On November 7-9, 2025, I had the opportunity to showcase my work at Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis. It was an incredible experience filled with learning moments, creative connections, and some honest reflections about my journey as an artist. Here’s what happened.
The Numbers
A financial reality check: I spent $350 on my Artist Alley table and another $100 on parking for the weekend. My gross sales totaled $450, which means I essentially broke even. And that’s before factoring in gas, food, and other expenses. Financially, this wasn’t a win. But conventions aren’t always about immediate profit; they’re about growth, learning, and building relationships. This has been a recurring theme this fall. The economy feels tight, and art is a luxury item.
What Sold
I had a nice variety of sales throughout the weekend:
- Original Artwork – Moon Knight and Hellboy sketch cards, plus an Iron Man Sketch cover
- Large Prints – Digimon, Ren & Stimpy, and Ghost Rider, even a framed Chainsaw Man print
- Small Prints – South Park and Derpy Tiger did well
- Mystery Packs – Two people took a chance on surprise art
- Buttons, Magnets, and Stickers – a little bit of everything, I noticed a lot of my original TV bar designs were picked
The Vibe
Almost every vendor and artist I spoke with mentioned being down from last year or feeling disappointed if it was their first time. The energy felt like most attendees were there to hang out rather than shop. When you consider that attendees paid $30-75 for admission, $20 per day for parking, and anywhere from $40 to $300 for celebrity signatures and photo ops, it makes sense that wallets were already stretched thin by the time they reached the very large and very talented Artist Alley.
Lessons from My Neighbor
I had the pleasure of tabling next to Jennifer from Steampunk Garage, who creates stunning chainmaille and chainmaille jewelry. She’s a pro, and shared some invaluable advice about how I present my work. She encouraged me to use more “I” statements when talking to customers. Instead of asking, “How’s your convention going?” I should lead with my story: “I draw everything myself, one character at a time” or “I love creating fan tributes to the stories that inspire me.”
This was hard for me to fully embrace because so much of my work is fan art, and I don’t always feel like I can claim full ownership when I’m drawing characters created by others. But Jennifer’s point was about connecting with people through my process and passion, and that’s something I can own.
The Highlights
Despite the financial reality, this convention gave me some unforgettable moments:
- Seeing Amy Jo Johnson (the original Pink Ranger!) and the long line of fans waiting to meet her
- Meeting Paul Dini, co-creator of Harley Quinn, and getting his autograph
- Chatting with comic book artist and writer Tim Seeley, getting some books signed, and telling him about my comic-in-progress. His encouragement to finish it meant a lot.
I also caught up with close convention friends and finally met others face-to-face after following them online for so long. These connections remind me why I do this. Comics are built on relationships and a shared passion for the art form, not just transactions.
What I Wish I’d Done Differently
Looking back, I wish I had attended Twin Cities Con as a fan rather than a vendor. I could have spent more time meeting professional comic artists, attending panels, and making more connections with other creators. If my comic were finished, I could have handed out copies to creators I admire and asked for their feedback.
I could have used this convention to build the relationships that will matter as I pursue comics professionally, rather than feeling stuck at my table focused on sales. Now I know for the future, if my work isn’t ready for the largest conventions, attend for fun, to learn, attend panels, and meet and talk to the big-time creators.
The Identity Question
Here’s the tension I’m wrestling with: I sold zero copies of my Adventure Begins minicomic this weekend, yet that’s the work I’m most proud of. Fan art draws people in and funds most of these art excursions, but it doesn’t fulfill my deeper calling to be a comic book creator with original stories to tell.
I need to finish my comic, Evil Alien Invaders. That’s the work that represents who I want to be as an artist. The fan art can serve as a bridge: “If you like this tribute piece, you’ll love my original comic,” but I need that original work to exist first.
Plans for Next Time
I’m already thinking about how to approach future conventions differently:
- Attend major conventions as a fan first and focus on networking, attending panels, and bringing work to share for feedback
- Perfect my “I” statement pitch to better connect with people at my table
- Give art strategically, offer prints to amazing cosplayers of the same fandom in exchange for photos, and share my independent comics with professionals for their feedback
- Expand my portfolio and hone my artistic voice
- Finish Evil Alien Invaders by this spring (ambitious, but a due date is necessary)
Final Thoughts
Twin Cities Con 2025 wasn’t a financial success, but it was rich with learning. I’m at a crossroads between being a vendor and being a creator, between fan art and original work, between making money and making connections. These aren’t either/or choices, but rather tensions that I’ll need to navigate continuously throughout this endeavor.
For now, however, the path forward is clear: finish the comic, build the relationships, and show up as the creator I want to be, and hopefully, the work itself will show me the way.