Artsy Fartsy

Wizard World Comic Con in Portland is happening soon. I am featured on their site. Just thought I'd share. ;)

Click here for the details.

Mel's Sushi Shack

Another update finally! I've been working on a side project recently, and it's the most adorable thing ever. I've been making plush sushi!

I'd been using the conventions and shows as a sort of test market to see if people would like them. Sure enough, they did so today I'm proud to announce the launch of Mel's Sushi Shack on Storenvy!

Now the cuteness can be all yours! I plan on adding the smaller sushi plushies at a later date and some other great accessories and such are also on the way. Now I've got to get back to spriting for the next show!

http://sushishack.storenvy.com/

CONS FOR DAYS! (2014 convention schedule)

Why hello there, dear readers! I haven't been around a lot as of late, I know, but 3 jobs aren't going to work themselves. Anyways, I'm attending a bunch of conventions this year, as an artist/writer/guest/whatever. Please come by and say hey! I have lots of new creative projects I've been working on, some of them exclusive to certain shows. If you want more details, feel free to stalk my facebook. Here are the shows I'll be attending the rest of the year...

Vintage Gaming Fair Aug. 9 Seattle, WA

Classic Gaming Expo Sept. 12-14 Las Vegas, NV

Rose City Comic Con Sept. 20-21  Portland, OR

Portland Retro Gaming Expo Oct. 18-19 Portland 

  

Between shows and other work, I'm still open to taking custom orders. Check out my work on my Tumblr or my Wordpress sites. See you all soon!
                                                                  

Of artists and friends

Pic sort of related. Impressive.

As I sit here on my first day off since I've pretty much got my life back together, I contemplate changing the notification sound on my phone, which has been bleeping at me incessantly for the last hour or two. I've had the displeasure of dealing with one of the few difficult clients that I've had to in a while. When it comes to selling art, or making a living as an artist there are some things you should understand, or rather, things that your clients should understand. Typically when selling my pieces, people have made for a smooth transaction. Here is a piece that I want, here is the money, shipped, done. It's not that hard.

Sometimes you get a client that keeps changing their mind, and that's to be expected. As an artist, you should be able to adapt in that way. It's annoying, yes, but you deal with it. Then there's this other type of client. One that tries to hustle. Let me just put this out there for those who go to conventions and trade shows or purchase from online sellers - Unless offered by the artist (which I do for regular clients all the time), a price is a price. It's different if you're getting a whole bunch of stuff, but if there's just an item or two, it's extremely disrespectful to ask for a price drop. Like I said, I will offer a special to those who are close or have purchased from me before. In fact, there are some people that I like so much that I'll just share my art with them for the sake of sharing. They are so grateful and respectful. I love it. I love what I do.

The other type of client that rustles my jimmies is the one that calls themselves a 'friend' for the sake of wanting a discount. Most times I will give friends a discount, but they don't usually ask for it. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is 'friends' trying to tell me how to do my damn job. I have been doing this for years. I have worked in marketing, made a living selling my art, and don't need your input. I've heard it all before, and there's a balance that comes from experience. I know how to market my own art, I've been at it for years, to assume that I don't and that I need help from you is also very disrespectful. Bespeaks incompetence. Think about where the artist is at in their career before coming at them with something like that. Does it look like they need your help? Do you think that they care? How many people have they interacted with? How many hundreds of people do you think have already asked them about marketing and promotions? It's not that I'm ungrateful, I appreciate the concern, but don't push it, I heard you the first time. If I tell you something it's because I mean it. And especially don't try to build yourself up as someone of great importance who 'deserves' a discount, that's lame and sad to watch because it won't ever happen. It's great to be confident, but when that veil is thin enough to see the gaping holes in your character, it's not charming. Be mindful of those you're talking to, especially if you're referring to them as a 'friend'.

The life of an artist is something like a roller coaster of sorts. There are times when you will be extremely busy and times when you'll be just scraping by. When it comes to my personal life, I don't really share that much with people. I can tell you though that I have a nice little tight nit group of a few close friends. There are less than a handful of people that would be there for me in a pinch, and I like it that way. Because my time is valuable, I'm very particular about the people I keep in my life. The people that are around me and that are close are the ones that have been kind, honest, respectful, hard working, shit talking, laugh having, hug giving, fantastic wonderful beautiful misfits from all walks. It's a real rag tag group of weirdos, and we wouldn't have it any other way.  So when someone that knows me from, oh I don't know, the internet(?), and says that we've been friends for a long time I have to stop and ask - Why are you only here when I'm doing well for myself? Where were you as a friend in that 6 month stretch of self destructive debauchery that followed my horrible breakup?  When I was pissed off at my shitty old job? When I was dealing with that last bout of soul-crushing clinical depression? That whole time anyone, and the best of them did, could have talked to me. See how things are going. You know, 'cause that's what friends do? Just talking to someone doesn't mean you're taking on all of their problems, it shows them that you're a friend. Communication is how you prevent tragedies. But I don't want to get too off topic here so let's finish this up.

you threw off my groove, please be more mindful

So this week was the best week that I've had in some time. My personal life is awesome, my new (part time) job is awesome, my art (full time) is way awesome, my love life is especially awesome (my boyfriend decided he wants to get into spriting too), I've been generally feeling really good. Except for today, with the incessant nagging in the back of my head which manifested itself onto my phone. No, dear client, I will not take your order and will give you a full refund based on principle alone. I'm an artist and I can do that. I really ought to change that damn notification tone...

Pixelated Madness

PICTURE UNRELATED

I'm FINALLY DONE! It's taken a few days, but here it is, I've got all of my art stuff in galleries here. I've posted all of it so you don't have to sift through my galleries on Facebook. I mean, you still can, but whatever. I constantly get messages asking "WHERE CAN I SEE ALL OF THE STUFF YOU'VE MADE?" Well, HERE! THERE! You happy now? Sub and share with friends. I spent a lot of time on this. Thanks. http://melmakessprites.tumblr.com/

And here's the wordpress version; http://melmakessprites.wordpress.com/

 

Is it an upate yet?

Ewww...I'm in front of the camera again...
Check out these games and crafty things or something...
*CLICK HERE*

Keep goin' yeah you don't stop

It's that time again! Portland Retro Gaming Expo is less than 2 weeks away! Last weekend I was at Rose City Comic Con, too busy to make a video though, sorry 'bout that. Probably won't make one for this event either. I will, however, be there with a table and my sick sprites, so come by and check them out. Mention that you follow my blog and I'll give you a free keychain! Also, join the mailing list that I've started for Pixel Art Paradise, to receive notifications on upcoming events, projects, and super pixel deals. There are some exciting things coming up. Some other site wants to re-post some of my articles, but I haven't had time to rewrite my bio yet. Been busy with work stuff. Soon as the convention season is over, I should get back to making some video content. Of course there are tons of food vids you can watch (Mel eats weird stuff), but I'll have some new gaming stuff up soon too. Stay tuned!