Calgary Comic Expo - a Real Learning Experience

So, last weekend I was at the Calgary Comic Expo, which had an estimated 50,000 people attend. Obviously most of these never saw my stuff, or I would have been sold out. ;-)  But seriously, I know that my Artist Alley space should have been much better displayed than it was.  I have a tonne of ideas for future such events.

One thing I'm going to do is make, buy, or rent a higher table to set up behind the one that is already there. This will add another layer and some more table space. Plus the higher table will give a bit of a backing to set up some 2-dimensional works on. So, imagine another, higher table that probably is as high as the open (raised) part of the jewellery case shown here.

Now, in addition to that I want to get something to set up prints of and/or original paintings and drawings on behind these tables. So, with that I can display much more! And speaking of displaying more.... I want to have a suit of armour finished so that I can set that off to the side as part of my display, too! Imagine how cool it would look, and how many people it would attract, to have that by my space!

And I want all of these moved into the back part of my space, so that I can be in front of it all the time. I would also like to have a stand-up easel so that I can do a little bit of work while I'm there. It would be nice to show that I do original hand drawn and painting work, rather than the computer generated stuff that is so common at these kinds of shows. And this whole set up would work at any kind of trade show!

I do have some upcoming shows:

1. Mediaeval May: May 27, 2012 at Ritchie Hall (7727 - 98 Street, Edmonton), from 11 am to 4 pm.
2. Discover-E Trade Show, June 23, 2012, at the Executive Royal Inn (178 Street & 100 Ave, Edmonton)
3. Knights of the Nortern Realm, 11th annual Tournament and Market, Saturday, July 7, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
   Dr. Wilbur McIntyre Park, 104 Street & 83 Avenue - good weather location
   Ritchie Community Centre, 7727  - 98 Street - bad weather location

Come to these all. I'll have new work at each of them, of course. 

Hope to see lots of people at all of these!

Martial Arts and Life Long Learning

Yesterday I participated in the annual Bushido Alberta Open, which is one of the larger open martial arts tournaments in our fair province. I fought in six events: longsword, double-stick, sword & dagger, dagger, single stick, and black belt (point) sparring. And my son, Daveed, sparred in the event for his age group (6 & 7-year-olds). I'm pretty proud of him for his participation! He did really well, when you look at it. Was that other kid actually seven? He's a giant!



Yes, martial arts is a big part of my life. I teach a class every Tuesday evening here in Edmonton. It concentrates mostly on weapons, and is a complete system (meaning that it includes all modes of self defence, from unarmed to using improvised weapons to specific training with a variety of weapons, historical and modern).

Back to yesterday... My kids were both with me, and they both said that they had a lot of fun! I, of course, enjoyed myself, too. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't fun. :-) I managed to take two medals, both silver (one doesn't look silver, because they ran out of bronze medals, so were using gold for silver, and silver for bronze... odd); one for the sword and dagger, the other for the black belt point sparring. I was so exhausted by the end of the day that I was surprised I managed to do that! The last fight was one of the better fights I've had in years, as the techniques were so clean and crisp against the other guy (and from him, of course), that it was a lot like poetry in motion. I wish I had been able to film it. Not just to see what it was from an outsider's view, but also to analyze my fighting to see how I could improve. Yes, I know for a fact that I can greatly improve my skills! But learning and improvement is a life-long endeavour, regardless of what skills one is referring to.

I know that the martial arts is something that I will do as long as my body is fit enough for me to move well enough. And even then I will continue to try and learn. One thing I learned is that I am sorely out of shape! I woke up this morning and could hardly move, my muscles were so full of lactic acid. Ouch! Even now raising my right arm is painful in the shoulder muscles. It gives me more resolve to get into better shape, though. I want to be one of those old men, when I'm in my sixties and seventies, who runs circles around guys in their thirties. Heh heh! But lots of work to do before that happens. I figure it'll take me a year to get into the kind of shape that I want to be, with working out on a regular basis (at least 3 times per week). I know what I'm doing at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning...