Gen Con Indy–the place to go for gaming…and art! 

I’ve been to conventions for the fine art and decorative painting fields, but never to one for gaming. Walking to the convention center we mingled on the streets of Indy alongside various wizards and manga characters–fun! And once we got there, wow! People playing card and dice games in the hallways, videogames everywhere, row after row of dice and miniatures for sale, tables overflowing with plushies, booths stuffed with games and books and costumes.

But my favorite was all the art! IMPACT author Stephanie Pui-Mun Law had her Shadowscapes booth set up and filled with ethereal art prints, original paintings, painted tiles–I couldn’t pass it up without buying a tile, which she so nicely signed for me. I was starstruck for sure! Check Shadowscapes art out here.

Featured artist, Omar Rayyan, had a space in the art gallery section at which I could easily have spent the whole day perusing through sheet after sheet of original work he had just scatted about on the table–he jokingly told me he’d charge a fee if I stayed more than an hour Check out Omar’s Studio Rayyan art here.

Never did I dream that I would be gaga over trading card art, but seeing it there, in person, and meeting the artists was an experience I would not have missed. For those of you who love gaming or who just appreciate super cool art, be sure to check out Gen Con soon!

If you are interested in gaming, Gen Con is the place to be! Gen Con Indy has been going on for over 40 years and features some of the newest games on the market, sneak peaks at up-and-comings, and booth after booth of game-related FUN, and runs this year August 13-16, 2009.

The IMPACT staff will be walking the show floor on Friday, August 14, visiting some of our favorite IMPACT authors (Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Bill O’Connor, Chris Seaman, and Jim Pavelec to name a few), and just seeing what there is to see. We hope to see some of you too!

IMPACT had another great year at the San Diego Comic-Con last week. Many authors did book signings at our booth, and it was great to spend time with them: Scape Martinez (GRAFF); Chris Ryall and Scott Tipton (Comic Books 101); Randy Martinez (Creature Features); Harry Hamernik (Face Off and Cartoonimals); Brian and Kristy Miller (Hi-Fi Color for Comics); Peter David (Writing for Comics and Graphic Novels with Peter David, Revised); and Andy Schmidt (The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics).

Many authors also had their own tables or booths, such as Stephanie Pui-Mun Law (Dreamscapes), and many participated in our IMPACT University panel on How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels along with Comics Buyer’s Guide editor Maggie Thompson.

As Editorial Director of IMPACT, for me, the con was filled with scouting authors, promoting IMPACT, noting trends and absorbing as much as I can about the entertainment and comics industries (despite its name, this convention is not just about comics—it’s popular entertainment of all sorts). There were lots of panels, including many how-to art sessions, and it was great to see what’s coming up from the plethora of creators and publishers represented in all of the popular styles IMPACT covers. Lots of new ideas and contacts I’m excited to follow up on—a great time!

Pam Wissman, Editorial Director

IMPACT Books

ArtistsNetwork.tv

North Light Books

Want great art instruction at the click of a button? You’re in luck! Many of your favorite IMPACT books are now available for purchase on ebooks.com. DragonArt, Dreamscapes, Street Scene and Face Off (just to name a few) are already available, and more are on the way. The downloads can be viewed on tablet PCs, PCs, Macs and laptops.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter by clicking the link at the top of the page. This link will take you to our sister site, www.artistsnetwork.com.

We are three months into 2009, and taking a look back at our bestselling IMPACT art instruction of 2008. Dreamscapes: Creating Magical Angel, Faery & Mermaid Worlds With Watercolor is at the top of our list.

Against the backdrop of her magical watercolor art, author Stephanie Pui-Mun Law shows how to evoke not simply fantasy, but the fantastic. Step by inspired step, you’ll learn to paint the otherworlds’ most achingly beautiful creatures and exquisite settings. Twenty projects show how to bring glorious beings to life in scenes that are elegantly styled, brilliantly colored, and pulsing with a sense of mystery and wonder:

• Delightful Details: From angel wings to mermaid tails, from flowing robes to fairy masquerade ball gowns…learn to paint an imaginative variety of one-of-a kind details inspired by nature.
• Fabulous Realms: Create strange and lovely backgrounds, from the meandering oak branches of faery folk, to the celestial surrounding of angels, to underwater flora and fauna where mermaids dwell.
• Mystical Effects: Learn special watercolor techniques for painting glowing pixies, magic sparks, and otherwise adding an air of excitement and mystery to your paintings.

Click here to browse inside this book and feel the wonder of believing in fairytales…of painting your dreams. Available for purchase here, or at your favorite online or brick-and-mortar bookseller.