ACH it's 2014

Oh hey!  Hey I'm back!!  Happy 2014!  Boy has time flown by.  This past November marked some really exciting things: I celebrated my 5 year anniversary at work and I went to CTN!  It was my first time going, in general and as an exhibitor, and I shared a table with the illustrious & ever beardy Dan Seddon.  It was an amazing, humbling, inspiring, stressful, but most of all, fun, weekend.  I met so many fantastic people, made new friends, got to see old friends, and saw some artists who's work I've admired so much. 

To top it off, I had picked out a digital camera for my 5 year anniversary work gift, and it arrived just in time for the weekend!  Normally I cart around a disposable kodak camera.  But not this time.  So here are some CTN recap pics, please excuse their blurriness.*  

THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by our table!! 

YODO.

Say hello to Mr. Greg Couch, aka Man About Town.  Aka Badass Production Designer on 'Epic', who gave a fantastic presentation there at CTN. 

Ladies & gents it's the talented Willie Real!!  Amazing artist & all around super nice guy to boot.

AAWH;9##DHD it's KRIS PEARN!!  He is the best, I was so excited to see him.

At one point we had a rave at our table.

LOOT.

Drawing of yours truly from the awesome Ian Abando.     

John Nevarez drew this in basically 5 minutes, I was floored.  He had a swarm of people around his table & he took the time to draw this in the book I bought and to chat a bit.  He did this with everyone, he would make sure each and every person got to talk - whether it be a portfolio review or to answer questions or to just say hello.  Such a great person, it was wonderful to meet him.

*The digital camera broke shortly after CTN.  Twas not meant to be.

Leading up to the whole event, many of my nights were spent doing this...

PAINTING COASTERS.  They were 80's wrestler themed, which was a lot of fun to make.  I found these awesome birch logs online & my dad cut them in to small circles, to which I then painted and glossed using epoxy.  The nights spent doing artwork and singing to myself reminded me of the scene in 'Never Been Kissed', when Josie Geller is at home & puts the finishing touches on her needlepoint pillow, and then shows it to her turtles.

Amongst the coasters, prints, and other random things... I also carved my own stamp, with this being the initial design: 

But sad to say, there was no way I was able to carve that Jackalope.  RIP Mister Jackalope.

Thank you to my family, my friends, and to all who swung by for the encouragement, the feedback, and support!  To the new friends I made at CTN, and the old friends I was lucky to see & catch up with: I cannot wait till we meet again.  Let's boogie.