Hustle and Rest
Work, recovery, and convention season.
Howdy, howdy!
If you’ve been up-to-date in reading these, then you know I’ve been pretty busy the last few weeks catching up on all the projects, I picked up from last month’s conventions. These last three weeks have been marked by both hustle and rest. Last week I had a very nice vacation visiting family, so the week-and-a-half before, I was pushing very hard to finish as many commissions as possible. The only art I on vacation, was for fun (something I will share in my next “Fishing with John” post).
This week, I’ve been finishing up my last few FWA commissions, and also looking towards the next two shows coming in July; Savannah Comic Con and ATL Comic Convention. On that note, yesterday I spent some time experimenting with making some Fireground Anecdote zines.
I’m trying to put together some cheap little zines and mini comics to sell at the upcoming shows. Not only will it provide another affordable ware for my table, but it should help promote and generate interest in my webcomic. I hope to put together a few from a couple different stories. Do you have a favorite anecdote comic you would like to see as a zine?
That’s what I'm working towards, but now I want to share the drawings from the big push before my vacation.
The biggest, most complex piece was an 11x17, multi-character, full background, full color illustration. For this one I used watercolor sticks and ink brush pens.
After that big push, I'm almost through my FWA commissions! With the one I finished yesterday, that leaves just a couple of stragglers left.
I will do my best to continue making new comics (no, I haven't forgotten the troll), but I also have to be realistic with how busy things get before and after these conventions - let alone giving myself grace for much-needed rest, to prevent burnout.
As a firefighter, one of the best fitness goals is to train the body for bursts intense work followed by quick recovery. I suppose, that has been my unplanned strategy for con season. Either way I am going to keep at it and catch you next time.
Until then, I’ll keep the coffee brewing.
-Calvin