Gates The Comic by Hal Hefner, Presented by Heavy Metal

AMAZING ARIZONA COMIC CON adds deviantART to programming schedule, with scheduled deviantMEET, panel hosted by Hal Hefner, creator of Heavy Metal’s first online comic GATES

As I alluded to earlier in the week , and it is now confirmed–I will be hosting a panel at the AMAZING ARIZONA COMIC CON.

This  is the very first Comic Con of 2011, and deviantART has decided to join in on the fun and kick off the convention circuit. And I am honored to be helping them. Taking place January 8th and 9th at Mesa Convention Center, in Phoenix, AZ, dA will be hosting a one hour panel on Saturday afternoon at 4pm, focusing on artists, and how deviantART can help take their work to the next level.

Immediately following the one hour panel, at 5pm there will be a deviantMEET where artists, both professionals and amateurs can introduce themselves and congregate with representatives from deviantART, while discussing their experiences and a whole lot more. As an artist, I really love to help other artists in any way I can. It’s great to get advice, and I myself seek it all the time so please feel free to seek me out and chat me up.

FREE deviantART schwag be be given away at the event. Be a part of the action! It’s going to be fun.

deviantART Panel

Saturday January 8th, 4pm
Hal Hefner, creator of Heavy metal Magazine’s first Online comic Gates, will moderate a panel discussing how artists looking to break into the comic book or illustration industry can use deviantART as a springboard to build a fan base, portfolio and more to attract potential employers, publishers and more.

We will discuss success stories such as Hal’s and Dan LuVisi’s with Heavy Metal. Additional panelists include Karl Alstatter of MTV Geek Me2, Nicole Jordan from dA’s Los Angeles Headquarters and more.

To Find out more about deviantART and their Special Program at the AMAZING ARIZONA COMIC CON, join the discussion- http://nicolejordan.deviantart.com/journal/37302920/

For More Information about the AMAZING ARIZONA COMIC CON, check out our links at-
Web: http://www.AmazingArizonaComicCon.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazing-Arizona-Comic-Con/153989404640173
FB Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103296223070393
Twitter: @amazingcomiccon , @halhefner, @danluvisiart

Me & deviantART:

Although I’ve only been a deviant for about 3 years, I really love dA and what it has done for artists. It’s a great congregation of those that are young and old, being friends sharing art and bonding over likes and dislikes. Ironically Dan LuVisi is the one who introduced me to dA a few years ago. I had heard about it but never knew what it was.

I loaded up a few images and was on my way. It was great to get instant feedback and find a whole bunch of new friends from across the world, spanning all ages. It’s been pretty fun being a part of it and watching it grow.  I have to say that being on this panel and hosting this panel is pretty awesome.I will be recording it and placing it the site after the con.

I can’t say enough how much I’ve learned form talking with other artists. Sharing techniques and tips is almost tribal and passing down ideas from one generation to the next I think is something as an artist you MUST do. Giving back is extremely important.

And to follow up on lending an artistic hand/advice, here’s a little video tip I did a while back about contracting colors in painting.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA_iIsCxUNs[/youtube]