How I spent my CTN Animation Expo

Firstly,
I'm going to mention that my main purpose in going to CTN was to see the Illusionist. However, I didn't get to see it because Jorge and I had such an excellent afternoon it was much more important to throw up in my friends yard. Later I ate the most delicious cold grilled cheese sandwich I have ever eaten. Why is debauchery so much fun?

Secondly, having missed the Illusionist and sparing some poor audience member the trouble of buying a new set of clothes,

I loved this convention.

It was ridiculously inspiring, enlightening, exciting, and generally quite glorious. Every person I met was an absolute wonder. I am so grateful to Tina Price and everyone else involved in putting this convention together. Everybody was there, students, teachers, animators, designers, sculptors, voice actors, business dudes, everyone! The air itself was electric with positivity and enthusiasm, completely contagious enthusiasm that I've never been around before. There were talks and demonstrations running all day but I often found myself just sitting in the lobby of the hotel drawing, scribbling away, the need to draw in that kind of energy was impossible to resist.

I wish I had a better brain. I've already forgotten so many details. Things I can remember, highlights I suppose, could be these.
Watching Micheal Defeo sculpt with a plastic fork and knife and having an opportunity to ask questions as he sculpted, damn cool. Actually talking to Damon Bard and Mike Roush. Paling around with David, Peter, Jorge and Jackie. Meeting Theresa and Jamie. Talking to so many wonderful concept artists and animators face to face while picking up sketchbooks and prints, (sometimes picking up two copies!) and being able to express to them how fantastic I think their work is. The exposure to so much art, varied art, that carries the kinds of feelings and attention to life that I love. Drawing and sharing ideas. All fantastic. For the most part, I was really comfortable and talked to people, total stranger people, a bunch. So much fun!

The worst part of my time at CTN was still a wonderful event. I had some warning, but still got caught off guard when Peter asked me to show my sketchbook. It was passed around a small group of people I truly admire. I was grateful for the opportunity, but completely terrified and had to do everything I could find in myself to keep from running. I would have liked to talk a bit, but fumbling for words and failing, I seized up and mostly looked at my hands and thought about how curly my toes were. Everyone was quite kind to me and I still feel really happy. Just wish I could have been, you know, cool.

Afterwards I went with Peter and David to go see Jean Giraud talk. A small part of me very happy to have escaped the emotional discomfort I was in. I wasn't super familiar with Moebius, I mainly know about him because of my friends Doug and Andrew. Small words, but that guy is amazing. I imagine Matt Barrett will be like Moebius when he is very old, a little wobbly but quite full of awesome. Afterwards there was an LA style party for the talk where people could go and speak to Jean directly. I considered it, but you know, I wouldn't have been good to talk to at that point. I was still quite shelled from earlier and instead just enjoyed the surroundings and did an okay job of calming down a little. I did some more drawing and felt really pleased.

I am going again next year, but it seems so far away.

Thanks so much everybody, you made this time for me very special and I hope you had a blast too.

Heads

CTN Animation Expo

I'll be in LA this Thursday for the CTN Animation Expo. I'm not sure what to expect really, but I am very much looking forward to it. It will be exciting to watch The Illusionist at last and maybe find some new artists work to fall in love with. Many of the panels listed seem like they will be very informative and wonderful. Just a few days left, but so hard to wait!

Hope to see you there!

quickie