What Now?

Grumpy and under-inspired (which is a step up from uninspired), I face the question that all daily bloggers invariably face. What do I do when I feel like I have nothing to say, nothing to show and nothing to link to? Do I skip a day and give up my "daily" posting status? Do I write something utterly meaningless or obviously redundant and risk alienating the regular readers I have managed to cultivate? Do I snap out of my funk, rise to the occasion and come up with something worthwhile because that is my job? Feel free to provide some feedback, unless you are too grumpy and under-inspired to care.

-Bob Self

Notes On a Scam (Part 1)

Baby Tattoo may have been ripped off today by an obvious sales scam. We should know better (even if the situation turns out not to be fraudulent). We haven't posted much on this blog about the ups and downs of running a small business, but maybe we'll start dedicating one day a week to the topic. How about Thursdays? Tune in next Thursday for a full report on our momentary lapse of good judgement.

The Pulp Dunce pictured above is copyright Gary Baseman and Critterbox.

I miss Jim Henson.

-Bob Self

Event Appreciation Day

Here are some forthcoming event listings. Come out and meet the Baby Tattoo crew.

March 14-16 - Wizard World - Los Angeles, California

April 18-20 - New York Comic Con - New York, New York

April 25-27 - Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors, Los Angeles

April 26-27 - Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles

Shameless Plug Sunday #8 (Posted Shamelessly on Monday)

Longtime Baby Tattoo friend Jason Felix showed us his recently released book at WonderCon. You can buy the book directly from Jason, or wherever books are sold. The project was published by Insight Editions, a company that does not know how to produce anything less than spectacular books. Why the weird product photo? This book is awash with secret spot varnish images that can only be seen when the light hits them in just the right way. Congrats to Jason (and to you if you are cool enough to pick up Salvaged).

San Francisco Road Trip - Day #4 (WonderCon - Day #3)

A full day's show. An evening of packing up. A red eye drive home. The Baby Tattoo bunch is tired. Thanks to our fellow exhibitors, WonderCon attendees and the Comic-Con International staff.

San Francisco Road Trip - Day #3 (WonderCon - Day #2)

WonderCon boasted big crowds today. The turnout was truly impressive. Bob Self snapped a few shots of the masses, but he left the camera at the convention center so there is nothing to see here tonight.

WonderCon is a great show in a great city, and Baby Tattoo is already looking forward to next year. Of course, Baby Tattoo is also looking forward to tomorrow. One more day, then we're headed home. Woo!

Dinner marked a return to Restaurant Seven Fifty at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District, because sometimes convenience is too attractive to pass up. Bob already rated this restaurant as part of yesterday's post, but Jeffery Scott (1019) was Bob's dinner guest this evening. Jeffery's ratings on a scale of 1 to 10: Food 8, Atmosphere 3, Service 3, Value 4.

San Francisco Road Trip - Day #2 (WonderCon - Day #1)

What a great day. Convention attendance was robust (partly due to a fortunate overlap with Game Developers Conference). Sales were steady. Friends were everywhere. Ron and Colin from Last Gasp, Attaboy from Hi Fructose Magazine, Rob Reger of Cosmic Debris/Emily the Strange, John and Shelley Loter of Loter, Inc., Daniel and Dawna Davis of Steam Crow Press, Jason Felix, the STRANGEco crew, Paul Grimshaw from House of Secrets Comics and Toys/Five Color Comics, Bud Plant and his team, Bob (whose last name I don't know) from Glamourcon. That's just a partial list.

Dinner was at Restaurant Seven Fifty at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District. On a scale of 1 to 10: Food 6, Atmosphere 6, Service 6, Value 6.

Note to Self: Remember to swipe some of the great ideas on Steam Crow's web site.

Note to readers: The image above is copyright Steam Crow Press.

San Francisco Road Trip - Day #1

The Baby Tattoo van left Los Angeles at 4:00 AM and arrived at San Francisco's Moscone Center South for a bright and early (actually, it was gloomy and early) event load-in. The loading policies for WonderCon are pretty exhibitor-friendly, and the Exhibitor Services workers at Moscone are above-average helpful. If you're thinking about exhibiting at a big comic convention, but you're intimidated by all the work, you might want to consider testing the waters with this show. Contact the folks at Comic-Con International for exhibitor information.

Dinner was at Asqew Grill. On a scale of 1 to 10: Food 6, Atmosphere 4, Service 7, Value 8.

Event Appreciation - Urgent Update

As usual, we forgot to mention something in our weekly Event Appreciation Day post. Baby Tattooville 2007 Featured Artists Tara McPherson has an opening this weekend at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in New York. Unquestionably worth checking out.

Event Appreciation Day

This week it's all about WonderCon taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in San Francisco. Sure Baby Tattoo is doing plenty of other events in the weeks ahead, but right now all of our thoughts and efforts are focused on this great (and growing) Northern California celebration of comics and pop culture. If you're coming to the show, be sure to stop by Baby Tattoo's booth (#1035) to meet artist Jeffery Scott, pose with model Cristina Maxwell or get your daily chance to win a Gary Baseman designer handbag courtesy of HARVEYS (details below).

