Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Jayel Draco

MisCon 40 Attending Professional

Jayel Draco (he/they) is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and storyteller. Along with Lynsey G, he is the co-founder of Oneshi Press. As the co-creator of the epic sci-fi-fantasy series Children of Gaia (COG), he wrote and illustrated COG: The Great Nations of Rendaraia and co-illustrated COG: War & Horses. He has also worked on several short COG comics, with many more COG projects lined up. He’s the co-creator and illustrator of both Tracy Queen and PACK, two comic book series written by Lynsey G. He is the writer, designer, and lead illustrator of the zom-com caper comic book Mr. Guy: Zombie Hunter.

While studying at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, where he received his BFA in illustration in 2003, he began his 20 years of professional experience as an art director, illustrator, animator, graphic designer, VFX technician, writer, and web designer. His animation work for Wagner’s Die Walküre (conducted by James Levine and directed by Robert LePage) was shown at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and his animation work for Marvel’s Astonishing X-Men (written by Joss Whedon, illustrated by John Cassaday, and directed by Neal Adams) was projected onto the side of a building in Union Square at MarvelFest. In 2015, Jayel left a salaried position as an illustrator, animator, VFX technician, and web designer at Neal Adams Continuity Studios to focus on developing Oneshi Press with Lynsey G. Learn more at JayelDraco.com.

Web site: https://www.jayeldraco.com/

Scheduled Panels and Games:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Thu 7:00 - 7:50 PM, Meet the Artists: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: John Barba, Justin Barba, Bruce Brenneise, Michael Brugger, Echo Chernik, Jayel Draco, Dragon Dronet, Brian Grinnell (Belsac), Cheyenna Krone, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Randy Pepprock, Nikki Rossignol McCoy, Steven K Smith (SKS Props), Jeff Sturgeon, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's artists, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Break Thu 7:50 - Fri 1:00
• Fri 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Jessica Brawner, C E Chester, Stoney Compton, Katie Cross, Laramie Dean, Jayel Draco, Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Frog Jones, Sanan Kolva, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Joseph Malik, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears, D.L. Solum, Jeff Sturgeon, Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Matthew Yetter

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's writers/editors, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Break Fri 1:50 - Fri 5:00
• Fri 5:00 - 5:50 PM, Cosplay/Costume Figure Drawing, The Hollow
  Panelists: Jayel Draco, Cheyenna Krone, Todd Lockwood, Nikki Rossignol McCoy, Steven K Smith (SKS Props)

  Attendees are invited to take turns posing in costume while we capture them in timed figure drawings (3-10 minutes each.) Model your costume, draw, or do both! Fun for artists and for costumers who want to be sketched.

• Break Fri 5:50 - Sat 11:00
• Sat 11:00 - 11:50 AM, From Brainstorm to Bookshelf, Great Hall 1
  Panelists: Jayel Draco, Tess Langston

  Join creators Jayel Draco and Tess Langston for a deep dive into the journey of indie publishing. Learn how to transform a raw idea into a finished, professional book and navigate the steps of getting your work into the hands of your audience.

• Break Sat 11:50 - Sat 3:00
• Sat 3:00 - 3:50 PM, From Brainstorm to Bookshelf:, Great Hall 2
  Panelists: Jayel Draco, Tess Langston

  Join creators Jayel Draco and Tess Langston for a deep dive into the journey of indie publishing. Learn how to transform a raw idea into a finished, professional book and navigate the steps of getting your work into the hands of your audience.

• Break Sat 3:50 - Sun Noon
• Sun Noon - 12:50 PM, An Artist's Life, Dragon Pavilion
  Panelists: Bruce Brenneise, Echo Chernik, Jayel Draco, Todd Lockwood, Steven K Smith (SKS Props)

  Is the "artist's life" a romantic ideal? A relentless grind? Let's examine the journey of becoming and being an artist. We'll explore the diverse paths into creative careers, the daily realities (both exhilarating and exhausting) and will share the triumphs, challenges, and experiences that define a life dedicated to art.