UPDATE 6/30 - I've added new photos to my Celebration IV album at my Myspace page. You need to be a registered user of Myspace to view them.

Star Wars Celebration IV in L.A. was just amazing, exhilarating and exhausting. I think I barely got five hours sleep each night while I was there. It was completely worth it though. It all began humbly enough on Wednesday night, the eve of Celebration, as our travel weary group gathered on the terrace outside the Omni hotel bar. After hugs, handshakes and a few drinks it was there I bestowed upon three of my friends a secret gift to commemorate this historic union. "I Survived Order 66" t-shirts were given to Justin Chung (Kai Justiss), Doug Wangler (Quinlan Vos) and Abel G. Peņa (Halagad Ventor). These guys of this special brotherhood represent the real life Jedi inspirations for my and Jan Duursema's Star Wars artwork. It was my own little way to honor them for the modeling work they've done for us and for their unique and prestigious reputations as surviving Jedi (for the moment anyway) in the Expanded Universe. The t-shirt idea was actually an in-joke that Abel and Justin had shared with me at Celebration III but I just had to see it through and surprise them for CIV.

Since I worked the entire week from my table in the Art Show I didn't get to see too much at the event unfortunately or meet everyone I had wanted to. Though at least I did have my good friends Jeff Wedding and Ed who were invaluable help to me, first driving in my artwork and supplies to the show from Las Vegas where they live and then pulling triple duty the entire week by helping run my table and Justin and Jan's tables too. We couldn't have done it without you fellas.

My mother flew in from Indiana just to see me participating in the Art Show. She's always been so supportive of me and I owe my entire career to her for that (thanks again, Mom). I did get to see some of the show in the convention center with her and her two friends when I took a break on Saturday and walked them around during a quick tour. Their biggest thrill, besides seeing Ken the Elvis Trooper on Jabba's podium at the Gentle Giant booth, might have been seeing my pal Doug Wangler in costume as Quinlan Vos. They were so enamored with the hunky dark Jedi (check them out in this pic) that they searched the dealer's booth's to buy one of his new action figures from Hasbro's new Dark Horse Comics Two Pack (with Villie) even though it was marked up and overpriced by the dealers on the show floor. They just really had to have one though.

They were also excited to meet my friends Amy Allen (Aayla Secura), Michonne Bourriage (Aurra Sing) and Shannon McRandle (Mara Jade) in the Celebrity Autograph signing area. My mom has been to CII and CIII with me previously in Indianapolis (my home town) so she knew what to expect at the show but this was the first time her friends from California experienced anything like this. They were all smiles afterwards and I think it made a huge impact on them to meet all of these Star Wars actors and personalities.

The *biggest* and most exciting thrill for me was getting inducted into the 501st Legion on Thursday during their reception party. They made me an honorary member for my Star Wars art contributions over the years (including the artwork for the CIV Droid Hunt badge) and I received a beautiful plaque and rank badge on stage from my friends and Southern California Garrison 501st members Cris and Kim Knight. I was actually outside of the banquet hall when they were calling my name, purchasing drinks for me and another Star Wars artist and had no idea what was going on in the main room at that moment. Some of the 501st came running out to grab me and tell me they were calling my name and to get on stage. After a somewhat long pause while I was waiting to get my change from the bartender I made my own little dramatic entrance I suppose. I was completely nervous and surprised and I stammered a bit as I tried to thank everyone who came to mind like some of my Star Wars artist friends Dave Dorman and Jan Duursema who were previously inducted as members before me. To be included among the ranks of peers who I hold in such high esteem is such a huge honor for me.

I also mentioned some of the other talented artists I was sitting with during the reception and encouraged everyone in the banquet hall to come see us in the Art Show that weekend. I believe I also thanked the 501st and Rebel Legion for their support and contributions to my and other's Star Wars artwork over the years too. If I didn't say or imply all of that this eloquently during my acceptance speech (it was all such a surreal blur for me and I just remember being so nervous) then I'm saying it here and now... Thanks 501st!!! It was just an incredible experience. You guys are the best.

Here's a pic of me with my honorary plaque and rank badge.

Immediately thereafter I also met Richard Patrick during the reception in the audience. I spotted him sitting with fellow OSWCC members Scott and Garrett. Richard is the lead singer of Filter and Army of Anyone (and previously a member of Nine Inch Nails) and was interviewed by Bonnie Burton for Star Wars Rocks (check it out right here). He's a huge SW fan and I'm a big fan of all of his music so we hung out and chatted for a bit which was pretty exciting for me. I just hope I didn't geek out too much, I was on such a high that night.

