This image and subsequent slide rescues belong to my earliest days as a science fiction and fantasy artist. I was still an amateur when I made this. In those distant days, science fiction conventions were new to me and full of fascinating stuff and people to meet. You could even meet your favorite science fiction author and even sell them art! One way to display art was by wearing it as a nametag miniature. Designed to fit into clear plastic convention badge holders, these watercolor or acrylic tiny pictures were status symbols as well as personal expressions.
I used to make a series of generic themes and scenes, leaving a blank area for the name. Then I would sell them, either in person or through an agent, at conventions. The buyer (or my agent) would send it back to me, and I would letter it with my choice of type. Then I would send it back to the buyer. This one here gave me much status as it was bought by a major science fiction author, C.J. Cherryh. I enjoyed the nametag miniatures because I could mix type with images.
It's hard for me to remember how exciting and fun it was to go to conventions in those days. I really felt I had a future as a science fiction and fantasy artist. That was 34 years ago. I wonder whether she still has the nametag. Highly improbable.
C.J. Cherryh's nametag was watercolor on Fabriano thick paper, 3 1/2" x 2 1/4", summer 1977.
2 comments:
Very cool that someone famous wanted and got a name tag from you. In some fandom badges as they are now called are still BIG! The furry fandom loves and collects these!
Off topic...you still owe me 2 ACEOs (small art cards), might I get one of them at Balticon?
Tristan: I did the Gothic one for you, now I just have to find it :-)
I'll try to get another one done for you by Balticon, I hope to see you there!
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