Artists Alley Information Thread

Selling at Cons is best during the...

Spring	12.0%	[ 80 ]
Summer	30.2%	[ 201 ]
Fall	6.8%	[ 45 ]
Winter	5.4%	[ 36 ]
Any time!	45.6%	[ 303 ]
Total Votes:			[ 665 ]

[Fiammetta Rey]

Nyawyn

I checked the otakon website and the forums but i dont see any mention of this at all, If something was sent out it very well may have gone out to the artists only, but even then im surprised there hasnt been a thread started on the forums discussing it.

Yeah, where did you see that? I checked too... I'd like to see the original message (and ask a question to whoever told you that).

[InstantOatmeal]

Boy, I sure do ask a crapton of questions on this board. Ooooy...

Okay, so from your guys' experience, are people interested at all in things like character sheets and such? I personally love things like that (I spent $30 on a book just filled with Disney-character concept-sheets/art,) but I dunno if it'd be something other people were interested in.

[[Kako]]

There are certainly a lot of people who would be interested in character sheets... but only from series they like. If you have a comic or story that has a medium-sized following, then go for it. Otherwise, put I'd put it at a low priority.

[InstantOatmeal]

I've already got some character sheets made for organizational purposes. I was just wondering if maybe eventually compiling little informational booklets would be worth the effort. XD

[Vicemage]

I'd say, probably not at this time. ^^ They're not really something with a hugely wide appeal, especially for original characters. So if anything, compile them for your own reference, but don't worry about trying to sell them. (I'm actually compiling some of my own references, and will be getting them printed up, but the likelihood that I'll sell them is pretty much nil. ^_^ )

Regarding the Otakon thing... Disney, Gaia, and Ragnarok are known companies to NOT do fanart/art/craft items from... I haven't heard anything anywhere about the others, though. But fanart is being progressively reduced in a lot of AAs, whether it be due to industry pressure, or due to the organizers wishing to get to a more "original" quality overall in the Alley.

[Fiammetta Rey]

You think Bandai or ADV will try to do anything about me selling fanart? All my fanarts are Princess Tutu, Code Geass, and Haruhi Suzumiya (+one picture with a Harry Potter setting but Haruhi characters). What about stuff that's not exactly licensed but streaming legally (like Shugo Chara)? I'm kind of getting worried now...

If I finish a bunch of this stuff I'm making anytime soon, I might make some anime character accessories just for display at my table. Maybe some Shugo Chara fans will notice my table if I have a Humpty Lock there...

[Vicemage]

If you're really concerned about any given AA table, just contact the heads of that con's Alley. smile They'll be able to tell you flat out what you can and can't have, and if the thing about a crackdown is real, they'll inform you of that (or tell you it's a rumor if it's not). No sense fretting and pulling hair when you can get an answer, after all, right? ^_^

[Nyawyn]

Starre257

What about stuff that's not exactly licensed but streaming legally (like Shugo Chara)? I'm kind of getting worried now...

just fyi, shugo chara's manga is officially licenced.

[Kaxen]

My first Artist Alley! It is over!

=_= So like, having no fanart totally doesn't work for me, but I'm too ******** stubborn and paranoid to sell fanart. The closest I got to fanart was a sketch card that said "I'M HARRY" (I was giving out sketch cards that said "I'M HAIRY" with a picture of a werewolf so I drew Harry Potter instead on one) and sketch cards that said "Shiny not Sparkle" with a disgruntled chibi Dracula on it.

The only print that even sold was "I'm in your village seducing them virgins" Though one person said their parents would get angry at them for buying it. >_<'

My comic books, Dragons vs. planes did alright for comic that nobody's heard of (7 out of 10 sold). Damnation by Proxy did not so good (3 out of 10).

I gave out tons of sketch cards though. I'm surprised people liked the one that had no actual drawing, just the phrase "I'M INVISIBLE"

And people liked drawings in silver ink. >_> I'm going to have to find a printer who will print silver or glossy ink when I do business cards... hopefully without costing an arm and a leg.

Though I actually sold less once I finally tried cutting prices. O_o

I also got more commissions than I thought I would.

Though a lot of my commissions were bizarre. I never draw animals (or at least I give no proof of that in my prints) but I got "female ninja turtle" and "furries kissing"

Though the most fun was "Spike Spiegel flying a Fairey Swordfish to torpedo the Bismark"

[Nyawyn]

It sounds like it was a very successful first Artist Alley smile Congrats smile

[Fiammetta Rey]

Nyawyn

Starre257

What about stuff that's not exactly licensed but streaming legally (like Shugo Chara)? I'm kind of getting worried now...

just fyi, shugo chara's manga is officially licenced.

I know. The $50 that should have gone to buy supplies and AA stuff but instead got me the first 6 manga volumes tells me so. (I can't wait until those get here... I think I'm more excited for those than I am for the jewelry supplies I ordered... which is bad... I think Shugo Chara is my new obsession...

[AEAcomics]

I'll definitely try to make some coloring pages, then. I can always use the practice with the crow quill smile
Hm, do you think people would like more detailed lines or more simple? I should probably make some of each.

I was lazy this weekend and didn't do much of anything. whee Back to work!

[muffin babie]

I've got a question or two..

If you're selling prints, how important is it to actually have a print book?
Me and three of my friends are going to go to Anime Detour as a studio this year (the name of which is TBA). Me and my regular table partner are the only ones who draw/make buttons/etc. One girl makes amazing duct-tape goods, and the fourth guy is making dice bags/drawstring bags. He and I are also working on Natural 1, that comic I mentioned earlier in the thread.

Basically, I'm wondering if we have to have a print book to look though, or if we could post all our prints on the front of the table/on one of those plastic piping things that goes over the table? It would save on space for all of us, I'm just wondering if that's really an option. Will people still look at the prints?

My second question is: what would people like to see made from duct tape? She can make just about anything. She made her own shoes, a messenger bag, a braided choker... all kinds of things. What would you guys suggest?

[InstantOatmeal]

muffin babie

My second question is: what would people like to see made from duct tape? She can make just about anything. She made her own shoes, a messenger bag, a braided choker... all kinds of things. What would you guys suggest?

Duct-tape belts would be fun. I would buy one. You said messenger bags. What about purses?