Month: April 2014

Hillary Bauman, creator of Cirrus: The Red Storm, which is a hand-painted graphic novel, now up to two issues. She also had a couple of clay models from the Cirrus comic book on display. The other book she was promoting at WonderCon was Gallelai (sp?), a teaser issue, of a “Casablanca in space,” she said. Cirrus is painted in gouache, and Gallelai is created digitally. She is self-publishing through IndyPlanet.com. Hillary has been making comics for a few years; she has been a painter for many years. She does a lot of scenic painting for theater companies. She went into comics because it’s a happy medium between everything she does. She’s self-taught, and works with theater companies in Los Angeles. Like Tanya Bjork and Jordon Montsell, WonderCon is her second convention as an exhibitor; Long Beach Comic con was her first exhibiting experience.

All artists at WonderCon 2014

Christopher Wanzie‘s work deals with transhumanistic technologies, and how human beings are going to deal with emerging technologies. He is especially interested in how it’s going to affect us specifically from a spiritual standpoint, and so incorporates arcane religious images and positive messages and mantras in his work. It is abstract graphic design mixed with photography becoming a hybrid product. He has been drawing since he was a kid. He’s been creating this work for the past seven years, but only in the last four has he been pursuing it as a business. He is self-taught. His top three influences are Gustav Moreau’s proto-surrealism, the bio-metric images in H.R. Gieger’s work, and the mechanical and anatomical images in Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscripts and sketchbooks. WonderCon is Christopher’s first convention as an exhibitor; he is usually in gallery shows and art exhibitions.

All artists at WonderCon 2014

Moira Hahn had one of the most beautiful art books I saw at WonderCon. Excellent reproduction of her excellent art, which is visually pleasing and mentally stimulating (great stuff!). She calls her work nouveau ukiyo-e, combining contemporary culture and things going on in her personal life with the look of 19th century Japanese woodblock prints. They are very colorful, beautifully composed, and charming choices of subject matter in watercolors. Her book, “Apparitions,” is fully of fantastic magical animals in which each image tells its own story. The book was inspired by Moira moving to a new house where the previous owner had been feeding birds with numerous birdfeeders. Moira wanted to continue this tradition, and the birdfeeders attracted numerous birds, that, unfortunately attracted numerous feral cats, the ensuing horrific urban nature bird and cat conflict was the impetus for this lovely art book. Moira studied art at the Maryland Institute College of Art, CalArts, CCA (California College of the Arts), she received a Masters in art from California State Fullerton to teach. She also had a five year apprenticeship with a traditional Japanese artist named Masami Teraoka in Los Angeles before he retired to Hawaii. Moria has tabled at Comic-Con San Diego, and this is her third year at WonderCon, which she said was fantastic.

All artists at WonderCon 2014

So, WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention center was wonderful (except for parking, but that’s what I get for going down there at 11 AM). I could only be there on Saturday, but on Saturday I found more new and fascinating comic book makers and artists than I’ve found elsewhere (ahem, CCSD) in the past five years.

Moira Hahn had one of the most beautiful art books I saw at WonderCon. Excellent reproduction of her excellent art, which is visually pleasing and mentally stimulating (great stuff!). She calls her work nouveau ukiyo-e, combining contemporary culture and things going on in her personal life with the look of 19th century Japanese woodblock prints. They are very colorful, beautifully composed, and charming choices of subject matter in watercolors. Her book, “Apparitions,” is fully of fantastic magical animals in which each image tells its own story. The book was inspired by Moira moving to a new house where the previous owner had been feeding birds with numerous birdfeeders. Moira wanted to continue this tradition, and the birdfeeders attracted numerous birds, that, unfortunately attracted numerous feral cats, the ensuing horrific urban nature bird and cat conflict was the impetus for this lovely art book. Moira studied art at the Maryland Institute College of Art, CalArts, CCA (California College of the Arts), she received a Masters in art from California State Fullerton to teach. She also had a five year apprenticeship with a traditional Japanese artist named Masami Teraoka in Los Angeles before he retired to Hawaii. Moria has tabled at Comic-Con San Diego, and this is her third year at WonderCon, which she said was fantastic.
Continue reading “Artists at WonderCon 2014”

So, I only made it to Saturday at WonderCon, but it was totally worth it, horrific parking notwithstanding or something. I talked to some really wonderful artists, and those reports will be posted very soon, but first, some cosplay. Enjoy!

Continue reading “WonderCon 2014 in Anaheim was wonderful”