Sunday, November 28, 2010

Moleskine notebooks.


The Moleskine Notebook, is a cheap leather bound notebook that has caught on with artists, especially it seems animators. I always thought that these notebooks, which seem really cheaply put together, made in china, and $10 for a 3.5”x5.5” one, where just another hip status symbol object. I just could not figure out what the appeal of these sketchbooks were. Well, while I was at A.P.E. I sat next to some animators who were sketching in Moleskines, I started to wonder about them again. Later I was at Barnes and Noble I noticed that they had Moleskines for 20% off. So I figured I'd see what the hype was all about. I took the plunge and bought one. And well, it's hype and a status symbol... mostly. The one I got was a hard bound, but it really is not well bound, however, this actually works in the things advantage. Because since the perfect binding breaks on every spread, you can draw freely across the gutter. The paper is a very smooth slightly toned surface that's kinda hard. It takes to my beloved Col-erase pencil beautifully (probably why Animators like 'em). So I have to admit that it is a nice drawing experience. But here is the part that sucks. A 3.5”x5.5” sketchbook costs the same as a 9”x12” by most other companies. And while the texture of the pages is great it's nothing that can't be obtained in a less expensive notebook, made in the first world. So basically it's a nice book, but way overpriced in my opinion, especially since they are made in china. So it won't replace my Strathmore's and Canson's any time soon. But that said, I may keep get the 3.5”x5.5” type as a travel notebook in the future, epecially if I can find them on sale. Because it fits into the pocket well, without the discomfort of the spiral bind. So there you have it they're good, but no greater than other makes of sketchbooks, so my conclusion is that Moleskine notebooks are hype and status symbols.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Long Beach Comic Con and the Neuropsychosis World Tour


Hey lo. Last weekend I finished up the Neuropsychosis World Tour with the Long Beach Comic Con. The Con was a fun experience and my first at a big Convention's artist alley. It was completely different from A.P.E. I felt it had a similar vibe to it as an Anime Convention. I did poorly sales wise, but did very well as far as making connections and learning stuff was concerned. I made one connection that may get one of my short stories into print, so that was pretty cool. I was surprised though, because I expected A.P.E. To be the show that I did poorly at. Aside from my exhibiting I found some cool new comic stuff, visited with my neighbor from A.P.E. Josh the artist from "Assholes", and got a drawing from the amazing Dean Yeagle. I also got a hold of Mobieus' new Arzack series which will probably be written about here later. Long beach seemed to be a big cosplay show, which is cool, of course that might be due to the fact that it was on Halloween weekend. All that plus a weekend with my cousin equals a great time.
With the first Neuropsychosis tour finally wrapped up, I can reflect. It was a good learning experience in how to promote your book. I learned that you need to have a single sentence in which you can entice someone into picking it up. After looking around I decided that I need to go with some form of print house for my comic as the 'zines just aren't attracting people, in fact most people figure them as freebies. So that was the Neuropsychosis World Tour. See ya on the next go round.