The family with Norman Lee on Friday.
What a long...but great...weekend that was!
Allow me to take a stroll down memory lane with how we got to this point.
In 2006, our family made our first visit to Charlotte North Carolina and attended our very first Heroes Con. Growing up reading comics, apparently I passed the love for all things superheroic down through the bloodstream. : ) The children all enjoyed the comics that I carefully allowed them to read, and with their own interest in art, it seemed like a great Art Appreciation Field Trip.
So away we went, and the kids asked these professionals, some whose work I was familiar with, some who were just as unknown to me, if they would like to draw a quick sketch for them. These artists obliged, we took pictures, asked questions, and then left them with a parting gift as well as our thanks.
The following year, we returned and showed the scrapbooks we had made with their sketches, our photographs and the journaling to describe our experiences of meeting them, the advice they gave to us, and so forth.
They became, to us, our Heroes Con family.
Many of the artists kept encouraging our kids with advice on how to draw, how not to draw, and they soaked it up like sponges. Their styles would change as they would test out each piece of advice and figure out what worked for them and what didn't.
In 2008 we returned, and upped the ante with our gift. Nothing really huge, just a different package for it.
Really, how cool is that?
After missing a few conventions, we made our triumphant return in 2012 to celebrate our 5th Anniversary of visiting Heroes Con. Our dozen or so mentors to the kids as I often refer to them, most had this piece of advice to give the oldest three:
Next year, you need to get your own booth!
Which brings us full circle to this year. The oldest three, under the Studio banner: Night Owl Ink did indeed have a table at Heroes Con. They were there, sketching and selling their wares, and hopefully impacting the lives of the next generation of artists and convention goers much like what had happened to them way back in 2006.
The kids, Zatanna, Shield Agent and Black Bat, all working their booth on Saturday. : )
For the most part, they had a blast, and I couldn't have been a prouder Dad!
But...
We missed having them as part of the family as we went around and saw their mentors and our Heroes Family. It was weird for us, and many of the artists weren't used to having not-as-large of a family in front of them.
And the kids, for all the cool factor of being behind the table, really missed getting to go around and say hi to everyone and show how their work has progressed over the year and get kudos and critiques on their work. Luckily, they tried to escape from their booth throughout the weekend and visit with the guys on their own.
However, it just isn't the same.
Growing up sucks sometimes.
: )
The kids did participate in the annual Quick Draw contest. On Friday, Kalyssa won First in the 11-15 category while Kelsie placed second in the 16 and up contest. On Sunday, Eleni also won second in the 16 and over field. Very proud of them all, there's some stiff competition in that contest.
So we went as a smaller group to our Heroes Family, like Bryan Turner who gave us a great Deadpool sketch, and we thanked them for coming out and taking the time to see us, and for all the help they've given the kids over the years. Our Heroes Family pictures, like this one with Craig Rousseau just seem a little smaller than usual, but still an enjoyable time overall.
Heroes Con was otherwise a hit as always. They opened the convention to both halls, and the place was huge. But it may have been too huge, as almost everyone said that sales were down across the board, which is sad for all of the artists throughout the convention. But they come, and they soldier on, and for that, we are thankful that they take those few moments out of their busy convention schedules to say hi, usually on Friday, and farewell on Sunday as we are leaving.
Plus each year we often try and meet some new folks and have them join our Heroes Con family. Some names are well known, like Todd Nauck, others are lesser-known, but they are all great to meet, and sometimes we find these guys "before they are stars" and that's kind of cool. Plus this year, I got to say hi to one of my friends, Pat Loika, who I've officially known for almost 20 years now, but never got to meet in person until this weekend.
Heroes Con is cool like that.
And yes, having a big family helps, because they treat us like friends and family, and seem as invested in how we've been over the last year as we are with them.
Heading for home Sunday with Shannon Gallant.
I think THAT is what really makes Heroes Convention the best convention out there, and I am so thankful for those that have taken the time and invested in our family as much as we've invested in our love and appreciation for them.
So a huge shout-out to: Shannon Gallant, Buddy Prince, Gene Gonzales, Bryan Turner, Penelope Gaylord, Jerry Gaylord, Bernard Chang, Garry McKee, Craig Rousseau, Todd DeZago, Tom Lyle, John Larison, Norman Lee, Jason Sobol, and Tariq Hassan among the most notable and consistent supporters of the crew over the years.
You guys are the best, and you're the main reason we make the trek every year that we can.
Thanks guys, and hope to see you again in 2014!!
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