Only then you'll see the world all brand new

I haven't been posting here too much.  It's a combination of having lots of work (a good thing), and the weather being great in Portland.  You have to go outside when that happens; it could change back at any minute!

I drew at a little cafe downtown yesterday.  Ice coffee, filtered sunlight...heaven!

So what have I been up to?  Lots!

There was the Stumptown Comics Fest, which was GREAT this year.  Fest director Kaebel Hashitani knows what he's doing and his team was on it.  The guests were phenomenal.  I spent about as much time away from my table as at it--there was so much I wanted to see!

 

Brett Warnock gave me this copy of Jess Fink's new book.  I LOVED it.  Whatever materials she's using (pencils and a wash?) really work.  It's so pretty and warm.

 

I have a gallery show this month at Sequential Art Gallery, and I did a First Thursday event for the opening of that.  I was on Geek in the City with Merrick Monroe to promote it.

^(That has to be the happiest face of mine anyone has ever caught on camera. I love it.)

On May 6 I had a signing at Powell's for Husbands!!!  I got to meet Brad Bell, Jane Espenson, and Tania del Rio.  We did a panel and Q&A with my studio mates Ron Chan and Ben Dewey as well.  It was cool having so much of the creative team in one place.  The crowd was great and we filled that Pearl Room space!  

It felt full-circle for me because I found out about Periscope Studio at a Powell's author reading in the exact same place where Steve Lieber and Jeff Parker were speakers.  I was a 19-year-old, making comics but badly wanting some IRL comics friends.  Finding out about the studio changed everything for me.

I'm working away on It Girl issue #12.  Mike Norton, Chynna Clugston, and I each get 8 pages--I think it's a really nice device for bringing the whole creative team together in the finale issue.  I got my comp copies for #10 yesterday and I am SO happy with them.  The issue drops May 15; be sure to pick it up!

 

I've been running for exercise.  I'm finally finding the nice pockets for that in my neighborhood.

And I'm still a klutz.  At least I have an outlet.

 Lastly, I'll leave you with some new doodles.  Until next time!

Don't recognize anybody

New art: Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman!

She's so fun to draw! *v*

ALSO!  We're less than a week from the Stumptown Comics Fest!!!  HOOAH!  Hope to see you there!  I'll be at table B-5 and I'm on a panel Sunday from 4:00-4:45 speaking on the topics of time management and meeting deadlines.

I am a dash and you are a dot

Some Stumptown silliness:


I left Molly alone for a while and instructed her to pretend to be me and draw in my sketchbook. When she asked what she should draw, I said a portrait of me. :P The Russian woman's pants were to illustrate a story Molly was telling about a woman at work whose butt does incomprehensible things shape-wise. And then of course we have my appreciation for these things.


A man complimented me on my cute style. I retorted that I was a gritty realist, sir, and set about drawing gritty-real-Batman to prove it. Later, someone said "Sailor Jesus" and I had to draw it. I used the empty space in the top right, but Molly pointed out that this made it look like Sailor Jesus was Batman's 'good angel'. We came up with Tinkerbell-Voldemort for the evil side. And then put Batman on a therapist's couch because he is clearly troubled.

We'll be playing and having fun

Tonight: Drink and Draw like a Lady West!

Elisabeth, Cat, and I spent last night baking, frosting, slicing, etc. in preparation. It's going to be awesome; hope you can make it! Remember to bring business cards and/or minis if you come!

Saturday and Sunday: Stumptown Comics Fest!

Come to booth B-22 to see Emi Lenox and me!

Stumptown Con Sketches

The Stumptown Comics Fest is next weekend!! :D



I recently closed commissions due to time restraints, but you can still get a con sketch from me at Stumptown next weekend. I will be doing black and white drawings on 9"x12" bristol. (The Kiki drawing above is one that I did at Emerald City last month).

To guarantee a spot (I will only take 5 requests), pre-order your con sketch now! That way, I have all week to reference and draw your con sketch, and it's ready to pick up as early as the beginning of the convention. You can also sign-up for a con sketch at the show, but once I have 5 requests, that's it. I don't know how quickly they will go, but I recommend that you come by early on Saturday if you don't pre-order.

To pre-order, e-mail me and tell me:
a) Your name
b) What character you want me to draw (can be anyone, even real people or original characters if you send me reference, but only 1 character please)
c) Any notes about what pose/outfit/setting/mood/etc. you would like
d) Whether or not you would like grayscale Copic marker shading on your drawing

The price is $40 and you can pay when you pick up your drawing. :)

Then I see our friends and everybody's so excited!

The Stumptown Comics Fest just posted its convention schedule!


Friday your only option is to PARTY, so do that. :P Cat Farris, Elisabeth Forsythe, and I are hosting Drink and Draw like a Lady: West at Things From Another World (Hollywood location). I am very excited for DDLL. This is the first time I have helped organize a big event! (Check out that fly poster by Emi Lenox!)

I've never been able to attend panels while tabling before, but I'm going to try to make it to Jacq Cohen's 'Publicizing your Comic' panel on Saturday at 3.

The Stumptown after party has been at Cosmic Monkey for the last 3 years, and that's always been great, but I am excited to see what the move to the Jupiter Hotel will bring. Like the move of the convention itself to a bigger venue, change can be good.

On Sunday, I am speaking on the Autobio Comics: How Much is TMI? panel at noon. (Trivia time: the only panel I've ever spoken on was an 'Upstart Artists' panel at Kumoricon at age 17!)

If you are from out of town, I highly recommend that you go on the SCF 2011 Art Gallery Guided Tours! I think it sounds so nice to be driven around and shown the comic highlights of Portland in just 2 hours! So easy! Is there any other convention that has something like that? My Periscope comic will be up at PCPA this month with lots of art by other Periscopers, so check that out if you can. :)

2011 Con Merchandise

I am going to Emerald City ComiCon and The Stumptown Comics Fest this year. Here is what I will be offering:

COMMISSIONS

9"x12" Ink - $40
9"x12" Ink and watercolor - $80
*Please e-mail me before the show if you would like a commission. This way I can spend more time on it, reference it properly, and have it ready to pick up as early as the beginning of the con. It's less stressful for me and results in a better drawing and earlier pick-up for you!*

MINICOMICS

2010 Sketchbook (32 pages)


Over the Surface 1 - $5


Over the Surface 2 - $5


PRINTS

9"x12"







9"x13.5"


11"x14"


4"x6"