Gen Con 50

Gen Con 2017 is only a week away, and this year it's the convention's 50th anniversary! Sounds like it's going to be the biggest show yet. Tickets are approaching complete sell-out, a first (in my memory) for this convention.

After my unexpected absence last year, I'm excited to be exhibiting at this year's Art Show. My table number is 33, in an aisle near the front of the Artist Guest of Honor booth.

Click this link for a handy interactive map of the Exhibit Hall!

Please come by to see what's new! I will be showing some of my most recent paintings (and a few old favorites) and peddling a plethora of prints, note cards, books, and sketchbooks. Don't forget, I also have original art for sale!

Those of you who have visited Gen Con's Art Show before might remember the whole central cash register system. Since the 2016 show, that system has changed, and now all sales are carried out directly at each artist's table. I will be accepting both cash and credit cards. 

Hope to see you at the show!

Emerald City Comicon 2017 is This Week!

Hello to those of you who are still reading! It's sad to look at my 2016 post count compared to previous years. Few people use Blogger much anymore, and a lot of my attention has been redirected to my Instagram account. However, I still hope to post more than just news here, even if it's not as frequently as before.

Today is just one of those news posts, though: Emerald City Comicon is upon us once again, and this year it's early! I can't remember if it has ever been held this early in March before. The convention begins this Thursday, March 2nd, and continues through Sunday, March 5th.

ECCC has continued to expand in both size and attendance year after year. Since I started exhibiting in 2011, Artist Alley went from taking up one small section of the Exhibit Hall, to two, to three. (Then it was reduced back to two.) This year, Artist Alley will no longer be split up in different areas of the Hall. Instead the entire thing has moved up to the 6th floor of the Washington State Convention Center accessible via a different set of escalators and elevators on the 4th floor. I'm interested to see how the new location will feel. If you're attending the con, please don't forget to visit us upstairs!

I will be at table T-5 in Artist Alley at this new location. Please check out the maps below:

Click to enlarge

Hey look –– there's my table!

I'll have my typical items for sale: my new-ish sketchbook Fabled Earth, copies of The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures, prints, note cards and a small selection of original art.

In other convention news, I have a busy schedule planned this year that will have me attending shows on both coasts and in the midwest. Two weeks after ECCC, from March 17th through 19th, I will be exhibiting at Mythicworlds Seattle for the first time. Mythicworlds is a convention focused on myth and folklore and the art, music and crafts it inspires. This convention is held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

Later in the summer, I will attempt to make up for my emergency cancellation of last year by joining Gen Con for its 50th anniversary from August 17th through 20th.

Finally, I will be going to IlluXcon in Reading, PA for the first time to exhibit my work in the Showcase on the evenings of October 20th and 21st. IlluXcon, or "IX" as it's now being called, is less like a typical convention and more like an art show focused on fantastic art –– especially art that has been created traditionally. Many collectors travel to IX each year to see what their favorite artists have been working on. I'm excited to do the same.

I hope to meet you at one of the shows!

Check out the Holiday Sales at Fabled Earth Art!

This holiday season I'm offering two opportunities to save on all the items at my Etsy shop, Fabled Earth Art! On Monday, November 28th only, save 20% on anything in my shop (with a minimum purchase of $5) using the coupon code "CYBERMONDAY16"
Then, from November 29th through December 12th, save 15% on anything in my shop (with a minimum purchase of $5) with coupon code "HAPPYHOLIDAYS16"
These are the biggest discounts I offer all year, so if you've had your eye on anything in my shop, now's your chance!

Additional coupon details:
The 20% off "CYBERMONDAY16" coupon expires at 11:59 PM EST on November 28th.
The 15% off "HAPPYHOLIDAYS16" coupon expires at 11:59 PM EST on December 12th.

Recommended order cut off times for the holidays:

Domestic/US Mail: December 15th
International Orders: December 1st

I will do my very best to get gift items packed and shipped in time to arrive by December 25th. Please order early to help insure that it gets there and everyone is happy. Shipping times within the United States are usually more predictable than shipping times for international orders, so please understand that I cannot guarantee delivery by a specific date.

Important Gen Con Announcement

For those of you still following me here I have an important announcement to make: I have had to cancel my appearance at the Gen Con 2016 Art Show due to a pet-related family emergency. I'm very sorry that I won't be at the convention this year. I will miss catching up with friends and fans and I'm disappointed I won't get to see what the artists in the show have been working on all year. I will also miss the convention itself – roaming the bustling exhibit floor looking for hidden treasures, enjoying the elaborate costumes people have put together, even briskly navigating the crowd – it's all part of the con experience.

If you were planning to stop by my table, I'm sorry I won't be there this year, but I hope to see you again at a future convention! Thank you for your support and your interest in my artwork!

