You're the one anomaly

I updated my Etsy shop with 3 new original pages from Between Gears. Allow me to plug my minicomics while I'm at it; all of my minicomics are now OUT OF PRINT, meaning that I will not be making any more of them and once these sell out they are GONE.

It is very likely that I will sell out of several titles at conventions this spring. If you want them, I strongly recommend that you buy them from me soon.

To clarify: I do hope to make minicomics again, but I will not reprint any of my existing minicomics. If I make minicomics in the next few years, they'll be new stories. (If I could pull off a Becky Cloonan-style short story, high-quality production, that would be really rad. That is my dream right now.)

Coming through the trees

My Etsy shop is off of vacation mode! I've listed all of the minicomics I have in stock, as well as a Between Gears original page:

Smiling next to Oprah and the queen

Do you have a library card? Guess whose minicomics you can now check out!

I'm so happy about this. The icing on the cake is that the library came up with better plot summaries than I ever did. New plan is to get as many of my minis into the library system as possible and use their summaries as my pitches from now on.

You think that you should rule the world; I think books are a thrill!

Over the Surface 1 minicomics and the 1+2 bundle are back in stock! :D

This print run of chapter 1 features 4 pieces of beautiful fan art in place of the bonus art in the last print run. Previews! <3


Nicolas Hitori de



Emi Lenox


Angie Wang


Joëlle Jones

Only in dreams we see what it means

Just had one of those moments:

I got a check in the mail today from Multnomah County Library for some minis they bought from me at Stumptown. I went online to search their database, and saw them in the catalog!
Behold my little victory!

....How cool would it be if I was named 'Natalie Nutria'?

We can do this right here and now

Over the Surface 2 minicomics now available on Etsy!



If you want a bundle deal on OtS 1 +2, wait until later in the week and I should have time to list one. I have tons of chapter 2 minis; I do not foresee them running out before then. :P I only have 4 copies of OtS 1 left, but I am working on a second print run right now. I am aiming to make that next batch available around June 10, and it will include some awesome fan art in place of the bonus art in the first print run of chapter 1.

This is show time this is show time this is show time

Aw dang! Over the Surface 2 minicomics are printed and assembled!!!!


I will distribute them to my thesis committee tomorrow along with the final draft of my paper. Next Wednesday, I'll present my thesis and be DONE! :DDD
With the thesis behind me, I will turn my thoughts to other art projects, including making the minis available in my Etsy store. So close, you guys. So. Close. Then that anthology story, those illustrations for people, new Between Gears pages...

Here's that cover image for you:

My dove is home

EDIT: LOOOOOOOOOOOLS excuse my crack-brain, I ALREADY POSTED ABOUT THIS WHAT.

I said that I would make my minis available online for those of you unable to come to Stumptown or Emerald City, and now they are all in my Etsy store! :D

Let it come true right now

I added Over the Surface, Between Gears, and The Legend of Larsha to my Etsy store, which means that all 4 new 2010 minis are now available online! :D

Too little much too late

Preview of page 10 of Over the Surface:


My schedule for the next 13 days:

Monday: OtS page 11
Tuesday: class and hw
Wednesday: OtS page 12
Thursday: class and hw
Friday: OtS page 13, friend's party
Saturday: OtS page 14, family visiting
Sunday: OtS page 15
Monday: OtS page 16
Tuesday: class and hw
Wednesday: clean up and finish OtS, print and assemble minicomics
Thursday: write 2 finals essays (ahahahahaha...) and then take the bus to Portland
Friday: Drive to Seattle with Emi
Saturday: Emerald City Comicon!!!!!!

@_________________________________@

Ashita ga aru!

Larsha is officially done and printing! Whoo! And great news: J. and I have decided to sell minicomics of it at my booths at ECCC and Stumptown!! :D It is well-written and full-color and I am really happy with it. Please check it out! More information later~

I finished the linoleum prints for the Between Gears and Over the Surface minis this week, and though I am no master printer I hope that people will enjoy them!

