It feels so good to have conventions back again after such a long pandemic! I will be in the Artist Alley section, come look for Wendi Chen Art! Hope to see you there!

Post-show write-up: I had a wonderful four days at ECCC, connecting with con regulars I’ve befriended over the years and meeting new friends as well. Initially, I was very worried because Thursday attendance/sales were extremely slow, but things picked up on Friday and I ended up having an excellent show sales-wise. Attendance was definitely lower than previous years due to the pandemic, but sales were excellent and nearly at pre-pandemic levels, so I really can’t complain. My talented friend James Doppelhammer was my assistant for all four days and I really appreciated the help! With his help, things went very smoothly and I was well-rested and well-fed for the entire show. This was probably the smoothest con I’ve ever had, and I’m so thrilled to return to the convention scene!

As an official Craftsperson at Pike Place Market, I set up my own “storefront” each week among a group of dedicated artisans. You can find me in the Crafts Market, usually in the roofed area across the street from Le Panier.

End-of-year write-up: I am amazed! I just had the most lucrative quarter since I started working full-time as an artist. To think that I almost didn’t re-up my license this year (my earnings at Pike Place pre-pandemic were discouraging). However, everything changed after the pandemic, and customers started shopping like crazy once the market reopened. Not only that, but the craft tables grew from 4 feet spaces to 8 feet, which makes a world of difference when you sell 2D artwork. I never imagined pulling five-figure months as an independent artist! This job is challenging, physical, weather-dependent, and seasonal, but I can make it work if I set up 100+ times a year (just about every weekend). It might not happen this year or the next, but I believe I can get there eventually!