joined the little Perceivers table. She will be back tomorrow. She sold a comic to Nathalie. I sold a little poster to her as well. Whoo whoo!!

For dinner I had sushi at Diana and Robin's. Diana is a master roller. Afterwards we walked to a gelato place on 23rd and Kearney. A long walk. In flip flops. We had a good long talk about Doctor Who.

Now I'm just going to put my sore feet up. 10-4. Last 6 hours. Hopefully I'll sell a little better.

"Luna"-gacy

The package didn't come in the morning so I set off to Friday with a big feeling of dread that all the weekend might just be my comic, Luna, and Katie with Jade Plants.

Dom and Michaela already had their neat little set up. Mine took all of two minutes to put together. Blanket. Comic. Prints. The price tags took a little while longer. 2$ for the comic, 50 cents for a Luna, and 3$ for the two color Katie with Jade Plants. They are not registered all that well so yeah.

The Luna prints sold out pretty much, save for a few of the blue on blue ones. Some people remarked how cheap they were. Personally, I would have felt bad for charging more seeing as how I gave away 150 of them to family and friends. I want my art to be shared and put up, not bartered for. A few people were psyched about the comic but not as many at Stumptown.

I traded a comic and a luna. One to a very nice shy girl with pretty features. A man with hair like Wolverine bought my comic and I didn't even have to give him a hard sell. And I'm not being mean, he must have genuinely styled his hair like Wolverine. The side tufts, the mutton chops. All the way!

All in all, I made $21 for about four hours behind the table. Seems not like much but the numbers are good. About 7 comics and 19 Lunas. Now that I'm just down to the comic, it will either be a buy or not. And there was not that many people wandering around. The crowd is very different from Stumptown.

Stumptown Comics Fest
+bigger name publishers
+larger crowd
+participants in a slightly higher income bracket
+mostly comics but is open to prints and zines
-costs more for a table
Portland Zine Symposium
+free admission
+cheap, easy to get tables
+mostly self publication
-small crowd
-participants in a slightly lower income bracket
-not as much comic folk

For showcasing a comic, go to Stumptown. For showcasing cool printing, go to PZS. Combining both? Do both.

My table was slightly almost directly across from Robopocalypse. BT and Matt mostly manned the table. BT's moustache was all dishelved. He should use that moustache wax that he handmade. I tossed a few paper airplanes with doodles on the paper at them. One of how their table looked and one of BT thinking, "What ever happened to Orlando Bloom?" Because seriously, whatever happened to him? I shared some cookies with them (oh yeah, I went to Safeway to get some change and some yeast and chocolate milk. Gabe also made me a sandwich that I ate half before leaving and the other half at around 4). It's nice being near familiar faces. Dom, Thom, and Michaela have a table farther away. I can see them and they can see me but thats about it.

Rustin, the guy from my failed internship, was also there. He said something about feeling guilty or ashamed or something. Not sorry. He didn't say he felt sorry. Dom and some other people came up when he was at my table and he didn't stick around. So thank you Dom, it was too early for me to have an awkward moment.

A lot of people loved Luna. Of course. Some of James' roommates were delighted to meet the person who drew the cat. I love it when my art preceeds me. If I died tomorrow, at least I have left a legacy.

Did I mention the guy with Wolverine hair? Yes? Okay.

I left my table for a minute and turned around to see people eyeing my art. No one else is coming to take over. 7 hours tomorrow, by myself. Well Michaela and people offered to watch my table if ever I want to wander. I want to make some more money first. No buying unless I earn. Well, I might buy lunch from Subway. Unless Gabe makes me another sandwich.

My table right now is next to some anarchists. My halftable mate and next door table mate have not arrived yet. Stuff I have overheard from their table:
"It's like an anti-patriarchy scene right?"
"What's your name?" "Shirt, and yours?" "Yuglo."

Adam from Australia and I had a nice chat. He had a thick accent and we chatted about travels. I mentioned living in Australia with my oil rig working pop and he recommended a book call "Don't Tell Mum I Work On The Rigs, She Thinks I'm A Piano Player in a Whore House." Does this sound like something acceptable for dad to read? Hmmm. Paul Carter wrote it.

Met some nice people. Met some really pretty people (mostly the girls through, the guys are more along the lines of Derelicte).

I sat and wrote and looked sad and lonely.

The building is a real challenge to get into. You have to take the right stairwell or else you'll wind up in a different section with no way to get across the floor. Doesn't make any sense to me.

I came home at around 7 to an email about me recieving a package!! Karen's I hope! If one of you loving family members sent me something...well it better be something awesome. But yay, I'll have the set up. And I will look more like a Zinester printer than a huge lonely nerd.

