Here's a fun live Facebook interview recorded with Paul to promote the workshop.
Wednesday, April 05, 2017
April 8: Paul Zdepski comics-making workshop
Paul Zdepski will host a comics-making workshop this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Va., which also has an exhibit by Alex Ross. The workshop is $35 for the general public. Registration is required.
Here's a fun live Facebook interview recorded with Paul to promote the workshop.
Here's a fun live Facebook interview recorded with Paul to promote the workshop.
April 8: Hello Kitty truck in Arlington; thousands expected
Hello Kitty Cafe Truck Is Stopping At Pentagon Row On Saturday
Tuesday, April 04, 2017
School Library Journal recommends March vol. 3
"March" Madness: Congressman Lewis's Graphic Novel Wins SLJ's Battle of the Books
By on March 31, 2017
The acclaimed graphic memoir marches to victory once again, the latest in a long line of accolades. The ultimate win in SLJ's ninth annual virtual book competition goes to the much-lauded final volume in the "March" graphic nonfiction series (Top Shelf) by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell.
Continued at http://www.slj.com/2017/03/books-media/march-madness-congressman-lewiss-graphic-novel-wins-sljs-battle-of-the-books/
April 26: March vol 1 bookclub meeting at East City Bookshop
Wednesday, April 26 at 6:30pm
Reality Literature Book Club reads MARCH: BOOK ONE by John Lewis, et al.
Reality Literature, East City Bookshop's narrative nonfiction book club, will discuss the first volume in John Lewis's graphic novel memoir of his childhood through his young adulthood in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Learn More
East City Bookshop
Reality Literature Book Club reads MARCH: BOOK ONE by John Lewis, et al.
Reality Literature, East City Bookshop's narrative nonfiction book club, will discuss the first volume in John Lewis's graphic novel memoir of his childhood through his young adulthood in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Learn More
East City Bookshop
645 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20003
April 8: Cecil Con in Md.
Cecil Con is a family-friendly, fantasy, gaming, anime and sci-fi convention
hosted by the Geekdom Club at Cecil College in North East, Md. Admissions is $3. Free for Cecil College students, 55 and older, and 5 and under.
According to the Facebook event page, it's the show's 4th year. "Last year we had 600+ attendees and this year we're expecting 800+!"
According to the Facebook event page, it's the show's 4th year. "Last year we had 600+ attendees and this year we're expecting 800+!"
Monday, April 03, 2017
Flashback Comics YouTube channel
Flashback Comics of Woodbridge, Va., has a YourTube channel where it features explanations of comics characters, tidbits on comics collecting, etc.
Sunday, April 02, 2017
Kickstarter for a photo book of cartoonists
I loved Greg Preston's first volume of The Artist Within, and I hope you'll consider backing his second. I am.
Saturday, April 01, 2017
April 10: Gene Yang signing at Big Planet
National Ambassador of Young
People's Literature and best-selling comic book creator Gene Luen Yang comes to Big Planet Comics on U St. on Monday, April 10, 6-7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 31, 2017
April 1: Alex Ross at Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
MEET ALEX ROSS!
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Alex Ross Art Exhibit & Signing
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Renowned Comic Book Artist Alex Ross Signing
The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
April 1
Superheroes and Superstars: The Works of Alex Ross
Winchester, VA 03/23/17 Alex Ross fans will have the opportunity to meet the artist at a free signing event on Saturday, April 1, at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in Winchester, Virginia.
This rare public appearance - the only scheduled signing for
Alex Ross in 2017 - is organized in conjunction with the display of the
new exhibition Superheroes and Superstars: The Works of Alex Ross.
The MSV is the first venue to host this traveling exhibition,
which has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts. On view in Winchester through May 14, 2017, the exhibition's MSV display is sponsored by Shenandoah Country Q102.
A lithograph of Ross's The World's Greatest Superheroes ($50) will be released at the April 1 signing.
Painted in 2005 and on view in Superheroes and Superstars, the work
features DC Comics' most recognizable superheroes. In addition to the
new print, a variety of Alex Ross merchandise will be available for
purchase in the Museum Store, including books, mini-canvasses ($150),
and a limited supply of prints ($50). A signed, framed set of Ross's
Yellow Submarine portraits of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr,
and George Harrison is also available for purchase at the MSV ($1,500).
The Museum Store will open at 9 a.m. on April 1.
