Battlepug by Mike Norton

Artist Mike Norton created this image for the Battlepug iFanboy t-shirt.   You can read the ongoing adventures here.  He is joined by Allen Passalaqua and Chris Crank for an ongoing battlepug web-comic. 

 Hopefully he will run into Sarah Olesky's Cere-pug.

Stumptown Poster By Brandon Graham

Claire Wendling - Daisies

 

I saw this sketch book at Floating world comics ant Sarah Oleskys's IVY book signing.   Check out french artist Claire Wendling.    Check out her art.

02/25 I Heart Art Portland - Birthday Party

I Heart Art Portland is kicking off their Second Year

Friday, February 25, 7 pm
Swigert Commons at PNCA
1241 NW Johnson Street

Join the team to celebrate a new year of advocacy, education and outreach to Portland’s vibrant community of makers   They will be announcing the 2011 lineup at the kick-off party.   There will be food, drink, creative activities, prizes and much, much more.

You can RSVP for the event on Facebook, and tell your friends

Bleeding Cool - Persicope Recap

Periscope has their new sketch blog up and Rich Johnston on Bleeding cool has a recap.     Below are the article Links to each theme and a preview.   Everyone should check out the Periscope sketch blog.  and welcome newest member Natalie Nourigat.

Their membership is Aaron McConnell, Ben Bates, Ben Dewey, Cat Farris, Colleen Coover, David Hahn, Dustin Weaver, Dylan Meconis, Erika Moen, Jeff Parker, Jeremy Barlow, Jesse Hamm, Jonathan Case, Karl Kesel, Kieron Dwyer, Natalie Nourigat, Paul Guinan, Paul Tobin, Rich Ellis, Ron Chan, Ron Randall, Steve Lieber, Susan Tardif, Terri Nelson, Terry Dodson and Trixie Biltmore.

Spidergirl:

Dustin Weaver

Thunderbolts:

Ron Chan

Miyazaki And Studio Ghibli

Jesse Hamm

Mad Men:

Natalie Nourigat 

Questions 27: Jenn Manley Lee

Jenn Manley Lee has over 15+ years in the graphics and design field and currently works for Ziba Design as a Senior Production Designer.  She was a founding member of Stumptown Comics Foundation.  She describes some of her influences as "Trina Schart Hyman, Tom Waits, Ivan Bilibin, Marina Warner, Pamela Coleman Smith, Fritz Eichenberg, Octavia Butler, Boris Artzybasheff, K.M. Briggs, and the artisans of the Edwardian era.”

Her webcomic, Dicebox, is a science-fiction graphic novel of epic scale. It is set in the distant future, the story of an eventful year in the lives of two middle-aged women; itinerant workers who are traveling across the galaxy.  The Oregonian calls Dicebox the "gravitational center" of Oregon's vibrant Web-comic scene.  Comics scholar, Scott McCloud, listed Dicebox as one of his “Personal Top Twenty” webcomics.

The first book of Dicebox is being solicited on the Jenn Manley Lee website and it looks amazing.

Doug Dorr:   What projects are you working on currently?

There is, of course, my own comic Dicebox, (http://www.dicebox.net) I have just recently completed the Book 1 : Wander and am in the midst of stumping for pre-orders so that I can do the print collection for this first of four books. (http://jennmanleylee.myshopify.com/)

I'm a currently a colorist on a few other comic projects including Hope Larson's adaption of Wrinkle in Time and working with Bill Mudron on the colors for Carla Speed McNeil's Finder stories for "Dark Horse Presents."

DD:   What is your artistic Process?

I have a web page outlining my basic approach when it comes to comics right here: http://www.dicebox.net/jml_artprocess.html

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

It's a long list, but the current top three would be Hereville by Barry Deutsch, Ooku: The Inner Chambers by Fumi Yoshinaga and the Dungeon books by Joann Sfar and lewis Trondhiem

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

American Born Chinese by Gene Yang. It's one of the most satisfying stories I've read, comics or pros. It shows the value of telling a story through comics and yet is very user friendly to the new comics reader. Also the art is just lovely and engaging.

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?

A grounding in animation and 3D modeling would be swell.

DD:   What's the most important thing you've learned?

Pick your battles. Be aware of the limitations of a piece or project--time, space, production, etc.--and decide what you want to focus on and what will be sacrificed. For example, with a comic page, I've learned to accept that every panel can't be perfect, but I can make one shine and let the other be acceptable.

