NYCC in the Can!

Ahhhhhh I had SUCH a lovely slash exhausting slash wonderful slash tiring slash awesome time at New York Comic Con this weekend! So much so that my dreams last night were full of zombies even though I haven't watched The Walking Dead since season 1. How's that for marketing seeping into your subconscious? So while I'm still recovering over here in sad little Baltimore (seriously, NY is too much - randomly happening upon amazing places to eat and drink every night AND walking by Peter Dinklage on the street? HOW DO YOU PEOPLE LIIIIIIVE), I'll share with you a few of the recap pics and sketches I did over the weekend. Also, I met/hung out with some amazing peeps including Maxine Garbarini (his stuff is GORGEOUS), Matt Loter (designing super fun, feminist games), and Gary Erskine, who's embarking on a MAJOR rollergirl comic series featuring real U.K. skaters. Awesome!

OH YEAH. And Buzzfeed included me in their awesome round-up of 20 Pieces of Advice From Female Artists to Female Artists. Eeeeee!!

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New York Comic Con Plans!

I'll be sharing a table with amazing comicker/longtime pal Tim Fish at New York Comic Con this weekend, table I-7, yayyy! It'll be my first time exhibiting in Artist Alley, so I'm running around all squirrelly right now, trying to figure out what all to bring (that I can also physically carry). Rest assured I'll at least have some books, prints, and will be doing sketches either in your sketchbook or on my li'l 5x7 bristol boards. Whether I'll be able to finagle my way on the train with my display banner remains to be seen, so please do come to row I since there's a possibility my table won't be that noticeable. I'll try to wear something bright and/or put more lipstick on my face just in case.

You can find me at I-7 from Thursday - Sunday, and at the Oni booth on Saturday from 3 - 4:00. I have a limited supply of Glitter Kiss's left (because apparently I hate planning in advance), BUT if you come visit me at the Oni table then, they should have plenty.

Here are some of the non-comics goodies I'll be bringing!

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October Sale!

In celebration of THE BEST MONTH EVER I'm throwing a sale party in my online shops - use the coupon code OCTOBEST13 in both my Etsy and StoreEnvy shops to get 15% off!

Here are some things you could look at:

Happy October, everyone!

Furies Having Fun

A couple of years back I created this drawing of the Three Furies having fun, hanging out Sex & the City style for the back of my 2nd Gods & Undergrads book:

Because really, why do they always have to be so angry and upset? Maybe they like to kick back a few cocktails every now and then too!

So, since I've been itching to do some new prints lately I figured I'd continue with some vignettes of the Furies, out and about in their every day life. I've got two so far, but already have ideas for more in the series. If you like 'em, I've got them for sale in my Etsy and Society 6 shops!

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Eesh, Here We Go

So . . . I might be doing some posting about weddings here. Sorry guys, my bad!

My boyfriend and I recently got engaged (and by "got engaged" I mean "had a conversation and decided to get married"), the details of which leading up to our decision you can read in my new webcomic 4 States 2 Months, starting this Wednesday!

I have mixed feelings about weddings and marriage, so this whole process is going to be interesting. I debated over whether or not even mentioning it here, because who cares? My blog is about the art stuff I do, not the life stuff I weird out about! Okay maybe I do talk about small boobs and food issues here too. . . But now I'm thinking this just might be the tool for keeping my sanity over the next year - using this forum to vent and ask you all questions and keep reminding myself that IT'S ALL JUST A FRIGGIN PARTY NO ONE CARES. Or how Jezebel put it best - your wedding is a press conference for your relationship. And we should all just get over ourselves.

So if you're into how an awkward, artsy, kind of nerdy gal with a giant family will handle planning a big event, tune in here! I'm sure it'll be a fun learning experience. And embarrassing to boot!

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4 States 2 Months

Whew!