Before or after meeting Alex Ross, attendees are encouraged
to see Superheroes and Superstars: The Works of Alex Ross in the
Museum's Changing Exhibition Gallery. The exhibition presents more than
100 original works created by Alex Ross, all on public display for the
first time. Most of the works in the exhibition are on loan from Ross's
personal collection.
Superheroes and Superstars features Alex Ross's
well-known images of superheroes, villains, and his recent paintings of
popular culture icons, such as The Beatles and Monty Python. Paintings,
sketches, and models from his childhood and college years are also on
view, including "Spidey" booklets that Ross created at the age of four,
action figures he made when he was 11 years old, and a self-portrait for
a high school art class. Some of Ross's more recent works in the
exhibition include A Tale of Two Reeves, a 2016 painting illustrating
the two actors audiences most identify with Superman; the 2016 Hulk
Marvelmania poster painting; Flash Gordon, a 2015 painting marking the
35th anniversary of the Flash Gordon film; and Ross's variant cover for
Star Wars #1, an homage to the original 1977 issue for Marvel's relaunch
of the classic Star Wars comic book series.
Those interested in attending the April 1 signing event may bring up to three items per person (no sketches and/or portfolio reviews).
While a fee is not required to attend the signing and meet Alex Ross,
MSV admission will apply to view Superheroes and Superstars.
Where: Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
901 Amherst St, Winchester, VA 22601
Who: Alex Ross to appear from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Snacks and drinks are available for purchase in the Museum
Store and Winchester's Jack Knuckle Gourmet Food Truck will be at the
MSV from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the day of the signing.
A regional cultural center, the MSV is located at 901 Amherst
Street in Winchester, Virginia. The MSV includes galleries, the Glen
Burnie House, and seven acres of gardens. The galleries and exhibitions
are open year-round; the house and gardens are open April through
December. The site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
January through March). Admission is $10 or $8 for seniors and youth
ages 13 to 18. General admission is always free to youth ages 12 and
under and to MSV Members. Thanks to sponsor Howard Shockey & Sons,
Inc., admission is free to all every Wednesday. Additional details are available at www.theMSV.org or by calling 540-662-1473, ext. 235.
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Valiant ad for Vans Warped Tour on back page of Wash City Paper
There's an ad for Vans Warped Tour on back page of March 31, 2017 Washington City Paper that uses Valiant characters. I can't quite figure out the connection from the Vans' website at http://vanswarpedtour.com/
'It's All Journalism' interview on alt-press graphic novel
Local journalist, podcaster and comics fan Michael O'Connell interviews graphic novelist Ethan Persoff about his biography of John Wilcock and the alternative press scene of the '60s and '70s. Check out Michael's podcast It's All Journalism #246: "Journey down the underground press rabbit hole"
The Post (and NYT) on Ghost in the Shell live action remake
'Ghost in the Shell' brings an anime classic to life, with mixed success [in print as 'Ghost in the Shell' and the spirit of the times].
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post March 31 2017, p. C1-2
In 'Ghost in the Shell,' a Cyborg With Soul
By MANOHLA DARGIS
A version of this review appears in print on March 31, 2017, on Page C1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Cyborg With a Soul.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/movies/ghost-in-the-shell-review-scarlett-johansson.html
Anatomy of a Scene | 'Ghost in the Shell'
The director Rupert Sanders narrates a scene featuring Scarlett Johansson.
By MEKADO MURPHY on Publish Date March 30, 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/100000005016686/anatomy-of-a-scene-ghost-in-the-shell.html
The Post on Boss Baby and Ghost in the Shell
'The Boss Baby': Grown-up life lessons in a family-friendly animated comedy [in print as More mature than it might appear].
Boss Baby (Alec Baldwin) and his 7-year-old brother, Tim (Miles Christopher Bakshi), work on a secret mission to stop what poses the direst threat to what the film posits is babies' already tenuous hold on parental love: puppies. (DreamWorks Animation)
The four words I wish I didn't say during 'The Boss Baby' [in print as Don't give a yuck: I picked the wrong time to be a critic]
Express
'The Boss Baby' Puts Alec Baldwin in Diapers, Sort Of
A version of this review appears in print on March 31, 2017, on Page C7 of the New York edition with the headline: Baby Talk for Grown-Ups.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/movies/the-boss-baby-review-alec-baldwin.htmlAndrew Williams - An Artomatic Interview
by Mike Rhode
Andrew Williams cartoon-based painting series at Artomatic in Crystal City is the religious-themed The Good News, but he also did a school newspaper comic strip called Mike and Moop. He's agreed to answer our usual questions.
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
Well I mainly do newspaper style comic strips on paint canvases.
