Prints Are Coming Back??

Look, I know I wrote a blog post about not doing prints anymore. And that IS true for conventions. Buuuuut prints are coming back – with a catch.

WHY CHANGE MY MIND?

Funny story: I turned in my notice at my office job. To get ready for returning to full-time art-making, I took a hard look at a bunch of numbers. For this story, just know that I was looking at the tally of sales I made online.

(I have a separate spreadsheet for convention sales, but I’ll get to that).

After looking at the data, I realized a surprising fact…

Prints made up 47% of all online sales. That’s close to half of everything!

This blew my mind. When I looked at the spreadsheet for convention sales, prints didn’t even make it to the top 3 categories. But prints DID make it in the top 3 sales categories on Ko-Fi, right up there with original art and PDFs.

So people are buying prints. Which goes against what I initially thought in the original announcement.

WHY IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONVENTIONS AND KO-FI?

What makes prints sell better on Ko-Fi than at conventions?

I think it’s two things: prints don’t usually appear on my convention table due to space restrictions. And the best-selling prints on Ko-fi were limited edition AND framed.

Keep in mind that shoppers are, above all, lazy. If you can offer a framed piece of art (original or print), that saves the shopper the time and effort of finding a frame to fit it. Shoppers are willing to pay for the convenience if it means less work for them.

SO MOVING FORWARD…

Prints are coming back – and staying exclusive to online. That means Ko-Fi, crowdfunding campaigns like KickStarter and Crowdfundr, and possibly even Faire.com. (I’m not on Faire yet, but I’m looking to join.)

That said – prints and original art will be collected into art books. So if you have the means to get upcoming prints, great! If you miss your chance, watch for future art book announcements.

The best way to know when new prints and original art is coming out is to be on my email newsletter (shameless plug). So be sure to sign up to get the first sweet, sweet notice when new stuff comes out.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!

You. Are. Awesome.

There Is No “Right Way” To Be a Working Creative

I have returned on YouTube with a new, short video. This time, it’s all about why there is no “right way” to be creative.

Here’s the thing – we know the starving artist stereotype. And we know the stereotype of the “sell-out” artist. So I hope that this video with my thoughts on the matter helps give a little clarity.

At the very least, you’ll know this: what works for one person doesn’t always work for another.

It’s actually hilarious that I finished this video, in which I mention having a full-time office job. Because I just turned in my notice. My last day at this office is June 30.

After that? I’m returning to being a full-time creative.

I’m doing this for my own health – the office was (and is) hugely transphobic, the HR department is shit, there are no benefits, and the job no longer serves me. The place is awful, and I can earn my living through other means.

Like Ko-Fi, commissions, and the Fan Clubs (shameless plugs).

Honestly, this works for me. Quitting a day job may not be the thing for you right now. And if you’re unable to do so, man do I get that HARD. I wasn’t able to quit this one until recently. So I get it. Hang in there, my dude-erinos.

I hope you found this video useful in some way.

Thanks for watching!

You. Are. Awesome.

I’m Going to SPACE (In Columbus, OH)

Find me at SPACE this weekend! That’s the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo in Columbus, OH. I’m sharing a table with Canonwrite Productions. Find us at table W26, yo.

If you’re in Columbus – I’m sending a special email to my newsletter subs. It’s about a reward for folks who can make it to SPACE. If you want to know more, get on the newsletter.

Can’t make it to SPACE? That’s ok! There are still plenty of comics to catch up on, from The Legend of Jamie Roberts to Vanita and the Demon King, and my Ko-fi shop and commissions will remain open this weekend.

WHAT I’M BRINGING TO SPACE

At SPACE, I’m marking down all stickers and mystery bags. Stickers are 2 for $1 (or get 1 free with a book purchase), and mystery bags are 2 for $5 (or get 1 free with a book purchase). I want to clear out all the stickers and mystery bags to make room for new things, like more keychains and pins!

I’m also bringing misprints of The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 1, available for $12 each. I still have a BUNCH of these, too.

Also at SPACE: original pages from my sketchbooks, a framed piece of art (this one will be pricier), and the last of my 11 x 17 prints. Again, I want to clear out a BUNCH of stuff to make room for new things.

IF TIME ALLOWS…I’ll bring along BOYZ, my Dragonball Z zine. I make no guarantees on this one, though. 

There will be a newsletter sign-up sheet there, as well. Do you think I WOULDN’T talk about my new tabletop RPG, Toe Beans & Broomsticks? I mean, it’s coming out in less than 10 days, on June 17! It’s available on my newsletter first before the rest of the world gets the game. That’s why I’m bringing the sign-up sheet – so folks can sign up to get the game!

Toe Beans & Broomsticks is a game where players roleplay as magic-casting Cat Witches, Dog Warlocks, Crow Witches, and Owl Wizards. Practice magics like Neko-mancy, cast spells like Meow-maturgy or Purr-estidigitation, and fight alongside friends against the dark forces of The Madam.

If you can’t make it to SPACE, but you reeeeeeally want Toe Beans & Broomsticks – good news! You can sign up for the newsletter using this link and get the game on release date.

And with that, I must be going. I have some last-minute prep to do for the show.

BY THE WAY…

I was featured this week on the Columbus Cartoon Coalition’s YouTube channel! Check it out, yo.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at the show!

You. Are. Awesome.

It’s the Incredible RathaCon!

This Saturday, April 1 (not a joke), it’s RathaCon!

I’ve been going to this show in Athens, OH dang near every year, and 2023 is no different.

The show runs Saturday only at the Athens Community Center from 10 am to 7 pm.

If you can make it, you should also check out my cool neighbors, like Shawn Langley, Canonwrite Productions, the Columbus Cartoon Coalition, A “Junior” Vigorito, and Chloe L Rose!

WHAT WILL I HAVE?

I’m bringing my usual setup of comics. I’m also bringing…

  • A new (and framed) piece of original art, priced on a sliding scale,
  • Extra copies of The Stars of Fantasyville, my latest sketchbook,
  • misprints of The Legend of Jamie Roberts, volume 1,
  • The last of my pins from my (now closed) Pin Club,
  • 2 for $1 stickers,
  • Lots of grab bags,
  • Materials to draw caricatures,
  • And a LOT more!

Any and all profits will help towards my move to a new apartment in May.

After this show, I have no other events lined up until maybe Free Comic Book Day (still figuring out plans for that weekend, to be honest).

HEADS UP: My online shop will be closed during RathaCon weekend. It should reopen sometime on Sunday, April 2. That said, commissions are still open. Any and all commission sales will help towards moving to a new home.

I’m VERY excited about RathaCon! Hope to see you there!

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!

You. Are. Awesome.