NEWS
Jan 28, 2008
To the comics section I've added three strips I did for Toronto publications. They've got
cussing and jokes.Dec 14, 2007
I just put up my Christmas card for this year in the Illustrations section. It's a little late, but if you want to order a copy for yourself you
can buy them from my cafe press store.
Sept 30, 2007
It's been a while since I've had an update on this site but The Princess Planet has been updated every week and it's
even joined web comic's hub Transmission-X. We've got lots of great comics
and video interviews with the creators.Last weekend I was lucky enough to be brought out by Cal at Strange Adventures for Halifax's Word on the Street Festival again. Like last year, it was super fun with lots of very friendly, patient, excited people. I did probably over 30 sketches for kids, mostly of dragons but also a mummy fighting a scarecrow, a princess fighting a unicorn, Gollum, a pirate fighting a ninja, ring wraiths, dolphins and Spider-Man fighting a dragon. I was there with fellow Transmission-X contributor Ramon Perez, Northwest Passage creator Scott Chantler and locals like Mark Oakley and Darwyn Cooke. Super good times for all. It was even awesome seeing a booth promoting Esperanto, the failed new language of the world.
Plus, last month I was at the awesome TCAF, Toronto Comic's art festival where I drew lots of drawings in the kid's tent and exhibited art with my fellow Transmisison-X people. Big up to Chris and Peter and everyone for putting together a great show. These first kids were awesome enough to trade me sketches. Look at that floor perspective on the kitty drawing. She's got natural talent!
June 11, 2007
For some reason I appreciate Jam Art work more than Jam Rock. I guess because we weren't all about getting stoned and
growing beards. This weekend was the Paradise Toronto Comicon where I met
a lot of cool people and sold a bunch of books. The island of tables where I was seated was filled with great
artist/friends and we all worked together to make a jam piece that we put up for auction.
Here we are, Karl Kerschl, Cameron Stewart, Michael Cho and Scott Hepburn in the top row, Andy Belanger, me, Ramon Perez and in the front Rob Coughler.
June 4, 2007
Tonight is the book launch for Strong Words 2 a book
to which I contributed a 2 page comic.To mark the second anniversary of Strong Words, Indiepolitik will release an anthology called Strong Words: Year Two, featuring previously unpublished works from twenty-three of the poets, novelists, rappers, journalists and other young literary Torontonians who have appeared at Strong Words during its second year.
The anthology contains material by Sandra Alland, Aidan Baker, Kate Belcher, Emma Beltran, Tomy Bewick, Ryan Bigge, Jon Blair, Matt Blair, Spencer Butt, Chris Eaton, Cameron Gordon, Paul Hong, Brian McLachlan, Steve McOrmond, Grace O'Connell, Catherine Owen, Sofi Papamarko, a.rawlings, Dave Silverberg, Matthew Tierney, Myna Wallin, Gein Wong and Liz Worth.
Stay tuned for additional information. Strong Words: Year Two will launch at the anniversary reading on Monday, 4 June 2007, where admission will be PWYC. Copies will be made available in stores, and via mail order direct from Indieprodukt.
Event Details
Who: Emma Beltran, Bonnie and Kerre Briggs, Kat and Matt Collins, Ron Nurwisah and Dave Silverberg
What: Strong Words Second Anniversary and Book Launch
When: Monday, 4 June 2007 at 7:30 PM
Where: The Gladstone Melody Bar (1214 Queen Street West in Toronto)
Why: A showcase of local indie literary talent
So come on out to hear some interesting stories/idea/view points and pick up a copy of the book if you're into indie anthologies that are full of fun, or look for it at your local bookseller.
April 25, 2007
Saturday May 5th is free comic book day and I'll be doing drawings at
The Beguiling along with lots of other talented artists like
Michael Cho, Zach Warton and Kean Soo. Come out and pick up a free
drawing, free comics and good vibes! The Beguiling even put out their own free comic again this year, and there's a one
page story by me, Mike Cho and Darwyn Cooke.I've added a TTC subway map to the illustrations section, where I've replaced the stop names with ones based on bands or musical artists.
For any facebookers who like my The Princess Planet cartoon, you can join the group here to show your support and see a few new images.
