This year had to be the most fun I've had since I was a kid diving in quarter bins back in the late 80's! We amped up our involvement this year more than the previous two and it's starting to pay off! People recognized us and our sketchbooks and even requested sketches! The guys at the Dollar Bin (www.thedollarbin.net) hosted us and our sketchbooks this year and even let us occuopy their booth for a good chunk of the weekend, Between Mark, Terence and myself we must have done over 50 free sketches on the back of our 2009 sketchbook! If you came by the booth and picked one up, we thank you, it means a lot! I've posted a few that I managed to scan before they went out the door in my gallery.

I also got to participate in a very cool jam piece created for the Heroes art auction! (finished pic posted in my gallery) It's not everyday that I get to have my work next to the likes of Andy Runton, Chris Schweizer, Budd Root, Buddy Prince, Nat Jones, Bradd Parton, J Chris Campbell, Duane Ballenger, Rob Ullman, Ben Towle, Francesco Francevilla, Mark Godby, Faylnn Koch, Mitch Rogers, Roger Langridge, Dean Trippe, David Peterson, Loston Wallace, Josh Latta, Guy Davis, Christian Slade, and Danielle Corsetto. (yeah I named them all!) This was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. Not only to have my work stand with theirs, but to help collect their work for the piece...simply mind blowing! Thanks to everyone who participated and even moreso to Brian, Adam, Devin, Kris and Ted for making that happen! From what I hear Mike from Planet Comics in Anderson, SC won it, so I may just have to make a road trip!

As for the show itself, I touched base with old friends and made some new ones as well. This weekend is so special, makes me want take some time off and hit a few more cons (Dragon Con, Baltimore and the Greenville Comic Con are distinct possibilities!) It also kick starts my creative juices. So hopefully I can capitalize on this rush and kick it up a notch on the commissions I have remaining!

And while I have my creative juices flowing, I'd like to see what I can do to increase the traffic, and overall activity of my devART site! Which means I'll be doing some free sketches for a few lucky followers who participate on my site...stay tuned!

- Brandon/Big Dog

btw - Two of my Pro friends just joined deviantART...can't recommend these guys enough. Head over and check them out!
Jason Latour - [link]
Chris Brunner - [link]