Work Blog

A Little Design

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 23:09:25 -0800

I made a website. Nothing fancy. Don’t know html. Just used my little iWeb program thing. But my girlfriend likes it. And since I made it for her, that’s cool.

Today in the Studio
Reading, reading, reading. Student work, research for a project, and a big, hardcover collection of King Cat Comix.

Humble Pie

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:29:09 -0800

Last spring, CCA launched a brand new undergraduate literary magazine called HUMBLE PIE. The publication featured poetry, prose, photography, and COMICS! Bex Freund’s contribution to the project was originally written and drawn for my comics workshop. I was so happy when I heard it found a more permanent home in the magazine. And now, you can download the entire issue as a PDF at the Humble Pie website! Enjoy.

Today in the Studio
Out of the studio attending Justin Hall & STORM signing at Wicked Grounds Coffee Shop in SF!

Xeric

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:26:32 -0800

Several of my friends have won Xeric grants - Jason McNamara & Tony Talbert, Joshua Hagler, Justin Hall. The DIY spirit of the comics industry is one of the things I love most about it. And the Xeric Foundation (established by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle co-creator Peter Laird) fosters that spirit by assisting comic book creators with the cost of self-publishing their work.

Now, I can add one of my former workshop students to that list of grant recipients!

Congratulations to Ben Costa, writer/artist of Shi Long Pang, The Wandering Shaolin Monk, for snagging a 2010 Xeric grant!

I love Ben’s work. It’s well paced, well drawn, well researched, and a whole lot of fun. Check out his website and keep an eye out for his book when it hits the stands!

Today in the Studio
Grading and critiquing student work. The level of talent in my classroom this semester is a bit intimidating even for me!

The Villagers

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:34:29 -0800

I’ve alluded to this project before. Each week, it gets a little closer to completion (even though it has a long, long way to go). One thing I really appreciate about the author is her distinctive artistic voice. I’m thrilled that she’s applying that voice to comics. Here are a couple of the character sketches for this EPIC work-in-progress:

Make sure to click here to see the entire gallery. And head over here if you’d like to see one of these beautiful illustrations hanging on your wall.

Today in the Studio
Editing! Editing! Editing! Kristin stopped by with her newest set of page layouts. We shuffled a few panels, discussed the physics of removing fly guts from rabbit fur, and made sure that the very important introduction of a waterlogged Zippo got its due.

Spring Workshop

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:39:36 -0800

I told my students this was a good semester to take CCA’s comics workshop. The first year I teach a new subject, I always dive right in and give it my best shot. But there are always things that you know you could do a better. The second time I teach any class, I spend all my time trying to fix the mistakes I think I made during the first go around. By the third time I teach a class, it’s all about fine tuning. And that’s where we are right now. (Of course, once I have everything just right, it’s time to tear it all down and make it fresh again.)

The workshop is different than the seminar. During the spring semester, we focus on MAKING comics. I’ve assigned a required reading list that is similar to past semesters with a few new additions:

Ariel Schrag’s raw and rambling chronicle of her junior year of high school - POTENTIAL

And Joshua Cotter’s mesmerizing follow up to Skyscrapers of the Midwest, DRIVEN BY LEMONS

Here are a few pictures of Josh’s visit to last spring’s workshop. I’m holding the original art for Driven by Lemons in the third picture:

This semester we are really lucky to have Debbie Huey, creator of BUMPERBOY, joining us to talk about comic book craft and the life of an artist. If you haven’t had a chance to read Debbie’s work before, check out her website. You are in for a treat.

Today in the Studio
Out of studio today. Heading across the Bay Bridge for a Writers Old Fashioned meeting. Can’t wait to catch up with my fellow comic misfits.

Twenty Ten

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:06:49 -0800

New Year’s Eve 2009

I was talking to a friend the other day about my next book. It was pointed out that it's been a couple years since The Homeless Channel was published. There was a flickering moment when I felt a little guilty that it's taken so long to finish up another project. Those moments come less and less often though. These days I'm feeling pretty confident about where my life and my work are heading.

I mean, ten years ago, I was divorced and living alone in a little house in Champaign, Illinois. I'd been teaching eighth grade for a couple years. I remember watching Peter Jennings broadcast live for the twenty-four hours leading up to New Year's Eve. Went out with that night, tumbled home a little drunk, and ended up calling an old friend. We talked for a bit about the future and then I got out a piece of paper and wrote down my goals for the year. And here's what happened:

Finished up three more years of teaching middle school English.
Wrote two novel manuscripts (one remains in a drawer and one got me back into college again).
Sold my house, packed up my things, and moved to California.
Spent two years earning a master's degree and teaching fiction to undergrads.
Printed up my first mini-comic and booked my first table at a comic convention.
Took a year to finish up the script, pencils, inks, lettering and design on a full length graphic novel.
Landed a book contract.
Traveled from one end of the country to the other promoting the book, getting to know the comics industry, and meeting all the crazy people who make it work.
Bought a house in Berkeley
Got married again.
Got divorced again.
Started over again.
Spent a year working in one of the world’s greatest comic shops.
Helped start a comic book collective that’s made up of my best friends and some of the most talented artists I know.
Set out on a new project that I knew would take years and years to complete.
Grabbed an Eisner nomination along the way.