2 weekends of 2 back-to-back local comic conventions are over! They were SUCH a blast. Attending SPX this past weekend was a total whirlwind of emotions. SPX was the first show I ever attended (in 2001) and exhibited at (in 2002, back when I was just giving out free stickers and telling people to look at my website - webcomic marketing at its finest!). Since SPX was a regular trek for me every year and held conveniently close to my home, it's always held a squishy, warm place in my heart. Many of the connections and friends I've made over the years have been due to those close quarters in the old hotel conference rooms, the hotel bar, the hunt for restaurants that would take 20 people, the chocolate fountain.

However, the last couple of years I've missed out on tabling for various reasons, so I was starting to feel disconnected from this show that had really kicked off my involvement in comics. So THIS year, with table-aggedon (i.e. the enthusiasm with which all of us exhibitors broke the SPX online registration system) I was convinced I would yet again be relegated to showing up an hour before the end of the show and trying to worm my way into some friends' dinner plans. Luckily the wizards at SPX Headquarters managed to get me a table, and I had the joy of participating in a MUCH bigger, happier, and more packed SPX than I've seen . . . well, ever. I've read a bunch of other recap posts about how the enthusiasm and the attendees were the biggest attractions of the show and I agree - you guys all made me love and appreciate and get excited about comics all over again! I mean, I'm already obsessed with comics and stuff, but injections of inspiration are never ignored!

So anyway. Just a brief love letter to SPX 2013 and now I'm on to other THINGS! For one, you may have noticed that since Book 3 wrapped up, Gods & Undergrads hasn't been having many (any) updates. It'll be on a hiatus for a little bit, so's I can make actual progress on this Oni book and catch up on other things. But since I AM obsessed with comics, while I was on several road trips this summer I thought it might be fun to take down some notes and compile a little travel journal comic about my experiences (Lucy Knisley-style). So while Gods & Undergrads is taking a snoozer, I present to you 4 States, 2 Months, a webcomic updated Wednesdays starting October 2nd! Weee! Happy Fall, everyone. :)

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SPX-itement!

Who's going to SPX this weekend, the awesomest show for indie creators on the east coast??

Here's a little map of where I'll be (if you haven't seen the amazing maps cartoonists have been doing of their table locations, just follow SPX on Tumblr):

Here's a sneak peek at what I'll have at the show!

And of course, tons of other stuff. :) Hope to see you all there!

And also, for those of you who can't make the show this weekend, check out my new store page, which directs you to where you can purchase books and prints and crafty things!

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BCC Sketches!

Whew! Local convention #1 is complete! Baltimore Comic Con was SO MUCH FUN this weekend. I got to do a lot of sketches (including one on a skateboard - terrifyingly easy to smudge and screw up) and chat with so many cool people. Plus Saga and ElfQuest cosplay, spotting Jay of Jay and Silent Bob walking around, seeing Dean Haspiel and chatting with old friends - SUCH FUN. And guess what? There's going to be more comic love and seeing old friends next weekend at SPX!

In the meantime, here are the sketches I did this weekend - if you want to see 'em when I post them, you're welcome to follow my Instagram, Tumblr, or Twitters!

Thanks again to everyone who came out to see me! Now on to SPX!

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Baltimore Comic Con this Weekend!

Since I was out of town on a whirlwind wedding weekend trip to Vermont (I don't advise driving 8 hours to another state on a holiday weekend, BTW), I haven't mentioned that I'll be at Baltimore Comic Con THIS weekend! You can find me at table #A189 in Arist Alley. I'll have Bonnie books, hanging prints, Gods & Undergrads book 3, original art, stuff GALORE, so come visit!

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Watching Lost in Translation the other night. Love his craggy face!

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How'd it Go?

Ohhhh Bmore Into Comics Issue #1 was SO much fun! I wrote a little recap about it on the official BIC site (sorry for the acronyms - I absolutely do NOT support the use of acronyms), you can check it out here.

Also, this happened - my friend Lani doing a RIDICULOUSLY accurate Jamie from Girls with Slingshots.

