Author: Kelci

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I’m Back from SPACE…In Columbus

space columbus ohio convention expo table 2018

As I’m writing this, I came back from SPACE (Small Press Alternative Comics Expo) yesterday. This was the first SPACE I had attended since 2013, and 2013 was NOT a hot year for me. At that time I was still working with an editor whom, honestly, I should not have been working with. We had shared a table that year, and my sales were wimpy – partly because my own offerings weren’t so hot, and partly because the editor with whom I shared the table was not the best dude to invite customers over. So, because of those factors, 2013 was the last year I went… until this last weekend.

A lot changed between those shows – I started working with Christian Beranek on Validation (which is STILL getting reviews online), I made a LOT more comic books and graphic novels, I made more videos talking about indie comics, and most importantly, I started surrounding myself with better comics peeps.

This year at SPACE I shared a table with Carlos Rivera – he runs Youngstown Independent Creator Expo (which is happening this year on Sept. 8. More details to come in another blog post). He’s also, incidentally, one of my patrons on Patreon, which I hugely appreciate.

We were stationed next to Dale Lazarov, who is one of the BEST table neighbors I could ask for. We saw each other at Awesome Con because we were both in Pride Alley, and I couldn’t believe our luck that we would see each other again – as table neighbors, no less! I’m midway through one of his graphic novels, MANLY, which is honestly one of the sexiest and sweetest books I’ve read in a long time. His books are DEFINITELY not safe for work, but definitely worth the read. Go support him.

Another face I saw at the show was Darren. We met at RathaCon a few years ago and he’s been one of my best fans ever since. We talked comics and shared art, and in general he just made my day. Thank you, Darren!

Another awesome person in my life is Dyrk Conrad – he’s not a comic dude, but we met last year and have been buddies since then. He joined me at Kafe Kerouac so we could both participate in a comic reading. We read Johnson & Sir for the crowd (he played Sir, I played Johnson and some other sundry characters). He also let me crash with him and his roommates this weekend, which was great because they were a ten-minute drive away from the venue where SPACE was being held. I didn’t have to pay for a hotel, and we got to play Quelf.

artist selfie quelf

If you have ever played Quelf, you know that wrapping your head in paper towels is not the weirdest dare the game asks you to do. It’s fun. You should play it.

You might be thinking right now, “Ok this is great to read and all, but did you make money at SPACE this year?”

Well, if we’re comparing my numbers to how Awesome Con went, then SPACE was not as successful. But if we’re comparing how this year went to how SPACE 2013 went, then I blew Space 2013 out of the water. I didn’t expect sales at SPACE to be super-high, but it was enough to be in the black. Plus I got to trade my books for SO MANY ZINES AND COMICS.

Look at this stash. It’s marvelous! I may have to bring back Review Day Tuesday videos just to read and review these babies.

My next show is coming up this weekend – Saturday, May 5th is Free Comic Book Day, and I’ll be at New Dimension Comics at the Ohio Valley Mall (in Saint Clairsville, OH). I’ll be there from 11 am to 6 pm. There will be freebies, and this limited edition 11 x 17 inch print:

i am the land american gods art illustration by kelci crawford

“I Am The Land” has a limited print run of 9 copies, and is for sale at $20. If you would like one, be sure to stop at my table. If you aren’t able to make it to the show, I’ll have an email on the newsletter about how you can get one.

Also, if you can make it to the show, I’m doing a special giveaway: buy something from New Dimension Comics on Free Comic Book Day, and you’ll get a free mini-print from me. Just show me your receipt.

That’s all for now. Thank you for reading!

You. Are. Awesome.

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“I Am The Land,” An Art Piece

i am the land american gods art illustration by kelci crawford

If you’re a fan of Neil Gaiman’s book, American Gods, like I am, then you know why this piece is called “I Am The Land.” If you haven’t read the book (or read the comic, or seen the TV show) yet, you should fix that. Like, ASAP.

American Gods is one of those books that shook me when I first read it. Every time I re-read it, I discover something new about it. It’s dream-like and jarring yet also grounded (in the sense that the god characters act like people and not like high-concept “I am above petty emotions” personalities. Zack Snyder should learn a thing or two from this book).

One of the recurring characters in American Gods is a man with a buffalo head. He doesn’t outright murder anyone in the book. However, when I got the idea for this piece of art, I finished a section of the comic book adaptation of the novel – specifically, the section about Vikings landing in Canada and killing a Native American, and then the Natives killing every Viking in retaliation. Yes, the account is fiction, but there’s an element of truth to it, to the idea that America is a land stained in blood.

That’s why I made this piece.

