Thursday throwback photo from when I was traveling the convention circuit. โœˆ๏ธ ๐Ÿš† ๐ŸšŒ

#thursdaythrowback #selfie #urban #city #photo #photography #blackandwhite #BlackandWhitePhotography #grafiti #travel #monochrome #monochromaric #enby #LGBTQIA
#nonbinary #Konaa #Kmac #macNessa #KonaamacNessa

@KmacNessa I donโ€™t think any mirror in a public restroom comes with a cleanliness guarantee ๐Ÿ˜† That selfie? Definitely a flash of style in the middle of chaos.
Ginger gremlinโ€ฆ love it, thatโ€™s a solid nickname ๐Ÿ˜„

@tombzz Very true, unfortunately, it's virtually impossible.
Having said that, some places are decidedly cleaner than others - this place was one of the most questionable during my travels.  

Thank you! I've always been a sucker for a good motorcycle jacket. ๐Ÿ˜
The nickname comes from my normal hair colour. Otherwise, I need a different nickname for when I have purple, blue, or black hair.

@KmacNessa Cheer up... I've been to worse places myself.
I take it you had a motorcycle to go with that jacket? ๐Ÿ˜„ A full-on combo, huh? ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

@tombzz I wouldn't say it was a despairing level that required a stiff upper lip - It was more of a grungy curiosity that was surprisingly photogenic despite its petri dish state. ๐Ÿ˜†

Funnily enough, no motorcycles were part of the misadventures. I simply like that style of jacket.
I was lugging too much malarkey along for a motorcycle to be a sufficient mode of transport - cars, buses, subways, trains, and planes were how I got around the convention circuit at the time. ๐Ÿซ 

@KmacNessa Haha, I get it now โ€” definitely more โ€œgrimy charmโ€ than existential dread ๐Ÿ˜„
The whole petri dish vibe cracked me up ๐Ÿ˜†
The motorcycle was just a suggestion, anyway. All clear now!

With that kind of transport lineup, it sounds like urban jungle survival โ€” but also a memory map in motion.
Conventions have their own vibeโ€ฆ and their own logistical nightmares.
Trust me, I know the drill โ€” though Iโ€™m more of a concert guy myself.

@tombzz
Exactly.๐Ÿ˜†
I wish I had better documented that period of my life. It would have been interesting to compare the different modes of travel in retrospect..
There are aspects I miss about travelling, but for the most part, I don't miss the grind.

I prominently went over to work in Artist Alley, so I can't speak to the convention experience for the average con goer not on the clock, so to speak.
A concert with good acoustics is hard to beat, though. 

@KmacNessa Got it now. Iโ€™ve been to a few cons myself, but always just as a regular attendee โ€” the kind who probably annoyed people with too many questions ๐Ÿ˜
I can only imagine how much work it is behind the scenes.
Concerts though? Thatโ€™s my kind of soul cleanse. Iโ€™ve already got two lined up for next year, and Iโ€™m sure more will pop up ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

@tombzz I canโ€™t speak for the others in Artist Alley, but I personally enjoyed it when attendees had questions.

Questions show curiosity and engagement. ๐Ÿ˜„
I consider it a good sign if a booth display/ artwork evokes an inquisitive reaction.

What concerts cha got lined up? 

@KmacNessa Totally get that. It means your art is reaching complete strangersโ€”and theyโ€™re actually interested in what you do. Thatโ€™s definitely motivating. I had that kind of connection with people during the openings of my exhibitions. I think itโ€™s kind of similar.

@tombzz I would say it's in the same vein in terms of sentiment towards engagement with the audience, as well as all the planning and preparation that goes into the event itself.

Tell me more about your exhibitions!
Did you show them as collections with themes? Or more of an all encompassing showcasing of your work?

@KmacNessa The first exhibition had a strong theme focused on cemeteries. I traveled around, looking for intriguing statues on graves. In a way, it was like feeding the stone.
The next one explored architecture, often shown in an abstract way.
Then came three exhibitions of street photography.
The last one was more intimate, a kind of retrospective.
After that, I stepped away from exhibitionsโ€ฆ and somehow from life too.

@tombzz Sounds like a nice showcase of your style. โ˜บ๏ธ

How was the overall experience of the exhibition circuit for you?
Is it something you would like to return to someday? Or do you feel it's not a good fit for where you're at in your journey?

As a hermit, I can understand the inclination for pulling back from in-person venues.

@KmacNessa I think Iโ€™m done with exhibitions. Iโ€™m definitely in a different place now.
I see things differently.
Seems like you really get me.
Stepping back was the right call

@tombzz Cheers!
Itโ€™s nice to find kindred spirits on here. โ˜บ๏ธ

Whatโ€™s the next venture youโ€™d like to explore?

@KmacNessa Thanks! Itโ€™s true, kindred spirits really do exist. Iโ€™m still working on the world of Morveth. I finished writing a novella, but I need to tweak a few things. A new character popped into existence recently: Athelis. So yeah, always tinkering with something. How about you? Anything new on your end?

@tombzz Excellent! Are you planning to release your novella on a platform like Substack? Or available for download as a PDF/ physical copy?

Always fun to add a new character to the roster. ๐Ÿ˜
Is Athelis part of the Morveth story? Or a free-floating character unattached to a specific project as of yet?

Iโ€™ve been doing a mix of puttering away at ongoing projects and renovating my studio space. I'm aiming to have the space done this month, so I can switch focus back to art 100%. 

@KmacNessa Iโ€™ve been thinking about it actually. I didnโ€™t plan on getting back into writing, so it kind of caught me off guard. I was focused on the narration side of things.
Yepโ€ฆ a new character ๐Ÿ˜†
Athelis shows up in the novella Morveth, but only briefly. She stands against Morveth, loses, and he banishes her to a forgotten world. But Athelis will come backโ€ฆ ๐Ÿ˜€

Hope the renovation goes just the way you want. Iโ€™m sure the cats are helping out ๐Ÿ˜ƒ Either way, Iโ€™m rooting for you.

@tombzz You can always play it by ear and see what feels like the best fit for the story as it progresses. ๐Ÿ˜

How are your writing endeavors going so far?
Will Athelis return for a finale fight? Or will she come back in another novella?

Thanks! Their fluffy butts certainly add the puuurrfect touch of cozy.
I got the bulk of the renovation done before the holiday season hit. Iโ€™ll resume the finishing touches when the season festivities are over. ๐Ÿ˜†

@KmacNessa And thatโ€™s exactly how it is. Thereโ€™s quite a bit of improvising. I do have a plan, but the story shifted a little.

Athelis is mentioned at the end of the first novella. Itโ€™s partly a flashback. She shows up fully in the second one. Thatโ€™s because Morveth isnโ€™t a very dynamic character. Heโ€™s a demiurge. He stands above everything.

Iโ€™m guessing youโ€™re already at the final stretch of your renovation.