7/11/11 - Derby City Comic Con - First Time and Local!

Saturday July 16th will be the first Derby City Comic Con in Louisville KY! This first time show will have lots of our friends from the LCS ( Louisville Cartoonists Society) and several CCG members as well.

Where: Kentucky International Convention Center
221 Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202

When: July 16, 2011, 10 am - 5 pm

Tickets: $7
Kids 12 and Under: Free

While attending please make sure and stop by say hello to:

• Jay Chuppe (Western Ky Comic artists and CCG art show participant)
• Kenn Minter (Near Mint Press)(CCG member)
• Jenevieve Broomall (LCS member and CCG TLD attendee)
• Marc Ballard (host of the Lexington Comic Convention)

Help make this inaugural event a success and ensure that it will be an ongoing annual event!

5/16/11 - Sunday in Louisville: WonderFest and 21c Cabaret Life Drawing

Gas prices have kept my travel to minimum the last couple of months. But there was too much happening in Louisville this past weekend to discourage me from a road trip!

First there was WonderFest - a great show that hardly anyone one in Kentucky knows about! This is an internationally attended showcase for commercial and garage kit modelers. Fans of Science Fiction and Horror movies are well entertained with the displays and guests. I talked with some acquaintances from past shows: William Stout and Kerry Gammill. Both of whom are very talented artists and were gracious enough to do a sketch for me.



I also met some new faces there - Mike Fredericks is the publisher of the long running Prehistoric Times (Bill Stout and Jim Gurney have been featured in several issues) which is a great resource for comic artists, paleo artists and illustrators who need to study the art and science of portraying dinosaurs.

Next I met the the very nice John Olvevich, who was there for the first time representing his company Glenmarc Industries, Inc. They are the premier supplier of mold making  and resin casting supplies for the garage kit crowd and for many Hollywood special effects studios. He was very interested in mailing connections with sculptors whom he could refer to manufacturers and other customers. If you need to cast something this is company to contact! john had some incredible cast figure samples at his booth from a Chicago area artist, Eduardo Andrade - look for his work to come to prominence very soon!

Then I stumbled on a sculptors table with some really inspired and naturalistic sculptures of dinos. David Silva was making his first visit to WonderFest and blew me away with the painted samples of his work. David is toy sculptor and concept designer for a toy company in NJ by day and dino sculptor in his spare time. Hope to talk more and maybe see him in process sometime soon! Tip: David recommends Greg Paul's "The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs" as a great reference for the latest on saurian anatomy.

Next year I need to plan on attending WonderFest all day or even both days - two hours was not near long enough!


I left about 4:15p to make it downtown to 21c and the Cabaret Life Drawing. It was a small crowd but a fun session. Enjoyed meeting fellow artists Scott McCrory and a  young MICA art student who's name I did not get :-). Wow! Our  model, Desiree, had lots of excellent, if challenging poses! Skylar Smith, the moderator, was her usual calming and generous self! :-)

A stimulating afternoon and evening for sure!

2011 February 01 - Postmortem Report on Xombie Nation! CCG Meeting/Workshop

Thriller Stage Show Halloween 2010
photo by Jennifer Miller

Xombie Nation! was held last Sunday for the first time. We started out with an incredible dance routine by the mysterious Silent Hill zombie nurse. While still in shock and awe from the fantastic improvisational dance we moved on to nearly an hour of expressive and challenging poses by our model and muse. Here is a link to a flickr group set up expressly for sharing and commenting on CCG Themed Life Drawing (TLD) work: artwork and photos. This was our pilot run at having these sessions - I want feedback from our artists! Look for another CCG TLD session in February!

Billy talks about how he got started...

"Creepiest Artist in America" and famed Zombie artist Billy Tackett and his wife Heather closed out the January meeting with an hour-long talk about business strategies for freelance artists. Many gems of wisdom from Billy and Heather's "school of hard knocks" were eagerly taken in by the assembled audience of cartoonists, illustrators, teachers and students.