How do you do it?
I use a combination of pencil and acrylic paint. I really want to get back into digital artwork, so I just bought an IPad Pro. We'll see how that works out.
When and where were you born?
I was born on July 16, 1987 in Washington D.C.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I actually live in Prince Georges County, Maryland now, but most of the time I'm in DC with my artwork, the city brings out my creativity.
What is your training and/ or education in cartooning?
Well, I'm a self-taught artist but I have done one year at the Art Institute of Washington for graphic design. As far as cartooning, I read a lot of comics and watch a lot of cartoons.
Who are your influences?
Jesus Christ, Aaron McGruder, Hanna-Barbera and Banksy.
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would have copyrighted all of my images and stayed motivated fresh out of high school.
What work are you best-known for?
I have to say Mike and Moop, only because I've been working on it for over 11 years. Mike and Moop originally appeared in Prince George's County Community College newspaper The Owl. However the Good News seems to be taking the spotlight nowadays.
What work are you most proud of?
The Good News, because I really feel like the series is bigger than myself.
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
As of right now I'm working on combining all of my strips into one book. AND Comics will be an anthology of all the comic strips I'm working on which will consist of Mike and Moop, GOODNEWS and Automatic Water pistols.
Does Good News tell a story?
Good News does tell a story. Unlike Mike and Moop and Automatic Water Pistols the story for GOODNEWS is already written (The Bible). So the purpose for the paintings and comic strip is less dialogue and more visual story telling. The maximum amount of text I want in the GOODNEWS is 10 words. The GOODNEWS ties into Mike and Moop and Automatic Waterpistols, because of the way the characters conduct themselves and the end moral of the stories, even though the characters never come out and say "Hey look, I'm a Christian".
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I like to watch artist and hip-hop documentaries. I feel like whenever I'm in a rut or have writers block, its best to look at other established artist for motivation. Exit through the Looking Glass has been on replay ever since I've started doing art shows again.
What do you think will be the future of your field?
Everything seems to be going digital now, so old-school inking and pencil cartooning will either be obsolete or seen as retro treasures. As far as storytelling goes, I'm interested to see what future kids will have to talk about.
What local Cons do you attend?
This year is the first year I applied to Awesome Con in Washington DC. I do plan on attending a few throughout the year.
What's your favorite thing about DC?
The People, Art and Chicken Wings with Mambo sauce.
Least favorite?
Violence.
What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?
MLK memorial.
How about your favorite local restaurant?
Ben's Chili bowl.
Do you have a website or blog?
Instagram: @fir3inmybones
http://www.rawartists.org/dr3wwilliams
Andrew Williams cartoon-based painting series at Artomatic in Crystal City is the religious-themed The Good News, but he also did a school newspaper comic strip called Mike and Moop. He's agreed to answer our usual questions.
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
Well I mainly do newspaper style comic strips on paint canvases.
How do you do it?
I use a combination of pencil and acrylic paint. I really want to get back into digital artwork, so I just bought an IPad Pro. We'll see how that works out.
When and where were you born?
I was born on July 16, 1987 in Washington D.C.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I actually live in Prince Georges County, Maryland now, but most of the time I'm in DC with my artwork, the city brings out my creativity.
What is your training and/ or education in cartooning?
Well, I'm a self-taught artist but I have done one year at the Art Institute of Washington for graphic design. As far as cartooning, I read a lot of comics and watch a lot of cartoons.
Who are your influences?
Jesus Christ, Aaron McGruder, Hanna-Barbera and Banksy.
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would have copyrighted all of my images and stayed motivated fresh out of high school.
What work are you best-known for?
I have to say Mike and Moop, only because I've been working on it for over 11 years. Mike and Moop originally appeared in Prince George's County Community College newspaper The Owl. However the Good News seems to be taking the spotlight nowadays.
What work are you most proud of?
The Good News, because I really feel like the series is bigger than myself.
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
As of right now I'm working on combining all of my strips into one book. AND Comics will be an anthology of all the comic strips I'm working on which will consist of Mike and Moop, GOODNEWS and Automatic Water pistols.
Does Good News tell a story?
Good News does tell a story. Unlike Mike and Moop and Automatic Water Pistols the story for GOODNEWS is already written (The Bible). So the purpose for the paintings and comic strip is less dialogue and more visual story telling. The maximum amount of text I want in the GOODNEWS is 10 words. The GOODNEWS ties into Mike and Moop and Automatic Waterpistols, because of the way the characters conduct themselves and the end moral of the stories, even though the characters never come out and say "Hey look, I'm a Christian".
