Baltimore, MD
May 21, 2011

Super Art Fight Idol. One of the most amazing events I’ve ever been to. I don’t know what else to say.

If you’ve never seen a Super Art Fight, here’s what it’s all about: A canvas is set up, and two (or more) artists each get markers and a topic to draw. Each artist has to draw something fast and funny because after five minutes, they have to spin the WHEEL OF DEATH, which generates a new topic for them. After half an hour, audience applause determines the winner. Did I mention that attacking the other artist’s art is not only acceptable but encouraged? And there’s running commentary from Ross Nover and Marty F’n Day.

There’s a set roster for Super Art Fight, and even a championship (held as of this writing by Michael “SpagettiKiss” Bracco,) and they’ll invite guest artists in from time to time, but this event was special. Sixteen artists would compete, the last two standing would then go on to Super Art Fight XI in August to determine who would get to join the official roster. I was one of those lucky sixteen.

Once the competitors were announced, about half of us found each other on Twitter and started hanging out. That was really cool. Even now after the event, the #SAFIdol crew still hangs out online, doing art jams on Google+ and the like. It made the atmosphere a lot friendlier than it could have been. We all cheered each other on, even if we had been beaten in an early round.

And now, the brackets:

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Joe Hunter vs. Zach Ginsburg

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Peter Johnson vs. Henry Alexander

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Mike Donohue vs. Jeff Eoff

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Mike O’Brien vs. Rain Tessman

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Monica Gallagher vs. Ashley Harnden

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
RL May III vs. Mark Tomczak

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Dann Malihom vs. Felipe Goncalves

Super Art Fight Idol – Round 1 Battle
Darl Gnau vs. Sam Haines

Super Art Fight Idol – round 2 Battle
Joe Hunter vs. Henry Alexander

Super Art Fight Idol – round 2 Battle
Mike O’Brien vs. Jeff Eoff

Super Art Fight Idol – round 2 Battle
Darl Gnau vs. Felipe Gonclaves

Super Art Fight Idol – round 2 Battle
Monica Gallagher vs. Mark Tomczak

Super Art Fight Idol – round 3 Battle
Henry Alexander vs. Mike O’Brien

Super Art Fight Idol – round 3 Battle
Monica Gallagher vs. Darl Gnau

So the last match was so intense, it ended in a tie meaning that at Super Art Fight XI it will be Henry Alexander vs. Monica Gallagher vs. Darl Gnau.

I got eliminated first round, but it was still AMAZINGLY FUN! I took a handful of photos of other matches, but my batteries ran out and I totally forgot to bring extras.

I do, however, have video of my match thanks to Brian. And they are embedded below because I am a huge egomaniac. . . . Er, I mean. . . no, that’s pretty much what I meant.

One of the best parts of this is the fact that just because we didn’t make it to the main roster doesn’t mean we don’t get to do other Super Art Fights. In fact, if you check out the report for Connecticon 2011, I got to take part in the first ever SAF Royal Rumble. . . . and totally lost, but STILL! Fun! And I (technically) got to compete against guys like H. Caldwell Tanner and David Willis! But that’s for another con report! Can you tell I don’t know how to end this? Because I can’t! Look, over there!