San Diego Comic Con 2014

It’s been a week since Comic Con and my schedule still hasn’t recovered yet. Still cranking on deadlines here, but I promised some words and pics from the event — here you go.

Thank you, SDCC International — this was my first time as a Special Guest, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever worked harder at a Comic Con. It was tremendous fun, and an honor to do so. My thanks to everyone who made it possible — Fae Desmond, Janet Goggins, Maryelizabeth Hart, Steve Lord, Katherine Morrison, Val Ontell, Tommy Goldbach, Robie Elrod, my con PA Olivia, and many more that I’m sure I’m forgetting.

Spent a ton of time in the Special Guest area, visiting with fans and signing stacks of stuff. It was fun watching people get excited about what I’m doing with Loteria, and that was a theme throughout the weekend. I did an amazing Kickstarter panel brilliantly hosted by Craig Engler, and shared with Jane Espenson, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Brad ‘Cheeks’ Bell. I even won an Inkpot Award. 🙂

So many inspiring, insightful people, chats both driveby and extended — Pierce Watters, Todd & Rita Lockwood, Cosmo Eisele, Dave Stevenson, Jason Felix, Donato Giancola, Stephen Martiniere, Chris Roberson, Allison Baker, Jennifer Heddle, Allen Spiegel, Charles Kochman, Ed Schlesinger, Colleen Lindsay, Diana Gill, Anne Groell, Anne Sowards, David Moench, Leigh Bardugo, Seanan Mcguire, Raya Golden, Joe Hill, Dave McKean, Dave Palumbo, Travis Lewis, Allen Williams, Carl Potts, Jimmy Palmiotti, Lee Whiteside, Sam Park, and again so many more that I’m sure I’m forgetting.

It was a joyous time, and even though it’s been 22 years since my first Comic Con, and I’ve been a part of countless cons so far as a pro, there’s still nothing quite like this event anywhere in the world.

I won a 2014 Inkpot Award!

HUGE weekend at San Diego Comic Con International.

Words and pics about it forthcoming, but while I’m cranking on client deadline here upon return to studio, I wanted to acknowledge something amazing that happened on Saturday.
I was on stage Saturday for ‘Spotlight on John Picacio’, and about to launch straight into my slideshow, when I was suddenly asked by a gentleman named Adam if he could first say a few words at the podium. He read an intro, and then out of the blue, he announced that I was being presented with a 2014 Inkpot Award, ‘in recognition of achievement in science fiction / fantasy art’.
Totally caught me off guard, in the best possible way.
Wow.
The Inkpot is Comic Con’s annual award given to professionals in the fields of comics, science fiction / fantasy, art, literature, TV, film, animation, and related fields of pop culture.
I’ve been attending SDCC, off and on, since 1992. It’s a place where some of my career aspirations were born, and I’ve spent much of my adult life working to make those dreams real.
Thank you for this honor, Comic Con. It means the world.
And THANK YOU to all who attended SDCC, volunteered to make it happen, and ran it like the world-class event it is.
More words and pics on my 2014 SDCC soon.

SDCC 2014 Exclusives + Schedule!

Alright, San Diego: let’s do this! I’m an SDCC Special Guest this weekend, and I’ve got exclusive goodies for you.

I’ll have two limited-run, special edition Loteria posters — ‘El Corazon’ and ‘La Luna’. Print run was limited to 500, and they’re 11″ x 18″ on heavy cardstock. Only $20 each. These will not be available online! To score yours before they’re gone — stop by my table in Artists Alley (HH-09) during the hours posted below.

Bonus Note #1! The first 100 people that arrive at my table get to roll the dice and win a free Loteria Grande prototype card, featuring my color art on the front and pencil art on the back.

Bonus Note #2! I want to see as many of you as possible at my “Spotlight” panel on Saturday. Everyone who attends receives a free Loteria Grande card. Sign up via the SDCC app and the more of you that schedule my event on your “MySched”, the better I can get a count on how many cards I need to bring for you. 🙂

My complete public schedule:
THURSDAY, JULY 24
Loteria Poster Signing
Table HH-09 in Artists Alley
9:30am to 12noon
Loteria Poster Signing
Table HH-09 in Artists Alley
2pm to 4pm
“How To Kickstart Your Dream Like A Pro”
(with Craig Engler, Jane Espenson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brad “Cheeks” Bell, John Picacio)
Room 25ABC
5pm to 6pm
FRIDAY, JULY 25
Loteria Poster Signing
Table HH-09 in Artists Alley
9:30am to 12noon
Loteria Poster Signing
Table HH-09 in Artists Alley
2pm to 6pm
SATURDAY, JULY 26
Loteria Poster Signing
Table HH-09 in Artists Alley
9:30am to 12noon
“Spotlight on John Picacio”
Hugo Award-winning book cover artist and Comic-Con special guest John Picacio (A Song of Ice and Fire, Elric of Melnibone) is one of science fiction/fantasy’s most acclaimed American cover artists. Join him for this lively slideshow and Q&A, where he unveils the process behind his art, including A Song of Ice and Fire, Loteria, Elric, and sneak peeks at his latest works. If you’re a fan of the art of Westeros, Mexican Tarot, book covers, comics, and/or the future of sci-fi/fantasy art, this is the place to be. Bonus: Everyone who attends will receive a free giant Loteria prototype card featuring art by Picacio!
Room 4
1pm to 2pm
Special Guest Autographing
Sails Pavilion / AA19
2:30pm to 3:30pm
SUNDAY, JULY 27
Loteria Poster Signing
Table HH-09 in Artists Alley
9:30am to 12noon