Visioncon Artist – Russell Dickerson

Meet Russell Dickerson the hand behind “Darkstorm Creative.” He’s yet another one of those amazing artists I got to hang out with this year at Visioncon. Here’s a blurb from his website.  “I have been published as a genre artist since 1999, in the UK, US and Australian genre press. I was honored to be included in the prestigious Spectrum annual (#9), and I’ve worked on projects for the British Fantasy Society, Subterranean Press, Cemetery Dance, and many others. I am interested in discussing future illustrations with publishers, editors and other interested parties. Please contact me to discuss what needs you may have.”

Russell makes art. In fact, he has a sketch a day in 2010 project he’s working on now. It’s mostly Dark and sometimes creepy art, but visually stunning art all the same He has some of his art for sale online and is opening up somewhere to sell more of it very soon (I’ll update you when he does). I won’t gush too much about him because it’ll sound all stalker fangirl, but I really enjoyed hanging out with him during the convention. He signed a copy of his piece called “Rabbitfield” for me that is already hanging up by the front door. I thought it was very creepy Alice in Wonderland, but that’s not how he meant to do it. Really though it looks like the white rabbit took part of the mushroom that makes you grow taller and is now going to frell up wonderland.

I also had some postcards and another print but they’ve been taken. /sigh The print is now in my youngest son’s room and the postcards (which were really nice little prints) have been claimed by friends. It’s okay though, I’ll buy them again later.

He’s working diligently on doing art for various projects (one of which is a webcomic so YAY!) and it won’t surprise me at all when (when not if) his art becomes his sole source of income. He’s started a thing a day project that he’ll be posting to his new flickr account. Keep an eye out for him though He’s going places. The only place he’s not going? A dance floor. HA! (edit) Okay to be fair. Yes, Russell will go on the floor if you get enough alcohol in to him. Isn’t that always the case? And to be even fairer, I did abandon him on the floor the first time because something came up. I’m a horrible person. Horrible. :-p

Edited: January 28th, 2010

Visioncon Artists – The Browncoats

First, I should warn you that I’m a HUGE Firefly fan so a band that does music from the idea of that show? Right up my alley! And since Firefly was one of those shows my kids could watch, suddenly they’re rocking out to the “Hero of Canton” too. The Browncoats were at Visioncon this year and they too were phenomenal. They’re based out of St. Louis and my favorite is their cover of “The Hero of Canton” and only because well… I heart Jayne. Their video for the song rocks. And guess what? When they play at something, they actually sing. /gasp Singers who … sing. They’ll also /gasp talk to you and not be pompous aholes about it. Which seemed to be the general mindset of the guest of Visioncon. They were all pretty much down to earth normal people who happen to write books, make music, or do art for a living.

Anywho, Dave the Slave took me over to meet them and although they signed a poster (which is being hung up later) , we only had time for a quick photo. Which was fine They were talking about something important and I was cool with that. I gave them some buttons that my other slave had drawn for them at my booth as well as some of the Firefly buttons I stock in my store and Dave and I went on our way to the next guest. Co-Pilot Miller (he’s the one on the left of the photo) came over to my booth to say hi later and apologize for not getting to talk more He seems like he’d be fun to have at a party. I wonder if he’d dress up for a Mad Hatter themed birthday party… hmmm….

I missed their performance at the con because I was manning a booth, but I did get to catch them Saturday night when the wenches led me around to various rooms to see the drinks that were available. The band sounded great and they do a wonderful live show. I now have their music on the server (TY Itunes) and my boys like to rock out to a couple of the songs. So between Jonathan Coulton and The Browncoats… I think my kids are screwed in regards to being normal. I mean, when your (then) 4 year old goes around singing “all we wanna do is eat your brains” you know you’re raising not normal kids lol.

I’m now stalking The Browncoats website to see when they play near my area again. If you’re in Chicago, they’ll be there April 16 – 18. Go check them out, it’ll be worth it I’m sure. And from talking to friends here, I may be there as well with a small group from my area

And hey, if you have photos of the browncoats at visioncon, hit up the Browncoats on their facebook page and give them a link. Their photographer wasn’t there and they’d like more pictures. THANKS!

Edited: January 27th, 2010

Visioncon Aritist – Brian Keene

So back to the visioncon artists posts. Brian Keene was there and I’m embarrassed to say that I’d never heard of him (don’t beat me). Well if we’re being honest, I didn’t know any of the special guests at Visioncon so that was a whole new book/art exposure which is awesome. Cody is currently reading one of the books I was given and said he likes it so far. Which is awesome. We’re more of sci-fi/fantasy readers. Lots of Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Terry Goodkind etc. Basically the quintessential geek bookcase with a little bit of biography, green living, and various religious books mixed in. Anywho, Back to Brian. He was a fantastic person to hang out with at the con. Dave the Slave introduced me as his Master and explained how the slave auction worked and Brian joked that he’d have to be in the slave auction next year. Then  Brian signed a couple books for me and I went on my merry way.

Slave Dave brought me back later to meet Roy C. Booth and since he and Brian had written a play together called “Terminal The Play” they both signed a copy of the play program for me. Brian’s says that he wants to be my slave. Oh hon, you can be my slave any day… I have a half a house that needs painting and then there’s an endless supply of yard work so that my yard doesn’t look so craptastic. I mean… Anywho

Later on I ran in to “the group” (which was usually Brian Keen, Mike Oliveri, Cullen Bunn, and Russell Dickerson) at the Saturday night party. Those four seemed to go everywhere together and I probably should have lumped them in one post. Anyway, I took a photo of Brian with a Princess

And then he and Cullen danced a bit together. Now normally I wouldn’t post this photo but the bastard claimed a bum leg due to war injury so that I wouldn’t make him dance with me. For SHAME Brian. SHAME! I am a bit of a vindictive wench and since it’s not like it’s career damaging…  I bring you the following photo.

