Monday, March 03, 2014

3/8: Gaylords at 3rd Eye Comics

SAT. 3/8: LOKI: RAGNAROK & ROLL Signing with JERRY & PENELOPE GAYLORD

  

This Saturday March 8th, we'll be hosting long-time friends of Third Eye, Jerry & Penelope Gaylord, as we celebrate their brand new BOOM! Studios series LOKI RAGNAROK & ROLL. 

 

Join us from 11AM-1PM, as these incredibly talented artists who've worked on books like ADVENTURE TIME, FANBOYS VS ZOMBIES and more, sign copies of their earlier works and their most recent hit: LOKI RAGNAROK & ROLL.

 

Want more info on our signing with Charles? Click here for the full scoop.

 

Zita and Bloop books to premiere at Smudge on March 8

2nd CARtoons exhibit pictures online

Bruce Guthrie took shots of the closing reception of the 2nd CARToons exhibit at the University of the District of Columbia. You can see a bunch of local cartoonists here. The exhibit was curated by Teresa Logan, aka 'The Laughing Redhead'.

April 6: Rat Queens signing at Big Planet Comics

PR: 2013 SPACE Prize winners have been announced!

District Comics earns a 2013 SPACE Prize!
District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, D.C. tours some of DC's lesser-known moments, with stops along the way for a duel, a drink in the Senate speakeasey, a shoe-shine, and much more. Forty talented writers and artists share stories you otherwise might never hear, featuring some of the city’s most captivating characters—from printers and police officers to pandas and punks. And, of course, a few politicians.

See the other SPACE Award winners here
Matt Dembicki is the founder of the D.C. Conspiracy, a comic creators’ collaborative in Washington, DC. He’s the editor of the Eisner-nominated and Aesop Prize-winning Trickster: Native American Tales and the forthcoming graphic anthology, Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays, and Other Endagered Sea Creatures.
District Comics by Matt Dembicki
For further information, to request review copies of Matt's books, or to feature Matt at an event, please contact: Melanie Roth, Marketing Manager, at melanie@fulcrumbooks.com

Paperback, $24.95, 978-1-55591-751-7



A couple books premiering at Smudge


Two books that will premiere at the Smudge Comics Arts Expo this weekend include Ben Hatke’s ‘The Return of Zita the Spacegirl’ (Ben will have a limited number of these advanced copies) and the 6x9 edition of Steve Conley’s ‘Bloop.’ The show on March 8 runs from noon to 6 p.m. at the Artisphere in Arlington, Va. (The Orange Line is a block away and there is validated parking at the Artisphere.)


Photos courtesy of Ben Hatke and Steve Conley

Sunday, March 02, 2014

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Santiago Casares


What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I do mostly cartoony comics, if that makes sense. My style relates more to comic strips than to superhero comics.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
Every finished piece of art I do passes through the computer nowadays, and most of it is being done 100% digitally. That being said, I still draw in my sketchbook every day in pencil/pen and ink.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in Mexico City in the 70’s.

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I moved to Washington DC because of love (even though that might sound like a cliché!). We live in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I studied a BFA in Visual Arts in Mexico City and then a MFA in Illustration at the Academy of Art University is San Francisco.

Who are your influences?
My biggest influence as a cartoonist is Bill Watterson, who I consider the best there ever was. Besides him the people I admire and allow their work to influence me are very varied, from Mike Mignola to Scott Morse.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would’ve taken my drawing skills more seriously, and would’ve practiced more while growing up.

What work are you best-known for?
My best-known work is my webcomic, Chili’s World.

What work are you most proud of?
This is a hard question to answer, as it’s usually the last thing I’ve done! So, I guess it depends on what page I’ve just finished.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I am currently trying to break into the Picture Books market. Picture Books have the same element than comics in that it’s a medium that combines images and words to create a whole new world.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
When I don’t know what to do, I still have to do the work. Even though creativity might not be flowing as I wish it was, my webcomic still needs to be updated. So basically, I keep on working through the rut or writer’s block…

What do you think will be the future of your field?
It’s taken a while, but now comics are being recognized as a proper medium to tell stories (both fiction and non-fiction). I believe that just like with books, most comics are going to be delivered digitally, with print becoming more of a collectors market.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?
I’ve exhibited at SPX and at the DC Zine Fest. And this year I’m going to be a part of a new show that looks very promising called Smudge Expo, over at the Artisphere in Arlington, VA. Attending shows is important to get to know the people that like your stuff and to promote it to new crowds.