Now, I’m a senior lecturer at the California College of the Arts in my thirteenth year of teaching. I’ve spent two years slowly building the school’s comics curriculum with the help of my fantastic colleagues and all the amazing students who go there. Just this week, I’ve been putting the finishing touches on a proposal for a third comics course that I think could be something really special. Finally, I’m editing a graphic novel by a writer/artist who will be a household name in five years. Trust me, her work is simply breathtaking. She’s forced me to completely step up my game.

Not bad for ten years.

Just imagine what the next decade will bring.

Happy New Year!

Today in the Studio
Cleaned the house while my girlfriend napped. Some friends are stopping by for a little pre-New Year’s appetizers, drinks, and Wii. Then it’s off to SF to toast the New Year!

Required Reading

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:56:53 -0700

My fall semester course just started over at CCA. I can already tell that I’ve got another great group of students to work with. Pictured below are The Imposter’s Daughter, The Best American Comics 2008, Blankets, All-Star Superman, Jimmy Corrigan, Scott Pilgrim, Ode to Kirihito, Bottomless Belly Button, and Fantagraphics’ new Abstract Comics Anthology. Throw a copy of Asterios Polyp on top of that stack and you have the required reading list for the course!

Now, find yourself a couple guest speakers, take a trip to the Alternative Press Expo, and a write a few essays for me and you can play along at home!

Today in the Studio
I’ve been away from the drawing table for a bit. Needed to sort out a few personal issues before moving forward again on the next book. But things are back on track and the future is brighter than ever.

Off-Line

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:12:33 -0800

In spite of my best efforts to keep this section of the website updated, I’m just not finding the time to post as often as I’d like to. But I think that’s probably a good thing. I’m incredibly busy teaching comics at CCA, making comics in the studio, and living life in the Bay area. All things that are usually more rewarding than sitting in front of the computer!

I imagine that when the new book is getting close to completion, I’ll be ready to spend a bit more time documenting the journey. I’m very proud of the work that’s been done so far and I can’t wait to start sharing more with everyone. For now, I’ve got a trip to Chicago to visit family, a big WonderCon weekend, and a whole lot more work to do on my next two projects.

If you need to get in touch with me, it’s easy to find me through facebook and you can always drop me a line.

Don’t be shy!

Today in the Studio
Making comics, planning lessons, and still dreaming big.

Murmur

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:57:04 -0800

A new year. A new focus. Lots to talk about. But I’ll get to all that in a couple days!

In the meantime, here’s a link to an article I’ve posted on a new networking website called Murmur.

The site focuses on user generated pop culture reviews and opinion pieces. You can stop by and just read or you can contribute your own articles to the mix. They can probably explain what they’re up to a lot better than I can:

Today in the Studio
Ordering up a new digital SLR for the next round of photo shoots!

Art Walk

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 13:10:30 -0800

I’ve talked a bit about my studio space before. As much as I liked working from home in the past, having a studio around other artists is really the way to go. This weekend everyone in the building teams up for an open house art walk to celebrate the holidays. I’m selling copies of The Homeless Channel and original art comic book art. With a quick walk around the building, you’ll find jewelry, fiber art, paintings, candles, soap, photography, and more!

The studios remain open all day today and Sunday. I’ve got wine and munchies for anyone who visits!

If you are in the Bay Area, be sure to stop by!

Today in the Studio
Drinking wine and talking comics with the “arts and crafts” scene.

Mad Men

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:40:14 -0800

Just posted a convention report over in the NEWS section. Lots of pictures there too.

Today in the Studio
Rereading Love and Rockets for this week’s class. Should have my lesson plans wrapped up by the end of the day!

Sound Asleep

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 16:08:06 -0800

So, I’m taking a quick half-hour anti-nap (that’s where you sleep all morning and get up just long enough to check your email and eat a bowl of cereal before going back to sleep for the rest of the day). I hope to have a full convention write-up in the NEWS section soon!

In the meantime, here’s some of Newsarama’s coverage of our Writers Old Fashioned table, my CCA students, and the highlights of the entire show!

Today in the Studio
All is quiet except for the rain.

Time to go APE

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:46:55 -0700

I’ll be at the Alternative Press Expo all weekend long!

Please check out yesterday’s post for all the links to this weekend’s important events!

Hope to see you there!

Today in the Studio
Packing for APE!

No Third Term

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:47:04 -0700

As if two tables and two days at the Alternative Press Expo, three nights of events at Isotope, and a guest speaker in my graphic novel seminar on Thursday weren’t enough...