In all fairness, they posed for this. They were dancing with Cullen behind Brian pretending to smack Brian’s ass as Brian shook it at him as a joke. I busted out my camera quickly but they were lightening fast in stopping.  I had to beg and give hugs for them to do it again. So anyhow. Next time Brian, just dance with me so that the black mail photos never make it online because otherwise, what happens at Visioncon ends up on the internet.

(Added Later) So I started and finished “Dark Hallow” tonight. I didn’t think I’d like it to be honest. I don’t do horror stories. I certainly didn’t expect to shed a tear when something happens at the end of the book. I did enjoy it though (as evidenced by finishing it quickly) and yes, I even shed a tear or two. Do we have a new author to stalk and buy books from as they’re released? Perhaps. Visioncon was good for  one more thing, it opened up my reading horizons.

Edited: January 26th, 2010

Visioncon Artists – Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri was another author I met at Visioncon. Director Dave took me over to meet him on my tour of the featured guests, but Mike wasn’t just going to give me a book because I bought Director Dave. No no no. So I made the slave beg…

And for that I received copy number 206  of his book called “Restore from Backup.” Then he wrote “Windows sucks!” on a page inside. Um yeah, yeah it does. I’m kind of glad it breaks all the time though because it means Cody will never be out of a job. HA! Mike also wrote “ The Pack: Winter Kill (volume 1)” which appears to be a werewolf supernatural thriller that has good reviews from readers on Amazon. The art to the left of the photo? That belongs to Russell Dickerson and he gets his own post later, but I loved his art. LOVED.

Anywho, Mike was also fascinating to hang out with at Visioncon.  He, Russel, Cullen Bunn, and Brian Keene seem to be their own con clique and they talked in their own code of past experiences which could leave a girl slightly confused, but that’s okay. I have badly taken photos of him I can put up in retaliation. HA! Take that Mike!

Just wait. Next year you too will have awful photos of you like Cullen and Brian have of them. What gentle readers, you haven’t seen it? Oh! Well allow me to share.

I believe “She’s trouble.” was thrown around a bit. Oh they had no idea. I was on my good behavior mode since I was there as “Amanda from Geek Details”  and not just “Amanda.” It’s okay guys, I only have the one truly awful photo of you. Next time though… next time.

Edited: January 26th, 2010

Visioncon Artists – Alain Viesca

Alain Viesca was another artist I met at visioncon when my slave Director Dave took me around to meet people. Visioncon’s page describes him as

Fantasy artist and illustrator, Alain is best known for his pin up fantasy work and recent steampunk fantasy art. Holding in particular interest the arts, science, fantasy & 3D animation. Alain has been working on his mojo professionally since 1990. He has incorporated digital matte painting with his traditional illustration techniques and custom built cgi models.

He spends the vast majority of his day working on his art, reading, cooking and watching after his little girl, two red Dobermans and one very dim witted cat. He enjoys all things science and high tech, how it affects humanity and exotic and new foods.

Alain lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a blonde sometimes redhead with a zeal for mortgage and underwriting, his daughter, the previously mentioned oversized Dobermans who enjoy pecans and bloody meat and one very dim cat.

See that fantastic print he’s holding? It’s called Water Dancer IV and t’s going to hang in my bedroom next to my Japan poster. If you’d like a copy of the print, you can click on the photo above or right here and purchase one for$20 unmatted.  I told him I decorated in a lot of teal and red and he picked out the perfect piece to go with that color scheme. Check out the work behind him too which were also just a pleasure to look at.

I bought a piece of art later on in the convention but I’m not sure where I’m putting it yet. It’s called “Raven Faery” and can be purchased by clicking on the name. I think I’m going to have to do a wall of just art stuff since I’ve been collecting so much from various independent artists. If you’d like to see or buy more of his work, click on this link which will take you to his gallery. Please note that the artwork is copyright by Alain Viesca. Thanks

Edited: January 25th, 2010

Visioncon Artists – Shane Moore

I was going to do one long post about the people I met and their work and decided that was short changing them. So now I’m working on a series of posts about the artists I met at Visioncon 2010. First some background story.

There was a slave auction at visioncon Friday night and I bought two slaves. One made art for me (and I will do a post on her later) and the other introduced me to lots of people and obtain signed shwag for me as well as a pass for next year’s con. Who was he? He’s Dave, the self described Overlord, Board of Directors, Chairperson, Guest Liason, Computer Tech of Visioncon. Dave, Dave was awesome. Dave knew people. Those people were also awesome. I had a blast meeting and talking to so many different artists and authors and it just made the convention a ton of fun for me.

First up we have Shane Moore. Shane writes the Abyss Walker series. Shane was in the Navy for a number of years and then did police work. He moved on to “author” in 2008 and I think he’s doing it well! I started reading the one he signed for me and I’ve liked it so far. I think it’ll be worth the read.

Isn’t Shane easy on the eyes? I mean… AND! Added bonus, he’s a super fun guy to hang out with as well.  Shane signed a copy of one of his books for me and gave me a copy of some concept art as well. I asked about the recommended reading age for his series and he said that highschool is the youngest he’d recommend. He does have some pretty young readers but told me I probably shouldn’t let the 9 year old read his books just yet because there can be some inappropriate for a 9 year old things in there. So while Z was interested in reading damn near everything I brought home, I think he’s only going to be allowed to read one of those books right now.

No photos of the concept art yet because I need to buy frames tomorrow, frame everything from this weekend and then hang it up in the house. It will be hung up though and then I can post photos.  If you ever have the opportunity to go see him in person, I recommend you take it

He did a reading at Visioncon and you can see it here Shane Moore at Visioncon Reading

Edited: January 24th, 2010