During the Art Show on Friday I finally lay witness in person to the fiercesome Kaleesh warriors Qymaen jai Sheelal and Ronderu (check out this blog entry) who's costume was inspired by my artwork design of the character from Star Wars Insider #86, Unknown Soldier: The Story of General Grievous (written by Abel Peņa). Later that day I found out from model and costumer Sith Vixen that she took the third place prize for her incredible work as Ronderu. You can check out their completed costume pics and video of their onstage performance during the CIV Costume Contest hosted by Scott Chernoff right here.

Friday night was also the Opening Ceremony for the event and I had front row seats to witness the zany Steve Sansweet in Ewok suit action. It just had to be seen to be believed. Even better yet was the unveiling of the new Star Wars postage stamp (I voted for Vader), the parade of celebrities, seeing Amira " Slave Leia" Sa'id and her belly dancing routine and previews of Charles Ross' One Man Star wars Trilogy and The Star Wars Trilogy In 30 Seconds. I also enjoyed seeing the uber-charismatic Jay Laga'aia perform for the finale too.

On Sunday I joined author and Star Wars.com content developer Pablo Hidalgo for a meet and greet with fans in the Hyperspace Fan Club lounge. We broke the news there that I will be providing artwork for the next arc on the Star Wars.com webstrip, Rookies. I'm really looking forward to diving into that project immediately.

After the show that night, Star Wars artist Cynthia Cummens led a group of us to the train and we headed to Hollywood to grab dinner at the famous Mel's Diner which was an excellent dining experience. JAKe Steel, another Star Wars artist, made the evening hilariously memorable for Abel and I with his wry and wicked sense of humor. After dinner we continued up the street to Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the birthplace of the original Star Wars film experience. For our motley crew it was our personal holy mecca. On the way we even ran into Spider-Man, the Terminator and Yoda. Only in Hollywood.

On Monday I spotted filmmaker J.J. Abrams (Felicity, Alias, Lost, Mission Impossible: III) walking by my table in the Art Show and I shared my new Star Wars Celebration IV artwork with him. J.J. is working on a new Star Trek film for Paramount so I just had to show him my new Star Trek cover artwork I've been illustrating for IDW Publishing recently. I'm crossing my fingers as I write this.

Also on Monday I did two signings, the first of which was also with Cynthia, at the Topps booth to help promote their new Star Wars 30th Anniversary Trading Card Series. We provided free (and very quickly drawn) sketch cards for the fans lining up and had a great time hanging out with Topps Editors David Waldeck and John Williams along with the nefarious Maul Stanley... who either scared fans away or attracted them with his interesting and all too revealing apparel.

You can see pics of me sketching at the Topps booth right here -

Joe sketching at Topps 1

Joe sketching at Topps 2

Joe sketching at Topps 3

Joe sketching at Topps 4

Some of the other highlights for me from CIV included watching the animated Clone Wars sneak preview on Pablo's laptop and meeting all of the Star Wars.com bloggers and the crew behind the Wookieepedia during the show and at the Meet and Greet set up by DJ Maul at the Liberty Grill restaurant. There were so many of you I met that night and I'm still having trouble remembering real names but most of the screen names actually did stick with me - Deej, Jedi Melinda Wolf, Jedi Master Mina, viagoangel2, jediprincess77, Arf Maul, Rainbow Droideka, The Stooge, nob01, Michelle1968, hansgirl3, amidalooine, padmeskywalker77, ewanandhaydenfan5 (if I'm forgetting anyone I sincerely apologize, just drop me a line and let me know)... it really was great meeting all of you.

For the last day of the show and the entire trip home from California to Ohio I was up for at least 40 hours non-stop. I hung out all night at the CIV after party hosted by GenCon and decided to just stay awake since I needed to be at the airport very early in the morning to catch my flight. I was having way too much fun with some of the LFL crew and my new pal Jake (see you at CE soon) but I made it back in one piece (just barely) and have finally somewhat recovered. Now I really need to catch up on a handful of projects.

My pals Jeff and Ed posted their photos from our CIV adventure and you can view them in their Flickr.com accounts here and here. I'll also update this blog as soon as Justin downloads the 400+ pics from his camera and then I'll gather them up and post them here online for everyone too.

Even though I hardly left the Art Show during the entire convention I had an exciting and very successful time there and want to thank LFL (especially Steve Sansweet, Mary Franklin, David Iskra and Stacy Cheregotis), GenCon (especially Barbara Fisher and Diesel) and all of the fans and friends who made it such an incredible and fun experience for me.

I think I'm ready for Celebration Europe now...

maybe...

~J

Joe Corroney.com
Drawing in the Empire/MySpace