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This Saturday!

Bmore Into Comics is happening this Saturday at Bad Decisions from 12:00 - 5:00!

What is it? Why, it's a gathering of local comic creators who will be showing/selling/chatting about their work with y'all while in a bar. No cover to get in, we'll just be hanging out and having a good time.

Featuring: Rafer Roberts, Danielle Corsetto, Melody Often, Howie Noeldechen, and Carolyn Belefski, and me!

Check out the FB page here!

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Orphan Black

Oh my god I just started watching ....

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Greek Gods According to Disney

I was watching the Disney Hercules movie the other day on Netflix and was checking out the line-up of gods they had in one of the background scenes in Mount Olympus ...

I came across a few problems - two Ares's or two Apollo's? The Ares on the right looks fierce enough, but his helmet is kind of sunshiney glowy and he's got a sun on his chest. Shrimpy, ironic Ares on the left . . . well I don't know who else that could be. Also, I like that Poseidon has no role in this movie since it's all about a fight between his two bros Zeus and Hades. Sorry middle brother, you're sitting out this round. Look at his face, he's totally offended.

And just look how happy Persephone is, since no one's told her she has to go down to be Hades's main squeeze yet.

Or maybe it's that huge martini glass she's holding that's making her - OH. I just realized this is Hebe, the cupbearer of the gods. Whoops. It was the flower hat that threw me.

Okay then that makes it even MORE annoying - you go to all the trouble to show Hebe, and HELIOS fer cryin' out loud, who most people don't exist, but yet WHERE THE EFF IS ARTEMIS??

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Print Prepping Away

The 2nd wave of con season is almost at hand! For me, I've got TWO local shows back to back in September (Baltimore Comic Con, followed by SPX), an appearance at New York Comic Con in October, and oh yeah that little local show I'm organizing in a bar on August 24th. What makes it extra fun is all the out-of-state traveling I'll be doing between now and then. Yippee!

Luckily I enjoy coming up with little crafty goodies I can sell alongside my comics, so here's a preview of some new things I'm whipping up for the fall shows.

Lately I love making these little hanging prints - i.e. prints that you can hang anywhere you want - on a bulletin board, a fridge, a rear view mirror, etc. In the past I've only done some of my animal prints:

So I thought, hey, why not do some Bonnie ones??

Since logistically I couldn't fit the WHOLE strip on my little wood flats, I've taken a couple of choice one-panel frames of some of my favorite moments. Here's what the back looks like:

Also, I'm making some regular ol' prints of Bonnie  - an 8 x 10 of Work Bonnie and a 5 x 7 Vacay Bonnie. Now I just need to come up with a Beast Mode Bonnie . . .

So if you're going to be around at either Baltimore or SPX, come by and check out all the Bonnie prints! And if you can't be at those shows, I'll let you know once I've put them up online for sale! :D

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Book 3 Pre-Orders!

Woop! Getting all ready over here for the Gods & Undergrads book 3!!

It will be 122 pages, black and white, manga sized (that's 5 1/4" x 8"). Featuring the last two chapters of the series, sketches, plus a couple lovely fan art pieces from these cool friends/wildly talented folks:

The book will be released early September (round about the time of the Baltimore Comic Con / SPX back-to-back weekends in comics yay spectacular) BUT if you pre-order it now, you get a choice of one of three of these nifty little prints:

Each are 4" x 6", printed on Epsom Matte Ultra Premium Presentation Paper. PLUS if you pre-order, you'll get a free sketch IN the book of whoever ya want! Just drop me a line when you pre-order and tell me which print and which sketch you desire.

[button color="blue" size="medium" link="http://lipstickisspress.storenvy.com/products/2064451-gods-undergrads-book-3" target="_blank"]Pre-order HERE![/button]

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Top of the Lake

I just finished watching the BBC's moody, creepy, and altogether weird series Top of the Lake. I can't say it made the MOST sense in the end, but I did love Elisabeth Moss in it and her troubled emo boyfriend Johnno. Holly Hunter, I could've done without.

