SPX

Hi guys,

I don't think I'll be posting this week. So let me just leave a note about this weekend's event: The Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. Mariko and I will be exhibiting there (Table D12B), Skim is nominated for an Ignatz Award, and I will be participating in a panel:

The Page as Canvas
Sunday, Oct 5. 4:30-5:30.

Alongside the word balloon, the formal device most closely associated with comics is the panel grid itself, the framework that provides structure and sequence to most comics pages. What happens when artists break the grid and use the page more broadly as a narrative canvas? What problems and opportunities does this approach present? Moderator Austin English will explore this topic with panelists Molly O’Connell, Juliacks, Jillian Tamaki, and Lauren Weinstein.

ALSO? I made a MINI-COMIC. Wonders. Some of the stuff is reprints from this blog, some of it is new. Regardless, TOTALLY worth $3. I will probably have some left over and will sell them online.

Colour Coded S/S09

Colour trends via Refinery29. Above, Sea Foam.

Pretty.

Drew Barrymore

My best Autumn Whitehurst impression. Test your knowledge of Drew Barrymore.

Our Hearts Will Go On

After that last post, I think we need a Unicorn Chaser. But I only have this old picture of Céline Dion. It'll have to do.

AGHH

Maybe I'm overworked and kinda stressed, but John McCain really effing pushed me over the edge today. I know I'm totally preaching to the choir on this one, but DUDE, I'M HATING YOU, BIGTIME. He and his actions are so TRANSPARENT and it's driving me INSANE. After months of procrastination, I finally donated to Obama's campaign today.

Canada (my home country) is also holding an election right now. I actually thought it somewhat charming that the Canadian Broadcasting Company reported on a rally regarding ARTS FUNDING today. Canada has its share of "Real Problems" and obviously I feel strongly about Arts funding (both my books benefitted from government grants). But a dearth of experimental films is slightly less terrifying than the prospect of Sarah Palin squaring off with Ahmadinejad, you know?

It blows my mind that Obama has not put the nail in the Republican coffin by now. Seriously, are we back to electing officials because they'd be more fun over brewskis? Didn't we go over this already?

This is not the beginning of a long series of semi-coherent rants culminating in a mysterious disappearance on Nov 4. I promise.

End.

Untitled

The Sanitation of Fairy Tales

For The Boston Globe. AD Greg Klee. (Click for larger view.)

Graham Romieu

Sometimes you tell someone you like their work and they send you presents!

In class, I always use Graham Romieu as an example of someone with a strong and unique conceptual style. There's something really intangible in the execution and tone of his work that makes it so hilarious...

Skim, en français

C'est disponible! Le chat est noir. Il y a trois oeufs dans la jardin. Ou est la personne avec les cheveux? J'aime les barres de chocolat.

Cut-up Illustrations

Goth Fashion

NYTimes article and slideshow on Gothy fashion. I enjoy the term "damp emotional climate".

Ignatz!

Holy crap!

Skim got nominated for two Ignatz awards!

The awards are given out at SPX this fall. We'll be there. Will you? Come see us. I'll post more info as I get it regarding table location and whatnot. I'll also be participating on a panel (ulp) about page design with some really amazing artists that I really look up to. Sometimes I feel like such an poser...

(Poster by Hope Larson)

2 Gs

Fargo

Test your knowledge of the Coen Brothers.

Maurice Sendak Profile, NY Times

Interesting read, despite the groan-inducing artist vs. illustrator bit at the beginning.

A Message

For Plansponsor, AD SooJin Buzelli. The prompt was "communicating a message." Sketch and alternate sketch below.

We've been talking about the appropriate "level" of a sketch in class. When you're showing an Art Director a sketch, it's really important to fully articulate visually what they can expect for a final. A random collection of quick jots or loose thumbnails is not enough. Jots and thumbnails ARE important, but are more for your own idea generation en route to a real sketch, which is fully realized, in the correct proportions, etc. It doesn't need to be ridiculously tight (as you can see, some stuff got changed/added from sketch to final), but there is a very logical progression from one stage to the next.

Three Frankensteins

Fashion Week

There are two weeks out of the year that I avoid Manhattan like the plague. Yes, it's Fashion Week time again! One day, beautiful 14-year-old Estonian, you too will shrivel up like a prune.

Watching

Chimpy Friday

Scandinavian Designers

Click to Enlarge.

These simple portraits were done for a Swedish Design Magazine called ForumAID. AD, David Golling.

Mini-Interview

Lost at E Minor just posted a tiny interview with me. Check it out. Or, you know, don't check it out.

Dunna-Dunna, Dunna-Dunna, *Clap-Clap*

Despite being obsessed with anything that takes place in a highschool, I know next to nothing about Beverly Hills 90210. I think part of it is that I don't find watching rich kids very interesting. Gossip Girl, The Hills... boring. It's all about learning lessons from stealing a $20 bill from your mom's purse.

Test your knowledge of Beverly Hills 90210.

Toronto International Film Festival

For CBC's TIFF Blog.

Anger Comics

(click to enlarge)

Charcoal 2