Oh, my friends, it was a pinup kind of weekend. Sort of. Well, more sort of a comic book geek fest weekend, but whatever. I was a resident hot `skirt` at Cape. Well, Bride of Cape, to be exact. I was a Cape Skirt, if you will. I believe Cape Skirt is second cousin to Booth Babe. ::GRIN::
Uh yeah, I said Bride of Cape. I`m guessing it`s God`s overly-zealous sense of humor at work, but I cannot escape the world of superheroes. A world of men intights and women in, well, not too much. ANYWAY. Each year, Zeus Comics, a high-end comic book store in a trendy area of BIg D (known for its adjacent booming and rather enjoyable `gayborhood`), holds a comics and fine arts festival that coincides with National Free Comic Book Day. So we`re not just talking a bunch of guys who would trade their X-Men action figures to get under Peter Parker's spidey suit (yes, I too am a resident of Geekland). No, this is more an exhibit for up-and-coming (and some already rather big-time) comic book artists to showcase their talents, sell orginal pieces, and meet their fans. Sure, there are all the guys getting their rocks hard over the free comic books, the bins of back issues, the action figures and posters and t-shirts.
But why I (and the GTF) went for a second year in a row (and this was a couple weeks ago) was to see the artists at work. Nevermind that one of them is becoming rather famous for his retro and tiki pinup work and another couple draw and write funny online strips we both read daily (PVP and Sheldon by Dave Kellett) Anyhow, the talent in so many of these artists are amazing, and they and they more than gracious to the fans who will no doubt eventually shoot them into the bright light of comic book fame one day.
This year we came armed with blank, leather-bound sketch books, in serach of the greatest treasure Cape can offer, IMHO. Personally-commissioned, one-of-a-kind works of art. I came prepared, with a wickedly awesome picture of taken last Halloween as a "Naughty Fairy" and my wienie dog Sadie strapped to my chest. I couldn`t wait for the likes of Andy Lee and Cal Slayton to capture my naughty fairy hotness (hee hee) and and artists such as to do their rendering of what I must admit is a funny-looking little dog.
Call me a dork, fine. Whatever. But I`m posting the result below, which I must say are something rather to be proud of. I`m thinking of commissioning Cal Slayton to do a full-on, full-size pinup rendition once I can send him a good shot. SCORE.
First, here`s a snip of the photo I used.
I'll tell you this rght off, kinda funny. The first I took it to was Dave Crosland (he designed the album cover for Gym Class Heroes). First up, Dave, who insisted I only brought my `hot` photo to get all the comic book geeks worked up and if I was gonna go that far, why didn`t I enter the costume contest? I told him since there was no way I could compete with Wonder-My-Star-Spangled-Ass-Is-Hanging-Out-Woman, that I shouldn`t bother. After I finished blushing ten shades of red, I watched him go to work...
Anyhoo-- this is what he did with my photo:
Next has to be one of my new favorite artists. Cal Slayton draws pinups in a mod, Tiki-Polynesian style that the GTF and I both love. I`m thinking of commissioning him to do a more life-like portrait of me, but for Cape he rendered this cartoon depiction of my photo (in which I rather resemble a sexy Morticia Adams or Bride of Frankenstein). Lovin` it!
From there, I decided to let a couple artists take a whack at drawing the wiener --- dog that is. Dave Kellett was the first to take on the challenge, not that he would have any trouble. His Sheldon online comic features terrific comic depictions of animals. He focused on her big brown eyes and love of chasing bunnies. Hilarious.
Next, I revisited Blue Canary`s creator Kathryn White. Kat did a great portrait of `Princess` Sadie last year, simply from a verbal description. This year, I couldn`t wait to see what she would do with the live wiener in tow. She decided to draw the both of us, with terrific results. If you look real close, Sadie is definitely smiling. Everybody say: `Awwwwwww!`
Next (well, last) it was on to another returning from last year`s Cape, Andy Lee. Check out Andy`s fascinating story and unique style of painting by going here. I had to have the fabulous Mr. Lee give his rendition of my fairy photo, and as I expected it was---magnificent. Wow.
All in all, a glowing success at Cape this year.
Ooh! Ooh! I almost forgot. The wife of one of these artists got inspired and decided to start a little side-business inspired by none other than the 1950s pinup! Her table was simply covered with blank books matted inside and out with Elvgren and Vargas prints. Incredible. Amazing. I bought Four. Yeah. Four. What am I going to do with them? I don`t know. But I lurrrrrrve them.
THEN - to top it all off, my mom came by to drop off a supply of Mary Kay. She has dragged my dad all over Canton`s First Monday, and she managed (somehow she always does) to pick me up something cool. This time, she managed to find a framed print of this 1930s Elvgren piece, backed with newspaper from 1933.
Okay, so it`s still propped up against the lamp on my night table because I have no idea where to hang it. Yeah. I can`t seem to make simply little decision like that lately. I know, I know. It looks like an art supply store threw up on my blog. But we did have a blast. And ::drumroll please:: I have decided on the pinup girl I will use if and when I get my tattoo. And the winner is:
Yeah, I`m not ready to show ya`ll that yet. ;)
