We Love to Illustrate: Nina goes to NYC

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Nina goes to NYC

Hello friends! A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to go to New York City for a few days, to attend Surtex, a trade show for artists that create for the surface design industry. My lovely agent, Mary Beth, of Pink Light Studio, has shown my work there for the last four years, but this year, I got to see it in person and work in the booth one day.

The added bonus of my trip was that I got to meet, in REAL LIFE, my fellow We Love to Illustrate Studio member, Julissa Mora! We've known each other online and through phone calls for years, but meeting her in person and getting to stay with her and her husband, at their home in Brooklyn, was so awesome! She is as lovely and fun as I imagined.

After a bit of a rocky start, (I got a motion sick on the plane across the country, ugh!), we headed to the Surtex show at the Javits Center, in Manhattan. I'm so lucky Julissa knew her way around the subway system, without her, I would have been lost!

Julissa and me at the High Line

We went right to the Pink Light Studio booth, (which looked fantastic!), met the rest of the team members and got the basics of what to do to help in the booth.

I learned a lot that day, about what it's like for Mary Beth and her team to do a show like Surtex. They were all very professional, but still had a sense of fun and light heartedness, while working with the clients that came to the booth. Not an easy thing to do! They were very impressive and it was fun to meet some of the clients that have used my work in the past and new ones that I will be working with in the future.

That night, we had dinner and walked a bit through the city. In NY, you walk a lot!

The Empire State Building

Times Square and the Chrysler Building

Bryant Park

The next day, we went back to show, but this time, we had the day to walk around and see what all the other booths were like. It was incredible seeing all the wonderful work on display and meeting some other artists that I've only known online. My biggest regret is that I failed to take any photos of other booths and the people I met that day! I don't know why, I think I was a bit numb by that point. Brain overload!

The next morning, Julissa and I spent some more time in the city, walking The High Line and going to the Chelsea Market. Then, I had a mad dash, crazy car ride to JFK, barely making my flight. Haha!

I had an awesome time and I sure hope I get the chance to do it again someday. Thanks, NY and Thanks, Julissa! It was so fun!