Announcement:

[telophase]

To the person who reached the Project Blue Rose website with the query:

how do you ask an artist at a convention to look at your art?

the answer is: you go up to the artist when they look like they've got a free moment, and say "Would you look at my art?"

If they indicate that they might be so amenable, explain what you'd like from them: critique, advice, suggestions, praise, etc.

If they indicate that this is not a good time, politely say "Thank you!" and go away. (If the artist says "This isn't a good time," and then doesn't suggest a better time, they are not waiting for you to suggest a time, they are engaging in a polite way of saying NO.)

Things not to do:

-- Shove a sketchbook or portfolio in their face. Especially with no warning.

-- Block the table from other potential purchasers

-- Monopolize the artist's time. Chances are, there's lots of people at the con who the artist would like to talk to, not just you.*

-- Argue with them. You asked their opinion: they're giving it to you. You don't have to agree, by any means, but disagree politely (may I suggest the form of a question? "I don't quite understand why you'd do it this way instead of this other way: could you explain?") or hold your tongue.





--
* I have a friend who used to own a game publishing company. He was dogged all day by a fanboy once at a con, who also managed to somehow get into the con staff dinner and then GOT ANGRY when he couldn't sit next to my friend ... because my friend's GIRLFRIEND wanted to sit there.

If you DO manage to be invited along with the artist when s/he goes out to dinner/the bar/karaoke/whatever, BE POLITE. Don't be that guy! (edit: Also, don't ignore everyone else in favor of focusing on the artist only. The rest of the posse notices and laughs at your blatant fanpoodling, trust me. :D Making friends with the artist's friends is a good way of getting to hang out with the artist a whole lot more. This I learned from occasionally being a part of the Brian Stelfreeze posse at AggieCon: Brian might invite you along for dinner, but we're the ones in charge of inviting you to the party later on.)

Comments

[tprjones.livejournal.com]

Whoa, you were in the Brina Stelfreeze posse? How many years? I have very likely met you at one point and have since forgotten.

Which is weird, I almost never forget meeting cool and attractive women. I most be getting old.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Around 1999/2002ish. :)

[tprjones.livejournal.com]

I was tangential to that group about 1998-1999ish, so it's not unlikely. My roommate and good friend (and Cephid) was a frequent member of that particular squad. Do you recall a Jamye (aka Noid), perhaps?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Jamye and I met a few times, but we didn't hang out in quite the same Cepheid sub-groups.

[tprjones.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay. Still, it warms my little fanboy heart to find a connection to a cool internet comic genius such as yourself, no matter how tenuous. :P

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

Ah, so NOW I know why I was never invited. Well, that and the cat-in-a-cement-mixer scream that laughingly passes for my voice.