DD:   Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I collect original comic page art and, wow, I really can't pick an absolute favorite. Some pieces I gleefully brag about are the two page spread form Hicksville by Dylan Horrocks where Grace overlooks Hicksville at night from the cliff, the candy shop scene from Rania Telgemeier 's adaption of The Baby-sitter's Club, the key page from Scott McCloud's DESTROY!, a Howard Cruise Wendel strip and a six page sequence from Alison Bechel's Dykes to Watch Out For where Sidney and Mo first hook-up. I also am the proud owner of many originals from kris dresen and Christopher Baldwin, here are two examples are page 7 from Christopher Baldwin's Vava (http://www.baldwinpage.com/waterstreet/vava/07.html) and page 8 from kris dresen's she's in the trees (http://www.krisdresencomics.com/shestrees/trees08.html)

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

There isn't a genre I don't have a favorite story in, I reckon. Even the current pariah "Superhero" as Grant Morrison's Flex Mentallo miniseries is one of my all time favorite comic story.

DD:   Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

I don't but I plan to as soon as Apple releases version 2 later this month. I plan to use it primarily for digital sketching, writing and as a tool for when I exhibit at cons.

DD:  What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

In terms TV currently being produced, I'm most enrapt with the Steven Moffat/Matt Smith run on Doctor Who.

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work?

It provides me with a lot of cartoonists to hang out and geek out with, swapping ideas and theories and techniques on the fly. It's great.

DD:  What was your first comic convention?

A small one in Philadelphia that I'm afraid I don't recall the name of. That's as an attendee, not an exhibitor.

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Discovering artists and work I was previously unaware of.

DD:  If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

Book design. Or play the fiddle.

DD:  Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

It's a tie between Bamboo Sushi and the Screen Door.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I've lived in Portland a little over 15 years now. I developed a crush on the city when visiting friends, and moved soon after.

What with the strong book and art culture, good food, all the green spaces, easy walkability and excellent public transportation it felt a very livable city. Not to mention the cost of living; I'm originally from new Jersey, about an hour out of New York City. And being a little over an hour to the ocean, mountains, forest and desert and even less to the Gorge made it kinda perfect for me.

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

Crater lake. I've been meaning to go for over ten years now.

DD:   Would you like to write/Illustrate in another media? Or would you like illustrating a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

I'd love to do a heavily illustrated novel along the lines of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It would combine many interests and disciplines for me: book design, formal illustration, visual storytelling, etc.

Portland Artists at the Opera

 by Terry Blas

Portland Artists were invited to the reherseal of Turnadot by the Portland Opera.  Check out their work here.

GameNight at School @ thanks to Rainy Day Games

We had a games night a Jackson School Elementary, thanks to Rainy Day Games and the PTA.   We were in charge of 3-D Blockus and played that couple of times.    The boys played a game HedBanz, the quick game of what I am.   Each player puts a picture on their head with a headband.   And you have to Guess what you are.    The boys really enjoyed that.   We either got to sample or watch people playing of a ton of games.

We ended up buying Zombie Dice.    You are a zombie.   You roll dice and either get brains, shotgunned or prey runs away.   You roll until you stop and count your points or you get three shotguns.   This was super fun and really addictive.

Portlandia - Dream of the 90's

2/05 Game On! Stumptown Underground Release Party @ Ground Control

Saturday, February 5 · 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade
511 NW Couch St.

The latest issue of Stumptown Underground is a video games issue, the StumptownU Crew is having their release party at Ground Kontrol.  And of course there will be tournaments.  Whoever gets the highest score on DDR and Street Fighter II will both receive a free copy of “Game On!” at the party.

You’ll also be able to meet and greet with the issue’s contributors and purchase copies of “Game On!” for $5 (contributors get 1 copy each) before all your friends.

“Game On!” is the sixteenth monthly anthology from Stumptown Underground, centralized around the theme of video games. In this issue, you’ll find comics, writing, and illustrations from the likes of Everett Patterson, Christina “Blue” Crow, Katy O’Brien, Jon Hallman, Jeremy Scott Kemp, Pharoh Bolding,hopskotch SunDAY and many other talented folks.   The image for this event is the cover of the issue, created by Alisa K.

2/25 The Naked Boy Part 2 Release Party and Signing @ Bridge City Comics

There is a signing and release party for Daniel Dufords "The Naked Boy Part 2" This is the second graphic novel in a trilogy.   The naked boy is an orgin myth combining Native American Mythology, superhero mythos and American History.  The Naked Boy adventure story which explores Mythology and America.