Emerald City Comicon 2016 – Thank You!

My ECCC 2016 setup, now including framed original artwork!

Another Emerald City Comicon has flown by. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table to check out my latest work or simply to say "hello!" I shared some of the sketches I did during the convention on my Instagram account. If you're interested in seeing them, please click that link to head over there, and if you like what you see please follow me! I will continue to update Fabled Earth, especially if I'm making a longer blog post, but for quick posts and images I'll be using my Instagram account more frequently. Thanks for reading, and thank you for supporting my work!

(And thanks for ignoring those cardboard boxes behind me. You're ignoring them, aren't you?)

Emerald City Comicon 2016 Starts Tomorrow!

ECCC 2016 begins tomorrow! The convention runs from Thursday, April 7th through Sunday, April 10th. Come see me at Booth R7 in Artist Alley. I will probably be sharing updates and photos on my Instagram. Hope to see you there!

Emerald City Comicon 2016

Once again I'll be exhibiting at Emerald City Comicon in Seattle. This year the convention will run four days for the first time: Thursday, April 7th through Sunday April 10th. My table in Artist Alley is R7. If you've seen me at ECCC in years past, the location is similar to where I've typically been seated. Artist Alley is in the Exhibit Hall on level 4 of the Washington State Convention Center. The back section of the Hall is accessible through the Sky Bridge. Please see the map below:

Please click to enlarge

This year there's a new feature on the ECCC website you can use to look up individual artists. You will find a brief bio and description of their work, their table location, and links to their website and social media. Here's mine.

I finally have a new sketchbook! I've sold a few here and there at gallery shows and online, but ECCC 2016 will be its "official" convention debut. The book is titled Fabled Earth and it's the fourth in my series of sketchbooks. Fabled Earth has a color wrap-around cover featuring a new painting, and 68 pages packed with character and creature designs, rough sketches, finished drawings and even a couple illustrations in full color. In addition to the new book, I'll also have my usual product available: copies of The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures, posters, prints, and note cards and maybe even some original artwork.

Hope to see you there!

Arboreal Dreams Opening Reception

"In Olden Times"

Group show Arboreal Dreams opens at Krab Jab Studio in Georgetown this Saturday evening, February 13th, with a reception from 6 to 9 PM. Come to the show to see my painting "In Olden Times" in person alongside many other beautiful works of art depicting the forest. Vinod and I will be at the opening reception and would be happy to see you there! For more details about the show and the gallery, see below.

Arboreal Dreams Opening Reception
February 13th, 6-9 PM
Show runs through April 2nd

Location:
Krab Jab Studio
5628 Airport Way S, Ste 150
Seattle, WA  98108

P.S. Now I'm on Instagram! Check back for photos of the Arboreal Dreams opening reception later this weekend, and if you're interested, please follow me!

Arboreal Dreams

A teaser of my painting which you can see at the show!

My first show of 2016 is Krab Jab Studio's upcoming exhibition Arboreal Dreams: a group show featuring artists' interpretation of trees. The show will debut today at the Mythic Worlds Convention taking place in downtown Seattle February 5th through 7th. Then it will move to Krab Jab's Georgetown location where the art will be on display through April 2nd after an opening reception on February 13th from 6 to 9 PM. Vinod and I will each have a new painting in the exhibition and will be in attendance at the reception. If you'll be in the area we hope you'll stop by to view what promises to be a lovely show at either venue!

The press release for the show is below:

Arboreal Dreams: The Forest
Debuts at Mythic Worlds Feb 5-7th
Opens February 13th, 6 - 9 pm

Trees have entranced the minds and hearts of man since before our kind could trace time. They served us for food, shelter, clothing, and warmth. They delighted us in their marking of the seasons, their marking of fertile grounds in desolate lands (oasis), and the marking of our own fallen comrades (as a natural headstone). They are featured in every religion, every community, every social structure, mystifying us, strengthening us, nurturing us. And finally, they are often the unsung stars in our artistic endeavors, whether they set the scene for an epic battle of good and evil, or whether they themselves serve us, the artists, in the form of wood blocks, totems, painting panels, sculptures, or paper. Without the mighty tree, we would literally die.

In this group show, artists were asked to explore their own connection to the nature of trees. Whether they hail from the Pacific Northwest or as far as Belgium, these participating artists visually narrate an arboreal song that weaves together almost seamlessly. The result is as ethereal as it is solid, drawing into the depths of our communal consciousness.

"Arboreal Dreams: the Forest" makes its debut this weekend at Mythic Worlds Convention, held at the Seatac Double Tree Hilton from Friday - Sunday, February 5 - 7th. The art room is free to the public and is located on the second floor of the hotel, right above the snack bar. Hours are 12- 6 pm and 12 - 4 pm on Sunday.

