Winking Bunny in Lavender: 11 x 17 Watercolor Original

Doug just finished this 11 x 17 winking bunny in lavender, rendered on Arches of France cold press art board using aniline dyes, the same materials he's used for his 450+ Playboy cartoons since 1964.

If attending SDCC July 23 (Preview Night) through July 27, stop by the Big Wow Art group to see Doug's new watercolor originals.

Please note:  due to the size of the artwork, instead of scanning it, the above is from a photo.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sightseeing in Washington, D.C. - National Art Gallery and Canadian Embassy

After AwesomeCon, Doug and I planned to do more sightseeing in Washington, D.C.  We spent most of our final day in the nation's capital at the National Gallery of Art/West Building, but on the way back to our hotel, we made a brief stop at the National Gallery of Art/East Building.  Although the galleries are closed for renovation, we enjoyed seeing several sculptures on display. 

One of the sculptures in the East Building atrium is Capricorn, cast in 1975 by the German-born artist Max Ernst.

Doug was intrigued by Jim Dine's The Gate, Goodbye Vermont.

Untitled, the largest mobile ever created by Alexander Calder, was my favorite.

Since we were also close to the Canadian Embassy (501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW), we stopped by but couldn't go past the security check point.

However, we were able to admire the impressive inuksuk sculpture by David Ruben Piqtoukun in the embassy lobby.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Cosplayers Enjoy Washington, D.C.'s AwesomeCon

ENTHUSIASM  and SUCCESS aptly describe AwesomeCon, held April 18-20, 2014 in the nation's capital.  It was a very well-organized event - thanks to the efforts of Ben Penrod and Steve Anderson and support from several hundred Kickstarter backers who wanted to make the second AwesomeCon bigger and better.  

It was a fun 3 days, especially for fans of cosplay; circle May 29-31 on your 2015 calendar for the third annual AwesomeCon.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

AwesomeCon: Fans Visit With Doug

Ron brought in a limited edition collectible Sneyd mermaid statue, produced by the C.S. Moore Studio, and copy of The Art of Doug Sneyd for signing.  He also commissioned a mermaid pencil sketch in the 248-page hardcover book, published by Dark Horse.

Doug was happy to personalize Eric's 11 x 17 limited edition prints.

We also enjoyed talking with Tim Sunday afternoon.

Minh, like many AwesomeCon attendees, wanted a personalized 11 x 17 bunny limited edition print as a convention souvenir.

Fans of Doug's work with Playboy - he's celebrating 50 years with the magazine this year - stopped by to chat.

And one brave fellow just wanted to have a photo taken with a classic Sneyd bunny!

AwesomeCon Autograph Request

It's always fun talking with convention attendees, who frequently ask for a photograph with Doug or a signature.

Some have autograph or sketch books; others ask for a signature in the convention program.  Many bring in copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse and a 2012 Eisner Award nominee in the Best Humor Publication category, or an issue of Playboy for a signature.

One resourceful attendee, though, at AwesomeCon in Washington, D.C. April 18-20, 2014 went to a lot of effort and downloaded color photos of the guests - what a GREAT souvenir of the 3-day event!!!

By the way, Doug does not charge for a photograph or signature.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Poison Ivy: 11 x 17 Watercolor Original

Doug is currently working on a number of superheroine watercolor originals; he just finished this 11 x 17 featuring Poison Ivy - rendered on Arches of France cold press art board using aniline dyes, the same materials he's used for his 450+ Playboy cartoons since 1964.

If attending SDCC Wednesday, July 23 (Preview Night) through Sunday, July 27, stop by the Big Wow Art group and see this new collection.

Please note: due to the size of the artwork, instead of scanning it, the above is a photo of the original.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

AwesomeCon: Pencil Portrait Sketches

Doug's pencil portrait sketches, either 10 x 14 or 16 x 20, are always popular at comics-cartoon conventions.  Catwoman and Cecilia both selected the 16 x 20 as the "perfect" AwesomeCon momento.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Cosplayers Visit Doug During AwesomeCon

Many AwesomeCon (April 18-20, 2014) attendees took cosplay seriously.  Doug was delighted to meet Emma Frost the first day; however, at first he didn't recognize the same lovely lady when she returned for a visit on Sunday.

Meika-chu - a model, special effects makeup artist and cosplayer - stopped by Artist Alley daily to say hello to Doug and me.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sightseeing in Washington, D.C. - Visting Orchid Exhibition at the U.S. Botanic Garden

The National Museum of the American Indian, set on nearly 4.5 acres, opened in 2004; it's a living memorial to Native Americans and their traditions.

We found another lone blossoming cherry tree on our way to a late afternoon visit to see "Orchid Symphony" at the U.S. Botanic Garden, which has been open to the public since 1850.

The quiet oasis featuring gorgeous orchids from around the world was the perfect ending to a busy day of sightseeing.  The next day we planned to set up for AwesomeCon, where Doug was a featured guest.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sightseeing in Washington, D.C. - Visiting National Air and Space Museum

The cherry blossoms peaked the week before Doug and I arrived in Washington, D.C. to exhibit at AwesomeCon, but a few trees were still in bloom at the entrance to the National Air and Space Museum.

The Spirit of St. Louis - flown solo by 25-year-old Charles Lindbergh on May 20-21, 1927 on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris - is one of several planes on display in the entrance hall at the National Air and Space Museum.

The Wright Flyer - a product of a 4-year (1899-1903) effort by Wilbur and Orville Wright - made aviation history as the first powered airplane.  It flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903.

Doug especially wanted to see the Spitfire Mk. VII since his older brother Neil flew  Spitfires in WW II.

We got a closer look at the Spirit of St. Louis - a custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane - from the second floor balcony

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sightseeing in Washington, D.C. - America on the Move Exhibition

After lunch at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Doug and I spent the afternoon in the museum's transportation hall.  Its nearly 26,000 square feet is dedicated to the America on the Move exhibition, displaying -

an 1840's Conestoga wagon

the John Bull locomotive, imported from England in 1831 for use on the first rail link between New York and Philadelphia

a 1900's Hansom cab where the driver sat behind passengers

the 303 (built in 1898 and retired from service in 1913), one of 16 4-wheel electric streetcars built for the Capital Traction Co. for use in Washington, D.C.

the Jupiter steam locomotive, used in Santa Clara, California for agriculture transport and later sold to Guatemala, where it hauled bananas for more than 60 years

the 1401, a Southern Railway steam locomotive built in 1926

a display tracing the famed U.S. Route 66, also referred to as the Mother Road.  The 2,448-mile highway ran between Chicago and Santa Monica, California.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)