Convention Kitty

Megacon isn’t the biggest convention in the world, but it’s probably the largest comics con in the Southeastern USA, and the largest convention I manage to attend every year. While prominently billed as a comic convention, Megacon really serves as a geek culture melting pot, encompassing everything from gaming to comics, Internet culture to TV and film, along with a hearty helping of anime and manga fandom.

Owing to the large and growing concentration of anime fans that attend the convention, Megacon has its fair share of cosplayer drifting about. But unlike most anime-centric conventions, there’s a notably darker feel to this con. Perhaps it’s the influence of American comics or White Wolf games, like Vampire the Masquerade. Whatever the case, there seems to be a nerd culture fusion taking place between cat ear wearing anime fans and black clad LARPer. The fusion tends to result in a hybrid of both groups. Yes my friends, this is where GothLoli themed vampire catgirls are born.

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Besides being an opportunity to try out some more of Painter 10, this picture was served as an experiment in marketing. Would Megacon attendees enjoy looking at, and possibly purchasing prints of an idealized reflection of themselves? Apparently the answer is, “YES!” I did brisk business on this print. It far outsold any other print on my table.

What did I learn from this? It doesn’t hurt to pander to an audience, a bit. If done right, the artist will have a picture they’re happy with, and the audience will appreciate the recognition and reward you for it.

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I used Painter 10’s Artist’s Oils for the character art. It worked out well, but I had to make several blending passes with the Water blenders before I was satisfied. Because of the selections and masking, most of the background art was done in Photoshop.