What's your favorite thing about DC?
I love that you can walk almost anywhere in the city without the need of a car. And having amazing museums for free isn’t too shabby either! :)

Least favorite?
The scorching summer.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?
I love taking visitors to the Kogod Courtyard inside the Portrait Gallery / American Art Museum (after visiting the museums, of course). It’s such a peaceful place!

How about a favorite local restaurant?
I really like Beau Thai here in Mount Pleasant, or maybe Red Rocks Pizza or El Chucho's in Columbia Heights… I guess it depends on what I'm craving.

Do you have a website or blog?
Yes, I do! You can check out Chili’s World at www.chilisworld.com and my portfolio at www.santiagocasares.com.

As he noted, Mr. Casares will be at Smudge this coming Saturday, March 8th.

That darn Beetle Bailey

Letter to the Editor: The rewards of hard work

  • Patrick Sullivan, Herndon

Saturday, March 01, 2014

Daniel Boris' Kickstarter for children's book

Dozi the Alligator: An illustrated children's book

by Daniel Boris
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1107487436/dozi-the-alligator-an-illustrated-childrens-book

The story of a little alligator named Dozi, beautifully illustrated by Italian artist Nicola Sammarco.

This story is based on characters from my comic strip. It is the tale of a lovable alligator who secretly stows away with a family after a chance encounter during their Florida vacation. The colorful story is told in amusing verses and packed with twenty gorgeous illustrations that will captivate and entertain readers of all ages.

This is the "inaugural" first printing of Dozi the Alligator. It will be a high-quality, hardcover, numbered, limited edition.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Comic Riffs talks to Reuben Award nominees

NCS REUBEN AWARDS: Finalists talk of surprise as 4 nominees named for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year

    By Michael Cavna

    Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 28 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/02/28/ncs-reuben-awards-finalists-talk-of-surprise-as-4-nominees-named-for-outstanding-cartoonist-of-the-year/

 

 

Chris Flick interviewed on Smudge Expo site

Free Dust Elves Ashcan Comic





February 28, 2014
Free DUST ELVES Ashcan Comic
Gordon will be giving away ASHCAN copies of the next issue of THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THE DUSTELVES at the SMUDGE COMIC ARTS EXPO next Saturday, March 8th.
That’s right, he’ll be GIVING THEM AWAY FOR FREE. But before you get all excited and send that soda out your nose, you might want to see what an ASHCAN is.
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Ben Hatke to collect Little Robot strips

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Bhob Stewart's 1969 underground comics exhibit at the Corcoran

I never met Bhob Stewart who passed away this week. I'm sorry I didn't because our interests in pop culture overlapped. We must have corresponded about comics though, because my name was in his email address book, and his friend Brad Verter was kind enough to send a notice of his death, and some scans that he thought might be of interest. Bhob had apparently asked him to scan these for his blog Potrzebie, but didn't get a chance to use them.


Bhob was apparently instrumental in putting on Phonus Balonus, an underground cartoon exhibit at an offshoot of the Corcoran Gallery on Dupont Circle. Sean Howe has photographs online here, here, and here.

Here are the scans about the exhibit. I'm afraid most of them are only partially complete, but they give you an idea about what was in the show, and how it was received. Brad scanned the whole catalog of the show, and it's online here. Two libraries are shown in Worldcat as holding a copy of it - the Tate in London and UC Berkeley in California.
Corcoran Gallery's press release, page 1
Front cover to the catalog with art by Bhob.

Exhibit opening ticket.

Newspaper clipping with Skip Williamson art


Article from the New York Post.

Fragment of a Washington Post article

Partial Washington Post article from May 21, 1969.

Partial Washington Star article from June 1, 1969
Article from an unknown New York city magazine.


For more information on Bhob's life, read Bhob Stewart, 1937-2014, by Bill Pearson, Feb 26, 2014.