I returned home late last night from San Diego Comic-Con. Tremendous show. My main agenda up there was to promote my art book, COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO, and that went extremely well. Between my table, MonkeyBrain‘s table (that they shared with BenBella), Bud Plant‘s booth, and Mysterious Galaxy‘s booth, the book sold nicely over there. Thanks to all! I spent the vast majority of my time at the show in Artists’ Alley. It was my first time in that area and I enjoyed the heck out of it. I was located between Dave Seeley and Jon Foster and they’re both terrific guys and tremendous illustrators. Thanks to Clydene Nee, Jean Goddin, Mike Willmoth, Jackie Estrada and all the Artists’ Alley folks for making it all run smoothly.

When I wasn’t in Artists’ Alley, I was running around the con, meeting with clients and having a blast. It was crazy over there though. Last year’s attendance was officially 104,000, and by the end of Saturday this year, rumor had it that the attendance had cracked the 130,000 mark, and that was with a full Sunday still to go!! I spent a lot of time with good buddy Chris Roberson, and whenever we stopped to compare notes, we always wished we had body armor to survive the onslaught of the massive crowds. I’ve never seen anything like it…

Frank Wu made a comment below and he reminded me about something I had forgotten to acknowledge. Thanks to all who voted in this year’s LOCUS MAGAZINE Poll, and I’m very honored and grateful to be listed at #3 in this year’s list for Best Artist. The great Michael Whelan won his 26th Locus Award for Best Artist in the Poll (congrats, Michael!), and Bob Eggleton finished in second. Dave McKean and Charles Vess rounded out the top five. I was thrilled to hear this news when it happened, and it certainly was meaningful to me, but I was working on so many cover deadlines at the time, that I just clean forgot to acknowledge it. I’m not looking for props or for congrats on this. I’m just glad to keep working on my stuff and keep drawing and painting and keep improving, because that’s what it’s all about. However, I didn’t want it to pass by, without saying a heartfelt thanks.

So thanks to Master Wu for reminding me to acknowledge it. Congrats to him for finishing in the #12 slot on the list! Sweet!

…to a party. If you’re anywhere near San Antonio, Texas, that is. I’m doing a book signing for COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO this Saturday night, July 15th. THE SAN ANTONIO CURRENT is celebrating their 20th anniversary as San Antonio’s weekly alternative newspaper, and they’re throwing a big bash at the Southwest Arts and Craft Center (300 Augusta). Party starts at 6pm. Budweiser and Bacardi will be sponsoring, and Barnes & Noble will be sponsoring my book signing. In addition, THE CURRENT will be auctioning prints of past covers that I’ve done for the paper. All proceeds for the auction benefit the Southwest School’s adult art-education scholarship fund. The event is open to the public. Should be big fun!!

The 2006 Chesley Award Nominations were just announced last night. Congrats to all of the nominees. I’m honored to be nominated in two categories, Best Interior Illustration for “The Second Hunt” (see above) which appeared in TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE MAGAZINE (January 2005), and for Artistic Achievement, which is the “Artist of the Year” award for the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists, or ASFA.

Thanks to all who voted, and I look forward to being at the Chesley ceremony at Worldcon in Anaheim next month!

I’ll be doing a few booksignings here in the San Antonio area in the next couple of weeks, as well as a small gallery show as part of S.A.’s annual Contemporary Art Month.

Here’s the rundown:

BARNES & NOBLE
(Fiesta Trail)
12635 W IH-10/DeZavala, 561-0205.

Also at this location — a gallery of prints are on display and B&N will provide refreshments for all who come to the signing. Free posters will be available.
Saturday, June 24. 2pm. (Prints will be on display until July 4th.)

FIRST FRIDAY/CONTEMPORARY ART MONTH GALLERY SHOW
The Art of John Picacio
THE RED ROOM
1903 S. St. Mary’s St.
Opening reception, Friday, July 7. 6pm.

BORDERS
(Alamo Quarry)
255 E. Basse, 828-9496.
Saturday, July 8. 4pm.

ATOMIC COMICS & GAMING
4904 Broadway, 826-3223.
Wednesday, July 12. 12noon.

THE SAN ANTONIO CURRENT 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Southwest School of Art & Craft
300 Augusta, 224-1848.
Saturday, July 15.

Auction of signed SAN ANTONIO CURRENT covers plus a booksigning for COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO.

My art book COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO has been getting mad love out there, and I’m very grateful. Here are a few of the latest media highlights:

* In the August issue of SCI FI MAGAZINE — COVER STORY receives an ‘A’ in their Book Review section, and the review proclaims that the pictures within are “sometimes haunting, sometimes witty, sometimes ornate and sometimes startlingly simple, but almost always achingly beautiful.” (Review by Adam-Troy Castro)

* In the August issue of REALMS OF FANTASY MAGAZINE — There’s a nice long gallery feature on me, written by Karen Haber.

* In the Sunday June 18th edition of The San Antonio Express-News — There’s a solid feature article by Dan Goddard in the SA Life/Culturas section. Check it out here.

* And of course, over at Barnes & Noble.com — COVER STORY is a Featured Selection for the month of June. There’s a fabulous review by Paul Goat Allen and the folks of B&N’s sf/fantasy newsletter EXPLORATIONS, as well as an interview with me.

Alright. So today’s the day.

6/6/06.

Today marks my first personal foray into the blogosphere.

I now have a blog. I’ve now signed on the dotted line in blood. Let’s see how this goes. Much news to update. Let’s see how this first post looks, and then I’ll come back and update in earnest. Apologies in advance if these first attempts are a bit bumpy as I get acclimated to this.