Back from Heroes Con

******Returned from Heroes Con yesterday. Had alot of fun meeting all the con-goers and artists. Ended up doing a couple a art trades and commissions. Uploaded most of the pictures to my gallery. Thanks to those of you who stopped by my table :) For now here are some awesome cosplay photos. Please download for full view.

From left to right: Dazzler, cloak and dagger, ghost, green lantern and captain america, harley quinn and joker, rogue, zatanna, alice in wonderland, zatanna and black canary, red skull, catwoman, iron man, dazzler and black panther, red skull, scarecrow, bullseye and silver sable

Heading off to Heroes Con

******I'll be heading off to Heroes Con later tonight. I'll have brand new mini prints for sale for only $3 each, as well as original art, and discounted commissions at the table. I'll even have a bargain bin where I'll be selling old prints @ 2 for a $1 and old original art for $5. Stop by and say hello if nothing else :) I'll be in Artist Alley at table AA 051.


***I'm also still accepting Heroes Con Commission pre-orders. 3 slots have been spoken for and they are almost completed, I'm coloring them now and maybe able to post some scans before I leave for Heroes Con today. Send me a note if your interested. Heroes Con commission prices are on sale:

Sketch Cards: $15 instead of $20
8.5 x 11 inch pinup: $20 instead of $30
11x14 inch pinup: $40 instead $75

$5 Aceo Sketch Card Sale on Ebay Continues Again

This is part of a 50 aceo sketch card sale @ $5 each on ebay. Go check them out and bid if you want. They are only $5 each. Some are ending in about 1 hour from now and the others will end in about 2 days. Whatever doesn't sell will be re-listed once more before I take the left over art to Heroes Con so check back often. Here is the link: http://shop.ebay.com/coonic_studios/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

$5 Aceo Sketch Card Sale on Ebay Continues

This aceo sketch card along with 62 others are for sale on ebay with starting bids of only $5 each. The 1st batch of 32 cards ends in about 24 hours and the 2nd batch of 31 cards will end in about 2 days. Stop by and take a look and bid if you would like too. All proceeds will go towards convention costs. Auctions: http://shop.ebay.com/coonic_studios/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

I'm also still accepting $5 sketch card commissions for a limited time. Email me if your interested.

$5 Aceo Sketch Card Sale on Ebay

This aceo sketch card along with 62 others are for sale on ebay for the next 2 days with starting bids of only $5 each. I posted 32 yesterday and I will post 30 more today. Stop by and take a look and bid if you would like too. All proceeds will go towards convention costs. Auctions: http://shop.ebay.com/coonic_studios/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340


Sorry that my posting is so erratic lately. Convention season is very hectic and haven't been getting much sleep lately. Its 6am now and I still haven't went to bed yet... (-_-)

Sequential Page

Haven't done one of these in while, have to get back into it :) This is a recent commission. Send me a email if you would like a commission.

Treasure Chest Foundation Charity Sketch Cards

Kill Bill day

Will return with more convention tips.....

Sorry about the delay. I've been working on multiple projects at once and they are eating up alot of my time so I'll be back with more convention tips soon. For now, check out this hand painted rose sketch card I did today. ^^

Convention Tips #2

I'm continuing on with my convention tips.

Your Artist Alley Table:


It has been my experience that if you can get a corner table it would be in your best interest. Corner tables usually give you a little bit more room to maneuver and you'll receive better traffic from con-goers since your not squeezed between several other artist. Another good tip is if you can get a table near a entrance, exit or even near the bathrooms then you could possible receive alot more traffic. Reason being is because people will be constantly walking back and forth from these points.

Your table set up is very important. You'll want to make everything organized and easy to read/see. I learned this the hard way. Con-goers are usually in a rush trying to look over the whole convention so you want to make sure your table is easily viewable as they are walking by so you'll have a better chance of them stopping to take a look at your art. Metal Wire Crates and Pvc pipes are great for displaying your work. I mention this because for what ever reason people tend to want to view things at their eye level. They are less likely going to want to bend down to view all your art work. If you have art work at their eye level by placing some art on the pvc pipe display or on the metal wire crates as well as placed neatly on your table you'll have a better chance at making a sale or having them view your art. Be sure to take a look at other peoples tables and get ideas as to how to set up your table next time. Take notes and photos.