This show will run through both February and March, opening February 13th at Krab Jab Studio.

Artists Featured: Braden Duncan, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Olivier Villoingt, Bastien Lecouffe Deharme, Iris Compiet, Virginie Ropars, Yuko Ishii, Mark Poole, Drew Tucker, Emily Fiegenschuh, Vinod Rams, Elijah Evenson, Greg Spalenka, Rovina Cai, Jeff Menges, Yvette Endrijautzki, David Gray, Tara Larsen Chang, and Dan Chudzinski.

A Case of the Cyber Mondays

The Cyber Monday sale at my Etsy shop is on now! Get 20% off anything in my shop from now through December 2nd by using coupon code ACASEOFTHEMONDAYS upon checkout. I rarely offer discounts this big, so get it while you can!

After December 2nd, the sale will continue at a lower discount of 10% off through December 19th with coupon code HOLIDAYS2015.

Fabled Earth Art Holiday News

Once again, I must interrupt this blog to advertise my wares...

Holiday greeting cards are back at my Etsy shop, Fabled Earth Art! There are two options: Cute Critter and Old Man Winter, a design by Vinod. Both are available as individual cards and in packs.

Cute Critter card

Old Man Winter card

Starting Monday November 30th and ending Wednesday December 2nd, everything in my shop is 20% off! This is the biggest sale I've offered all year! Just spend at least $5 and enter coupon code ACASEOFTHEMONDAYS upon checkout to receive your discount.

After December 2nd, the sale will continue at a lower discount of 10% off through December 19th with coupon code HOLIDAYS2015.

The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures

I also have signed copies of The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures available if you're looking for a unique gift for an aspiring young artist or creature enthusiast. Please contact me through my website for info on how to purchase.

Thanks for supporting my work!

Halloween Stuff at Fabled Earth Art: Last Chance!

At the beginning of October, I listed a couple of items featuring the Halloween-appropriate Elven Mage (above) at my Etsy shop, Fabled Earth Art. This is the first time I've made prints featuring this painting available online. There are two sizes of prints and a note card that either comes with a Halloween greeting or can be left blank inside for any occasion. If you're interested in ordering these goodies in time for Halloween, please check them out ASAP!

More interesting blog posts are forthcoming...

ECCC 2016 Tickets Go on Sale Wednesday

Emerald City Comicon is getting bigger every year. In 2016, ECCC starts on a Thursday, making it a four-day show for the first time. Passes for the con have started to sell out earlier each year, and for the last couple of years they've sold out well before the start of the convention. If you're thinking about attending ECCC in 2016, get ready! Tickets go on sale at 12 PM Pacific this Wednesday, September 23rd. I'm happy to report I'll be back at Artist Alley. Hope to see you there!

Flip Through My Sketchbook Virtually

And buy a copy here!

My New Sketchbook Is Here!

New painting!

I'm excited to announce I've finally made another sketchbook! My last sketchbook, Journey, was printed in 2009. It seemed like the right time to put together a new one.

The fourth in my series of sketchbooks, Fabled Earth has a color wrap-around cover featuring a new painting, and 68 pages packed with character and creature designs, rough sketches, finished drawings and even a couple illustrations in full color. The book's content spans the last several years' worth of my drawings for clients such as Cricket Magazine and Paizo, as well as personal work and development sketches for The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures. The matte finish on both the cover and interior pages does a nice job replicating the color of my paintings and the softness of my graphite drawings. And all the paper is recycled if you care about that sort of thing.

Each sketchbook measures 6 by 9 inches and comes signed by me.

New book!

The book has both rough development sketches and finished drawings.

An example of one of the full-color images in the book.

Pretty rocks in photo not included.

To buy a copy visit my Etsy shop, Fabled Earth Art. I will also be adding the sketchbook to my (new! improved!) website shop page soon. It will be 10% off until the end of September. Neat!

For those of you who picked up my promotional coupon at Gen Con, don't forget to enter the code when you check out on Etsy. Please note that the free shipping offer ends on September 30th, 2015. If you choose not to order on Etsy, once I put the book up for sale on e-figart.com just include a note to me with the coupon code and I will honor it.

Gen Con 2015 in Pictures

Hello there.

Another Gen Con has come and gone. We did not attend in 2014 so it was nice to be back this year and see familiar faces. Thank you to Art Show coordinators Barbara, Diesel, and the rest of the Gen Con staff; all of the artists, attendees, friends and everyone else whose enthusiasm encourages us to return year after year.