The Naked Boy Part 2 Release Party and Signing
Friday February 25 6-8PM Bridge City Comics
3725 N. Mississippi Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
http://www.bridgecitycomics.com/

Summer is in the air as The Naked Boy saga continues. The Naked Boy grows older as he crosses the continent to kill The Great Bear. In this episode he meets a family of escaping slaves en route to Freedom City. Freedom City has another knickname- The City of Big Men, and the City of Big Men is the heart of a vast military industrial complex. The Governor of Freedom City is going to run for president and the Naked Boy is the key to his campaign. Ursula and The Great Bear try to find out who is keeping them from contacting The Naked Boy directly. And the Naked Boy continues to lose body parts as he rambles West in this exciting second chapter of this American epic.

The Muppet Show - When I'm Not Near the Fish I Love

Comic Book Club

For those who love beer and/or Comics join the Comic Book Club.   So it has been decided.  

Meet at Bridge City Comics and on to Amnesia Brewing.

Date: 2/2 AT 7:00 PM

Reported from:   HENRIKSEN INDUSTRIES

WHEREAS: Portland, Oregon has an impressive number of excellent comics shops, and 
  

WHEREAS: Portland, Oregon also has an impressive number of excellent drinking establishments, and   

WHEREAS: Portland, Oregon is damn near overflowing with charming, bright, and devastatingly attractive comics creators, readers, and purveyors, nearly all of whom enjoy both (A) reading comics and (B) decent conversation about, but not limited to, comics...,

LET IT BE RESOLVED: That the hastily concocted, lazily named “Comic Book Club” shall meet more or less once a month, first at a Portland comics shop and then at a nearby bar.

FAITHFULLY SUBMITTED: Erik Philo Henriksen, Esq.

Comic Book Club: Wednesday, February 2, 2011. Meeting at Bridge City Comics (3725 N. Mississippi, Portland, Oregon) at 6 pm. Moving across the street to Amnesia Brewing (832 N. Beech, Portland, Oregon) at around 7 pm. Future meetings will be held at various other comics shops around Portland and, naturally, at the bars close to them.

Parker and Moen's Bucko Strip Has started

Check out this new web comic by Portland's own Erika Moen and Jeff Parker.  It starts today.   Bucko is late for a interview and trouble ensues.

This would be a sweet hulk book

HULK SMASH by *LeSean on deviantART

I found this hulk image on deviant art by LeSean. check it out

Questions 26: Matt Fraction

Matt Fraction is a founder of the influential motion graphics design studio MK12 in Kansas City.  According to Matt, “MK12 spelled d-a-y-j-o-b.” and in July 2006, Matt  left MK12 to focus on his work as a comic book writer.   Fraction wrote two columns for Comic Book Resources: "Poplife" and "The Basement Tapes" with Joe Casey.

Fraction started creating comics with the smaller publishers, like AiT/Planet Lar and IDW Publishing. He is known for his work on Last of the Independents, Four Letter Words: Fate,  The Five Fists of Science and Casanova.  Casanova is the science fiction/espionage adventures of Casanova Quinn and was originally published in 2006 by Image Comics.   Casanova is being re-lettered and remastered in color by Marvel’s Icon label.    The fourteen-issue series was divided into two seven-issue "albums," and the first trade, Luxuria, was just released.  The second, Gula, is currently being re-released and  Fraction, Bá and Moon are currently working a third volume.

Matt Fraction worked on many great series such as The Immortal Iron Fist with Ed Brubaker and Punisher: War Journal to name a few of his Marvel works.   Fraction is currently working on Marvel's Uncanny X-Men, Thor and Invincible Iron Man, the latter of which led to his consulting work on the set of the film Iron Man 2.    He also was in Wootstock in Portland and in San Diego at ComiCon in 2010.

Watch for his new event “Fear itself”.   It looks good.

What projects are you working on currently?
I write INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, THOR, and co-writing UNCANNY X-MEN and spearheading Marvel Comics' giant publishing event for spring/summer 2011, FEAR ITSELF. And then there's my creator-owned sci-fi/espionage book CASANOVA.

What is your writing Process?
Like running around and catching numbered butterflies with a stick coated with honey. And then turning lists into scripts.

What is your process working with the artist?
I try to write specifically towards all of my collaborators' particular strengths. It differs from artist to artist, but it's not one-size-fits-all.

What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?
Depends on the person and the situation.

What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?
Something by Gilbert and/or Jaime Hernandez.

What skill would you like to learn?
Math.

What's the most important thing you've learned?
Do better next time.

Do you have a collection?   If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?
Not really; I tend to sell it all off when money gets tight.

What is your favorite genre of Comics?
Spies/espionage. Romance. Science Fiction.... Hard to say.

Do you have an Ipad?   If so what do use it for the most.
I do; keeping my son from completely spazzing out when eating in public.

