Still worn down from NakaKon in some ways, I can see Planet a coming down the road at a steadfast pace. It’s been a hell of a fight to get stuff ready for this show. Working during the day at Hallmark leaves only enough hours at night to panic and draw at the same time. 
Not really panic, but definitely feeling low on the productivity train.
I’m excited to see what people will think of the new show space that Planet will occupy this year, and I know it will be more than a little insane for those of us working at the show, but I can only imagine the ones coming to the show.
In a lot of ways, it feels like not only has a mainstay show managed to shed it’s old shell, but it has an opportunity to become something much much bigger. I’m excited to be a part of it, and although I am always a ball of nerves before a show, I do genuinely enjoy doing comic shows. I think that’s in my blood for at least another 15 years.
Now some not so good news: Pagan Zoetrope Issue 4 will not be completed in time to make an appearance at this show, and neither will the color compendium. A sad series of developments, but there is a bright point for these later in the year.
I will have a slew of new original works there at the show, and of course commissions will be opening up after I finish the current commission I am working on for a lady out of Australia who is a big Type O Negative fan. Pricing will be shown at the show, or you can certainly e-mail me at mario(@)mariomora(dot)net to let me know what you’d like done.
I’ve opted to cull the number of art reproductions I am offering down to some of my more recent ones, so that being said, there will be a LOT of inexpensive older art reproductions at the show. How inexpensive? You’ll be able to hand me a 5 spot and make off with at least one or two older reproductions of mine.
My work will be featured as part of C.W. Cooke’s new book that is making it’s debut at the show this year. I had done illustration work on his story “Invisible” and I am really excited to see how it looks in print. I should be near C.W. and also Bobby Bierley (whose extremely kick ass book “Yellow” will also be offered at the show).
Page work from C.W.Cooke's story, "Invisible"
Here’s to hoping the weather holds up and is good all weekend for KC so that the turn out will be good for everyone. We’ve had some wild weather as of late…
More snow in the early part of 2013 than we have gotten in a decade it seems...
Which lead to a few days of this for a couple of weeks each:
Which is not the kind of weather ANY sort of convention really wants at all.
Pagan Zoetrope: The inspiration behind Warrensville College of the Midwest Arts
I have been asked if there is a real inspiration for many of the elements of the storylines of PZ, and yes there is. Now, as of yet, the school has not been seen in the comic yet, but I thought I would show you all a bit of a glimpse of the real art school I went to, and what the hallways looked like where so many of the seeds of the characters started for PZ.
Probably the most common view as you come into the Art Center, and even after so many years, it's really not changed a bit.
CMSU (or as it’s now known, UCM) is the inspiration for the forthcoming storylines. I spent the better part of five or six years walking this hallway and learning everything from design principles to anatomy in figure class.
Glad for the memories and experiences I had in school there, but also glad for the years that have gone by and the place I have in life nowadays.
Random Shot: Eeks Art taggin’ shit with stickers.
I had to include this because although I don’t have the guts to literally slap stickers all over the place, (I would panic too much and get caught) I have to admire Eeks Art, not only for the literal self promo stamping he’s been doing all over middle KC, but also because his art is some of the funniest and strangest stuff I have seen.
Well, until next time, keep supporting your local artists. Remember that for most of us, this is a challenging and rewarding thing we do, but the challenges often outweigh the rewards. Mario – the Artisan Rogue.