I've mentioned in previous Gen Con posts that it's sometimes difficult to come up with something new to write about the conventions I've attended for years, so this time I thought I'd let the few pictures we took do the talking.

That's...a lot of people.

I did not take this picture, and I'm glad that I didn't! Wielding the power of my Exhibitor badge, I think I was safely inside the Art Show area by the time this huge crowd had formed outside the exhibit hall. Check out the Gen Con Facebook page if you'd like to see video of the doors opening on Day One. (And see if you can find Waldo.)

No, I'm not the artist, I'm just scribbling in her books.

My favorite cosplay this year.

We had to switch hotels for the last night of our stay and were greeted by Washcloth Dog. This hotel was way better than the first one!

Here are the sketches for 2015 drawn in the last few copies of Journey. There is only one book left which will be listed on my Etsy shop when it reopens in a few days.

For more pictures of the Art Show including the award winners for this year, check out the Gen Con Art Show Facebook page.

I Redesigned My Website!

Please visit the new, improved www.e-figart.com!

Gen Con 2015

Gen Con is fast approaching! I'll probably be posting here less than usual while I prepare for the convention. I'll post more information later this month, so stay tuned.

Have you been watching the Gen Con Art Show Facebook page? Every day there's a new post featuring the work of one of the artists that will be at the show. A lot of great art has already been posted. Check it out!

The Living Island

"The Living Island"

This is the final week of the Marriage is a Work of Art gallery show at Krab Jab Studio. If you live in the Seattle area I highly recommend you see it before it's gone, not only because Vinod and I have work hanging, but because it's an excellent show with many beautiful works on display from paintings to sculpture.

The two paintings that were the focus of our display have already sold, but others are still available including my painting "The Living Island" from The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures. There are also prints available in-person at the gallery and online at my Etsy shop. "The Living Island" has been my best-selling limited edition print since I started offering it two years ago and I frequently receive positive comments on the painting. It's hard to predict which paintings people will be drawn to and I'm happy that so many people have felt a connection to this one.

"The Living Island" as framed for Marriage is a Work of Art.

Click here to browse the online catalog for Marriage is a Work of Art to see the work that has sold and the many gorgeous pieces that are still available.

March and April at Krab Jab

Me next to my painting "The Black Feather" at the FAERIE III opening.

March and April were busy months for me. I wrapped up one big project and am close to finishing another. I exhibited at Emerald City Comicon at the end of March and attended a watercolor workshop taught by Omar Rayyan two weeks later. In the midst of all of that, I painted two new personal pieces for the Krab Jab Studio shows FAERIE III and Marriage is a Work of Art.

"The Black Feather"

FAERIE III was well-attended and featured works depicting denizens of the faerie realm in a wide variety of artistic styles and media. Some photos of the show and of individual works of art are below.

Toby Froud's sculpture"Troll Dance."

Virginie Ropar's sculpture "Wyrd."

Wendy Froud's sculpture "Amherst Faery."

FAERIE III artist discussion, with (left to right) me, Mark Winters, Sara Winters, Julie Baroh and Tara Larsen Chang.

Marriage is a Work of Art opened at Krab Jab last Saturday evening. Vinod and I arrived with Omar and Sheila Rayyan just in time for the artist discussion at 7:30. The two of us, Omar and Sheila, and Mark and Sara Winters discussed what it's like living (and sometimes working) together as artists. It was one of the more unique artist talks at Krab Jab!

Omar and Sheila Rayyan's wall leads viewers into the show.

Omar's watercolor painting "Beetle Battle" and Sheila's ceramics.

A close up of Sheila's stoneware sculptures "Skull Mask I," "Sun," and "Skull Mask II."

Drawings by Brian Froud and sculptures by Wendy Froud on display at Krab Jab Studio.

Wendy Froud's sculpture "Faery Man."

"Faery Woman" by Wendy Froud.

Drawings and oil paintings by Justin Gerard and Annie Stegg-Gerard.

Norman and Tory Taber's wall of assemblages and paintings.

Oil paintings and giclee prints by Mark and Sara Winters.

Our wall at Marriage is a Work of Art.

Hey! It's us!

Our wall with my painting "The Living Island" in the foreground.

Our companion pieces "Children of the Forest" and "The Green Man," which we framed identically, were the centerpiece of our wall. A couple days after the show opening, we received an exciting message from Julie: the paintings had sold!

"Children of the Forest" and "The Green Man" hanging at Krab Jab Studio.

My painting "Children of the Forest."

Vinod's "The Green Man."

Marriage is a Work of Art will be on display at Krab Jab Studio in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle through May 2nd. If you would like to look at the online catalog of artwork still available for sale, please click here. More photos of both FAERIE III and Marriage is a Work of Art can be found on Krab Jab Studio's Facebook page.