I won a 2014 Inkpot Award!

HUGE weekend at San Diego Comic Con International.

Words and pics about it forthcoming, but while I'm cranking on client deadline here upon return to studio, I wanted to acknowledge something amazing that happened on Saturday.

I was on stage Saturday for 'Spotlight on John Picacio', and about to launch straight into my slideshow, when I was suddenly asked by a gentleman named Adam if he could first say a few words at the podium. He read an intro, and then out of the blue, he announced that I was being presented with a 2014 Inkpot Award, 'in recognition of achievement in science fiction / fantasy art'.

Totally caught me off guard, in the best possible way.

Wow.

The Inkpot is Comic Con's annual award given to professionals in the fields of comics, science fiction / fantasy, art, literature, TV, film, animation, and related fields of pop culture.

I've been attending SDCC, off and on, since 1992. It's a place where some of my career aspirations were born, and I've spent much of my adult life working to make those dreams real.

Thank you for this honor, Comic Con. It means the world.

And THANK YOU to all who attended SDCC, volunteered to make it happen, and ran it like the world-class event it is.

More words and pics on my 2014 SDCC soon.

SDCC 2014 Exclusives + Schedule!

Alright, San Diego: let's do this! I'm an SDCC Special Guest this weekend, and I've got exclusive goodies for you.

I'll have two limited-run, special edition Loteria posters -- 'El Corazon' and 'La Luna'. Print run was limited to 500, and they're 11" x 18" on heavy cardstock. Only $20 each. These will not be available online! To score yours before they're gone -- stop by my table in Artists Alley (HH-09) during the hours posted below.

Bonus Note #1! The first 100 people that arrive at my table get to roll the dice and win a free Loteria Grande prototype card, featuring my color art on the front and pencil art on the back.

Bonus Note #2! I want to see as many of you as possible at my "Spotlight" panel on Saturday. Everyone who attends receives a free Loteria Grande card. Sign up via the SDCC app and the more of you that schedule my event on your "MySched", the better I can get a count on how many cards I need to bring for you. :)

My complete public schedule:

THURSDAY, JULY 24

Loteria Poster Signing

Table HH-09 in Artists Alley

9:30am to 12noon

Loteria Poster Signing

Table HH-09 in Artists Alley

2pm to 4pm

"How To Kickstart Your Dream Like A Pro"

(with Craig Engler, Jane Espenson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brad "Cheeks" Bell, John Picacio)

Room 25ABC

5pm to 6pm

FRIDAY, JULY 25

Loteria Poster Signing

Table HH-09 in Artists Alley

9:30am to 12noon

Loteria Poster Signing

Table HH-09 in Artists Alley

2pm to 6pm

SATURDAY, JULY 26

Loteria Poster Signing

Table HH-09 in Artists Alley

9:30am to 12noon

"Spotlight on John Picacio"

Hugo Award-winning book cover artist and Comic-Con special guest John Picacio (A Song of Ice and Fire, Elric of Melnibone) is one of science fiction/fantasy's most acclaimed American cover artists. Join him for this lively slideshow and Q&A, where he unveils the process behind his art, including A Song of Ice and Fire, Loteria, Elric, and sneak peeks at his latest works. If you're a fan of the art of Westeros, Mexican Tarot, book covers, comics, and/or the future of sci-fi/fantasy art, this is the place to be. Bonus: Everyone who attends will receive a free giant Loteria prototype card featuring art by Picacio!

Room 4

1pm to 2pm

Special Guest Autographing

Sails Pavilion / AA19

2:30pm to 3:30pm

SUNDAY, JULY 27

Loteria Poster Signing

Table HH-09 in Artists Alley

9:30am to 12noon

Detcon Rock City

Way to go, Detcon -- you rocked. Congrats to Tammy Coxen, Helen Montgomery, Kim Kofmel, Anne Gray, Dave Gallaher, Murray Moore, Tim Miller, Don Wenzel, Evelyn Baker, Deb Geisler, Ben Yalow, Lisa Hertel, Steven Silver, Jesi Pershing, and all who worked so hard to make this a great weekend. Tricia Noble and team ran a smooth-running Art Show, and pictured here are two of my favorite guest liaisons ever -- Lisa Leutheuser and Joe Saul.

Lisa and Joe co-hosted a rolling Pirate Party that roamed the halls of the con hotel on Saturday night, and they even tied for a show prize for 'Best Party'. :)

Thanks to all who attended my programming items and bid for my artwork in the Art Show. A special shoutout goes to everyone who played Loteria on Friday and scored my new limited-run Loteria posters!

For many, many months in advance, hard-working people pour their hearts and souls into making a successful con like this one. It amazes me how much work it takes -- and then how fast it's all over.

It was an honor to be Artist Guest of Honor at this NASFiC, and Detroit -- with everything you've been through in recent years, and continue to endure -- you can be especially proud of how great and resurgent this NASFiC was.

Convention Exclusives Debuting at Detcon!

They're HERE -- and they're heading your way, Detcon!

I'm debuting two limited-run, special edition Loteria posters -- 'El Corazon' and 'La Luna', and they'll be convention exclusives at my appearances this summer. There are only 500 of each and they won't be available for purchase online.

Detcon -- you're getting first crack at these two posters, featuring art from my Loteria series. They measure 11" x 18", and are printed on thick cardstock -- only $20 each!

Where and when you can get them this weekend:

FRIDAY

* 2pm / Loteria! with John Picacio
(Nicolet B)

Multiple rounds of the traditional game of chance, Loteria, hosted by John Picacio, featuring cool book and art prizes for the winners.