One prize drawing will be held each day of the con at 5:00 PM. To obtain a ticket for the prize drawing, stop by the Baby Tattoo booth at any time. Your ticket will remain in the drawing for all three days unless you are chosen as the daily winner. One ticket per attendee (your badge will be stamped when you receive your ticket). The holder of the selected ticket must be present at the prize drawing or an alternate ticket will be selected until a winning ticket holder is present.

Have a great week wherever your travels take you.

A more complete listing of Baby Tattoo's upcoming event participation will be posted next Tuesday.

Soto Says...

Jeff Soto was on a panel as part of an event at the Riverside Art Museum tonight. He had a lot of interesting things to say. At one point, the topic turned to web sites and blogs. The quote below is from Jeff's blog, and it offers a concise opinion about the evolution of the alternative art scene.

"When it comes to art, and in particular this “scene”, change is in the air. Can you feel it? What was once known collectively as “The Juxtapoz School” is splitting into several unique genres. In years past you would find “street” artists showing alongside “lowbrow” artists, showing alongside illustrators and somehow it was accepted and it worked- not so much these days. This genre, whatever it was, is beginning to branch outward into distinct art sub-movements (is that a word). Nothing wrong with that, I think it’s a good thing." - Jeff Soto

The image above is copyright Jeff Soto.

Change is Coming; Change is Good

This blog will soon be relocated to the Baby Tattooville web site. The Baby Tattooville web site will soon be redesigned. The redesigned Baby Tattooville web site will soon provide updated Baby Tattooville 2008 information. A semi-regular podcast called Radio Baby Tattooville will soon be premiering on the soon-to-be-updated, soon-to-be-redesigned, soon-to-include-this-blog web site.

Shameless Plug Sunday #7

Icon: A Retrospective by the Grand Master of Fantastic Art is an incredible overview of Frank Frazetta's work that was edited by my friends (and heroes) Cathy and Arnie Fenner. Incredibly, the Bud Plant web site has the out-of-print hardcover edition available. Buy one before it's too late!

Go for the Toys... Stay for the Food!

Once upon a time, a wonderful entrepreneur named Tracy opened a marvelous candy and toy shop in a magical house in Silverlake, California. A clever businessman named Jon decided to open a fantastic cafe in the same little house. Because the house was a magic house, it miraculously expanded (without actually changing size) to allow both the toy shop and the cafe to live side-by-side. You can go to this house and see for yourself how one woman's great gift shop and one man's remarkable restaurant can exist in the same place at the same time. One trip... many rewards. You will be charmed.

Click here to visit the Zanzabelle web site.

Click here to visit the Lunchbox Fine Foods web site.

View Larger Map

Go to 2912 Rowena Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039 to visit both at once.

What The...

Publishers sometimes dream up book projects that they might like to develop. The intent, of course, is to create something fantastic and commercial, but more concepts end up in the idea graveyard than on the bookshelf. Here are a few of Bob Self's ideas that you probably won't be seeing anytime soon.

An in-depth guide to Geico commercials.

An art book showcasing theming in Fry's Electronics stores.

A Tommy Bahama children's picture book parody titled The Lazy Adventures of Young Tommy Bahama.

Wake up, Bob! I think you're having a bad dream!

Event Appreciation - Urgent Update

Every Tuesday we list upcoming events, and just about every Thursday we realize we forgot something. his week we forgot to mention this Saturday's Abstraction Distraction show at M Modern Gallery. Past and Future Baby Tattooville Featured Artists like Tim Biskup, Amanda Visell and Glenn Barr are involved. In fact, Glenn put the show together.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Off To Press

It's always exciting when a new book is ready to send to the printer. Today, Gris Grimly's art book, Where Madness Reigns, is making the journey to Prolong Press Limited in Hong Kong via the miracle of the World Wide Web and FTP technology. In about two months, the finished book will arrive at our warehouse in Los Angeles via the legendary slow boat from China. Although the production process can seem slow at times, it is often remarkably fast. This new book will be available for purchase pretty darn soon.

Event Appreciation Day

WonderCon is next week. The San Francisco based pop culture festival has enjoyed significant growth over the past few years, and Baby Tattoo is proud to be part of the excitement. Our friends at HARVEYS have provided three Gary Baseman Designer Seatbelt Bags to give away at the event, so be sure to stop by the Baby Tattoo booth for your chance to win one. More details will be posted here next Tuesday.

Here are some forthcoming event listings (including WonderCon).

February 22-24 - WonderCon - San Francisco, California

March 14-16 - Wizard World - Los Angeles, California

April 18-20 - New York Comic Con - New York, New York

In Hindsight

One of last week's blog posts linked to an essay about The Secret of NIMH on Aint It Cool. That article was part of a series about... well, read this list and see if you can guess what the movies have in common.