March 1, 2007
I've rejigged the site, trashing a lot of old work I wasn't happy with. The Princess Planet page should load faster
now and I've posted a barbarian comic in comics section. The new OWL is out. It's the comics issue and has not only
an Alex & Charlie comic, but a pull out poster and 2 pages of comic strips featuring the characters' pets.January 24, 2007
This month sees the latest issue of Broken Pencil magazine. Its theme is one of my favourites: games. I've got a 4 page
board game/comic called Making It In Comics that will take you on the journey from zinester to success story. The editor
also had a board game mashup night where we all combined various board games like Sweet Valley High, Clue, Connect 4,
Battleship and more into a zombie fueled, murder mystery dream date.If you're at a newstand looking for that or Alex & Charlie in Owl Magazine you can also check the Dec/Jan issue of Nick to see the first of a few gag comics I sold to Nickelodeon.
December 14, 2006
Happy holidays everyone!
Enjoy your winter plunderland whether you're giving or receiving!
November 30, 2006
Ever wonder what a comic book reading would be like? Well I'm going to find out the answer next week at the Strong Words
reading series. I'll be reading a few different short pieces and excerpts including a preview of my "Making it in Comics"
board game that will run in the next Broken Pencil magazine. If you're interested in checking it out:Strong Words Reading Series at the Gladstone Hotel's Art Bar
This month features Michael Winter, Brian McLachlan and Kate Carraway
Monday December 4 2006
Doors @ 7:30 PM
Readings @ 8:00 PM
Pay What You Can
Last week's uTOpia's launch was really great and the Toronto Star's Idea section ran my entire comic "$5" as an excerpt of the book on the Sunday. The latest issue of Owl is out now and I've got a wacky, wintery picture puzzle in there alongside the regular Alex & Charlie strip.
November 13, 2006
I picked up a great book last year called uTOpia: Towards a Better Toronto. It was full of thoughtful essays about what might hogtown's positive future my hold. This year they are putting out a sequel uTOpia 2: State of the Arts about culture here. I've got a 5 page comic in it (called $5). There will be a launch party for the book Sunday, November 26, 2006 at the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen St. W.) and it's $5 to get in or free with the purchase of a book. Doors open at 2pm and there will be some cool panels starting at 3pm. It's an arts book so of course there will be music at 7pm: The Phonemes, More Or Les and Scarborough A/V. It should be good times and a great book.
September 26 2006
Happy 30th Anniversary! Saturday the 16th I was at the CN Tower celebrating Owl Magazine's 30th birthday. There were over 5000 kids and their parents that dropped by for scavenger hunts, meeting comic creators and 342 metre high-high fives. Max Finder author Liam O'Donnell and artist Michael Cho and I presented a few lectures on how we make comics. Luckily "lectures" didn't mean "nap time". The kids were really engaged and some drew super fun cartoons of their own too.
Working for Owl is a real blast for me because I had my first piece of art published by them at the age of 8. The picture I drew was of what we'd look like 6 billion years in the future. I had sent them better drawings but I'm sure it was chosen because everyone else drew white and silver space people and the crazy colours made it more interesting to look at. I think he has green skin because I watched too much Hilarious House of Frightenstein.
The following Sunday I was at Word on the Street in Halifax. Cal from Strange Adventures had arranged for a bunch of us Torontonian comic creators to come out and sketch for people. I did lots of quick drawings, but my favourite request was for a cobra! Other people get asked for Spider-man or Power Girl but I get the fun requests! Although, my apologies to the kid who asked for Napolean Dynamite. Drawing him from memory was a fun request but just too hard.
A while after I sketched a dragon for a little boy named Tony, he came back and gave me a comic of his own character, Tartzan, the pop tart super hero. It was the awesome!
It was a super great weekend and Cal's section was certainly the hub and the hubbub of the festival. We were always busy, I gave away all the Owls to eager kids & parents, sold all the No Dead Times I brought with me and did tons of drawings. Also, there was much lobster!
The lastest issue of Owl is out with a Halloween Alex & Charlie inspired by my own efforts at making costumes. Next month will have a 4 pager, which will be fun and really let Claude draw the heck out of it. I've also sold some more gags to Nickelodeon which should run in their December issue.
Go here for old news.