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Bmore Into Comics

Eeeeeeep I'm so excited!

A couple of months ago I was chatting with Joey Weiser at Emerald City Comic Con about one convention vs. another and what our experiences have been exhibiting comics in different venues. He  described Fluke as a particularly fun show, which I've never attended but heard about -- it's a small, local show which is one day and primarily features local comics creators/students of SCAD. From there we commiserated about some of our small, beloved shows of the past (remember when SPX had it's own cute boutique bar downstairs?) which have since grown to epic proportions and lost their small, neighborhoody feel.

Now, of course, I LOVE that comics have grown and expanded their popularity base. One of my favorite con moments happened a few years ago, when exhibiting at Baltimore Comic Con for the first time. At that one show I witnessed  far more women, kids, and families than I'd ever seen in my 10+ years of going to shows. Comics were expanding, more people were checking them out, AWESOME.

And as awesome as this is, and in people finding their "in" to getting interested in comics (movies, tv shows, cosplay, etc) I felt like it might also be nice to have more frequent, casual shows in people's neighborhoods. Like Fluke, taking the idea of holding a smaller show, populated with local creators, and held in a local venue in the hopes that people who've not yet discovered the magic of comics might just wander into on a weekend afternoon.

So in other words ... what about having comics creators exhibiting their work in a bar??

Therefore I'm thrilled to announce the start of BMORE INTO COMICS, a series of local comics shows in/around Baltimore that I am currently organizing (harassing) local comics peeps and businesses into participating in.

The first one will be taking place Saturday, August 24th from 12 - 5:00 pm at Bad Decisions, an amazing bar in Fells Point which doubles in providing sophisticated, creative cocktails AND bacon. Yup, I didn't make that up. Sophisticated + bacon. The stellar line-up of creators will be:  Rafer Roberts, Danielle Corsetto, Melody Often, Howie Noeldechen, and Carolyn Belefski!

Here's the FB event page and click here to visit the website! (it's brand new, so pardon the emptiness). Tell your friends, bring your kids, and get ready to sidle up to a fantastic bar for a drink and some comics.

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True Blood is True-ly Awful and I Love It

Lately a lot of people I've been trying to gossip about True Blood with are all "ugh, that show's gotten so bad" and "I just can't bear to watch anymore it's so awful"... "I hate myself just watching it" ....

WHAT.

It's ALWAYS been awful, that's why I LOVE it! I didn't know we could have a whole season of shirtless werewolves and people making out, but they've proved it possible again and again! And now this season, they only take 2 episodes to turn the Big Bad from being the worst dude ever for murdering Sookie's parents TO ... Sookie's new sex partner? Amazing.

Plus, how can you not love this guy --

Rutger Hauer materializing as a cross between Einstein and Betty White?? Even better than Kristy Swanson and Corey Feldman AND Andrew from Buffy on the vampire episode of Psych.

Also, Jessica bingeing on tween fairy blood - PERFECT. And it goes without saying, but -- PAM??

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Maine-iacal Vacay

Whew! Back from a whirlwind of vacations across states. What started off as an anniversary vacay in one of my favorite places, Rehoboth Beach, immediately led to Vacation #2, in Bar Harbor Maine. Now, since I'd only previously been exposed to Wintertime Maine in the past, it was refreshing to go and not need a parka or know how to walk on ice. Plus, y'know, it was gorgeous. For once I remembered to bring my sketchbook along, and even did a wee bit of sketch-journaling. Here's an excerpt from my journal, regarding the disappointing whales that we never got to see (a wall of fog just happened to materialize every time we tried to go on the whale-watching cruise). Those jerks. Since I also need to work on my figure drawing, I tried to snag a few body parts when no one was looking. Oh well, at least Maine still carried the good stuff in its local store! [otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

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