Sorry this entry is so long, but I actually didn't include everything I wanted to! lol XD


First off, I have to thank Chris and Ellie. They were invaluable to this weekend, and kept me alive. Literally. Thank you so much for getting my coffees, scraps of food, and medical needs. Yeah, on Thursday my foot had gotten badly blistered up, and I couldn't really walk at all. Luckily, my amazing friend Maggie is a baltimore local and she is the same size shoe as me, and she was a LIFESAVER in lending me her super-comfy sandals to wear during the weekend. Without that, and chris and ellie getting ace bandages and band-aids for me, I don't know how I would have made it. and especially to my brother chris for having the idea of giving away free candy. I think that was the key to why I did well, because it forced people to go up to my table so I could greet them. haha, he's a genius. overall, thank you guys sooo much, I can't express how much it meant to me to have your help!

and so...

Otakon was extremely successful!! I did really well when I didn't even think I'd break even. Let's just say that I could easily buy 2 sets of 72 copic markers if I wanted to. alas, the money is all going into my savings. lol oh, and buying refills for my skintone copics, because I completely ran out of them! XD;;

It was mainly due to commissions, I was drawing CONSTANTLY. literally, I only stopped to go to the bathroom and only got to go around once or maybe twice to say hi to some other artists I knew, but it was completely worth it. I worked really hard on them, and it was so refreshing to draw again. the thing that made it the best was seeing the peoples face just light up when they saw what I had done for them...I can't believe I had forgotten what that was like. it's the greatest feeling. that alone made it worth it, just seeing how brightly those people smiled. <3

I also sold out of 3 of my prints (Wolverine, La Viole Blanche, and Treachery), and almost sold out of others (Houndoom, When Corgis Attack, Kenpachi, Nightcrawler, etc). It was crazy, everyone was SO supportive of a different style, I couldn't believe it! It made me feel so...I don't even know. relieved. the fact that I did well at my lowest point...I mean, I didn't even want to look at a pencil again. I can't properly express what I'm feeling, 'cause I don't know how. haha when wolverine and blanche sold out I was surprised and happy, but treachery was my only original up, and the fact that it did so well...I actually got overwhelmed and started crying, I couldn't help it. it was really something else.


I also got interviewed on Saturday by my buddy Earnie who does con videos and such. I'll post updates when it will be online, I hope I don't look too stupid! lol XDD;;

my pieces didn't go for as much as I had hoped at the Art Auction. One didn't even sell, fat joker went for 5, russia only went for 7, but Champloo did much better than I thought it would at 42 I think. Wolverine only sold for 40, but I'm not upset about it 'cause it went home to this really sweet wolverine cosplayer!! he came by my table early in the weekend and bought a print of it but put it on hold, and on the last day he traded it for a nightcrawler 'cause he had actually gotten the original!! that made me SOOO happy, that it went to a good home. I don't care how much it went for, that just makes me feel really awesome that he got it, he was such a nice guy. lol

and apparently I found out that my art is 'scary'? haha, I never realized it before but I guess my style that I've been so unaware of is dark and creepy. that seems to have been the reaction of everyone who walked by my table. It's good to know it, maybe I'll work with that! XD

also met some of my artist friends, and there were a lot of people and grads from SVA there, which was really cool to see. I got to see: , , , , . that's all I got around to, and I couldn't even get anything from them 'cause I never got a change to go back. but I didn't expect Dina, ~morbidprince, to actually send someone out to search for me so that she could say hi. that was awesome, she's just the nicest person and I'm glad our tables were so close so I at least got to talk with her a bit. In a lull on commissions, I drew her a gift 'cause that's like...a tradition of sorts with me giving drawings to her. lol and it was also just...great to meet everyone I wanted to! they were all sooo nice, and it was awesome to see Cari, ~blix-it again and trade corgi buttons with her.



but despite everything I will keep to what I said, and I won't go to Otakon again next year. I'm going to take a break off of it and concentrate on doing my own comics and artwork over next summer, and concentrate on finding a job in my field hopefully. it will be after my thesis, so I'm going to really need the break. lol I'll probably be back the year after though. ^__^




-----> People had asked me a bunch about taking commissions online. I will accept them for the time being, but here is what I have to say about it:


the only thing with taking commissions now is that I do not have a paypal set up properly, and I have to get that sorted out. otherwise, you can always send a check or money through the mail, though it's up to you what to do. I will work my hardest in getting that system set up so I can take more commissions, but checks are just fine for now. I usually don't start a commission until I receive payment, cause I've had problems in the past. half and half is fine too if you prefer.

if you want a full CG with some type of bg, like my 'houndoom' picture, it would cost 50, 60 if there are multiple creatures. if you want one with a simpler bg, like my 'battle' picture, it would be 45. simple copic commissions like I was doing at my table are 20, 30 if it's something more complicated. watercolor pictures, like my 'chimchar' picture, are 40. this is without shipping and handling included (which is why taking them online is sad) if you want a nice print of your cg or something like that, I can do that too no problem.

people who walked by my table said my artwork was creepy and dark I guess, but I can do something lighter too! haha I dunno, I never did 'dark' art on purpose. XDD; Basically, whatever you want is what I can do since I do a little bit of everything.

So yes, technically commissions are open...for the first time in a looong time. I don't know when I'll take them again, so this is your chance if you want something by me!


so in summary, despite my angst and insanity beforehand, I'm glad I went. ^__^


- Allison Strejlau


My Beloved