PRESS RELEASE
Industry luminaries and professionals will present the voting results from the annual Inkwell Awards at the inking advocacy group‘s live awards ceremony during their new host show, the Great Philadelphia Comic Con!, in Oaks, PA. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 12 from 5:00-7:00pm at the The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in room 1. The convention runs from April 12-14.
Longtime ink artist, teacher, lecturer and nine-time Inkwell Awards record-holder, Scott Hanna, is scheduled to appear as the Keynote Speaker. “Scott has attended more of our ceremonies than some of our team members,” said Bob Almond, the Inkwells‘ founder/director and MC of the event. “He‘s also one of the best and most-prolific ink artists in the field, spanning four decades. We‘re honored to have him attending our special day of recognition.”
In addition to Almond and Hanna, the convention‘s Panel Coordinator and traditional host, J.M. Clark, will act as presenter. Both he and Almond will present the Inkwells‘ lifetime achievement awards, the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award and the Stacey Aragon Special Recognition Award. Writer, artist and former editor Larry Hama will introduce one HoF recipient, and award-winning author, publisher and advocate J. David Spurlock will introduce the other.
Also appearing will be veteran hostess and senior spokesmodel Hailey Skaza-Gagne as “Ms. Inkwell”, who will be joined by Kathy Denise Taylor as a co-spokesmodel.
Other related guests at the convention include Inkwell ambassadors Aldrin “Buzz” Aw and Sal Velluto. There may also be surprise appearances at the ceremony by member-creators, the award recipients and/or other supporters.
The Inkwells have five categories: Favorite Inker, Most-Adaptable Inker, the “Props” award for under-recognized professionals, the S.P.A.M.I. (Small Press And Mainstream-Independent), and the “All-in-One” Award for the artist who inks his/her own pencil art. Except for the internally-chosen lifetime achievement awards, winners were chosen by fans and professionals casting ballots on the group‘s site.
At the ceremony, Almond will also name recipients of the Inkwells‘ “Above & Beyond” Award for members, volunteers and others in the comics community who have served beyond the call of duty to educate the public and promote the artform of comic-book inking and its ink artists.
“There‘s so much turnover when you are working with unpaid members,” Almond added, “so when those rare and special volunteers stay long-term and go the extra yard for us, we thank them for their exceptional dedication.”
During the show, The Inkwells will be set up in Artists Alley. To help raise much-needed funds, they‘ll be offering (for donations) a variety of limited edition, signed and other Inkwell merchandise.
They‘ll also be displaying the blueline-inked original art for their 4th Sinnott Inking Challenge Spotlight, which this year was on fan-favorite David Finch. There will be about 20 interpretations for attendees to study and help understand and appreciate the skills of inking.
Almond concluded, “We can‘t show enough gratitude to CEO and Promoter Christopher Wertz and Director of Artists Alley & Creator Relations Stan Kanopka for reaching out to us in hopes of making their convention our new home show for the long run. Their staff and ours are thrilled to make this inker-supportive event something unique and special for all attendees.”
From 2011 until 2018, the Inkwells‘ host show was HeroesCon as run by promoter Shelton Drum in Charlotte, NC.
