FAMILIAR FACES

from Art Department Weekly | Issue 97 Vol. 11

ATTENTION GRABBING

SOME PEOPLE MAKE NEW FRIENDS OVER SHARED INTERESTS. LUIS DOES NOT

MADELINE: I’m trying to figure out who you’re in line for here with the people you’re so uncomfortable talking to.

LUIS: You know what, I had run into that couple a couple different times through out the day. They were at the Marvel booth getting sketches, basically doing the same thing I do—going back and forth between DC and Marvel. I feel like we were comparing our sketch books and, “Oh my god, did you get so and so?” “Yeah, I got so and so.” And so it’s like we all know I am suuuuuper socially awkward and so it’s like when I have to talk to people it’s just…

M: Yeah. You can’t put on headphones and be like, I’m not talking to you…

L: Right.

M: You’re not giving them your “Oh my god stop talking to me” face, but to try to pull out one frame where your eyes and mouth are both comfortable—it’s so obvious that you're totally ‘Ha ha ha I am faking my way through this conversation.'

[Luis flips through his sketchbook]

M: I was thinking about that—running around all day by yourself. I have no real reason to be there and no one to talk to about what I'm seeing.

L: Maybe it was Emanuela Lupacchino because I have her here.

M: That’s what it had to be. You guys were in the next line. Are you guys just talking about not being in the raffle?

L: No, see—we’re looking at each others’ sketchbooks.

M: But you guys had already been in line for 30 minutes together at that point. You’re not gonna be one of these people who's like, "Well, I’m just gonna go and stand in line and make new friends because I’m here by myself." My grandma would have taken down someone’s address and become lifelong friends.

**Luis tries to avoid making friends**
Madeline Strum Photography

L [still looking at sketch book]: Yeah.

M: But that’s how you always go to these conventions—2019 wasn't going to be different just because you were there longer. I have no idea what I’m looking for, but you know exactly what you want, and then you stand in line by yourself and wait.

L: Yeah, I’m happy to just stand in line to wait to see artists, and talk to artists while they’re sketching, or just see which tools they’re using to sketch. I bought my Microns because I saw people in Artist Alley sketching with them. I got my Pentel brush pens because I saw an artist using those. I just love talking to artists and seeing their creative process because I’m not going to be a professional comic book artist but I love that process and in my heart of hearts it’s all I’ve ever wanted to be is a professional comic book artist.

M: But not to make friends with people at comic book conventions? That’s not your thing? (Continued in 'DC Booth')