The couple shared excellent marketing and branding strategies and explained how to actually make money on the convention circuit! Keep your naming simple and logical - cool names will often just cloud your branding and folks won't know why your studio name doesn't match your website name! The concept of keeping a common style and appearance throughout your marketing materials was brought up several times. They even set up an abbreviated con table presenting some of their better selling  merchandise. Billy advised to used your art and design skills to make your booth/table reflect your art aesthetic and branding themes.

Examples of some of Billy's artwork
translated onto merchandise.

Thanks Billy and Heather! I hope you will come back and visit us again soon! Check out Billy's excellent website for his schedule of appearances and upcoming publishing project!

Justin Stewart was awarded the inaugural annual award for "the local cartoonist who contributed the most to the local artistic community."

The 2010 CCG Stewie Award is named after Justin and will be awarded annually at our Holiday Dinner. Justin was not available to attend that function this year so this announcement had to wait till now. Join me in congratulating and thanking Justin for all his work with Live Drawing Events and his assistance with this years UP! Fair! We are proud of you, guy! Nominations for the 2011 CCG Stewie will be accepted in November!

Up! Fair Volunteers Needed

Hey folks! Would anyone like to volunteer for the upcoming Up! Fair (recently reported on in the Chevy Chaser)? If you'd like to learn more, you can go here to contact someone about volunteering.

They are looking for help on Saturday November 20th at the Carnegie Center in downtown Lexington. It would only be in four-hour shifts and the responsibilities would include:
- Assist with providing bottled water to all tabling guests during the day
- Watch tables for artists while they lead workshops
- Check in with teaching artists before workshops to ensure that they
have all of the teaching materials they need
- Help attendees find the workshops they are interested in

If you can, please do. It'd be a great way to meet and have some time to talk with the creators and I guarantee you'll have a good time.

Thanks!

08/05/10 - Cincinnati Comic Expo

In a little over a month the very first Cincinnati Comic Expo will take place. This one day show is unique in the number of golden and silver age comic creators that it will have as guests. People like Russ Heath, Allen Bellman and Murphy Anderson. An impressive lineup for any show much less a fledgling event! The impressive lineup of  guests continues and  includes contemporary independent artists Laura Innes, Thom Zahler,  CCG art show exhibitor Mike Maydak from NKY, and fan favorite/local artist Tony Moore.

I am excited that a quality show is happening so close to home and will be sure to attend. Getting to meet and talk with living legends of comics is treat too rare to pass up. This is also a great opportunity for local upstarts to display their works as an exhibitor! Visit the Cincinnati Comic Expo official site for more information: http://cincinnaticomicexpo.com/index.php

04/07/10 - 2010 Conventions and Events

Just to help keep these up on on your radar. Some upcoming comic/illustration/local events and conventions for this year:

• Mega Con - Orlando - March 12-14
• Keeneland Spring Racing Meet - Lexington - April 2-23
• MoCCA many events, Festival NYC - April 10-11
• Gem City Comic Con - Dayton, OH - April 11
• Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event - Lexington - April 22-25
  
• SPACE - Columbus, OH - April 24-25
• WonderFest - Louisville, KY - May 15-16
• Heroes Con - Charlotte - June 4-6
• The Illustration Master Class - Amhurst College (MA) - June 12-18
  
• San Diego Comic Con - July 21-25
• Gen Con - Indianapolis IN - August 5-8
• AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park  - (Deadline to Apply for Fair 3/31/10)  - August 21-22
  
• Baltimore Comic-Con - August 28-29
• Chicago Comic Con (Sneaky Wizardworld is buying up all the cons and losing the WW name!) - August 19-22
• Dragon Con Atlanta - September 3-6
• SPX - Baltimore - September 11-12
• Cincinnati Comic Expo - September 18
• World Equestrian Games 2010 - Lexington - September 25 - October 10
• New York Comic Con - October 8-10
• Keeneland Fall Racing Meet - Lexington - October 8-30
• OSU many events, Festival of Cartoon Art - October 15-16, 2010!
• Mid-Ohio-Con - Columbus - November 6-7
• UP! Fair - Lexington - November 19-20

09/12/08 - ScareFest - Horror & Paranormal Convention Starts Today!

