Awesome Con 2022

 

During conventions I attended over the years, I always get interesting questions and comments about my art, my art process and my creative inspiration, either in general or for a specific piece of artwork. I want to start sharing these questions, comments, insights, the interactions and stories with my patrons, followers and casual readers, beginning with my most recent event in Washington, D.C..

The recent convention I attended was Awesome Con, a pop-culture comic book convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located in Washington, D.C..

A young artist asked me what art genre do I categorized myself under. I’ve thought about this very topic over the years, since I got back into creating art about eight years ago. I can’t say that I fit under any currently established art genre, that I know and are aware of. Even though I have figures in my art, they’re not completely figurative. I have abstracted elements in my creation but the entire piece is not completely abstract. Surreal? I certainly see myself as a surrealist, but I heard that surrealism covers an era rather than the artistic style. I could be wrong about that. My art, my thought process for the art, is so chaotic and so abstracted that I feel like Chaotic Abstraction should be its own genre and I would fall under that. 

Another young artist purchased the print “Where the Wind Blows” and asked what was my inspiration for creating this particular piece. To me, this piece represent a release of an inner self, so to speak. Release your inner self and let “the wind” takes you where it may, or just flow with the wind and allow it to take you on an adventure, a journey to some far off place that you might not have thought of going. The white ghost-like birds flowing from the figure into the wind and maybe to as far away as the moon.

It’s also very satisfying when someone identify with a piece the same way I identify with a piece. Over the years, many individuals have identified with the piece Broken and relating to how they feel internally. The idea of feeling like you’re so broken and trying to mend yourself at every turn in life is a general feeling that I think most people have. To capture that feeling is very cathartic for me and I’m glad that people can have a sense of peace when they view this artwork. 

My next convention is Heroes Con, in Charlotte, NC. This will be my first time attending Heroes Con and it is also their 40th anniversary. I can’t wait to go. If you’re in the area and are also attending Heroes Con, I am in Booth 769. I would love it if you come by and say Hello.