Tuesday, January 18, 2011

PR: WashPost's Cartoon Caption Contest

The Post has joined the caption-writing contest world...

Readers will have a chance at writing a cartoon caption with The Washington Post's caption-writing contest with Tom Toles.

WashPost editorial Cartoonist Tom Toles sketched a State of the Union cartoon here, but there's no caption: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2011/01/state_of_the_union_cartoon_cap.html

Readers can post their suggested caption(s) in the comments section until 11:59 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 24. The winner gets a print of the cartoon, with their suggested caption, signed by Tom Toles. The winner will be announced before Obama begins his State of the Union address that Tuesday evening.

For official rules, go here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/tom-toles-cartoon-caption-cont.html

Feb 9: Kal is keynote speaker

In an event that must have Willie Don Schaeffer spinning in his grave (except he's still alive), Kal notes that he's the keynote speaker at Maryland Arts Day in Annapolis Wednesday February 9, 2011.

And, making it tough on Kal collectors, he's done two cartoons for the Economist cover this week - one for the US and one for Europe.

Team Cul de Sac launches for Parkinson's Disease fundraising

Chris Sparks, Cul de Sac's webmaster, has launched Team Cul de Sac to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Parkinson's Disease research. You can read Richard Thompson's take on it or just go right to the charity's main page and pledge some money. If you're a cartoonist, rather than contributing money, you may wish to participate in an art auction. Chris wants to raise $250,000 and has gotten commitments from excellent artists already (some of whom aren't even Richard's friends!), and Andrews McMeel will be publishing a collection of the artwork which I'm really looking forward to.

Thank you all for any support.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Comics Comics on Lost Art Books's Zim

Dan Nadel of Comics Comics has reviewed Joe Procopio and Lost Art Books's Zim reprint.

Truitt on Green Hornet, again

Inside the geek life of 'Green Hornet' star Seth Rogen
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 17 2011.

My daughter, of all people, saw this today, and liked it ok.

Comicsgirl reviews Remake by Lamar Abrams

Comicsgirl reviewed Remake by Lamar Abrams, published by Chris Pitzer's Adhouse Books (from Richmond) and revealed that he's a local comics creator. Apparently I knew that at one time, but spaced out about it. A link to Mr. Abrams' site is being added to the list on the right, now.

Ruffin's Party Crashers exhibit review part 2

Out of print: comic book art reaches exhibition in Arlington part 2
Mark Ruffin
DC Comic Books Examiner January 13th, 2011

PR: Art Whino Now Offering Classes

Does your New Year Resolution's include taking classes
to sharpen your arsenal of skills?
Then you are in luck!

Art Whino is proud to announce it will now
start to offer unique and fun art classes

We begin our line up of classes with four workshops. Please email us at classes@artwhino.com with your favorites and classes will begin once they are filled up.

Classes will be held at the gallery
122 Waterfront St
National Harbor, MD
20745

Classes will be in the evening Tues-Thurs starting at 8pm.
Monday class will begin at 6pm

1. CREATING YOUR ALTER-EGO AND YOUR DREAM ENVIRONMENT

30 dollars per session
4 sessions per month
Each session is 2 hours

The workshop will focus on the idea of alter-existence and fantasy. Participants will learn aspects of visual character development and how they relate to the persona of specific characters common in the graphic novel: Superman, Aeon Flux, and Dr. Manhattan, are some examples of iconic character personas that will be discussed. All of these characters' physical personas can be directly translated to their behavioral personas. We will analyze how the behavior of each character manifests itself in their physical being and expression, and then based on our behavioral states, each student will create our own alter ego, representative of the way they behave—rather than the way they look. Each student will then create a fantasy environment for his or her alter ego that will serve as its habitat. The alter ego can be anything from a 5-legged reptile to a working class male.

Materials: Canson Vellum, Black Micron Ink pen set of 3, Stabilo Marker Set of 12, N. 2 pencil, eraser, ruler.

Optional: Watercolor, colored pencil.

*Student is responsible for purchase of materials prior to first session.

2. ILLUSTRATING THE NARRATIVE

30 dollars per session
4 sessions per month
Each session is 2 hours

Students will learn the fundamentals of narrative structure used in telling the short story. They will read from the short stories of Donald Barthelme and Ernest Hemingway and will create a short story of their own. They will learn how to transfer their story from written word into visual depiction.

Materials: Canson Storyboard, Micron Ink Set of 3, Stabilo Marker Set of 12, N. 2 pencil, eraser, ruler.

Optional: Watercolor, colored pencil.

*Student is responsible for purchase of materials prior to first session.

3. PAINT THE SANDMAN FOR THE GAIMAN

30 dollars per session
4 sessions per month
Each session is 2 hours

Students will review Neil Gaiman's The Sandman Series for inspiration on how a serial narrative works. Students will begin drafting compositions using pencil, gridded paper, and tracing paper. These compositions will be loosely inspired and individually re-interpreted using Gaiman's Sandman Series as visual reference. The final product will be a series of narrative panel paintings loosely inspired from Neil Gaiman's serial comic The Sandman Series.

Materials needed: 4 Frederick pure linen canvases 11x14, N. 2 pencil, Micron black pen set of 3, Art Tin Watercolor set, Crayola Brush set of 4.

*Student is responsible for purchase of materials prior to first session

4. CREATING MAGIC FROM MINIATURE

50 dollars per session
4 sessions per month
Each session is 2 hours

Students will be taught techniques in storyboarding, miniature set building, and 3D character development. The resulting end product will be a short stop-motion animated video based on each student's own narrative.

**Prerequisites: None. Students must have a digital camera and Mac laptop.

Materials needed: Shoebox, Klutz Create with Clay, Cardboard, Sharpie black marker, Colored construction Paper.

Optional: Colored pencil, Stabilo Marker, Art Tin Watercolor set and crayola brushes.

*Student is responsible for purchase of materials prior to first session.

Tables available for Small Press Expo

The Small Press Expo is selling tables as of Friday. Click here for the details. SPX is Sept 10-11, 2011 in the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.