Don't know much about this but it looks like it could be lots of FUN! Serious paranormal advocates mixed with nerdy horror buffs - what's not to love!

SCHEDULE
& EVENTS

The Scare Fest will be held September 12-14, 2008

Friday from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm ( Early Entry: 3PM )
Saturday from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm ( Early Entry: 10AM )
Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm ( Early Entry: 9AM )

Here's the link to their site:
http://www.thescarefest.com/POSTERANDPROGRAM.htm

Louisville Comic Show

May 31, 2008
Louisville, KY

Clarion Hotel and Conference Center
9700 Bluegrass Pkwy
Louisville, KY 40299
Admission only $1.00 with the Wizard ad. Early buy in at 9:30 am for only $3.00 with the Wizard ad.

Special Guests:

• Jay Leisten (Amazing Spiderman)


• John Dugan (Grandpa from Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

Buyers will be at the show with cash to buy comics, toys, Star Wars, magazines and other collectables.

Click here for link to show organizor's page.

03/12/08 - Lexington Comic Show 2008

In case you haven't heard; there will be a Comic Show in Lexington on Saturday April 5th 2008. This is the third year running for this event! This one day show runs from 10AM to 4PM and is being hosted by Comic City Comics out of Nashville TN. Here is a link to their site with more info about the show.

Show guests (always subject to change) include - Lexington comics writer, Robert Kirkman, Lexington cartoonists, Kenn Minter, and Mark Kidwell.

Look for us, the Lexington Comic Creators Group (or CCG) to have a table at the show! Please come by and say "Hi", meet some of our members and learn more about our group.

Here is a link to the hotel (UPDATED) where the show will be held:

Ramada Conference Center of Lexington

2143 N Broadway

Exit 113 I-64 & I-75

Lexington, KY, 40505 US

Phone:	859-299-1261
Fax:	859-293-0048

E-Mail:

ramadainnlexky@aol.com

03/12/08 - 2008 Gem City Comic Con in Dayton

Wow, two local comic conventions in one weekend!

Besides the Lexington Comic Show on Saturday April 5th 2008 there is second convention (luckily the next day!) that weekend in Dayton OH. The Gem City Comic Con is having it's third annual event Sunday at the Student Union at Wright State University, Dayton OH. Here is the link to their website.

Scheduled guests include popular Image comic artist, Billy Tan, and famous Marvel and DC comics writer, Marv Wolfman. A rare chance to attend a convention so close to home!

11/16/07 - Heading to Mid-Ohio-Con?

Are you planning to head to Mid-Ohio-Con next weekend? Be sure to arrive early enough to take in the pre-convention party Friday night.

"Unmasked," the 2nd annual free pre-convention party sponsored by Ferret Press and the PANEL collective, will take place from 8 p.m. - midnight on Friday, Nov. 23. The venue for this event will once again be Barley's Brewing Co., directly across from the convention center. The party serves as a place where comic book fans can mingle with comic book pros, chat, have a drink, and talk about comics, art, music, and more.

If you are thinking about attending the event, please either post word here, leave a comment following this post or drop an e-mail to Jonathan who is helping coordinate the Lexington KY Comic Creators Group pilgrimage north.

Calendar

Look here for upcoming meeting info or special events. You may find it easier to read in "agenda" view. Email Lexington KY CCG to have your event added.

We are also listed on Zevents.com

4/13/07 - Lexington Comic Show 2007

OOPS! This one almost got by me - there will be a Comic Show in Lexington on Saturday April 14th 2007. This is being presented by the same folks who put on the show last year. This one day show runs from 10AM to 3:30PM and is being hosted by Comic City Comics out of Nashville. Here is a link to their site with more info about the show. They are advertising that Central Kentucky's own comic writer extraordinaire, Robert Kirkman to be in attendance from 12p-3p.

