Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 took place May 17-19, 2013 here in Kansas City, Missouri. For those who are unaware, the SFAL events are a celebration of the very best in fantastic art. And when I say “very best”, I do mean it. Here you will see traditional art, digital art, and sculpture that ranges from pop art to fine art. It is a show that demonstrates the incredible talent and diversity present in the world of Fantastic Art. I went into the show with sky-high expectations given how special the inaugural event was in 2012 and those expectations were shattered. It was a memorable experience and I want to share some of those memories with you.

My intention in sharing these memories is entirely selfish, though perhaps not in the way that you expect. I share these memories first of all as a way to acknowledge and thank Cathy and Arnie Fenner and their dedicated crew for the hard work that goes into pulling together a show of this quality and magnitude. I also share these memories because I think it is important for the artists to know how much it means when they make a personal connection with their fan base. The selfish reason is this: I want Spectrum Fantastic Art Live to be a fixture here in Kansas City, and in order for that to be the case, YOU need to be here. While we are anxiously awaiting word as to whether or not there will be a Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3, it is important to me to plant these seeds in your mind right now, to show you that these are experiences you could be having for yourself. Most of what I have to share in regards to what I experienced is what every other fan who went to SFAL2 experienced. And all for $40 for the weekend. That is just crazy to think about.

So pull up a chair and listen to your science fiction and fantasy art loving blogger, me, reminisce about the wonder that was Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2, one artist at a time.

Continue reading Spectrum Memories: John Picacio →

One of the artists I had the pleasure of meeting at the first Spectrum Fantastic Art Live event was a local, Missouri’s own Scott Quick. At that time Scott had fairly recently began a webcomic called Camden Bottoms, a traditional strip series inspired by the small town he grew up in, featuring various interesting characters who are just that…real characters. Scott Quick sat at his booth drawing, examples of his work on postcards and bookmarks showcasing he could bring these various creatures to life with his pens and ink.

The characters who inhabit Camden Bottoms are a hoot to get to know. They each have their own unique personalities that shine through both in Scott Quick’s drawings and the scenarios he puts them through. Although I recommend reading all the strips from start to finish, you might want to start with the full story featured in “The Wreck of the Medusa”. There is a moment with a cricket bat that had my boyhood self laughing with sadistic satisfaction. On the Camden Bottoms site you can click ‘Archives’ and scroll down to start any storyline you wish, then use the ‘next’ button below the strip to navigate. New strips come out on Wednesdays and Sundays, so you have a nice backlog to enjoy and can get new story moments twice a week!

I grew up in a small town myself, a fan of the various comic strips that ran in our daily newspaper. It didn’t take long to connect with Scott Quick or his work and it is a pleasure for me to introduce you to him and his creation. Before the interview begins, here is a thumbnail of the artist lifted from his website:

“Raised on a diet of Slim-Jims and comic books, R. Scott Quick spent much of his childhood visiting his grandparents in Camden, Missouri. In 1996, he attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, New Jersey, after which he scratched a career out of video game animation. At the turn of the century, he was treated for what psychiatrists believe may be the first case of In Barra Vite, or chronic embarrassment over one’s very existence.

Retired from animation, Quick now draws this strip from a sanitarium just outside of Saint Louis, Missouri, visited frequently by his dutiful wife and son.”

Continue reading An Interview with Scott Quick →