BRISTOL COMIC EXPO 2007 MEGA POST!!!Hello all, this post is a whopper.
Last weekend was the Bristol Comic Expo. My first Bristol convention was in 2004, where i arrived with a portfolio and a bucket full of dreams. It went quite well, got some nice reception to my work and a lot of advice on how to improve it.
Cut to three years later, i have a job drawing comics, a lot of good friends in 'the biz' and an award nominated book under my belt
This years Bristol Expo was my first time attending as a 'pro.' This was first year where i was a guest, rather than a fan, so i was really looking forward to it. Obviously, there was the whole Eagle thing, so i was nervous about how that would pan out. I'd love to say i was sure we'd win it but in truth i had no idea, the competition seemed pretty stiff.
Well, i got to Bristol on Friday, and once i'd met up with my friends Pádraic and Will, some copious amounts of drinking took place. Which, was probably not a good idea considering the state of me the next day. Was great meeting up with everyone, including Andy Winter (Hero Killers writer), Stephen Mooney(former Freak Show artist who's moved onto bigger things) and his lovely fiancé Jackie, Rob and Brian (from Atomic Diner), John Hendrick and the Millarworld crew, Birmingham's favourite sons Ben, Andy and Shane, as well as
Your Round collaborator James Hodgkins.
That night was the Eagle Awards. Myself and Andy had consoled ourselves to the fact we wouldn't win and predicted a FutureQuake win, just so we wouldn't get our hopes up. The dinner and preceeding awards were absolute torture. I was going quietly mad. The closer to the result we got, the more nervous I got. I just wanted to know the result, good or bad. Lot's of people came up to me at our table, wishing us look, which i really appreciated, even if it didn't seem like it at the time.
Then, the nominations list for our catagory. The strangest thing happened. When the
Hero Killers nomination was announced, there was this big cheer from pretty much the whole room. I expected a cheer from my mates at the back (at the bar, of course) but lots of people who I don't know (and can only assume don't know me) were cheering for us, and then the next nomination was announced, followed by complete silence. I couldn't believe it. People really liked our little book. The comic i'd drawn in my bedroom in Limerick had just gotten a huge cheer. Wow. I was still in shock when Hero Killers was announced as the winner! Huh? What? Urm? Andy went mental. I was just in shock. We went up to the stage, still in shock. Andy said something to the crowd. Can't remember what he said, but it was quite lovely. All that was running through my head was "What'll i say?" Then it hit me; a mate of mine said something class in a 'thanks message' before. It read 'Thanks to everyone who helped, and to those who didn't? Thanks for nothin!' Thought that would be something funny to cap it off. Unfortunately, everyone was still applauding what Andy had said, so all the heard from me, was "THANKS FOR NOTHING".............
I should have just kept my mouth shut.
Declan Shalvey; Award winning asshole.I soon brushed that off and had a blast that night, with a permanent grin on my face. Got back to the hostel at five in the morning. I didn't need drink that night, i was buzzing from the whole awards experience.
Sunday was great, was in much better shape to do sketches, did some really nice ones actually, caught up with some more people, got a lot of congratulations off a lot of people, which meant an awful lot to me. Had a very promising interview for future work. Got to finally catch up with David Bailie and spent a great evening with him, Joel Meadows and co., which included a fine steak for dinner.
Finally collapsed from lack of sleep, having had the best Bristol ever.
Here's some more photos....
David Bailie and Joel Meadows on a romantic nature stroll.
VikThing bringin' sexy back.
Ben McCool and ...eh i can't remember this lady's name, but she was very nice.
And this my friends, is what an Eagle Award for Favouritr British Black and White Comicbook 20006, looks like. No, not the Magners bottle, the silver thing.
I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who voted for mine and Andy's book. I am so absolutely chuffed. To get this award so early in my career has given me such a boost, and a drive do do the best work i can. I'd also like to thank everyone who wished us well, who congratulated us and a big thanks to the guys at our table for listening to us moan about how we weren't going to win.........
....guess we were wrong.
Dec
Finished this last night; another comission. I'd never drawn Doctor Strange properly before, so this was a lot of fun to do. Off to Ireland today, to do a signing in Sub City in Galway this saturday from 12 O'Clock. Come if you dare! Looking forward to a few days home and seeing friends. Probably no posts for a week.
Here's the finished Shadow commission. Since i liked the original sketch so much, i magnified it and lighboxed it onto the artboard. I wanted to keep the image looking 'fresh'. Sometines when you re-draw an image it looks stale, or just not as exciting as the sketch. So by lightboxing the sketch instead of re-drawing it, i thing i manages to keep it feeling loose, while still having a finished piece.
