Sunday: APE, day 2/ Andrew's studio
I was able to get a nice 9-hour sleep thanks to an incredible meal at a Korean/Japanese fusion restaurant [Namu on Balboa St.]: This resulted in a far more pleasant second day at APE.





Here's a funny sign I bumped into on the way to the Con.



I got to bother Bryan Lee O'Malley for yet another sketch in my book. I just couldn't resist asking for a Knives drawing: I've irrationally fallen for her character since Scott Pilgrim 3! I love how he drew her copying Scott's trademark pose. Anyway, he totally has the right to punch me in the face if I ever ask him for a sketch again



I had the pleasure of seeing Vera again and meeting Jen Wang for the first time.


I bought this gorgeous print from Vera.


Here's a neat little sketch Jen drew on the envelope of her Monster Sex print set.



Thanks to Andrew and Sam, I was able to spend way more time being a fanboy at the Con. Andrew is an amazing salesman!



I also got to meet the great Art Spiegelman, who was gracious enough to sign my newly-purchased "Maus" hardcover collection [even though his signing hours were over]!


FINAL THOUGHTS ON APE:

I guess my first Con experience was a good one, although it felt kinda slow at times. I made about $50 selling my mini's and met lot's of interesting people. I realize I'm a TERRIBLE salesperson: I rarely address people who stop at my table unless they talk to me first, and I even let a guy haggle me [he offered to buy $6 worth of comics for $5... then gave me a 10 dollar bill to break].

Other highlights included: seeing Kazu and Amy for the first time in a while, being introduced the amazing work of Matthew Bernier and Steve Wolfhard, talking briefly with Debbie Huey, and hanging out with Derek and his friends at Leia Weathington's place. I drank too much wine that night and proceeded to yell really loudly about how much I hate Jared Leto's band, 30 Seconds To Mars: Apologies to all those in attendance.


After the Con, Sam and I went to Andrew's studio at the California College of The Arts.


Much of his current work depicts early 20th Century Italian mobsters and addresses Italian-American identity issues. Andrew's passion and focus in his art is truly inspiring to me.


Andrew cuts out some temporary tattoos he created; Mobster profiles.


A sign left over from his open studio exhibition in which he shined the shoes of attendees; Posing with a plaster impression made from his face [when he still had a beard].