Friday, July 24, 2009

sweet, I get to sleep in

Regarding mom's question: I will be selling my comic "Fifth Chapter of a Larger Story" at the Symposium. Karen's box still hasn't shown and I asked the desk if anything has come because I stopped getting emails when things arrive for me. The symposium does not start till 2:30 so I hope that her stuff will come. Doing things the non Internet way is too slow. Too bad you can't download letterpress zines.

Oh well.

Finished my Illustrations. Talked to Josh and Janessa. I suppose I could have done a little better but I think the aesthetic works with the magazine. I already know some of the problems the images have. It isn't technically too late... anyway. Did that. Posted it. Went home.

Thighs are not so bad anymore. Adam gave us some of the stuff that was left over from his moving out. Jars of pasta, various seasonings, homemade sauerkraut, tissues, etc. He will be back eventually. He brought some bath salts as well so maybe I'll have one of those things (a bath) in the morning.

Have my symposium pile ready. Nothing says how much it costs but I'll make little signs. Comic is $2, the Lunas will probably be $1. Sure I gave them away but my customers don't need to know that.

It will just be me at the table. Have a couple people say they will visit but I shall see. J will be there. Mmm. Karen will be around for Stumptown. We have agreed if we both get a table for Stumptown and both do not have anything new to put on it we are bums. Lazy bums who are in the wrong career. Course Karen has a jump what with being at Hammerpress and staying there for another semester. Did I mention lovely Karen will be in Kansas City through the rest of the year? Well she will be. I miss her. She is all sassy and cool.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Pile of Buns


A pile of burger buns for a mock Reader's Digest article.

Art directed by Mackenzie Bartels.

Photoshop.

Cordia Harrington


Finished portrait of Cordia Harrington for a mock Reader's Digest article.

Art directed by Mackenzie Bartels.

Photoshop.

days are numbered

The state of my thighs has been downgraded from excruciating to hurting with touches of pain.

Went to school and worked on my illustration. Watched this and that in the background while using the lasso tool and coloring it in. When I looked at it at print resolution, alot of the detail was lost so I will have to work on it like that a little bit. But I'm feeling good. And have to crank out the whole second one.

Then I have to hope Karen's Perceivers package arrives in time for the Symposium. She shipped it but you can't trust the Goose Hollow desk people. They don't care and I want to shout and scream at them because they are so lazy. My birthday present from Celia went uncatalogued and I was only informed of it a month later when they did an audit. Karen sent me something to give to Adam and UPS said it had arrived but I was not informed for a few days. Laaame.

The symposium. How exciting. Three long days sitting by myself behind a desk. Sucks because I won't be able to walk around as much. Still, it will be an experience. And staying behind the desk will keep me from spending money I don't have (yet, hopefully I'll make some decent change from my comic). Almost here. Keeping busy enough to not freak out about it.

Gabe made rice, black beans, and grilled chicken. Mmmm.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Cordia Harrington (work in progress)



Digital illustration of Cordia Harrington for a mock Reader's Digest article.

3"x3" when printed. Photoshop. Work in progress.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

not the thigh master

My thighs feel like they have shin splints. Pain killers do next to nothing. They hurt so very very bad. All day they hurt.

In the morning they hurt when I made my oatmeal. They hurt on the ride to school. Thankfully it is mostly all downhill so I didn't have to work them so hard. Hurt while shuffling around school because the room was relocated. Met Robin's dad.

We three, Daniela, Robin, and I, we critiqued our two works. Generally favorable but they still needed work. Hobbled around with my hurt legs. Went downstairs to work on the project. We were given source material like print outs and flash cards and we had to use elements from each and combine them into a piece. Robin did a little scene of an old man with people on his shoulder. I did a large man thinking with trees growing out of his head and powerlines in the background. I did it with tempera paint and used big gloppy strokes. My thighs didn't hurt when I was seated but damn they ached when I got up. Ooof.

Ran into Travis. We chatted a little bit. For lunch Robin and I went to Laughing Planet. I was delighted that the Mr Green Jeans burrito special was back. Edamame, sweet corn, black beans, tasty cheese. Very good. Love that thing. And it was on the express ready made tray so no waiting. I wish it was a part of the permanent menu. Anyway, we sat in the park and talked about money and stuff.

Spent another two and a half hours painting. Still hurt but like I said, mostly only when I stand and try to walk. Robin and I tried to take the street car back but we just minute. We opted to walk back. It hurt but the slow pace was good. My normal bike route might have done me in.

I'm keeping to my chair mostly. Trying to relax. Gabe made Laarb for dinner. MMmm.

