Its here! The Kickstarter for the 2014 John Picacio Calendar!

I am particularly excited about this year’s calendar as it represents a portion of the work John Picacio is doing on his very personal project, Loteria. Loteria is a card game described as a Mexican version of bingo. This is a project close to John’s heart as he grew up playing this with his grandmother. This calendar will contain full-color images of 12 of the 54 works John will be creating which represent his interpretations of these iconic cultural images. La Sirena, pictured on the cover of the forthcoming calendar, won John Picacio a Chesley Award this year and is part of his more recent work that also garnered him a Hugo Award this year, his second in a row.

I’m passionate about John’s work. It was that passion that led me to post about his work years ago which resulted in a friendship born out of spending time with him at the first Spectrum Fantastic Art Live event in Kansas City and again at SFAL 2 this past May. I have said before, but it bears repeating, that John Picacio is a class act. I’ve witnessed him give of himself and his time in generous ways and it is a pleasure to see the recognition of his art catch up with not only his artistic talent but with his investment in the creative community.

He has my unreserved support and I encourage you to consider getting in on the Kickstarter. Last year’s calendar was a thing of beauty. I promise you, this year’s will blow it away. Check out the Kickstarter page for a video presentation (with accompanying music by none other than author John Scalzi) and other examples of the stunning work already completed for Loteria.

I’m a few weeks late in getting the word out, but that is in large part because I fainted dead away when it was announced on Facebook that Spectrum Fantastic Art Live would be returning to Kansas City, MO in May 2014!!! I promptly got online and changed my vacation plans–I kid you not–as I had made the assumption it would be the same weekend as previous years (if held) and this year it is one week earlier. So…I’ll be starting the week of my 25th wedding anniversary by hanging out with some of the coolest and most creative people in the world followed by a nice, relaxing vacation with Mary. Can’t wait!!!

So folks, you have PLENTY of notice this time. Be there! I want the third time to be a charm with this truly indescribable event. Save your pennies, make your travel plans, and let’s do a huge meet up at SFAL3! This is my home town (of 15 years). I promise I’ll show you a good time.

No word on who will be the special guests for SFAL3, but rest assured that they will be top notch, phenomenal artists. Be prepared for Spectrum art related posts to crop up throughout the next several months, especially once tickets go on sale, with those posts increasing the closer we get to May 9th, 2014.

You will see some of the best art in the world up close and personal. You will meet hundreds of incredibly creative people and learn that they are really nice and are fans themselves. And, I must warn you, you will want to empty your pocketbooks to take some of the treasures you will find home with you.

Hope to see you there…er, here!

Today I want to return to the May 17-19 weekend to revisit Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 in order to talk about Charles Vess. I have been a fan of the work of Charles Vess since first discovering it in his World Fantasy Award winning run on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman with the Midsummer Night’s Dream storyline. His work hearkens back to illustration greats like Arthur Rackham, his visions of the realm of Faerie having an ethereal quality that gives his art the kind of unique impact that Rackham enjoyed in the golden age of British book illustration. My fondness grew when I discovered the illustrated version of Stardust, compiled in four issues by Vertigo comics. All these years later any time I see a book cover and/or interior illustrations created by Charles Vess, it brings back a rush of memories of that first discovery and sparks within me that childlike dream of a fantastical realm just beyond the veil.

You can imagine, then, how thrilled I was to see Charles Vess listed as one of the Special Guests at this year’s Spectrum Fantastic Art Live.

Continue reading Spectrum Memories: Charles Vess →

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 →