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I like to watch artist and hip-hop documentaries. I feel like whenever I'm in a rut or have writers block, its best to look at other established artist for motivation. Exit through the Looking Glass has been on replay ever since I've started doing art shows again.
What do you think will be the future of your field?
Everything seems to be going digital now, so old-school inking and pencil cartooning will either be obsolete or seen as retro treasures. As far as storytelling goes, I'm interested to see what future kids will have to talk about.
What local Cons do you attend?
This year is the first year I applied to Awesome Con in Washington DC. I do plan on attending a few throughout the year.
What's your favorite thing about DC?
The People, Art and Chicken Wings with Mambo sauce.
Least favorite?
Violence.
What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?
MLK memorial.
How about your favorite local restaurant?
Ben's Chili bowl.
Do you have a website or blog?
Instagram: @fir3inmybones
http://www.rawartists.org/dr3wwilliams
Thursday, March 30, 2017
'Pigheaded' quoted on NYT obit on Skip Williamson
Sean Hill interviewed in Tessera
The arts blog Tessera interviews comics creator Sean Hill on his approach to art and storytelling. Sean will also be an exhibitor at the Heroic Minicomics Show May 20 at Heroic Aleworks in Woodbridge, Va.
Herblock Award photos
Here's pictures from last night's political cartooning award to Ruben Bolling for his Tom the Dancing Bug strip and the following speech by Rep. John Lewis at the Library of Congress.
Ace local photographer Bruce Guthrie is the go-to man for these.Formal Presentation:
Everything else:
My pictures, taken with a cell phone and as yet unedited, are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/42072348@N00/albums/72157681909955356
Gordon Thomas Frank - An Artomatic Interview
by Mike Rhode
Gordon Thomas Frank's art is influenced by cartoons including DC and Disney. A selection is on display at Artomatic 2017 in Arlington, VA. He's answered our usual questions.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
Scanned images manipulated through Photoshop.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I'm a child of the 70's.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I grew up on the D.C. border in P.G. County. I've lived in Alexandria since 2001.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
Self-taught. I never finished school.
Who are your influences?
Tumblr is a great source for inspiration. I have spent hours cataloging old comic book panels for future reference for my artwork.
What work are you most proud of?
It's hanging in Artomatic right now...it's called 'Once You Go Black' and it depicts Sleeping Beauty holding a dildo. The show hadn't even opened, and it caused a few complaints. The woman using the wall space next to me to said it was borderline child pornography. (She went ballistic and moved to the 3rd floor after someone else hung a floor-to-ceiling-sized painting with a penis on it). Another artist told me the Sleeping Beauty piece was 'kinda sorta' pornography, but was more upset with it because, 'as a Black woman', she felt it was racist.
Do you have a website or blog?
I am the creator of the tumblr blog Love Boat Insanity (loveboatinsanity.tumblr.com). It's a collection of Love Boat celebrities (and even fictional characters) that might've been...such as John Waters, Divine, Pam Grier, Ultraman, Jeffrey Dahmer and Tommy Wiseau, etc.
Gordon Thomas Frank's art is influenced by cartoons including DC and Disney. A selection is on display at Artomatic 2017 in Arlington, VA. He's answered our usual questions.
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
My work has been described as digital pop art.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
Scanned images manipulated through Photoshop.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I'm a child of the 70's.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I grew up on the D.C. border in P.G. County. I've lived in Alexandria since 2001.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
Self-taught. I never finished school.
Who are your influences?
Tumblr is a great source for inspiration. I have spent hours cataloging old comic book panels for future reference for my artwork.
What work are you most proud of?
It's hanging in Artomatic right now...it's called 'Once You Go Black' and it depicts Sleeping Beauty holding a dildo. The show hadn't even opened, and it caused a few complaints. The woman using the wall space next to me to said it was borderline child pornography. (She went ballistic and moved to the 3rd floor after someone else hung a floor-to-ceiling-sized painting with a penis on it). Another artist told me the Sleeping Beauty piece was 'kinda sorta' pornography, but was more upset with it because, 'as a Black woman', she felt it was racist.
Do you have a website or blog?
I am the creator of the tumblr blog Love Boat Insanity (loveboatinsanity.tumblr.com). It's a collection of Love Boat celebrities (and even fictional characters) that might've been...such as John Waters, Divine, Pam Grier, Ultraman, Jeffrey Dahmer and Tommy Wiseau, etc.
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