Thought bubble

Yesterday I went to check out the thought bubble comic convention, I would't usually attend an event like this but I thought it would be something a different and interesting.

As I said, I'm not a massive hardcore comic book nerd myself so I mainly looked at things that would appeal to me, and that I could see myself producing. These included postcards, greetings cards, images printed onto products such as phone cases and stickers, and also zines and books. It was very inspiring to see these products being sold at a well known organisation; it's given me some inspiration and something to aspire towards.

I especially loved these screen printed children books. I noticed that with conventions like these that there is sometimes a niched market stereotype of 'comic book nerds' like I even said myself. But it was great how there were products like these to appeal to younger audiences too.

Here was the BA Illustration zine table!! (Sophie and Joe were camera shy)

It was great to see a huge range of zines on display reflecting all of the hard work that had gone into producing them. 

I also had some good feedback, somebody bought my zine and wrote a post on instagram about it! YAY! 

My haul

I didn't have a massive budget but I managed to come away with some great postcards, stickers and zines. My favourites were 'four days in Budapest' by Emily Rose; I loved the red and blue colour scheme and how the zine documents her findings in a new surrounding in a reportage kind of style. I also loved the ABC of buildings, as I am really enjoying taking in and recording architecture myself at the moment, I am kicking myself because I didn't take down the name of the illustrator!!

Reflection

Thought Bubble was a great way to open to my eyes in a direction that I could potentially take my practice, as well as informing myself about the world of comics and narrative imagery. There is a huge market and demand for these kinds of products out there, as well as things and ways of working that I have already started to develop.

Talking to illustrators and artists on the stands about their lives and individual practices has given me a sense of reality too, and some of them gave me some good advice in terms of finding myself within illustration (mainly just to stop being so uptight and relax and enjoy the process more!).

I'm just thinking that in a years time, that could possibly be me on a stand selling products and publications that I have produced. It is a massive step for me but who knows how far I will come in a year!