Blade Runner

Conan the Barbarian

Creepshow

The Dark Crystal

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

John Carpenter's The Thing

Poltergeist

Porky's

The Road Warrior*

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Tron

Clicking the above titles will lead you to an Ain't It Cool essay or an imdb listing for each film. Now, here's the jaw-dropper... all of these movies were released in the same year! Did those of us who were going to the movies in '82 know we were in some kind of genre utopia? Incredible!

*Mad Max II was released in the U.S. as The Road Warrior in 1982.

Shameless Plug Sunday #6

This week's earlier post about James Jean has led to this week's shameless plug. Baby Tattoo had nothing to do with James' book Process Recess 2, but it's a must-own. Buy it before you can only find an expensive secondary market copy.

Hooray For Billy

Baby Tattoo is extremely proud to announce that Billy Shire Fine Arts will be sponsoring the 2008 Baby Tattooville Art Show. While Baby Tattooville attendees will have a sneak peak and a first crack at all of the show's remarkable artwork, the public will be invited as well. Mark your calendar for a trip to Riverside, California on Saturday, October 4, 2008.

Event Appreciation - Urgent Update

So much is going on this weekend. In addition to everything we've already mentioned...

You can see some great work by Amanda Visell (and others) at Gallery Nucleus' A Band of Bugs opening tomorrow night, and...

In Atlanta, Ragnar is appearing as a Featured Guest at the Atlantic Comics Expo.

Don't stay home. Get out and see some art.

James Jean-ius

Jamie O'Shea's must-read blog-type thing Suprtouch recently published a post about James Jean's collaboration with Prada. Jamie (who has seen and done just about everything an art lover could wish to see and do) uses terms like "phenomenal" and "awe-inspiring", and he isn't exaggerating. James Jean was a featured artist at the Baby Tattooville 2007 event. His ongoing success is hard-earned and well-deserved. Keep an eye on James' own blog to stay informed about whatever he is doing next. It just keeps getting better and better.

The photo above is courtesy of Prada.

Visit The Black Estate

If you're in New York tomorrow, check out The Black Estate's Stemma opening at Claire Oliver Gallery. Baby Tattoo's first blog post of 2008 cryptically showcased a piece by The Black Estate. Now it's time to semi-officially announce that Baby Tattoo and The Black Estate might be collaborating on a fantastic project that could emerge from the shadows much later this year. Vague... yes. But exciting too.

Event Appreciation Day

Dave Cooper has an opening at Billy Shire Fine Arts this Saturday in Los Angeles. Baby Tattoo likes Dave Cooper a lot. Saturday is Rani "Mrs. Baby Tattoo" Self's birthday, and she'll be celebrating by attending the show. If you say "Hello" to Rani at the event, be sure to say "Happy Birthday" too.

Looking farther down the calendar, Baby Tattoo and some of the company's artist friends will be exhibiting at the following events.

February 22-24 - WonderCon - San Francisco, California

March 14-16 - Wizard World - Los Angeles, California

April 18-20 - New York Comic Con - New York, New York

Watch this blog for event info every Tuesday.

Handbags (And a Fine Man-Purse)

Gary Baseman's work is everywhere, including the Baby Tattoo catalog where it manifests itself as a spiffy book called My Hunger For Venison. Another great platform for Gary's pervasive art is a series of handbags and accessories by Harveys (makers of the original seatbelt bag). Bob Self personally carries the Limited Edition Venison Messenger Bag, which he uses to lug his laptop and an external hard drive on all of his travels. As if a bag made of seatbelts isn't cool enough, now there's a Baseman bag made of seatbelts.

Get your own bag here.

Get your own book here.

Shameless Plug Sunday #5

Last week's 9 dollar shameless plug Got Your Nose has an excellent sister publication named Izzy's Very Important Job which is also by the super talented Ragnar and is also only 9 dollars. Buy it here.

A Good Secret

Today I found an old column-within-a-column on the Ain't It Cool News site about the animated film Secret of NIMH. I'm a big NIMH fan, but I couldn't have really given you many reasons for my enthusiasm toward the movie other than the rich and detailed artwork used throughout the production. The Ain't It Cool essay by Cartuna (which is presented within a post by Moriarty) does a great job of deconstructing the characters and plot in a way that reveals the storytelling to be as sophisticated as the artwork.

Read the article here. And be aware that there is finally a widescreen version of the movie available on DVD that showcases the film's remarkable artistic merits.

-Bob Self

Fred's Toys

A recent post highlighting my friend Chef Fred Eric and his restaurant Tiara Cafe. Now it's time to post about one of Fred's non-food passions. Fred loves designer vinyl toys. He doesn't like them a lot; he loves them. Go to Tiara for the food, but don't leave without asking if someone can show you Fred's toy collection.

By the way, Fred is in the photo above. Like a phantom, but he's there.

-Bob Self