Now the only big thing I have left for convention preparations is Over the Surface. I finished page 9 tonight, the cover and bonus art pages are done and printed...it's just 7 more pages of art before March 11!...
Seriously getting down to the wire, but I'm keeping my head down and telling myself "I think I can!!" I have made 2 pages in a day each, which I didn't know I was capable of, so that's a real boost of confidence at least! (me=silver lining person)

Here's my favorite part of page 9:

Spring conventions: reserve your minicomics!

I will be selling 4 new minicomics this year at Emerald City Comicon March 13-14, The Stumptown Comics Fest April 24-25, and online.

1. The Legend of Larsha: Swings & Slides
Written by J. Kingman, 16-page full-color comic. It is a sweet and imaginative story and some of my best work to date.

2. Over the Surface chapter 1
The comic that I am making for my senior thesis, this comic is 16-pages, plus a full color cover, a limited edition print, and 2 pages of bonus art.

3. Between Gears
A sampler of pages from my webcomic, Between Gears, this minicomic includes 16 pages of the comic, a full color cover, a limited edition print, and 6 pages of bonus art.

4. 2009-2010 Sketchbook
This 20-page comic collects my favorite sketches from spring 2009-winter 2010. Now available on Etsy!!!

If you are going to either ECCC or SCF, I would recommend waiting to buy your minis there so that you can save on postage. If you want me to reserve you a copy to buy at a show, just leave a comment on this post with your name, which show you will be at, and what/how many copies you want. I will make SURE that what you want is set aside with your name on it if you leave a comment here.

I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye

Alrighty, so the minicomics I'm getting ready for conventions this spring are taking shape, and I thought I'd give you a preview of what you can expect to see:

1) Between Gears
Color cover and back cover, 16 of my favorite pages from the comic, 7 pages of bonus material including how to tone, the process of BG, a numbered linoleum print, and new art (none of which will be available online!)

2) Over the Surface
Color cover and back cover, the 16-page first chapter of my thesis comic, plus a numbered linoleum print and 2 pages of behind-the-scenes art.

3) 2009-2010 Sketchbook
20 pages of my favorite sketches and loose inks from spring'09 - winter '10, black and white cover and back cover. Some of the sketches have been posted on this blog, but many are new.

Life is love in a neon rainbow

Get excited! I've been working on bonus material for the Between Gears minis, including toning tips, my process, a limited edition linoleum print, and pin-ups that will only be available in the minis.


Between Gears minicomic cover by ~Tallychyck on deviantART

Blog Every Day April: 21

I don't have enough money to buy everyone's books. I don't own studio space or publish material. One small thing I can do to support other comickers, though, is to pimp them out, and hopefully spread the joy of their stories and art! Thus I give you: The Minicomic Post!! :D
Titles I picked up at Stumptown this year:

Copy Jerk 01 by Matthew Metzler
This mini had great production quality and content. Though the boob jokes probably weren't written for my demographic, I laughed out loud many times at the mini's other jokes. The art style is nice, too--I like the clean linework and coloring, and Metzler is pro at expressions and drawing his characters consistently.
www.CopyJerk.com

Devil Bids Us Skoal by Ainsley Yeager
This mini is a print preview for Devil Bids Us Skoal, a webcomic now up on Webcomics Nation. Though it is just a taste of a much larger story, Ainsley's fast and fun storytelling style is evident from the first pages alone, and her art leaves you wanting more.
http://pleaseinsertcoins.com/

Dinosaur Vs Robot by Ainsley Yeager
Ainsley gave me issues 5 and 6 to pore over, and now I want issue 7! Her autobiographical mini series expresses her emotions and documents her accomplishments and failures over several months of her life in each issue. I really enjoyed this form of journaling as a reader. Each strip is only 1 or 2 panels, but it tells you exactly what was going on with Ainsley that day. When read in succession in this mini format, you feel like you know the author personally, and are rooting for her to keep going.
http://pleaseinsertcoins.com/?page_id=83