Greetings All. No posts for the last week cuz Declan has been rather busy. Last saturday was the launch for my own self-published book; YOUR ROUND: TEQUILA. It arrived in Aberdeen on the Thursday, two days before the signing. YOUR ROUND is an anthology book based on drinking stories. It features stories by myself, Bob Byrne, James Hodgkins and Mike McLean. Jaysus, i must have gone on about this a rake of times already, you should all know bout this by now.
Bob Byrne, my on-off boyfriend came over to share the signing duties, bless him. We signed and sketched from 10 AM till 6PM. We were fairly knackered at this stage, and we were more than happy to stop. Unfortunately, we couldn't. We had a launch party to go to an hour later which included even more signing and sketching. Sigh. We finished up around 11PM!!! Christ, we were knackered. Still, i had a blast with the Bobster. 
My favourite bit was when i was sketching something for a fan and someone asked Bob if he was doing requets for sketches. He flatly responded 'No. Here, have this one.' And gave the guy a drawing he'd done 5 minutes beforehand. i reckon he was scared of someone askin for a Spider-man. In fact, i'm sure someone asked him for a superhero sketch, but sent 'em straight onto me. No bull, i must have done over 50 sketches that day. Another fun bit was a sketch request Bob made. To draw a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle. I'd say i hadn't drawn one in 10 years, and knocked one one out, lookin the same as i drew them back when i was a kid. But, the absolute highlight was a competition between me and Bob as to who could draw the best 'Zombie Care bear.' I lost, obviously, but it was a close race. Bob took a photo, i'll post it once he sends it to me.
Bob doing sketches at the launch.
Me and Bob, signing our lives away.......
Me, sketching with come issues of a great comic in front of him.
Last weekend was the Bristol Comic Expo. My first Bristol convention was in 2004, where i arrived with a portfolio and a bucket full of dreams. It went quite well, got some nice reception to my work and a lot of advice on how to improve it.
That night was the Eagle Awards. Myself and Andy had consoled ourselves to the fact we wouldn't win and predicted a FutureQuake win, just so we wouldn't get our hopes up. The dinner and preceeding awards were absolute torture. I was going quietly mad. The closer to the result we got, the more nervous I got. I just wanted to know the result, good or bad. Lot's of people came up to me at our table, wishing us look, which i really appreciated, even if it didn't seem like it at the time.
Then, the nominations list for our catagory. The strangest thing happened. When the Hero Killers nomination was announced, there was this big cheer from pretty much the whole room. I expected a cheer from my mates at the back (at the bar, of course) but lots of people who I don't know (and can only assume don't know me) were cheering for us, and then the next nomination was announced, followed by complete silence. I couldn't believe it. People really liked our little book. The comic i'd drawn in my bedroom in Limerick had just gotten a huge cheer. Wow. I was still in shock when Hero Killers was announced as the winner! Huh? What? Urm? Andy went mental. I was just in shock. We went up to the stage, still in shock. Andy said something to the crowd. Can't remember what he said, but it was quite lovely. All that was running through my head was "What'll i say?" Then it hit me; a mate of mine said something class in a 'thanks message' before. It read 'Thanks to everyone who helped, and to those who didn't? Thanks for nothin!' Thought that would be something funny to cap it off. Unfortunately, everyone was still applauding what Andy had said, so all the heard from me, was "THANKS FOR NOTHING"............. 
Sunday was great, was in much better shape to do sketches, did some really nice ones actually, caught up with some more people, got a lot of congratulations off a lot of people, which meant an awful lot to me. Had a very promising interview for future work. Got to finally catch up with David Bailie and spent a great evening with him, Joel Meadows and co., which included a fine steak for dinner.
David Bailie and Joel Meadows on a romantic nature stroll.
VikThing bringin' sexy back.
Ben McCool and ...eh i can't remember this lady's name, but she was very nice.
And this my friends, is what an Eagle Award for Favouritr British Black and White Comicbook 20006, looks like. No, not the Magners bottle, the silver thing.
Sancho, the Eagle Award nominated comicbook, brought to you by the good folk at 20,000Leagues have a new issue out soon. Issue 4 to be specific, with a cover done by yours truly.
Yep, In an article on this years Bristol Comic Expo in Meg 258 or this months Judge Dredd Megazine Hero Killers is mentioned as a book to look out for. 
