Alternative Press Expo

Myself with Joanne Matte (http://rufftoon.deviantart.com/)

I meant to post this earlier to when the event ended, but due to other scholastic-related commitments have been unable to do so... until now.

The Alternative Press Expo (APE) is a comics convention for self-publishers, independent publishers and alternative cartoonists to showcase their art and works. The recent event, held in the Concourse in San Francisco showcased about 100+ independent comic artists and publishers to showcase alternative comic and artwork. In today's art and design world, getting your name and work out there is key. Venues such as APE allow for artists to put themselves out on the market, without having to compete against the big corporate faces such as DC comics or big-time established names to show their work and hopefully get their work out to generate interest to become "viral". Viral networking isn't limited to just the computer, it is a tool to help us get out there in real life, and with the help of events such as APE, artists are allowed to "viral" their works, free pamphlets, selling printed material, etc, these are the venues to spreading your work outside of the internet.

I was fortunate to meet Mrs. Matte, whom outside of her professional job as an animator/storyboard artist enjoys her time creating fan comics as well as self-publish her own original stories and ideas to share with fans and enthusiasts alike. When I asked her what it took to become successful in such a field, she said it was to "never give up, and if one company doesn't like the idea, refine it and take it to another" and to keep going, but if it all fails, then take time and rework it, or come up with something even better. It's this "trial and error" process that I mentioned in the "designerific method" idea in my last entry that I think is the key to success in any field.

APE is an excellent venue to go to check out alternative comics and get opinions and critique from other artists, many of which are veterans/seniors in the field and can provide excellent feedback.

for more information, visit their website at http://www.comic-con.org/ape/