What is your favorite TV show/ movie?
Hm... maybe TWILIGHT ZONE or THE PRISONER or THE WIRE for TV; movies, too hard to choose. THE APARTMENT. TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE. APOCALYPSE NOW. THE THIRD MAN. DANGER: DIABOLIK. STAR WARS. ENTER THE DRAGON.

How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work?
It's nice to have access to so many great stores.  It's easy to keep my head fed out here.

What characters do your kids like?
The boy is just getting into superheroes-- Iron Man, Wolverine, Reptile and MODOK are all favorites.

What was your first comic convention?
Heroes Con 1992, Charlotte, NC.

What is your favorite part of comic conventions?
Thanking the people that afford me the chance to make the living i do. it seems, quite literally, like the least i could do.

If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?
Probably slogging it out in an ad agency.

Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?
Still too new to town. Loved Pok Pok and Urban Farmer though.

How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?
A little more than a year now; I like trees, rain, coffee, and readers.

What is your favorite part of Portland?
The mist in the trees.

Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?
The coast again, to feed the seals.

Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media?   Or write a character from another media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond?  What would you explore?
I think that'd depend on the day the opportunity arose; I'm always struggling to stave off boredom so who knows?

3/3 - Mike Mignola/Dave Stewart Signing @ Bridge City comics

Date and time: Thursday, March 3, 2011 from 6pm-8pm
Location: Bridge City Comics,
3725 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland, OR

In addition to having copies of his books and merchandise for sale, Bridge City Comics will also have special limited edition Hellboy art print (featuring never-before-seen Hellboy artwork by Mike) available for purchase during the signing.

In addition, Mike's long-time collaborator, Dave Stewart, will be signing as well! Dave is a multiple-Eisner Award-winner and a highly-sought after colorist in comics.


Please call 503-282-5484 or email info@bridgecitycomics.com for more information.

Lego Thief

The Brick Thief: A LEGO Short Film | via legoclick

Questions 25: Sarah Oleksyk

Sarah Oleksyk grew up in Maine, graduated from Parsons School of Design in Manhattan, and eventually moved to Portland with just her and her three cats.  Portland and Sarah Oleksyk are a perfect match; it allows her to ride her bike to the nightclub, dance until 2 in the morning, then wake up and feed her chickens in the backyard.

Her graphic novel, "Ivy," is being published by Oni its is about a high-school girl on the dark and lonely road between self-absorption and self-awareness.   Ivy is girl living with her mother in a small New England coastal town, longs to leave her home and pursue her adult life as a painter. Unfortunately, daily life doesn’t run smoothly for someone who never knows the right thing to say, and who makes enemies more easily than friends. 

Fred Van Lente mentioned her on an CBR interview “... the most famous and talented artist you’ve never heard of yet.”

She also works on the occasional animation job and sells silkscreens at her web site.  

"My entire life I've looked for a group of peers who cared about me," Oleksyk said. "Every good thing that's come into my life has reinforced the idea that this is where I belong."

And don't miss her book signing for Ivy at Floating World this upcoming First Thursday, Feb. 3rd 

DD:   What projects are you working on currently?

I have teamed up with comics writer extraordinaire Fred VanLente in an amazing stroke of luck (and at the perfect time!). We're working on a large, full-color, long-term piece of historic fiction called RENAISSANCE. We've both been doing a ton of research, factual on his end, visual on mine, and I'm completely excited about and absorbed in this project. We'll be serializing it online later this year once I've gotten a head start on the art.

DD:   What is your artistic Process?

I like to draw out an outline flowing through the concepts, adding in relative bits of dialogue and quick sketches of visual moments that occur to me early on, then write out a general script. Once the thing's loosely written, I have a fairly standard process of thumbnailing (which usually gets shuffled around, edited, and rethought quite a bit before making it to the final page). I've been very conscious of the editing stage lately. Just about anything can be improved by taking a couple things out. Then it's pencils and inks. I use a #2 brush for everything. In many ways I'm very classic in my process. There's definitely an allure for me to do things the way they were done 50, 70, 100 years ago. I want one of those "cartoonist visors" they used to wear in the bullpens.

 
DD:   When are story illustrator, how involved are you in the writing?

