DCon Diary 09: Matting Madness
By AngelaSasser
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The vlog edition in a series of diary entries I'm doing to document my progress as I prepare for this year's Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia.
This year's convention will be the first time I have manned a table in the artist's alley, filled a large bay full of art, and generally made it a serious business matter instead of a hobby. I thought it might be interesting to document my progress as an artist attempting to start their own business and to experience the wonderful wide world of art fairs and conventions. Maybe we can learn a little something together?
More vlogs of the convention days will no doubt follow this one, along with a continuation of my previous video tutorials on color pencils and the like.
For my written Dragon Con Diary entries, see the following:
Dragon Con Diary 09: Pre-Con Prep
Dragon Con Diary 09: To Charge or Not to Charge?
Dragon Con Diary 09: The Rush Begins
Dragon Con Diary 09: The Calm Before the Storm
This year's convention will be the first time I have manned a table in the artist's alley, filled a large bay full of art, and generally made it a serious business matter instead of a hobby. I thought it might be interesting to document my progress as an artist attempting to start their own business and to experience the wonderful wide world of art fairs and conventions. Maybe we can learn a little something together?
More vlogs of the convention days will no doubt follow this one, along with a continuation of my previous video tutorials on color pencils and the like.
For my written Dragon Con Diary entries, see the following:
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Comments44
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StephanieReevesProfessional General Artist
Y'know, it's kind of an unfair bet to make because you're clearly already insane by the narrating of this vlog. 
You had BETTER take some damned pictures of your set up at DCon or I will be severely unhappy with you
I wanna see how it all looks when put together and set up! Wish I could go ;_;
You had BETTER take some damned pictures of your set up at DCon or I will be severely unhappy with you
I wanna see how it all looks when put together and set up! Wish I could go ;_;
vickyjaneProfessional Digital Artist
That was amusing, hahaha... I would never mat that much. I refuse to put myself through the torture. xD At least you can charge a little more for the emotional (and maybe physical) scarring that this caused! 
vickyjaneProfessional Digital Artist
xD!
oh dear. that's a lot of matting. huh, you're living room looks a little different. new furniture?
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
We converted out outdoor deck into a sun room so our house is a lot more spacious now!
oh that's cool!
In times like this, Logan mat cutters, lots of pencils, a good ruler, and a stable table are your best friends. (That doesnt even include Clear Bags, and artist's tape.) Go get 'em, Ange!
Go get 'em, Ange!AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
oh you better believe Logan and his accessories are my best friends right now XD
Not to be confused with Logan from X-men, cuz that's the mental image I just got O_o *imagines Wolvering mat cutting with his claws*
Not to be confused with Logan from X-men, cuz that's the mental image I just got O_o *imagines Wolvering mat cutting with his claws*
Triple mats with one stroke per side by varying the length of the claws? *geek, geek, geek*
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
ahah I totally have to draw that now XD
Sounds like you have your hands busy for a while...just make sure you don't let them dismember from your arms...or worse...cut them off by accident 
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
ahaha I've escaped mat cutting with just a few cuts on the knuckles so I'm fine XD No dismemberment yet!
MarthaPArtProfessional Traditional Artist
good that's a lot of matting.....i suck at matting
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
I do too and have only gotten better after a lot of practice! I'll probably put up a video tut sometime with some tips about how I improved and the mistakes I made along the way.
MarthaPArtProfessional Traditional Artist
oh that's cool...my problem is I can't seem to cut a straight line to save my life even with a ruler, yard stick, T square, and the matt cutting blade -.-
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
Hahah well the guide on the mat cutter is especially helpful. As is a sharp blade! I know I used to never change my blade, which resulted in crooked lines or ragged edges. Once that starts to happen, it's imperative that you change the blade (and also don't have one of those vinyl or rubber mats underneath as a slip mat, as these dull your blades VERY quickly).
MarthaPArtProfessional Traditional Artist
what should you have underneath then? and how do you do the math when it comes to measuring the outer and inner part of the mat.
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
I've used scrap pieces of illustration board or mat board as a slip mat before and they work muuch better than anything rubber or vinyl.
As for the math, I cheat somewhat in that I don't do approximate measurements, but rather I pretty much think in quarters of an inch. I'll center the picture on the piece of mat board and measure from the edge, then add a quarter of an inch border to that measurement rounded to the nearest quarter. I always design my prints with a bleed border to allow it to be held in the mat more snugly.
It's a little hard to describe in writing, so I really will have to get off my bum and do a video. I may not be the best at it, but I'm decent enough to show someone else after all this matted crap for the show, I suppose XD
As for the math, I cheat somewhat in that I don't do approximate measurements, but rather I pretty much think in quarters of an inch. I'll center the picture on the piece of mat board and measure from the edge, then add a quarter of an inch border to that measurement rounded to the nearest quarter. I always design my prints with a bleed border to allow it to be held in the mat more snugly.
It's a little hard to describe in writing, so I really will have to get off my bum and do a video. I may not be the best at it, but I'm decent enough to show someone else after all this matted crap for the show, I suppose XD
MarthaPArtProfessional Traditional Artist
ah okay well i hope you do the video soon....I really need to get better at it, I plan to enter the student show at my school in April of next year so I need to get ready for that ^_^
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
That may be doable
Anything in particular you want to know about?
Anything in particular you want to know about?View all replies
GuardianofGatesHobbyist Artist
wow ^^.. Id love to take them all and keep them! awesome work *nod*
pitty your not at the aninite.. love to see those stuff in real.. but dont go gaga..^keep it on
pitty your not at the aninite.. love to see those stuff in real.. but dont go gaga..^keep it on
AngelaSasserProfessional General Artist
Where's aninite at? I've never heard of that one
skiesofchaosProfessional Photographer
Quite a marvelous bit of Con Culture, the preparing of the Sacred Mats for sacrifice to the Gods of The Con
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