Sunday, January 30, 2011

Anthologies and Sci Fi Book Clubs

Our big project last semester at The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) was to do a group anthology. Our group used a fictional event to tie all of our stories together. We each did a 10 page comic based on the theme that a girl goes missing in a small town. I adapted my comic from a short story I wrote about the parents of the missing girl five years in the future. I'm posting the last three pages of my story. Maybe I'll post the rest of the story later. I used a G-nib and ink wash on the art work.




In other news, my pink-haired friend, Jen Vaughn, and I are going to start a sci-fi/fantasy book club for girls. Is that super nerdy or super awesome? Probably a little of both. We're gonna start with some young adult fiction, either The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.

Also I've started running again thanks to some free gym passes. It's amazing what endorphins can do. Over and out.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

I am trying to break your heart.

Our first Photoshop project last year was to make band posters. I think Wilco is one of the best American rock bands ever. There. I've said it.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Holy Icicles, Batman!

Here's the view from my kitchen window. It's a little disturbing that the icicles are angled so it seems like they're trying to break the window pane and get inside. They seem like menacing, evil icicles. 

 

And here is another diary comic from last semester. The idea was to convey emotion without using text. I cheated a little bit by using two figures instead of just one. Maybe it would be just as effective if I omitted the catalyst figure? Or maybe it would look like the guy was being attacked by light and waves. Although that could probably be some type of emotion too. Maybe.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Business Cards

I made business cards for my awesome and hilarious friend, Lisa Guis. Mostly they are just for fun so she can promote her blog. This is one side of the cards. You can't tell here but the paper is real shiny and silver. Glasses!


And here's a photo of Lisa looking startled and wearing glasses.


I'm hoping she'll hand these out in a really suave way to all the people she meets while clubbing. That's what people do in New York, right? 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

'Nother Snowy Day.

I'm living in a freezer that needs defrosting. And so I'm defying winter by wearing my long underwear as leggings under dresses. Huzzah! 

We have our first big spring semester assignment for skool: replicate a 1941 educational comic in two weeks in groups of six. No problem, I say! I'm already preparing myself by writing cheesy dialogue. I'm not sure if it's all era appropriate, but it shore is a whole bucketful of fun, like my penny whistles and hula hoops. The theme is how being frugal can be fun, which is great since last semester I did a 1930s toy design of a rag doll. Although my doll was not very pretty. I made her out of white undershirts, confetti, and a paper bag. I meant to go to the craft store, but it just never happened. Jasmine was a true rag doll, she was. Say hello, Jasmine.



Here's a diary comic from December. I used an ink wash and then put the thing through a filter and some thresholding on Photoshop. I like it 'cause it kinda looks like a screen print.


In other news, I've learned how to make hummus. It's delicious and surprisingly easy. All you need is a blender and some garbanzo beans, more or less. I am a bean machine. 

Monday, January 17, 2011

Hanoi!

So I spent last year teaching English in Thailand and Vietnam. It was a roller coaster of good times and bad and I miss it quite a bit. Hanoi is now one of my favorite cities in the world and the people I met there really rock my socks. I did a comic about my Hanoian roommates last semester and I really need to post it now because they haven't seen it yet (except Carrie - I mailed her a copy. And Sam, of course. Lucky duck gets to see everything.). The middle two pages were one big spread, but I've sized it down to be practical. Click to get the big picture.





I'd really like to expand on this story sooner or later. There's lots more to say and I think it's pretty riveting stuff, if I do say so meself. And stick people make me so happy. Also schtick people. But not as happy as these guys!


Sunday, January 16, 2011

This Bird Will Fly

Happy almost Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

To celebrate, here is a little project from last semester. The assignment was to use children's book author and illustrator Ed Emberley's drawing techniques to create a comic story of our choice. I'm a big fan of simple illustrations so it was a lot of fun to use Emberley's techniques, which are based on basic shapes and lines.


School starts up again on Tuesday so tomorrow is the last day of winter vacation. How shall I spend it? Getting up early to make skim lattes? Okay then! 

Friday, January 14, 2011

First Post.

Hello friends, enemies, and casual internet browsers!

Here it is! I know what you are all thinking: "Finally! My one stop shop for arts, entertainment, and current events!" Well, no, not exactly. But I will try to keep you all updated on what's happening in my world. It's like a fish bowl but waaaay more entertaining.

So stay tuned as I make my mark on the internets, and on this crazy thing called life.