11/22/06 - Mid-Ohio Con This Weekend!

In case you didn't know there will be a fairly large comic convention this weekend 11/25 to 11/26/06 in Columbus Ohio. There will be some fairly big name creators there: Adam Hughes, Ron Garney, Matt Haley, Herb Trimpe, Beau Smith (frequent contributor to Sketch Magazine) and Don Rosa (UK graduate and famous Disney comic artist). Here is a link to the con site. This event has been up on the CCG calendar for several days - so you might want to remember to check that link on the blog sidebar!

I hope to make the trek to attend this, if anyone local is interested in joining me (and helping with some of the expenses) please send me an email ASAP!

09/28/06 - Explorium: Comic Convention

NEWS RELEASE

Family Comic Book Convention
at Explorium of Lexington October 28

Contact: Deanna McDaniel, Marketing Director
(859) 258-3253 x19
mcdaniel@explorium.com

Explorium of Lexington is hosting the Bluegrass’ first Family Comic Book Convention,
Explor-A-Con, Oct. 28th from 10 am to 6 pm. a family-friendly version of the huge comic book conventions in Chicago and San Diego, the convention features an amateur comic book art show for artists under the age of 21. It will open up a whole avenue of creativity for young artists. Central Kentucky’s young people can sculpt an action figure, paint a super hero portrait, draw a 9-panel comic page or use their favorite graphic software to create a cover design – anything that they can imagine drawing inspiration from manga, graphic novels or comic books.

Essential convention programming takes an interesting twist at Explor-A-Con. In addition to the art show, there will be workshops in creature illustration, an “artists’ alley” with artists offering original artwork for sale, a demonstration on designing a web comic and a panel discussion with local comic industry professionals. “Every aspect of the programming ties in with literacy, art, technology and encouraging people of all ages to explore their own creativity,” said Deanna McDaniel, Marketing Director of Explorium. “Comic books are valid literary tools. Besides that, they’re fun.”

Explorium is hosting this convention not only to promote young artists, but also to encourage the learning that comes with exploring new territory. “Comics are not just illustrations. Graphic Novels work with words to tell the story. Great for reluctant readers,” said Jan Isenhour, Executive Director, Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. The first 100 people will receive exclusive grab bags full of prizes including PETA comics and Explorium freebies.

“Many of today’s comics rely heavily on allusion, satire, irony, and parody to make a point. Students discover they might actually need to know such terms for reasons other than analyzing a Dickinson poem. Making this connection has strengthened their understanding of terms,” Sharon F. Webster, English literacy coach at Narragansett High School in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

And of course, there’s the fun! Children in costume will receive a dollar discount off regular admission. In addition to the typical programs Explor-A-Con will also feature a live action battle between Super Heroes and Villains performed by the Known World Players. The workshop that follows will be of particular interest to people who aren’t quite ready for Halloween - a costume specialist will demonstrate how to make your own costumes based on comic book characters. Clay Held of Kid Twisted Comics will lead a workshop on creating your own web comic.

“Go experience it. Comic stores and comics have evolved. Comics and graphic novels incorporate all genres for all different kinds of people," said Elissa Lynch of Diamond Comics. Fans of classic literature will even have the chance to meet the author and artist from the Frankenstein comic book offered by Dead Dog Comics, R.D. Hall and Mark Kidwell.

For a full schedule check out www.explorium.com or www.myspace.com/explorium

03/01/06 - Lexington Comic Show

In case you haven't heard; there will be a Comic Show in Lexington on Saturday April 1st 2006. No, this is not an April Fools Day prank! This one day show runs from 10AM to 4PM and is being hosted by Comic City Comics out of Nashville. Here is a link to their site with more info about the show. There hould be several local and regional comic creators in attendance so it looks to be a lot of fun! CCG hopes to be set up there - stay tuned for more details on that.