Flaccid Badger Wants an Apple by Cat Ellis
This is one of my favorite comics ever, ever, ever. I have a boner for Flaccid Badger (Aaaah! See what I did there?!). He flops over inanimate objects so cutely, you might just squeal out loud when you read it. In public. The storytelling style mocks children's books with simple sentences accompanied by hilarious, sometimes less G-rated images. With a mere 8 pages, Flaccid Badger has worked his floppy way onto my "favorites" bookshelf.
http://cattifer.com/blogalog/

Fredrick the Whale by Matt Grigsby
Fredrick the Whale is the silly story of a whale who just wants a bottle of milk, is that so much to ask?! Grigsby took the inspiration for the comic from a group of 6-10 year olds playing a camp storytelling game, which makes it even cuter and funnier than it already is. The art, especially the design for Fredrick, works great with the story.
http://www.grigsbyart.blogspot.com/

How I Was Born Again by Brendan Wright
Wright prefaced this to me by saying, "It's from 2 years ago, so...you know." However, the story doesn't loose its value over time, I think. The main character, a 15 year old boy, agrees to go to church for the first time when a cute blond asks him to go with her. He explains his relationship with religion, the details of his 'conversion', and his feelings afterward in a straight-forward, relatable voice. Anyone who has had questions about religion will be able to relate to some part of this endearing story.
http://wrightopinion.com/

In Contempt: Collateral Damage by Kevin Moore
I'm not normally drawn to the art style of political cartoons--heavy on the hatching, low on the grayscale--but Moore drew me in from the first strip with his clear and expressive faces and body language. The comic isn't bogged down with dialogue, either, which often deters me. Instead, In Contempt is funny, harsh, and fast-paced. I ate it up in about 10 minutes, and then read it again. My favorite image was that of King George the W (with lines above and below the W like a Roman numeral) in his feudal courthouse.
http://mooretoons.com/

The Ravens' Gambit: Issue One by Rich Ellis and Susan Tardif
I know Rich and Susan, so I know that they are talented creators. However, I was really taken aback when Susan put Ravens' Gambit in my hands. From cover to cover, the art is awesome. I think I held it 5 times as long than one normally holds a comic without opening it, but I was too captivated by the cover to start reading right away! The pacing and story are seriously pro, and the art holds up to the story's standards with consistent rendering and a good sense of mood. This comic even has bonus material in the back with a funny story to let you get to know the characters better--a must have!
http://elliscomics.com/ravensgambit/

So go and buy all of them, NOW! :P

Stumptown Recap

It was Christmas, the first day of school, and a rock concert all rolled into one!!


(The Stumptown 2009 Flickr pool is already up! Add your photos or browse through others'! :D That's Ainsley, my table mate, on the left!)

Saturday:
I woke up at 6 on Saturday morning practically buzzing with excitement. First convention jitters!! I had time to finish most of my final preparations, such as assembling my tool kit and packing a lunch, before hitting the road at 8:30. I got to the Lloyd Center DoubleTree at 9 and had an hour to set up my table. The floor was so full of excited, talented comic folk! It was inspiring just watching everyone set up their tables. (And sadly, the set up and take down hours were the times I saw the most tables, because I hardly got a chance to walk around during the day.)

I was really nervous (shaking, really...) for the first couple of hours, but talking with Ainsley (cool as a cucumber :P) and forcing myself to crack my sketchbook helped me hit my stride. A bunch of friends stopped by my table throughout the day, including my good friends Carrie and Andy, Jamie Rich, Periscope friends, and even friends from school. They were all really supportive and it cheered me up every time they stopped by.

I like imagining all of the people that might have my comics in their hands now. It's a wonderful feeling!

Blogger ate three paragraphs of this post, but I'll try to rewrite them!:
I tried to find a friend's party after the fest Saturday, but it was epic fail. I am from the west side, and Portland's east side confounds me miserably. I drove up and down the last street I could find on my direction sheet for 10 minutes, but never found the next one. x___x
I went to the Cosmic Monkey after party next, where I was finally able to see the awesome comic book store everyone raves about! What a place! They had an entire section for local zines, and another for locally published books. :D It is a truly awesome comic shop. I plan to return. :) The Trophy Awards show and Comic Art Battles were fun to watch, and Jeff Parker cracked up the whole audience for several hours in his MC alter ego. I met the new Periscope intern, Emi, and the old one, Sarah. New friends, yaaaay! xD We danced and shouted at the stage late into the night.