Loteria posters will be first available for sale after this event ends, most likely outside of Nicolet B until approximately 3:10pm.

* 8pm to 10pm / Mass Autographing
(Ambassador Salons 1 and 2, 3rd Floor)

Your second chance to score Loteria posters, available at my signing table

SATURDAY

* 12pm to 2pm / Autographing
(Ontario Exhibit Hall (Exact table location TBD))

* 2pm / Kaffeeklatsch with John Picacio
(Kaffeeklatsch 1)

Last chances to score Loteria posters at Detcon!

After that -- San Diego Comic Con -- I'll have some coming to you. More details later on that.

Here's my full Detcon programming schedule! Can't wait. :)

THURSDAY

* 4pm / Richard Powers, SF's Master Surrealist
(Makinac East)

* 8pm / Opening Ceremonies
(Ambassador Salon 1)

FRIDAY

* 10am / Art of A Song of Ice and Fire
(Ambassador Salon 1)

* 12pm / Future of Art and Artists in SF/F
(Ambassador Salon 1)

* 2pm / Loteria! with John Picacio
(Nicolet B)

* 6pm / Who Is That Artist?
(Nicolet B)

* 8pm / Mass Autographing
(Ambassador Salons 1 and 2)

SATURDAY

* 11am / The Art of John Picacio
(Ambassador Salon 1)

* 2pm / Kaffeeklatsch with John Picacio
(Kaffeeklatsch 1)

* 4pm / Good, Bad, Ugly -- SF/F Cover Art and Design
(Makinac East)

SUNDAY

* 11am / Artique Roadshow
(Nicolet A)

* 2pm / Closing Ceremonies
(Ambassador Salon 1)

2014 World Fantasy Award Nominee!

Heard the terrific news this morning via social media (thank you, Kimm Antell and Charles Tan). Wow -- grateful and honored to be a World Fantasy Award nominee for Artist, along with Galen Dara, Julie Dillon, Charles Vess, and Zelda Devon!!

I'm grateful to the WF jury and voters for selecting my past year's labors as being amongst some of the very best books, works, and makers in fantasy.

I owe this honor to the work I did on Loteria in 2013. It's been a learning experience as I slowly evolve from the status of a creative, into a creator. The journey is ongoing, and it's filled with peril and challenge. I'm committed to this work, body and soul.

The first Loteria art was unveiled last year, via my Kickstarter campaign for the 2014 Calendar. This ongoing series will eventually be fifty-four new artworks inspired by Loteria -- the classic Mexican game of chance played much like Bingo. This is only the tip of an amazing rhizome that keeps surprising me, as the series unfolds, with more works to be unveiled before the end of this year.

Pictured here, clockwise from top left: the cover of my 2014 Calendar (featuring 'La Sirena'); the pencils for 'La Luna'; 'El Paraguas' and 'El Arpa', as seen on their limited-release Loteria Grande prototype cards.

Eventually, Loteria will be an official game, card deck, and so much more, but before any of that happens -- it will be a major book release. Right now, I'm shopping for the right publishing partner.

Of the completed Loteria works, 'La Sirena' has already scored a Chesley Award, and 'El Arpa' and 'La Luna' were recently announced as finalists for this year's Chesley Awards. I'm extremely grateful that these individual works are connecting so quickly with so many, and I think this World Fantasy nom is especially meaningful because it acknowledges the first glimpses of my creator-owned body of work.

To Julie, Zelda, Galen, and Charles -- huge congrats! Pictured here are works from all four of my fellow Artist nominees (clockwise from top left -- Galen Dara, Julie Dillon, Charles Vess, Zelda Devon):

There are so many friends and colleagues across the nominee list that I wish to congratulate, and there are almost too many to name without listing the whole nomination list. I have to give a huge shoutout to Irene Gallo though. As most know, she's Tor's queen of Art Direction, and the Associate Publisher of Tor.com. She's a tireless champion of art and artists. She pours herself into the field, and this is her first World Fantasy Award nomination. I'm really thrilled for her.

Back to work here for me. Again -- huge thanks to the World Fantasy Awards jury, and to the voters. I'll see you in Washington D.C. for the 40th World Fantasy Convention!

Loteria Posters!

Here are my two new limited-edition Loteria posters that will be debuting at Detcon1 and San Diego Comic Con this month!

"El Corazon" and "La Luna" measure 11" x 18", and are printed on thick cardstock. Each can be yours for only $20. There will only be 500 of these available, and they will NOT be for sale online for the foreseeable.

How do you get yours? Come see me at my signings + special events at the following conventions. First come, first serve!

Detcon1 / (Detroit, MI)

Poster Sale + Signing Locations and Times:

Friday, July 18 / After "Loteria! with John Picacio", which begins at 2pm / (Nicolet B)

Friday, July 18 / Mass Autographing / 8pm (Ambassador 1 & 2 / 3rd Floor)

Saturday, July 19 / After "The Art of John Picacio", which begins at 11am / (Signing Location TBD)

San Diego Comic Con

Poster Sale + Signing Locations and Times:

Saturday, July 26 / After "Spotlight on John Picacio", which begins at 1pm (Room 4) / I'll be signing in the Autograph Area in the Sails Pavilion after this panel.

Also available at my Special Guest table appearances throughout the weekend (schedule forthcoming)

Loncon3 / (London, UK)

Dragon Con / (Atlanta, GA)

Alamo City Comic Con (San Antonio, TX)

If you're not attending any of these events, my best suggestion is see if you have any friends that are, and ask them to purchase the items for you. I'll be posting updated details on each event, and the locations and times where I'll be signing and selling these.

More soon! :)