Still hurts. I am going to redo the second illustration. They are due Saturday but as the symposium is this weekend, I will get both of them finished in the next couple days.

I also redid my nail polish

Set the alarm and got up all ready to go. I had to get my rough illustrations in by 2 so off to school I went. Scanned them in. Talked to Matt. The went to the lab to bring them into photoshop. Said hi to Katie. And photoshopped them. Still need some work. At around 1:50 I left to go to Tender Loving Empire. Needed to buy some cards as I looked at my calendar and there are many July birthdays. Picked out a few cards.

Went down to school again to do some Googling. Went to Oblation and picked up another card and bought some stamps (didn't feel like going to the Post Office when all I needed was four).

Shaking with hunger I went to Cha Cha Cha. Pollo burrito and a fruit punch Jarrito. Mmmm. It was past the lunch rush so my food came quick and I ate it all. Scarfed at first and then slowed and finished it. Read Promethea.

Very warm. A dry heat. Heard that at the most it got up to 92. I believe it.

At a four way stop, everyone actually went in the order that they arrived. It was amazing. Portland drivers pretty much always do the polite You Go, No You Go, No You Go, Okay I'll go oh whoops you were going at the same time so you go, no you go thing. It is really annoying and takes longer than if one person had the guts to just go. Course if the person that goes first is on a bike then all the drivers get mad. I was the third at the stop and the third to go and it all went smoothly.

The new computer lab in the library is awesome. Shiny new macs. Not those iMac things that I used in 9th grade video class. The keyboards don't have the number pad and are really really tiny. I fumbled a lot using them.

I got too cold under the A/C so I went into the main body of the library and ended up taking a nap.

Yoga! Yoga was luckily just in the shade enough. Every breeze was warm but it wasn't too sweaty. There were two new dudes there as well as Ruth and Serenity. Today was did moon salutations in honor of the moon landing anniversary. When we were doing seated forward folds with our legs spread, Ruth was able to get her face on the ground. Made it look so easy.

Got home just as Gabe was finishing dinner. Sadly I didn't have much of an appetite. Looked delicious. Mmm.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Illustration seminar. Booo. Oh well.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Editorial Roughs





The rough colors and sketches for the art direction assignment. Two illustrations for a story about Cordia Harrington. She owns a very successful burger bun business.

Art direction by Mackenzie Bartels.

5"x5" and 3"x3". Graphite sketch, photoshop color.

I don't know why the burger buns are blue and the factory is red in the first picture. Some quibble with Blogger.

art doer

Today did lots of art! Well did a couple things.

Finalized the sketches for the illustration art direction pieces. They both are a little minimal. Tomorrow I will scan them and tweak them in photoshop and work out some color schemes.

Did that. Also did the first of maybe two illustrations for the summer program thing. Some intense lighted self portrait. Broke out the brush box and my ink box. I dig it though I could have slowed down a little bit.

Had a very restless night sleep. I'll be off to bed in a jiffy here.

Dinner was pork with this breadcrumb smear and a salad and homemade cornbread. Mmmm.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

some title Harry Potter related

Harry Potter Movie Party at Cherish's place! Cherish and Isaiah to be specific. It was a potluck and chips were already being brought. I asked Gabe what he could make real quick and he gave me an ingredient list. Salmon. Creme cheese. Shallot. Parsley. Avocado. It was combined together into this tower of cheesey spread that was destined for crackers.

I left at around 2:30, severely misunderstanding the distance away of Cherish's place. It was on Alder. Barely 4 minutes by bike. Locked up outside and was the first there. Just chilled with Cherish and chatted and helped and drank punch. I cut the pepperoni into little lightning bolt shapes.

No one else from school was there, but that was nice. No vegans. No drama. No vegan drama.

Bryce. Dominic. Casey. Christy. Uhhmm. Yeah I can't recall all the names. They came and went. I was there the longest.

The mini pizzas, juice, snap peas, and pigs in a blanket were gobbled up first. I let my cheese tower refrigerate. A later snack. The food was plenty and I certainly gorged.

It is really staggering the difference between the Chris Columbus Harry Potter movies and the Alfonso Cuaron & Mike Newell ones. Columbus had no flare for the imagination that the Harry Potter series needed. Bah. Anyway, we watched the first four movies. There was a lot of effort in getting the fourth so I stuck around for it. Cherish didn't have it so some other people rented it and all that. It was fun. it went super later but it was fun. Half the people there hadn't picked up any of the books.

Now I want to reread them. Methinks I will check them out from my local library. Tomorrow I have mega illustrating to do. Productivity! Possibly!