2 cons in 3 weeks

So that's what a full con experience is like! I'd driven to a couple local comic cons for a quick walk-around before, but never a full "fly somewhere, rent a room with buddies, stay for the whole con" thing before.

I spent most of the time at the drawing tables with friends/online art people, and that's pretty much exactly what I wanted to do! Got a ton of stuff drawn both by me and the others, which will hopefully start getting posted pretty soon.

The 2nd con was a local one so there was no flying involved, and damn there were so many people I knew there; a large part of the
OOPs Discord chat group, and one particularly awesome yinglet suit that got all the little details right.

It was incredibly uplifting and humbling to see so many people gathered there because of a shared interest in some part of what I've been doing; rather than bask in all the attention, all I wanted to do is let everyone know how much I appreciate them. To me, if felt like I was there for them, not the other way around.

I mean, take the Patreon thing just by itself. These are people, not the financial department of some corporate office, directly giving me their own hard-earned money, in order to support what I'm doing.

I'm still completely humbled by that. I've noticed I've been putting a lot more thought into how I spend my money, because I remember every time I spend that money, it came directly from someone who feels what I do is worth supporting.

Anyway! Cons. These last two in such a short period have definitely set me back a little in terms of productivity, so I'll be taking a break form others for a while, but they will clearly be far from my last.

I just know I'm gonna end up having a table at one of these things sooner or later, probably selling physical OOPs books and/or weird merchandise and stuff.

So on that note, I'm really glad I wasn't exhausted by all the conversation and meeting people; just the opposite, in fact! I talked more in the last 2 days than I ever have in a 24 hour period in my entire life. And yet, I would've had long, meaningful conversations with absolutely everyone if I wasn't limited by the constraints of time. I wanted to let every single person know how grateful and excited I was that they were enjoying something I'd put so much work into.

All in all, both cons were absolutely wonderful experiences for me, so it looks like I'll be attending them semi-regularly now. Thanks to everyone who showed up, and to everyone else who help support this stuff I'm doing. 

You all are why I get up in the morning and draw ridiculous stiltrats and lizard maids, and also why I am able to do it fulltime. 

Oh damn, looks like it's Valentine's Day, too. So I guess it's appropriate to say I totally love you all.