Collectors Corner Grand Opening!

THIS Saturday, one of my favorite comic book shops is opening a 2nd location! Collectors Corner of Parkville is now going to be in Bel Air, too! This is a huge accomplishment for any small business, but a comic book shop especially. It just means we're one step closer to getting everyone in their mom into comics! JOIN USSSSSS.

Come on out tomorrow to help Randy and the gang open the new store in style! I plan on being there from 12 - 2:00. :) Check out the Facebook Event page for all the info!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Gods Sighting

One of the nerdiest things I love to do is scrutinize appearances of Greek Gods in pop culture (like this post about Disney's Hercules). Here we go on another one, yay!

LATEST POP-UP SIGHTING: Supernatural, Season 8, Episode 16!

So in this episode, Prometheus (aka the Titan who gave fire to mortals and royally pissed off Zeus) is embodied in a drifter Sam & Dean discover, who dies every day. The cause of his death is random, anywhere from cars hitting him to sudden heart attacks. This is an homage to the nature of Zeus's punishment for Prometheus in the myths, which was to strap Prometheus to a mountainside and let an eagle carve out his liver every day for a tasty snack. Every night, he would die. Every morning, he'd get resurrected just for the fun of it.

Apparently, Zeus had lost track of Prometheus and he'd fallen to earth, hence him dying by random means and not the daily eagle attack. So Zeus sent out his best assassin, a.k.a. daughter Artemis, goddess of the hunt, to go after him.

Things I liked about this portrayal of Artemis/Zeus:

• Artemis was badass and impossible to beat in a fight
• Sam & Dean acknowledged the fact that Artemis was THEIR goddess, since they're hunters and she's the mack daddy of ALL hunters
• Artemis was a thinking goddess, not a one-track killing machine
• Artemis was strong enough to take down Zeus
• Zeus wore a classy suit and looked steely
• Zeus respected his daughter's power

Things I didn't like:

• The inexplicable black leather pantsuit Artemis was wearing
• Zeus as mindless revenge seeker - I could see him going after Prometheus, but his son too? Just for the fun of it?

All in all I was happy to see them represented, as always. And props to making Artemis strong but also a thinking, feeling goddess (albeit still in a leather pantsuit). Yay!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

I Don't Know

It's been a really dreadful, shit-show of a week and I am more than ready to put a cap on it and wait for more time to pass. In a few weeks, I might be more inclined to talk about it and delve into my feelings, but for a while at least I prefer to drift along, pack activities into my schedule, see as many friend faces as I can, and just push time along. I know time eventually helps, I know it can start to heal things.

Last week I lost an old friend, someone who was a huge influence on my life and came into it at a time when I needed a friend, mentor, and role model more than anything.

I was watching The Big Chill the other day, which is a movie that for whatever reason gives me comfort and hope in the aftermath of bad, depressing things. There was a line said at the funeral scene in the beginning that I keep repeating over and over again in my head. ". . . And I don't know what to do with my anger." When you lose a friend, what do you do with this anger?

Anyway, the purpose of this post is not to elicit sympathy or attention for this loss, but as a quasi-explanation if things seem a bit off around here for a while. I believe grief is a very private thing and I'm only willing to say so much about it, but I also think that when a part of your life is suddenly gone you owe it to them to at least take a moment. And those of you out there who read this blog have always been there for me and commiserated with my misadventures (when I've shared them) and so I wanted to share this too.

I will continue to plow ahead and keep my public face as professional as I can, but I also need this outlet a bit. Thanks so much for reading, and for being out there for me.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

2014 for Comics!

One mistake I always make with goals/resolutions for the new year is putting down EVERYTHING I want to accomplish - like with my life, in general. It's really hard for me to just throw down a few things that I could reasonably do and give myself a supportive pat on the back. Nooo, instead I'd rather have a list of twenty things that would each take a lot of time, accomplish maybe one of them, and then beat myself up for the rest of the year for not doing the rest (as I secretly plan the next monster list of goals).

I'm not going to tell you I've learned my lessons and that didn't happen this year - I'm just going to only share part of it with you. Heh heh, clever, right?

SO I present to you my goals for COMICS in 2014!

4 States 2 Months

My travel/journal comic about my road trip adventures this summer (wrapped around deciding to get married) will resume next week and finish up by March!

Bonnie N. Collide, Nine to Five

Bonnie will continue to update twice a week, AND I'm going to print/release a new collected book every two months! The books are still floppies, about 18 pages each (check out the previous books here).

Gods & Undergrads

Will return after 4 States 2 Months wraps up, aboooout early spring-ish. I'm exciiiited!

Secret Oni Book

Yes, it's the reasoning behind all the cryptic sketches I post on my Instagram and Tumblr - and it's finally time to finish this sucker up! Come July 1st, my plan is to have my 2nd book with Oni (which I'm writing and drawing this time!) totally in the can. Wish me luck!

I'd also like to do some more blogging here when I have time, anything in particular you guys would like to see more of? Books I'm reading, ongoing house plans, dreaded wedding planning, comics process posts?

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Holiday Cards for 2013

Since the holidays are almost behind us now, here's a peek at the cards I designed for this year . . .

For friends and fam, a picture of our cats in all their usual festive befuddery. On the left is Zeke (aka Ginger Monster), and on the right is Amelie (aka Hamburger Face).

And for business associates, Bonnie doing what she does - plowing through obstacles, no matter how festive!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Holiday Commissions

Hope you're all having a stupendous holiday break (or, at least getting to HAVE a break)! I'll be in and out on the site this week trying to wrap things up for 2013 and plan out an exciting 2014 (I'm weird, I always get excited about January and its Fresh Start Potential), but in the meantime here are a couple of my holiday commissions, weee!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Fun Things This Week!

FUN STUFF TODAY:

When I Was A Mall Model

Written by: Monica Gallagher Art by: Monica Gallagher Price: $2.99 An autobiographical tale about trying to build a career as a model when I was a late teen. Full of awkward antidotes and outfits galore! Definitely read it before you think about buying a bunch of shoes and walking down a mall runway.

When I Was A Mall Model is on Comixology! For those of you not familiar with Comixology, it's a place where you can read tons and tons of comics on your tablet/e-reader/iPad thingamajigee. And while I fully support local comic shops and am kind of obsessed with print in general, Comixology is yet another great vehicle for gettin' comics out to more people, aww yeah.

(BTW my publisher Oni Press is having a mad crazy graphic novel sale there right now you can check out!)

FUN STUFF LATER THIS WEEK:

Bmore Into Comics #2 is this Saturday, hooray! That's right, after we had a really great #1 back in August at Bad Decisions, now it's time for #2. We've got a bunch of amazing people lined up to be there (check out the website for all the deets)

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Local Holiday Market - This Friday!

Hey local folkses!

I will be appearing at Howard County Arts Council's Open House and Holiday Sale this Friday from 5:30 - 8:30 at the Center for the Arts in Ellicott City! Wanna get some nifty comics or hanging prints or stickers for that special someone this holiday season? I'll be there and it'll be Friday, so come on out, say hi, and join in the merriment of some local artists.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Wonder Woman Movie Time

In light of the success of Hunger Games, there's all these amazing comics screaming WHY ISN'T THERE A WONDER WOMAN MOVIE OUT (here for Kate Leth's and here for Kate Beaton's). I couldn't resist adding my amazon outrage to the pile :)

And yes, those X's are for the boobs they cut off to shoot better. Y'know, like Amazons do!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Wonder Woman Movie Time

In light of the success of Hunger Games, there's all these amazing comics screaming WHY ISN'T THERE A WONDER WOMAN MOVIE OUT (here for Kate Leth's and here for Kate Beaton's). I couldn't resist adding my amazon outrage to the pile :)

And yes, those X's are for the boobs they cut off to shoot better. Y'know, like Amazons do!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Cyber Funday

It's that crazy wacky time for Cyber Monday Sales!

Which means it's the last day to get 20% off everything I've got AND a free sticker, to boot! Can't be beat! Check out the stuff in the store here - I added a whole buncha originals yesterday.

Also, I watched Catching Fire this weekend.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Inking the New Hotness: Part 3

One of the hardest things I find about inking is knowing when to put in fills. You know what I'm talking about - those big, dramatic shadowy areas.

Doing straight up black-and-white is not one of my strong suits - I have always been reliant on grays. On shading. Shading with black always seems SO DRAMATIC HEY GUYS LOOK THIS IS DRAMA HERE but yet other people seem to do it so effortlessly.

My first foray into solo black-and-white was with my comic Lipstick & Malice (also my first time using a brush pen, so there was a lot of I Don't Know What I'm Doing happening). But here I stayed pretty timid.

I would use it mainly for lighting effects.

Or to block out the pieces of action sequences happening.

I've been trying to branch out more and dip my toe into incorporating more dramatic blacks, but for me it can get a little screwy. Like here, it might be fine - no big, just some shadows.

But then this is as bold as I get

And here ... eehhh I don't know what happened. (you can see by my white-out that this is even my SECOND attempt at this sleeve.)

One thing I've found helpful to get over my fear (besides ogling the work of other creators) is to shade in an area with pencil first - it gives me a mini-preview of what it will look like shaded without much sacrifice. Or I'll just wait to fill in the blacks on the computer, where I have endless undo's available. But then the originals look kind of sad, which is something I've been trying to avoid.

Do you guys have any tips/tricks/mantras for getting over your fear of luscious black fills? Or are you more gung ho, this is easy peasy than I am?

Other posts about inking: Inking the New Hotness Part 2 Inking the New Hotness Part 1

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Bonnie Stickers

Ohhh I had so much fun creating these!

These sweet babies are vinyl, waterproof, and just a wee bit under 4" x 4". Perfect for affixing to your phone (like I did over my scratched up case), your derby helmet, or your car!

Get a set of all three or buy them individually at my shop! (I know some of the images seem to be missing there today - Storenvy says they're working on it!)

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Fall Prints

I couldn't resist drawing these little guys while I was watching Django last night. Yay Fall!

You can find these for sale as prints in my Etsy Shop or as mugs and prints and tote bags in my Society6 shop. *PSST! If you want FREE SHIPPING and you're not getting a Framed Art Print, Stretched Canvas or Throw Pillow, use this link!*

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Pieces in Progress

Just in case you guys don't already know this, since I'm working on a book for Oni in the background and I can't give you guys comics EVERY day (just Tue-Thu for Bonnie and Wed for my travel journal comic, which ain't too shabby!), I post a lot of my work in progress on my Instagrammers and Tumblrrrs pages. I'm always down for comments and questions on my process, tools, plans, whatevs! So feel free to chat.

Like this kinda stuff:

Come join the party!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Inking the New Hotness: Part 2

More talk about inking! Yes!

So, as I mentioned last time, for inking I use a size 6 Silver Ultra Mini brush and a pot of Bombay India Ink. Because I discovered I'd randomly bought them one day. One of the new challenges I've encountered with using a real brush is the ink usage. How much to put on your brush? When to blot? When to wash your brushes?

When I started using this brush, I quickly realized I'd need a blotter and a way to test out the line I was brushing before I got to the page. For me, using paper towels and a sheet of scrap paper was the easiest. Not the prettiest setup, but whatchagonnado.

Oh and I keep a roll of tape around my ink bottle for security, since this guy is always waiting for his opening.

Every time I dip my brush in the ink, I need to make sure the excess doesn't clumsily ruin all the nice lines I plan on doing. This works for the most part - I'm still working through when I'm allowed to make certain brushstrokes during the space between dipping my brush again. Swoopy lines tend to happen for me right after I dip and blot, but thin, controlled lines have to wait until after a lot of the ink has left the brush.

Purposefully scratchy lines are something I'm still working on - for me I haven't quite found the right balance of ink and control to get them just right. I love the inbetween, gray texture of them though.

Mostly I tend to probably OVER dip, or put too much ink on my brush. That's pretty much how I solve every inking problem - it's like a reset button for me. Line getting too weak? RESET, GIMME MORE INK. Brush seeming to diverge into uncontrollable side lines? RESET.

This here is one of my biggest pet peeves:

The dreaded brush off-shoot. You know, where suddenly one or two hairs on your brush decide they're NOT all in it together and decide to go their separate ways. Then, just when you think you're inking one solid, has-it-together line - BAM - a tiny twin line appears, just to mock you.