Another good point is if your stuck in 1 genre of art then you should try to break out of that. Conventions these days are not all male orientated as they may have been back in the day. You now have children and women who love to attend conventions too. Its a good idea to cater to many audiences if you can. This will give you a better chance at making a sale. Anyone that knows of my art work knows that I draw alot of females (and I mean alot). Its pretty obvious that my target audience is males 20-50 years old. This doesn't mean that this is the only thing that I can draw. I also draw chibis, anime characters, realistic art, portraits, caricatures, comic heroes, sketch cards, pinups, narrative art, original characters, etc. I try to have something for everyone at my table. At Baltimore Comic Con I had a young girl purchase a Chibi Sailor Moon drawing from me. So that goes to show you that children have cash to spend too; given from their parents.


Ummm... I think thats all I got for now. For next time I guess I will discuss convention etiquette, critiques, pricing, commissions, etc.

Convention Tips #1

So I think I'm going to do a series of convention tips for you artist that participate in artist alley at conventions. I'll just be speaking from personal experience and these are just my personal opinions.

So anyways you know at most cons you can purchase a hotel room through the convention at a special rate. 9 times out of 10 you'll have to pay the full amount up front. If your like me then your broke (seriously, lol) and you don't have $300-$500 upfront to purchase the hotel room on the spot as of yet. Here is a little tip that I figured out. You can go to a site like priceline.com where they have discounted hotel rooms and purchase from them. The good thing about this is that at priceline.com for most of the hotels you can pay for the hotel room at the time of your stay rather then up front. Therefore by doing this you can work on getting that money together. They'll ask for your credit card number to guarantee your room but they won't charge it until the time of your stay at the hotel. Anyways I hope that was helpful. I'll post more tips later.

Mom Caricature

Just about finished with the caricature for my mom.

Made more stuff.

Handmade bracelets.

Happy Easter!

I made a Sailor Moon Arm Warmer!

Xena

Knocking out more commissions

Rest in Peace Pat Carlucci

Its weird, you don't really think about the fact that you can die at any time and then it happens. I don't recall meeting Pat Carlucci. I went to Baltimore Comic Con last year and I believe he was there. I may have stopped by his table or maybe even said hi. Back then I would have never imagined that this artist would die several month later. It makes me sad that so many artist are dieing lately, year by year. It doesn't seem like he is dead though because of all of the great art work he has left behind....

Taking a Break

These are some of my sketch cards from the upcoming Essence of Fairyland Card set with www.sadlittles.com Make sure to reserve your set there.

I finished up the 1st batch of commissions. You can view the work and progress at my gallery: http://raccoon-eyes.deviantart.com

I'm about 95% sure that I will be taking a break from sketch cards at least for a couple of months. I love drawing sketch cards and have been able to get onto several professional gigs with them so I'm very thankful. I've been drawing sketch cards since 2006 and working on professional card sets since 2008. I'm currently working on P'ups with 5finity. So that will be the last set for a while. As I mentioned, I love drawing sketch cards but I find myself getting a little burned out and feel like its time for a break in addition I would like to work on some sequential work and by not taking on any sketch card sets for a little bit that will free up time to get back to work on sequential since I haven't done any in almost a year. If I want to be a comic book artist I'll have to draw more sequential. So I'll be back to doing sketch card sets in a couple months. I may do some psc (personal sketch cards) for fun in my free time though.

Caught a cold....

Be back with updates soon....

Commissions are Open!

Auctions-

*****Update: Auctions ending in 24 hours ($9 sketches, $10 sketch cards, and much more): http://shop.ebay.com/coonic_studios/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340



Commissions (A few slots are still open)-

Gathering funds together for upcoming conventions this year so I can participate in Artist Alley. You can view Sample work and Rates here: http://raccoon-eyes.deviantart.com/journal/22243399/

There are prices for every budget. Please send me a note or email if your interested in a commission.



I'm knocking out current commissions as we speak, here is the list so far:


1) Legends & Lore AP (Robin Hood/ Maid Marion)- In progress, rough sketch so far.

2) Harley Quinn & Joker Psc- In progress, rough sketch so far.

3) Jedi Leia Quick Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

4) Mara Jade Quick Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

5) Bayoneeta Color Sketch- Working on coloring it.

6) Portrait Color Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

7) Mothra Color Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

8) Secretary Quick Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

9) Original Character psc- In progress, rough sketch so far.

10) Phantom Lady Quick Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

11) Psylocke Quick Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

12) Jubilee Quick Sketch- In progress, rough sketch so far.

13) Psylocke Color sketch- In progress

14) Scarlet Witch Quick Sketch- In progress

15) Kabuki Psc- In progress

16) Pirate Mermaid Color Sketch- In progress

17) Poison Ivy Quick Sketch- In progress

18) Zatanna Quick Sketch- In progress

19) Original Character Psc- In progress

20)

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23)

24)

25)

27 . . .

.....Thats how old I'll be in 1 day. Don't really have anything planned for my birthday, probably spend time with my folks. Sorry that I have not been consistent with posting. I've been pulling some all nighters to get some sketches for sale done as well as knocking out some commissions. Been working super hard because convention season is coming up very very very soon which means I'll need a good amount of cash to get to the cons. I have some bigger projects in the works. Please bare with me ^^

Pocahontas

Voltron Artist Exclusive Card

I now have my 1 and only Voltron Artist Exclusive for sale. I only drew a very limited number of cards for this set. Asking $40 with shipping included. Please send me a email if your interested

Aayla Secura Sketch 030310

A quick sketch featuring Aayla Secura. By the way I finished up all 35 Essence of Fairyland Cards recently. I'll be posting them soon.

Essence of Fairyland Preview

Sorry that I have not posted in a couple days. I've been working hard on this card set, "Essence of Fairyland" from sadlittles.com Make sure you reserve your set. I tried a new coloring technique where I used soft pastels as water color and I did not ink my work but used pencil instead. I think the results are pretty cool. These are up for grabs for $25 each. Please send me a email here if your interested: sherryleak@gmail.com

Legends and Lore Artist Proof Wip Robin Hood

A W.i.p featuring Robin Hood and Maid Marion.

**I have 6 Legends and Lore sketch cards for sale for commission (size 4 x 5 inches) Please send me a note if your interested.

And even more mandy cards.....

even more mandy cards

Mermaids in color

Mermaids Ink

Original character aceo & Mermaid Roughs & Taking a break from your art

I decided to draw some of my original characters on Aceo cards. These were alot fun since I have not drew original characters in a while. I want to work more on original works because its more meaningful. For this convention season I would like to get a comic published and a sketch book made. Looking at trying to start that in March.







This mermaid scene is part of a bigger project that I'm working on. I may have it done for tomorrow. I had some trouble working out the anatomy on the mermaid to the right, which brings me to a tip that I have for other artist. . . we sometimes get caught up with our drawing and we may make mistakes in the drawing that we do not notice. Its a good idea to take a step back from your drawing even if its for a couple mins. and then come back to it and more then likely you'll find some thing that will need corrections.

Legends and Lore 4 Sale

A ( 2.5 x 3.5 inches) Legends and Lore Sketch Card of Beauty and the Beast. This is up for grabs for $50, send me a note if your interested. If there is no takers then I will be putting this on ebay later this week, keep an eye out:

http://shop.ebay.com/coonic_studios/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340








A oversized ( 4 x 5 inches) Legends and Lore Sketch Card. This is up for grabs for $60, send me a note if your interested. If there is no takers then I will be posting this on ebay later this week so keep a eye out:


http://shop.ebay.com/coonic_studios/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340


*I have 8 blank 4 x 5 inch Legends and Lore Sketch Cards Available. Send me a note if your interested in a commission.

ZVC Sketch Card Commission Puzzle Color

More Mandy Cards

Sketch Card Ink W.I.PS