Highlights

Heroes Con commission and connection dump.

Highlights of the weekend:

1. getting to spend a couple hours with AND 20 minutes interviewing the absolute legend @jaeleeart

He was live streaming with @og.comics.gram promoting his new series Monster M1 Racing, which is an absolutely stunning book. His work in that book, and during the stream left me hungry to expand my own skillset. Getting to speak with him 1 on 1 was a top tier experience that not many get. So I’m a lucky man.

2. Not everyone knows this, but @couchdoodles is a major reason I’m here. When I had stopped art for a few years, I was bitter and angry about it.

At the time Dan was crushing it with some dope timed-art here on the Gram, and he started also posting some freestyle rapping. So I decided to make some snide comment about how he should stick to his art.

He didn’t get snappy. He didn’t get defensive. But he also didn’t ignore me. He just plainly said something to the effect of “I’ve been told my whole life what I can and can’t do by others. I’m happy doing what I do, and I’ve managed to find some success with it. So if I want to do it, I’m going to.”

It just knocked me right off my high horse and made it so apparent how I was imposing my own bitterness about not doing what I wanted and how I was taking it out on someone that WAS doing what they wanted.

It stuck with me and was an inevitable spark that helped me get back on track, and eventually here with you now.

3. @theaceblade is a creator I’ve been watching for years. His consistent work ethic to build his own comics universe has just been insanely impressive. He does all the right stuff to make his dreams happen, and getting to shake his hand and nod that mutual nod of approval together was the kind of thing I live for these days.

I’m definitely hoping to support his journey and collaborate on something together.

I didn’t get pics with everyone I would have liked. But other notables was another great visit with the legend @ryanbnjmn who I can’t thank enough for his time.

The whole crew at @comicsketchart continues to impress me. Kevin, Kari, Constance, Lissette, Blake, Missy… these are good peeps.

Out of text. Onto Washington!