In 2017, I went to the MCM Liverpool Comic Con to interview some of the incredible female creators about their experiences and the industry. These are their stories…
So how did you get started with conventions?
Rynozerus: Well, without giving you my life story I’ve been drawing since I was a toddler, drawing Crash Bandicoot and Spyro way back in the day with crayons! But I started selling my stuff when I went into college. I thought, I needed something to do over the summer so I tried MCM London once, and that’s where it started.
Kimmy: I think it’s like going to conventions, seeing people and how they sell their artwork. And I thought “I can do that!” so I basically got my foot in the door and started booking tables, started off really small with just five cards.
Rachael: I’ve always drawn, since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I’ve pretty much drawn my whole life. And then when I got a bit older I realised I really loved telling stories, so comics is kind of the marriage of those two things I really liked - it was perfect for me. I started out self-publishing, I would make my little comics and then print them out at my local printers, they’d all have really short runs because I didn’t have much money, and then went to a couple of local conventions, sold them and just built it up very slowly.
Sarah: I started on the con scene back in 2009. Me and my partner went to our first ever convention together, which was really cute and dorky. And we saw someone doing pixel art at a stall and we were like “we can do that!” tried it, and then a couple of our friends were like “this is so good, you should do this!” and we were like “okay!” We bought a table and it went down an absolute storm so we’ve just done it every year since about 2011.
Nina: I started conventions last year, my first was Manchester Anime and Gaming Con which was last April.
What is your favourite thing about conventions?
Nina: Meeting other people. Genuinely, meeting other artists, meeting people who are enthusiastic about art, who love anime, games, anything, I just love meeting people!
Sarah: The people every time, without a doubt. It’s weird cause you meet so many different people, from so many different from walks of life, and you’re just like “Hi, how are you, you like this thing, I like this thing, hooray!” That getting together to celebrate something you all love is great.
Rachael: The fans, the fans are amazing. At MCM Liverpool everyone’s been so friendly, I’ve not had any hassle. Occasionally I get people who are like “you did this? But you’re a tiny woman” but I’ve not had any of that here. A lot of young girls, as well, which is really nice to see at comic cons. Young girls getting into comics really lifts my heart.
Kimmy: My favourite thing is that you’re your own boss – it is a job, but it’s a job you enjoy. The feedback you get from people is the best thing, when you see them really enjoying the artwork, really thrilled about it.
Rynozerus: The community. Definitely the community, because everybody knows each other.
What is your least favourite thing about conventions?
Rachael: Probably what I just said! Usually people not trusting that I can write and draw because I’m a lady, but it’s getting better.
Nina: Not getting enough sleep. It’s so draining, if I’m doing commissions it’s tiring, selling is tiring even though my partner’s helping me, just seeming like you’re in a good mood even if you’re not so that people don’t think that you look crappy. So, lack of sleep. And how hard it is to leave your table sometimes!
Kimmy: It’s tiring, it’s really tiring. If it’s a three-day convention it’s three days of talking and by the end of it you’re like “uuugh!”
Sarah: Also the people. Every now and then you get a few people who are a bit too much, and I’ve seen a couple of boundaries get crossed. And if it’s too crowded I’m not too great. Sometimes the organisation of cons can be quite stressful, but the rest of it’s a laugh.
Rynozerus: There’s occasionally a bit of bitchiness between everyone, but isn’t there always?
Do you feel supported by the community?
Rynozerus: I started out doing them on my own, and I have so many friends here now so it’s so easy to come to comic con – I look forward to it.
Rachael: Definitely. I feel like I’m still quite new to the industry but I’m starting to get repeat fans, familiar faces coming back and asking what’s your new thing, which is nice!
Kimmy: Before I did tables I used to cosplay, so I’m well at home. I like loads of games and stuff so whenever I see peoples’ cosplays I go lame. It’s such a good vibe.
Nina: Absolutely, I think particularly MCM has done a really good job at taking care of their artists. The layout by far is my favourite out of any convention I’ve done, the fact that there’s so much room and they specify no fan art so that you must have original characters. And all the other artists, I was going around last year asking them if it’s worth doing MCM and they all said “yes, just do it!” and so I did it. Yay!
Sarah: Yes and no..it’s very fandom dependent I’ve found. You get people who are lovely, a lot of kids who are into it, it’s their first fandom and they’re super excited, but then you get some people who are a bit abrasive and don’t want to add anyone else. But on the whole, I’ve always found it to be very supportive.
Where do you go from here?
Rachael: At the moment I’m working on a new graphic novel which is about a witch, which is exciting. It’s all been written, I just need to start the pages and that’ll be my longest work yet, about 80 pages so it’ll take me a while. Other than that I do a monthly page for the Doctor Who tenth Doctor series, which is a good gig to have, and I have a Patreon as well so I do diary comics and stuff on there. Just keeping myself busy!
Rynozerus: From here I’d like to go and do some cons in America.
Kimmy: After doing nearly three years of cons I’ve finally decided that I want to work on a video game. So I’m hoping to branch out and do that. Probably carry this on, as it’s a good fundraiser to do that.
Nina: I’m going to be doing MCM London, which according to everyone makes this look like nothing. But yeah, honestly I’d love to do more MCMs, more commissions. I got my first digital commission for a full digital piece, which is really exciting for me.
Sarah: One of the reasons we keep doing Retrobit specifically is because it allows us to see our friends – cons allow us to see everyone and celebrate this thing that we love. We’ve got at least five cons set this year currently.
About The Ladies…
Nina Bones is the incredibly talented artist behind Pearlesqued who sells her prints online and also at many conventions throughout the UK. Her work is usually based around folklore, cute monsters, and occult symbols.
Rachael Smith is steadily gaining in popularity, her work now appearing in the Doctor Who comic world as well as in her self-published work.
Sarah and her partner Matt create and sell these fantastic hama bead art pieces based on geek culture.
Kimmy Parris creates adorable works of art, both original and fan, which are on sale on her site.
Rynozerus is the art name for a woman whose real name I never managed to get! She does incredibly detailed tribal and occult-style drawings which drew me straight to her table.
Written by Jenny Mugridge
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