Who would’ve thunk it, huh? A comic-book guy in a design school,  enters a “design competition” and makes it as one of the top four out of ten contestants. I mean, six people were eliminated for me to make it this far… that’s just surreal when I think about it.

Last week I entered my Goth Diva piece and it was not well recieved by the judges. Figures. They tell me to try something out of my comfort level and I do, and then they don’t like it. But what ever, a lot of people did like it. And to be honest with you, at this point, I figure I can just walk in and present a piece where all I’ve drawn is a red circle on a blue background and it wouldn’t matter what they think, anyway. The judges aren’t voting for me… you are.

So thank you.
Thank you for voting for me.
Thank you for helping me make it to the fourth round of Artistik Envy.

I hope that I’m funky enough for next Friday’s show where I’ll be presenting my piece for Urban Funk. I have no idea yet what I’ll be presenting, but whatever it is that I come up with, I hope you like it more than judges.

Peace out,
Carlos

Well, holy cow monkeys! I made it to round three of Artistik Envy! How ’bout them apples?

Wow, I really didn’t think I would make it this far. And to be honest with you, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue in this competiton.

I know, I know… you’re probably wondering why? Well, I’ll tell you why…

Y’see, as a student, a full time worker, and freelance comic-book maker, it’s hard to find the time for this competiton sometimes. I mean, seriously… you try juggling all that stuff that I do on a daily basis and then add to it having to come up with piece that I have to present at the show, the photoshoots, and the countless female fans that I have to shake off with a stick!

I mean, when does it end?

I’ll tell you when it ends… It ends when you stop voting for me. And right now, I feel good that I’m in the top 6! All those feelings of not wanting to be in this competition, have gone the way of the dodo bird and disco!

That’s right, I’m in it to win it! So bring it! =]

So anyways, for our next piece we have to incorporate “Goth” and “Glamour”. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. I just hope that a certain judge, whose name starts with Charles, doesn’t think it looks like an STD poster! ;)

In the meantime, I’ve gotta go read some issues of Cosmopolitan and InStyle magazines while hanging out at some local cemetaries to get ideas for “Goth Diva“. Man, the weird shit I gotta do to get inspired!

Happy Halloween!
Carlos M. Mangual

When Josef first mentioned this whole Artistic Envy thing, I honestly thought that it wouldn’t happen. I thought he was crazy for trying to put something like this together. But, fast forward a few months later and here I am competing in it. That’s some crazy shiznit! And that’s what I get for underestimating Mancino. 

The past few weeks have been pretty surreal. First of all, when they picked the “top 10″, I was part of the “top 5″. Me! The comic-book guy! Then they took us to get a make-over, where I got highlights and my eyebrows waxed, afterwards I would officially declare myself a “metro-sexual”!

And then there was the photo shoots. I always thought models had it easy… I mean what? They pose for the camera, pout a little, look sexy and they’re done! Then they go have Tic-Tacs and Evian water for dinner! But I know now that there’s more to it than that. It’s actually pretty hard work that can take hours to get right. Thank goodness our photographers know what they’re doing.

And let’s not forget the actual show… and all the drama and stress leading up to it.

What am I going to do?
How do I represent Cuban lifestyle in Tampa?
Do I play it safe and do something in comic-book style or do I try something not expected of me?
What if they don’t like it?
What if the judges take a dump all over it?
What if my family and friends don’t show up?
What if my zipper is open during the presentation?

A part of me really hopes to make it to round two and the other part is not looking forward to all the drama and stress… again. But I know if I do make it, I’m going to show everyone that I have what it takes to be in this competition, coño!

So please vote for me if you’d like to see me take on another challenge.
I can’t do this without your support.

God bless,
Carlos