Artists
Ai-Kon 2018 Art Table Sale Date
Interested in becoming an artist at Ai-Kon 2018? All information is available at the “Becoming an Artist” page!
Winterfest 2018 Art Auction
This is a call for those who want to put a piece of artwork into the Artist’s Auction which will be on display in the Marketplace for Winterfest 2018!
This call is open to all artists – you are not required to have an art table to enter and artists who don’t have tables are encouraged to enter a piece into the auction!
How To Enter:
Forms will be at the Artist Registration Desk. Each piece will have a silent auction form.
Artists will set their own starting price and minimum bid.
Submissions will be taken until 1:30 pm, February 24th, 2018.
Transactions between the winning bidders and artists must occur between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm on February 24th, 2018, before the Marketplace closes.
Payments can be given to you in person, or via mail/Paypal, but this is to be discussed with the top bidder(s).
All profits will go directly to the artist!
The Winterfest Artist’s Auction Rules:
- Limit of one entry per person, due to space constraints. Submissions are on a first come, first serve basis.
- Artwork must be anime or Japanese culture-inspired (including games, history, fashion, etc.) in any medium, with the exception of food.
- Fanart is acceptable.
- No reproductions of existing works are permitted.
- No “upcycled” materials – ie: toys, licensed fabrics, etc.
- Sexually explicit or explicitly violent artwork is not permitted as the art will be displayed openly and this is an all-ages event.
- If entering jewelry or accessories, the artist will need to provide their own display stands.
- If entering a flat, 2D print or traditional piece, it is preferred that the piece is ready to hang (ie: matted/mounted or framed).
- Artists must pick up unsold or unclaimed pieces by 9:00 pm at the Artist Registration Desk. Any pieces not picked up by the original artist will be held onto until Ai-Kon 2018. *Additional pickups may be available if coordinated with the Marketplace Assistant. Any artwork not picked up by Sunday at noon of Ai-Kon 2018 will become property of Ai-Kon and used as we see fit.
It is preferred that pieces put in the auction be one of a kind. Digital art prints will be accepted, as long as only one has been made!
Any questions please email the Marketplace Assistant at lroberts@ai-kon.org!
Winners: Ai-Kon 2018 Mini Mascot Contest
We have our winners for our 2018 Mascot Contest!
First place goes to zearyu for her lovely depiction of Aiko!
Second place goes to Designs by Sloan for her cute and neko-themed Aiko!
Third place goes to Linda Y. (brownrabbits) for her serene and watercolour-inspired goddess Aiko!
The Ai-Kon Committee would like to sincerely thank all the artists who took time to design and draw Aiko for the contest. We received a large amount of gorgeous entries this year and really enjoyed looking at each of them as we discussed voting. Thank you for your time, innovation and creativity! Our 2018 mascot gallery can be viewed here! We are looking forward to seeing you at Ai-Kon.
Ai-Kon 2018 art table sales will be announced in the new year!
Winner: Winterfest 2018 Mini Mascot Contest
Congratulations to Vania C. for her dynamic depiction of our adorable (and mischievous) Doug for Winterfest! Vania will be present at Winterfest selling her artwork.
Thank you to all the artists for their wonderful Doug entries – we were all very pleased and excited with all the variations of Doug and delicious foods! All entries can be viewed in our mascot gallery. See you all at Winterfest!!
Winterfest 2018 Art Table Sale Date
Please read full artist information package and rules here: Winterfest 2018 Artist Info Package
Winterfest art tables are currently SOLD OUT! To apply for the waiting list, please submit the form located here: Winterfest 2018 Art Table Application.
Please email art@ai-kon.org with any questions!
AI-KON 2018 MASCOT CONTEST
The Ai-Kon 2018 Mascot Contest is now closed!
The sound of bells and prayers is in the air! It’s festival time and this year we are celebrating the festival of Aiko, our beloved and benevolent kami. Aiko has bestowed a harmonious and bountiful year for Ai-Kon and she will appear before her adoring followers at these annual celebrations! At the deity’s matsuri, priestesses and shrine maidens gather to send their hopes and wishes for a happy 2018. As she appears, the masses grow silent in wonder. This year’s theme is Kami/Matsuri Aiko.
Generally, Aiko is a cheerful, stylish, energetic anime girl with pink hair and blue eyes. Please keep the eye and hair colour but feel free to change the attitude to suit the theme. Also remember that Ai-Kon is a family friendly convention.
What is a kami? A kami is a Japanese god/goddess, divinity, deity or spirit. While kami traditionally possess both positive and negative traits, this year’s theme will focus on a benevolent Aiko in all her glory. A matsuri is a Japanese festival or festive occasion. You may also choose to design Aiko not as a kami, but as a human attending a festival – this may include shrine maidens, priestesses, or general festival attendee in yukata or furisode.
When choosing an Aiko, the Ai-Kon committee considers many aspects, including relevance to the theme, colour palette, pose, lines, anatomy, and overall effect. We favour entries that appropriately represent Aiko in age, physical attributes, and personality and that will represent Aiko well to our audience. In addition, we look for an entry’s ability to be placed on promotional media, including the badges, posters, and t-shirts.
Prizes
The winner will receive: a free art table, two (2) artist weekend admissions to Ai-Kon 2018, and an Ai-Kon 2018 t-shirt. The winning entry will be used for Ai-Kon 2018 promotional materials and merchandise.
The two runners-up will receive: A free half art table at and an artist weekend admission to Ai-Kon 2018!
WINTERFEST MINI MASCOT CONTEST
The Winterfest Mini Mascot Contest is now closed as of November 25, 2017!
All entries to past years’ Mascot Contests can be found here.