This was drawn with my trusty mechanical pencil and Pentel Brush Sign Pen, with colors by my Copic markers. The background color was done with a Kuretake Zig Clean Color FB brush pen. It’s dying out a little though, so I’ll need to replace it soon.

Soon this will be a print measuring 11×17 inches. When it’s in the shop, I’ll announce it on the email newsletter first. It’s going to be a limited print run, though, so because of that, it’ll be a little more than just $10.

Thank you for reading!

You. Are. Awesome.

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This Week Has Been Crappy

Yo!

This week started pretty rocky – I didn’t announce it except to my personal friend groups, but I had a colonoscopy on Tuesday. My doctor wanted to make sure that, given my symptoms, I wasn’t having any internal bleeding or experiencing symptoms of a more chronic illness like Chron’s disease. The test came back saying there were no signs of anything bad, which is…weird. And also a bit of a letdown. If you know ANYTHING about the prep work needed for a colonoscopy, you know it’s a lot of misery, and to go through all of that just for a test to come back negative has me a bit miffed. Happy that there’s no debilitating issues, but miffed that I went through a lot of metaphorical crap for a lot of nothing.

On the more positive side, there are some great gigs getting lined up, both online and offline. This is REALLY good news because mom and her boyfriend have moved out of the house. Not fully – their RV campsite hasn’t turned the water on yet because Ohio keeps snowing in April. However, the extra gigs will come in handy to help cover the raised rent when they DO fully move out.

So that’s what’s been happening this week. What’s coming up?

Well, I’m making a separate Patreon post about that. Don’t worry – when it posts, it’ll be public viewing.

Thank you for your patience with me.

You. Are. Awesome.

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Commissioned Piece Made for Luke and Mel

commission piece luke and mel lgbtq communityLuke (left) and Mel (right) are both members of the local (to me) LGBTQ community, and both LOVE Johnson & Sir. Luke commissioned me to make a portrait of the both of them to look like characters that would pop out of the comic, and I said yes.

Look how it turned out!

(By the way, if you would like to commission me for something, check out the “Get a Commission” Link.)

Thank you for your support.

You. Are. Awesome.

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How Awesome Con Was Awesome, or Tater Tots Are Not Breakfast Food

awesome con artist alley table

This last weekend was my first ever Awesome Con down in Washington, DC. Why did the con happen the same weekend as Easter/April Fools Day? Because other cons were happening in the summer and, for once, the convention organizers coordinated so they wouldn’t conflict with each other.

I know. Convention organizers actually coordinating their conventions to not happen at the same time. To somebody who live through PIX 2017, which happened the exact same weekend as Tekkoshocon, it’s a freaking miracle.

Anyway, pretty much the only reason I was going to sell my work at Awesome Con was because of one dude – Carlos.

carlos and kelci

This guy was my table buddy for the whole weekend. He got me the table in the first place. He helped carry my work to the artist alley, got me food and watched the table during bathroom breaks, and helped to keep track of sales. It’s because of Carlos that this weekend went as smoothly as it did, and for that, I thank you, my dude.

As much as I appreciate your help, though, that doesn’t change the fact that tater tots are a glorified cafeteria side dish. They are not breakfast food, Carlos. No amount of rationale that they’re a tiny hash brown will change my mind on this.

Ahem.

I’m not going to get into how much I made in terms of sales at Awesome Con. What I WILL say, though, is that one of my goals this year has now been checked off.

Not only that, but there are new connections in terms of comic shops and fellow artists to collaborate with. Speaking of fellow artists, HUGE shout-out to the peeps in my neck of Pride Alley: Poorly Formed, Kelsi Jo Silva, Sarah Stovalosky, Rage Gear Studios, Static Starling (I forgot to grab your business card. I’m sorry! But your buttons are delightful), and Thirty Seven Stars crochet. (And a shot-out to not-table-neighbor Pride Alley fellow Dale Lazarov. Good to finally meet you face to face!) Every single one of you is fabulous.

photo artist alley table buddies

Another group of artists who are fabulous: Super Art Fight. It’s like wrestling personas draw art against each other using audience prompts placed on the Wheel of Death. Y’all are amazing. And at least one of you is…Sexyful.

sexyful t shirt super art fight

Also, it ABSOLUTELY made my weekend to see three things: my old college buddy Dominique, John Barrowman’s costume, and someone who recognized my art because their friend bought from me at PIX. Holy banana pants! It was my dream to experience someone who recognized my art from somewhere specific, and that was amazing.

With that, I need to get back to KickStarter fulfillment. So t hat’s all for now. Thank you for reading!

You. Are. Awesome. (…Con)