I’ve got original art from The Homeless Channel hanging in a new show that opens this weekend down at the 2008 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award winning superstore: Brave New World Comics!

Here’s the poster for the show:

Soon as APE weekend wraps up, I’ll be heading down I-5 to catch the show!

Today in the Studio
Grading midterm papers. Topics include: How Blankets and American Elf Attempt to Capture and Illustrate the Human Condition, An Analysis of Scott Pilgrim through the Lens of Video Game Theory, The Role of Identity in All-Star Superman, and An Exploration of Transformation in Tezuka’s Ode to Kirihito.

It’s true. I love my job.

A Very Special Mini-Comic

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:19:39 -0700

In the last post, I talked a little about the future of comics on the internet. There’s a lot of cool stuff to look at out there. But I sure don’t have to bum around online in order to find next big thing. I’m pretty convinced that the future of comics is sitting on my drawing table right in front of me.

The other day, I think I mentioned that I made an offer to edit a graphic novel by an upcoming comic book writer/artist whose work just knocks my socks off. I am so very pleased to report that my offer was accepted and I’ve landed my first editing gig. That said, this book is going to be great with or without my help. I just know how isolating the process of putting together a novel-length comic book can be and I hope I can be a good sounding board, cheerleader, and critical eye as the pages continue to roll in.

The mini-comic sitting next to the computer here is no bigger than a credit card, yet it contains about forty pages of thumbnail sketches that still blow me away every time I look at them. It’s way too early to talk details about the project. What I can tell you is this: the book is being produced by a cartoonist with unlimited potential. Each page looks better than the last (and the first pages I saw were undeniably good to begin with.)

Anyway, I’m super excited to be adding this project to list of things I’ll be working on during the coming year. I can’t wait until I can fill everyone in on all the details.

Oh, okay. I can’t resist. Here’s the teeniest, tiniest, little sneak-peak.

Today in the Studio
Last minute APE preparations. Also, trying to design a kick ass lesson plan for class on Thursday. We’ll see.

Reinventing Comics

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:23:03 -0700

Today’s workblog entry is really for my CCA graphic novel seminar students. But don’t let that stop you from playing along at home!

- - - - - -

This week our class is discussing James Kochalka’s American Elf. As part of that discussion, we’ll be examining the differences between experiencing his comics on the page and on the screen.

Publishing comics on the web opens up many new possibilities in terms of reader interactivity. Whether reading comics on-line involves something as simple as turning “virtual pages” or as complex as navigating multiple non-linear story lines, the potential for creating new reader experiences is just beginning to be explored. Pioneers like Scott McCloud and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey have paved the way for a new generation of technically savvy comic creators. Click on the links below and examine some of the most innovative comics on the web.

Scott McCloud
Daniel Merlin Goodbrey
Demian.5
Stuart Kolakovic
David Gaddis
Nawls
H. Hoogerbrugge

And speaking of webcomics, I can’t wait to introduce the class to next week’s special guest and superstar comics creator, Julia Wertz!

Today in the Studio
Typing up press releases for next week’s Alternative Press Expo and getting ready for class!

Check, Please

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:32:45 -0700

So, there’s this show on PBS called Check, Please! Bay Area. Each episode consists of three Bay Area residents who all visit each others’ favorite restaurants and then get together to review them as a group.

Last time my cousin Jesse was in Berkeley, we headed over to Bette’s Oceanview Diner for brunch. KQED happened to be filming some B-roll footage for an upcoming episode of the show while we were eating breakfast. I’ve embedded the episode that aired this week. The segment on Bette’s starts at the 9:20 mark. But you can catch quick glimpses of us in the background at 9:56, 10:18, and 15:29. I know, I know. It’s B-roll footage of me eating breakfast... clearly, you’ve waited your whole life for this. ; )

Today in the Studio
Made an offer to edit another comic artist’s book today. I’d love to edit a couple projects someday. Fingers crossed that this is one of them.

Pinch Hitter

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 12:25:46 -0700

Haven’t been by the studio in a couple days. James and Kirsten are on the East Coast soaking up some independent comic book love at this year’s Small Press Expo. I’ve been watching the shop for them since Friday! They don’t get back until Wednesday, so make sure to stop by and say hi sometime tomorrow if you are in the City!

I’ll be sure to put a copy of this in your hands if you do happen to walk down to Fell Street and hang out at Isotope for a bit. Jason and Paige have hit a home run with their first volume of The Martian Confederacy. Here’s the beautiful cover designed and illustrated by Ms. Braddock:

But don’t take my word for it. See what the critics have to say! For more information on Jason’s work, check out the Writers Old Fashioned blog and facebook page.

Today in the Studio
Just a quick stop to pick up original art from The Homeless Channel. Time to pack it up and send it off to an upcoming “Politics in Comics” art exhibition. More details to come!