I went to the portfolio review table late Saturday, and got some time with Bob Schreck. I went in with a thick skin, but he was nice. He did tell me I should go to art school, which sounds harsh out of context, but I agree that I could use basic training in some areas (perspective, anatomy, and color theory most of all...). He said that my expressions and faces were good, but I should work on backgrounds (don't ink with a ruler) and character details from far away, esp. hands. I'm in such a frustrating place between 'hobbyist' and 'employable artist'. I don't have the money for art school, but I'll try to take at least a single class at PSU or AI this summer.

Sunday:
I got out the door pretty late, and arrived at the fest with only half an hour before opening. However, I had left all of my stuff under my table over night, so I was able to set up pretty quickly. Though activity was down, sales were up. I think it was people exploring the fest Saturday and buying Sunday. My family came through, which was very sweet, and even took pictures of my booth (BLUSH). I met even more cool people, and enjoyed the more casual atmosphere of the day.
At 6, I made the decision to go straight home instead of out to celebrate, and gave my family some attention. We made burgers and watched LOST. Bliss!

THINGS I LEARNED FOR NEXT TIME:

• You need super, SUPER sticky tape to hang anything on tablecloth
  
• Pack a lunch you can eat with one hand
• Don't smile with unbreaking eye contact when someone approaches you. In fact, I found that my most effective attitude for making people stick around was sketching in my own little world, and only looking up and smiling if someone stayed at the booth for half a minute or more.
• Business cards. Bring them all.
• It may seem pompous to put your pricing sheet at the front of your table, but that is where it needs to be
• Print out driving directions the night before and put them in your car before you go to bed
• Do not drink caffeine the first morning--the excitement more than does the job!
• Only pack merchandise that you think represents you well. Each item could be the only one a customer takes home with them!
• Wear a bright color
  
• If you think it's time to get a table and a con, sign the frick up today!!!! I wish I'd started doing this a year or even two years ago!!

As of today, I'm planning on attending the Portland Zine Symposium. :) I like this convention stuff!

Next post: review of all the minis I read at the end of the weekend!!

Saddle Stitchin'

I got a new toy from the Bookstore today~~~!


It's my handy-dandy Bostitch Booklet Stapler!! 8D


It aligns folded papers and staples them right on the crease!!!


Insta-saddle-stitch!!!! I love this thing waaaay more than anyone should love a stapler. Petname forthcoming.

This week, I am:

• surviving midterms: round 2
• hosting my mom for the weekend
• going to Portland for another doctor's appointment (it's just a little nothing)
• printing and assembling minicomics
• ordering prints
• working on A Room of One's Own
  
• deciding how to set up my table at Stumptown. I want to do those little cut-out characters that you can place on your table and stuff...I'm thinking Moots scaling the front of the booth would be funny.

Oh yes, and the A Room of One's Own cover is coming along:

Etsy

I have a new online store for minicomics, prints, and originals: Tallychyck.Etsy.com. Someday I will have prints. :P

I've decided to exhibit at thePortland Stumptown Comics Fest this April 18-19, barring some problem with registration. I'm really excited! I've never exhibited before at a con, and this one is particularly fun. <3 Plus, now that I have a few things to display and sell (including This Is A Souvenir, out February 18!!!), I can justify the registration fee and the trip home. :D

I've been dying to update Random Production, but I can't until I finish installing Dreamweaver (my old software uninstalled itself when I got Antivirus, and I needed an upgrade anyway). I used the trial version before buying, and there's a horrible error in the programing that makes it impossible to instal the real version after that without tech support. It looks like that could be resolved early this week though, so I'm getting antsy to get to work on a new homepage. Old homepage is old...