What a weekend! I returned home this afternoon from SpaceCon San Antonio, where I was lucky enough to see Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen together. I’ve been working through my Vision project ideas and finalizing things, wanting to have my ideas solid before Vision Quest hits. This painting ended up being the conceptual process for that. I hope to share more soon, and getting to share my art with Lizzie for the first time, and share where I’ve grown with Paul was a wonderful experience.
I’ll share the long detailed story of my day at the convention and experiences with Paul and Lizzie below:
The past year has been full of a lot of misses but this weekend completely made up for ALL of them. When Paul and Lizzie did NYCC together last year and I was not able to go for family related reasons, I was heartbroken. And then just earlier this month I attended NYCC, but a change in travel plans meant I missed the MCU TV panel. If they had listed Paul and Vision Quest I would have chosen a different flight, but with the data available at the time of booking we didn’t know. I found out about Paul and the trailer while on a plane home. I had managed to pick up a cute little Vision plush from a vendor at NYCC the day before who ended up in my pocket the whole way home.
Luckily I knew I would be seeing Paul and Lizzie at Space Con later in the month, so the money I ended up not using at NYCC I put towards an extra photo and autograph with Paul. I decided to bring the Vision from NYCC, thinking I could bring things full circle by including him in the photo.
My con day started with my solo photos with Paul right after arriving. I walked in and he had a big smile and put his arm around me. I told him we had met in Dallas 2 years before and I was excited to share a new painting with him. He looked a bit confused and asked my name, I introduced myself. After the photo I handed him the plush (he said “Awwww he’s so cute”) and we snapped the next. I told him I had purchased him at NYCC but missed Paul himself so I would be seeing him a few times.
Next was the Premium autograph, for my print (this event had standard autographs only covering 8x10 photos, any items or posters were premium). I can’t recall exactly what he said but he looked it over it and said it was amazing, and asked if I was excited for Vision Quest. I must have hesitated (my feelings are complicated, as a fan who loves creating my own stories and due to all the personal FOMO around the series for me) and I explained that I was tentatively excited but in always anxious to be excited when it’s something I really love. He gave me his promise that I will love it, and honestly…I believe him. He’s so exited, you can tell. My friend also mentioned loving Uncle Frank and I agreed. I can’t recall the exact details but he seemed touched and thanked us for caring. I let him know, very seriously, that I always care, and I’m excited for every project. At that point we needed to move so the next group could meet him, but he gave me the most charming wink when I said I had another autograph at a later slot.
My friend and I walked the floor until my autograph with Lizzie. She is so stunningly pretty, and so quiet and sincere with each interaction. She admired the art and commented on it, though I can’t recall exactly the words. I told her how 2 years ago I shared my journey with reconnecting and healing with art through Vision and Wanda, as well as told her about the various communities I’ve found thanks to her work. At the end of the interaction I gifted her a small copy of my print, just as a thank you and memento for the day and she seemed very touched.
After Lizzie I went back to Paul’s line for my extra autograph, and he had removed his leather jacket and was wearing the sweater vest and tee. His arms on full display, and I was able to really see and admire his beatiful tattoo! That was a treat, and I asked where he got the sweater because I loved the pattern. “It was custom made for me” Of course it was, fancy fashion man 😂 I joked that unfortunately for me I share Paul’s fashion taste, and his aid laughed and asked why unfortunate - it’s expensive!!! It was a fun interaction. For this autograph I had also purchased a quote with hopes he could just write a personalized message. I told him to write whatever he wanted and he immediately got to work with “Thank you for caring” from our morning conversation. It was such a wonderful few moments talking with him. I then gifted him a small copy of the print, as well as a small copy of the portrait I did of him last year. That in particular moved him, especially as I explained it was a gift for the last time and that it was a painting of HIM not Vision or another character he’s played. He gave me a fist bump from behind the table before we left in thanks.
After that I had time to kill so my friend and I grabbed lunch then walked around. We checked out the XFiles panel, and I purchased some fun photo frames.
The last face to face experience was my WandaVision duo photo. I get through the line and Paul smiles as I walk in and I asked him to hold the print because he’s tall (he agreed and was happy to help) and I had Lizzie hold my little Wanda (I’ve had these little plushies in every photo I’ve gotten at a convention since I got them) and we take the photo. As I took my items back, I thanked them both again and started to leave, but Paul said to come back. I turn around and he’s there, and just…pulls me into a full body hug. Guys…he’s amazing. He really is just warmth personified. Despite constant no hug warnings from staff he decided to break that rule with Lizzie and everyone there watching. I’m still reeling. Probably will be my whole life.
I can’t say everyone has *that* experience, but I can say everyone I watched leave his photo or autograph had a big smile from meeting him. If you get the chance, he’s worth it.
We still had the WandaVision Q&A after all this!!! It was a very long day, and I’m sure the panel will be uploaded but it was wonderful. A lot of the questions let them get into character and be cute - what would Wanda and Vision do on a trip to San Antonio? What cartoon character would you be (Lizzie said Toad and Paul said Scooby Doo as if I couldn’t love him more).
