10 Years of Dragon Con!

This labor day weekend marks the 10th anniversary of my artwork getting accepted into the Dragon Con Art Show.

Ever since attending this amazing convention for the first time, I dreamed of being a part of their art show. With encouragement from my family I attempted to join the show. But was rejected by the judges. :( The next year I reluctantly applied again. 2008 was apparently my year, I passed the jury.

I proudly set up my booth with my make shift signs and backdrop. I felt like a fraud that first year. I was selling my artwork next to amazing artists, with years of experience behind them. No matter what I felt or not, the artists and art directors welcomed me into the DCon family.

This was the set up at my 1st craft show ever, as you can see my booth has come along way from this first tiny show.
I didn't even have sculptures yet and Yes, that is a poster-board sign with masking tape. LOL

More handmade signs and displays.
My family and I call this colorful table cloth "the magic carpet" and it has been covering my booth table every single show since 2007.

2009 and you can see my booth is looking a little more put together. 

2nd Dragon Con booth set up. Not too bad, still had so much to learn though.

2011 Dragon Con booth set up. Starting to look legit? 

Dragon Con is the largest Sci-fi/Fantasy convention in the South-East, with over 80,000 attendees last year, but only a decade ago it was bringing in 30,000 people, still the largest show I had ever been a part of.
10 years later and this art show has proven to be my most successful convention each year. I have won several awards in the Art show, from best fairy to best horror, believe it or not. :)

I have also met the most crazy yet most interesting people here and made many friends and con buddies.
I completely believe you never stop progressing and improving as long as you keep doing, and the same goes for shows/conventions.  Each year I learn something new about my art and the business.

2014 booth set up.

2015 booth set up.

2016 booth set up.

2017 booth set up.

Though it is a stressful time, getting ready for this convention every year;

Taking months to build inventory and working many nights and weekends to prepare, I love this Art show and the inspiration it has been for me.

Here's a look at how far my artwork has come in the 10 years of Dragon Con. :)

Dragon pals 2008

Dragon Pals 2011

Dragon Pals 2014

Dragon Pals 2018

Steampunk Dragon Pals 2012

Steampunk Dragon Pals 2013

Steampunk Dragon Pals 2014

Steampunk Animal Pals 2013

Steampunk Animal Pals 2014

Steampunk Animal Pals 2015

Steampunk Animal Pals 2016

Looking forward to being apart of Dragon Con again this September. Can't wait to see everyone there. :)
Thanks to everyone that has supported my art and encouraged me over the years. And Thanks to Dragon Con for letting this little artist be a part of this awesome show for 10 years. :)

A super special Thank You to the people that help me at the show every single year, without these few I would not be able to handle the stress of those 4 con days. I love you all so much and appreciate all your help. Laralee, Julie, JR and my sweet wonderful husband.

Thank you for reading!
~Caralyn

Con Sketches!

Over the past 10 years I have vended at many Conventions. Cons can be super long weekends and are extremely exhausting. But when I am not chatting up customers, having crazy geek conversations or making new con buddies, I need a way to past the time. A great way to deal with the few down times of a convention is to do CON SKETCHES!!! Creative individuals ask for special custom artwork and I am more than happy to oblige. And it never fails to surprise me how imaginative people can be with some of the sketches they request.

Farscape and Dragon Pals

Foxy tea time

Dragon Con Dragon Pal

Firefly Dragon (Dragonfly) :D 

Nick the Fox

CrisCross Bat

Gwenpool Banana Phone

Gwenpool Mary poppins

There are plenty more sketches that I haven't posted and there are many more sketches to be sketched. So if you see me at a Convention, feel free to walk right up and ask for a Con Sketch...I'm probably not really doing anything anyway. LOL :)

Can't think of a sketch you would like? No problem, check out my Etsy store for some fun prints.

Thanks for reading Everyone!

~Caralyn 

Dragon Con has Come and Gone

Another Dragon Con is over. Had a great show; almost all of my little Steampunk and Fantasy animal pals found new homes. I got a huge response over my newest gallery pieces, several of my large sculptures sold. Got to meet so many interesting people and hang out with my Con Buddies. A Big Thank you to everyone that came by my booth!
Dragon Con was alot of fun, I can't wait to see everyone next year.
Taking a small break from sculpting but only for a a week or two so don't worry, I will be back to work soon. :)
I'm still updating my Etsy store with the pieces that were left after the Convention and my newest Prints but I should have all my available pieces listed no later than tomorrow.
Until next time DragonCon!

Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn

See you next year ConNooga!

  ConNooga, another great show. As always I got to meet so many interesting people and hang with some con buddies. I participated in my very 1st panel on Saturday with the ConNooga featured artists of the previous years. I was the only female artist out of ten, so needless to say I felt special. :) Also my art work was all over the Con, helping attendees find their way around. It was super exciting to see all the banners.

My art is the awesome one with the dragon :D

Always make sure to ask before you touch :P

Thank you everyone that stopped by and Welcome to all the new Mystic Reflections Followers! Can't wait to see you again next year ConNooga!

I will be posting any of my little guys I have left on my Etsy store soon. :)
Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn 

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT!!!

Hello Art Fans!
The Dragon Can Art Show is fast approaching (ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO EEP!) and I haven't completely gone bananas yet....I think that is a pretty good accomplishment...I deserve some type of glittery star sticker :)
So I'm super excited for this year, especially due to how well last year's Art Show went. That was our best year ever so I'm hoping to break the record with 2015's Art Show...fingers crossed.

I have a whole bunch of brand new pieces for the show. My Gallery will have two new fairy sculptures, my Traveling Turtle and his fairy friend and a racing snail with his rider :)

 Also I will have several new prints available at my booth this year, includes Steampunk set, Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent, and some small StarWars and Firefly Doodles...don't you just wanna Squeeee :)

And I can't forget my little guys! I have been sculpting my little fingers off to make a tiny army of Steampunk animal pals and I think I've done pretty well. Here's the Dragon Can Art Show Class of 2015 (Steampunk Honors Class) :D

Well, I need to go finish getting ready, the show will be upon us in a blink of an eye and I still have Prints to mat so I will leave you but I hope to see you all there, come by my booth and say hi to me and my little animal friends :)

Thanks for reading, Tootles!
~Caralyn

Never Any Doubt.....okay maybe a little...

Heard back from the Dragon Con Art Show Jury, I got in to the Art show....7 years of Dragon Con and it is still nerve-racking to go through jury. But now to get to work on some brand new Gallery pieces, I'm getting started a bit later than normal but this year has been crazy busy.
Anyhoo, got some fun stuff planned, new Framed sculptures, more animal pals, Steampunk animals pals and Steampunk dragons , some of my Steampunk Pocket Watches and a few other little critters including my Cute'Thuluhs, this will be their 1st Dragon Con. :)

So much to do before September!

Can't wait for Dragon Con to see my little guys? You're in Luck, I will be at TimeGate Con May 22nd - 24th, so make sure to stop by and see us :)

Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn

Until Next Year D-Con

WOW! What a Great Dragon Con! My best year ever. :)
Of all the Dragons and animal pals, I only went home with one, just one little lonely guy...don't worry, I gave him a kiss so he would feel loved LOL :P Guess I will have to get to work on new ones real soon :) 
I got to meet so many amazing people and got to see my awesome pals from previous years too. Thank you all so much for coming by to see me and my little friends. Everyone was so nice and positive and just made the 4 days so awesome!
BIG WELCOME to all the new Mystic Reflection followers! :D
And super special Thanks to my dear friends and family who I would never be able to survive this huge busy show without their help.   
Looking forward to next year.

Thanks for reading!
~Caralyn 

Things to do in Atlanta this Father's Day Weekend!

HEY ART FANS!!!

Just wanted to do a quick blog to let you all know what I will be up to this weekend. My hubby and I will be at Sci-Fi Summer Con in Atlanta, I know, I know, it's Father's Day weekend...well Dad's like Art and Books and Sci-Fi so bring him along :)

Check out Sci-Fi Summer Con here!

My hubby will have copies of both of his Winston and Baum books for your Dad...or yourself. ;) 

I will have lots of prints and a few of my sculptures, my inventory is a little small at this show but I still have a few little guys that would love for someone to adopt them :) Not sure the exact location of our booth but I know we will be in the dealer room so make sure to come by and see us! :D 

Thanks for reading!

~Caralyn