I used to think this meant I needed a new brush, or needed to wash it out more frequently. I'm still not exactly sure what the cause is, but naturally my solution is RESET. MORE INK STAT.

Then I feel more comfortable ignoring the problem, because it's slathered down with more ink, less likely to cause trouble if I keep weighing it down.

This can get a little messy. And because of my tendency to over-ink, I've taken to washing my brush out after each page  just to start fresh once again. Or if my line starts getting really out of hand and acting out on me, I'll wash my brush to see if it helps.

Now, since I am a novice at inking technique, and a super novice at using a brush, I'd love to hear how YOU guys are going about it. Are you washing your brushes all the time? Replacing them all the time? Using different sizes, or one size like me? I'm especially curious to hear whether or not you plop your brushes in soapy water during your inking - I've been wondering if that would solve my split personality brush hair problem.

All these inking samples are taken from my webcomic Gods & Undergrads, and the book I'm currently working on for Oni. :)

Other posts about inking: Inking the New Hotness Part 3 Inking the New Hotness Part 1

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Inking the New Hotness: Part 1

I've been doing a LOT of inking lately and I think I'm in love with it. A couple of months ago, I  switched over from only using my beloved Pentel Brush Pen to using a tiny brush and a pot of India Ink.

Inking used to be one part of the Comics Process Trinity that I liked okay (because at least the pencilling was over with), but I was always disappointed with the lack of control I felt. Lines that looked so cool in pencil were suddenly ruined by the shaky, fat line that completely surprised me when I drew it on the page.

The smaller brush seems to have made a huge difference in giving me more control in line weight and distribution of ink. It took some adjustment at first to get used to holding a thinner drawing instrument (welcome back, carpal tunnel!), but now I wouldn't have it any other way. I even tried to get slightly larger brushes of the same style - #8 and #10 - but #6 remains my jam.

I'm a total inking novice, so I wanted to do a couple posts on my newfound love of it and how I'm (hopefully) learning to improve upon my process. New exciting tools that make me excited to do it - CHECK!

Inspiration is also a huge kick in the pants of making we want to improve, too. Here are a few of the folks whose inking stylings I'm super crushing on:

Other posts about inking: Inking the New Hotness Part 3 Inking the New Hotness Part 2

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Horror Heroine Prints - Set of Four

Yes yes it's almost Halloween! I've printed out my Horror Movie Heroine Series on little 5 x 7 cards, and you can buy the whole set in my Etsy Shop! (and psst - get 15% off through the end of October!)

And check out this post, and this one on my process drawing them.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Small Boob Awards: Katina Choovanski

Like a lot of the ladies I give out the Small Boobs Award to, this one also doubles as a Kick-Ass Woman. Katina Marie Choovanski, aka Katchoo, is one of the main characters of Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise - an epic, amazing series about ladies in love, assassins, intrigue, and best friends.

I first fell in love with Katchoo because she was petite, gorgeous, had HUGE bags under her eyes, chain smoked, and was always pissed off. It was the first time I'd seen a female character in a comic book allowed to be real - in all her good, bad, and awkward moments. Strangers In Paradise (and Terry Moore) is given a lot of credit for its depiction of real bodies, mainly because of the tall, realistically busty Francine. But since I am on the flat-chested side, I tended to relate more to Katchoo.

Plus you don't get too far along in the series before you find out she can hold her own in a fight, and used to work alongside a slew of assassins. That's pretty much everything I want in a story - realistic, relatable characters and secret organizations full of female assassins. With some scenes of junk food eating and TV watching thrown in, to boot.

Here's a blurry picture of a sketch I did of Katchoo back in 2009, when I finally got to meet Terry Moore in person:

There are very few characters who've influenced my comicking as much as Katchoo. I'm so lucky I got introduced to her when I did.

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]

Boobage on Comixology!

Hooray! In an attempt to evolve into this brave new tablet-covered world, I'm adding each of my comics to that wonderful Comixology site. First up - Boobage, my autobio tale about struggling with issues of self-esteem over my small boobs - is now for sale! Check it out!

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-4]

[otw_is sidebar=otw-sidebar-7]