If I'm just the artist on a story, I can make suggestions to the writer, but I try to interpret the point of each scene and make my characters "act" to bring out more subtext, humor, and complexity in interactions. I think good artists always need to add a little more to the script than what is evident on the surface. It requires an understanding of your writer and his or her intentions, but it adds so much to the reading experience.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

Where to begin? Carol Tyler's new books, "You'll Never Know," are fantastic. Chris Ware is bringing something to comics never before seen, and his new work lacks the bitterness and pathos of his older stuff. I thought Mazuchelli's "Asterios Polyp" was a masterpiece and did things with the form in a seamless manner - everyone can learn something from that work. Carla Speed McNeil's "Finder" series are just straight-up enjoyment. I could go on forever.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

I'd always ask what type of non-graphic novel they enjoy, then recommend based on their taste. I think a lot of the books I like the most are a little "advanced comics reading" for people who aren't used to the form. Even The Watchmen, for example, takes more than a beginner's understanding of the comics form to get the full experience. I'd say something nonfiction, perhaps, a true-life tale, to introduce a different understanding of comics to someone whose knowledge of them starts and ends at the Batman comics they read in junior high.

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?

I'd like to learn to paint, physically paint a comic, but my track record on watercolors and the like will make this an impossibility. That said, my new comic is going to be full-color, so I guess I'd better learn to color in Photoshop quickly and effectively. ;)

DD:   What's the most important thing you've learned?

EDIT. Think about details - are they all necessary? Do they help the thrust of the story? Think about focus - why are you telling this story? What is the purpose of this comic? How better can it be told? Can it be more concise? Can it benefit from using nontraditional visual storytelling? How can the timeline be played with? All these thoughts can lead to better comics.

DD:   Do you have a collection?   If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

Not exactly a collection, but I have a fantastic library of comics and out-of-print books. I can't help myself; used bookstores to me are like flowers to a bee. One of these days I'm going to start this blog wherein I showcase some of the more arcane, bizarre and hilarious old books I've discovered.

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

Lately it's bizarre kids' and teens' comics from the 60s (HERBIE!), 70s-era fantasy sexploitation comics, and whatever's currently coming out that isn't autobiographical.

DD:   Do you have an Ipad?   If so what do use it for the most.

I do not.

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

Hmm. I'll go with Mad Men. It's beautiful, compelling, SO smartly written, and every character is completely rounded out and three-dimensional, not entirely likeable or hateable. Some of the most well-developed female characters on television. On the comedy end of the spectrum I can't seem to get enough Venture Brothers. I've been watching altogether too much TV lately.

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

I've been trying to think a little more independently from the "Portland Comics Culture" mindset I was in a few years ago. There's not really one overarching "culture" - there's way too many people involved in the business here for that. I've found a wonderful group of friends at my studio, Tranquility Base, and I've got friends, peers and allies in different areas of town, but as far as making my work, I try to think beyond Portland and its "scene" and keep my focus on Making Better Comics in a universal sense. I try to aim as large as I can when creating. I don't think "How will this fit into Portland" but rather, "How do I make this an objectively powerful work?".

DD:   What was your first comic convention?

My first major convention was in the late 90's. I think it was the Big Apple con in NYC. I tabled in this little offshoot room with copies of a comics anthology some folks in my college put out - it was called "Junkfood City." I walked around and was a little overwhelmed at the crowds, but not put off or frightened at the scene - in a way, it felt very natural and like a door was opening. At one point some guy came around to my table and shyly pulled out his portfolio and asked me for a review. I felt completely unqualified!

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

The bottle of whiskey I keep hidden under the table! Just kidding. I love talking to people about comics. I love talking about craft, about peoples' projects. But most of all I'm always surprised and touched by the people who have been reading my comics and who come up and tell me how much they like my work. When you make a comic, you just send it out in the world, hoping someone is enjoying it. Comics shows are a chance for the world to come back to you and answer.

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I would be living in the woods, writing novels and raising rare breeds of chickens.

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

If I did, I wouldn't tell, so it'd stay less crowded! Ha! I've mainly eaten from the food carts downtown, but my favorite restaurant in the city is Clyde Common.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I'll have lived here ten years this September. I picked Portland randomly after having it recommended to me three times in a month from three separate people as a place I'd probably like. I flew out here in 2000, fell in love, saved up for a year and drove out with only my three cats.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?

Tranquility Base, my studio! I spend almost every day here. It's an oasis, a place where I can get work done, hang out with my buddies, laugh, drink, rock out, rant, get inspired, get my butt kicked when it desperately needs it. It's right downtown in the heart of everything and many days it's the reason I get out of bed at all.

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

I still haven't been to the Chinese Gardens. I'd need someone special to go with, so I'll wait. I've also never seen Crater Lake, but I think some friends and I will take an excursion this summer.

DD:   Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? or conversely, how would you feel about writing a comic of a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond?  What would you explore?

I'd jump at the chance to draw a licensed character. Honestly, my dream job would be to draw a Venture Brothers comic book. I'd also draw for any other media, because then I'd get a chance at making a decent living. ;)

Angry Birds Peace Treaty Discussions