Wasn’t Round Four a cracker? Good on you guys. Now bring on Round Five!
Participating artists are:
Archive for February, 2008
Round Five: Meet the Artists
February 29, 2008Artist Introduction: Adam Ford
February 29, 2008
I write a lot of different things: short stories, poems, novels and comics too. I’ve made the odd minicomic over the years, and i did a weekly webcomic called The Godlings for Popimage for about a year (the same strip also appeared in my novel, Man Bites Dog). I review comics on RRR, too.
More recently I’ve had some comics accepted for publication in a few anthologies. It’s all part of this vague plan I have to try to take writing comics a bit more seriously – to try to explore the possibility of becoming something resembling a professional comic writer (whatever that means). Of late there’s been a lot more talk than actual writing, so Comic Rehab is a nice way to commit to making some new things and also to step out of my comfort zone.
I’m thinking of maybe working with pens for this, rather than my usual computer-drawn stick figures, but I’ll reserve the right to reneg on that half-promise whenever things get too hard.
I have two websites. One is called Monkey Punch Dinosaur and one isn’t.
Artist Introduction: Neale Blanden
February 29, 2008Hi, I am Australia’s Oldest failed underground Cartoonist.
Artist Introduction: Adi Firth
February 29, 2008
My name is Adi Firth and I have been illustrating and drawing comics since i was a teenager. I’ve been keeping an illustration blog for the last year but have been getting slack, i need a kick in the arse, and that’s why i’m here in rehab.
Comic artist rehab is totally cool, i’m rather embarrassed that it took me so long to hear about it…duh!
Artist Introduction: Sam Twyford-Moore
February 29, 2008
Though Sam Twyford-Moore (as Heath Ledger) may look healthy and normal in the above, he is not well. He is a sick, sick man. He will drink your milkshake. He’ll drink it up. He’ll beat you to death in a bowling alley. He believes, for some reason, that he is a young writer of some standing. This is not completely untrue. His writing has appeared in The Big Issue and the street press publication The Brag in Sydney. In 2006 he had a memoir published in the Rock N’ Roll issue of Meanjin, All Yesterday’s Parties. He has featured in the UTS anthology ‘What You Do and Don’t Want’. His comic projects are less frequent. He published two comics in 2005, ‘Troubled Holmes’ and ‘October 2005’, but has not printed another comic since. He is currently working on a narrative art adaptation of Nietzsche’s ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’, an idea he stole from his good friend and comics legend Leigh Rigozzi. He hopes comic rehab will result in a new comic work to be published mid 2008 under his own printing imprint, Lost and Found Books. He is also editing a 2008 literary anthology, New Australian Voices, to be published in early 2009, hopefully with the help of Penguin books. Fingers crossed people!
Rehab Exit Interview: Bernard Caleo
February 29, 20081. Briefly describe your experience at comic artist rehab:
Being part of CBR really focussed the month of February, comic-making-wise. Loved the feeling of always tinkering with possibilities for the next one, then diving in and making one.
2. What, if anything, did you learn from the program?
That my energy for comics is not unlike that which I have for performing: it thrives on the short burst of work. I’ve always thought that they were completely distinct from one another: now, not so sure.
3. Which one of your own comics are you most pleased with and why?
“Nose Biter“, because it has the best acting.
4. Which one of your own comics are you least pleased with and why?
“Meanwhile, Elsewhere“: although I do like it quite a lot, it’s a bit overstuffed with horsehair. It’s been very instructive reading the amount of air, of openness, in Alice’s strips and the degree of perspective-on-self humour in Cassandra’s.
5. Do you hope to keep up drawing comics after rehab? If so, how often.
Aw, yeah: as stated at the beginning, really want to get things re-started on “I Knew Him”. Certainly it has provoked much more ‘casual’ drawing, drawing becoming more of an everyday thing.
6. Any suggestions for future rounds?
This may be a wordpress thing, but is it possible to call up all of one artist’s strips on one page? I found myself wanting to do this with earlier rehabbers’ work.
And of course, it might not often work but getting us together that day was a master stroke – really gave the round a kick on, I thought, an added dose of community.
Not a suggestion but: I also liked it that you were quite intensely part of an online world, but for a circumscribed time: one month seems a good length.
I’d certainly do it again! Great to see the next buncha profiles up! Big tips of hats to my fellow rehabbers: class of Feb 2008, I salute you! All of you, please contribute to Tango8. And a bow to you, Amber, it’s a fine fine idea. And it works!
Rehab Exit Interview: Michael Fikaris
February 29, 20081. Briefly describe your experience at comic artist rehab:
I made sure I didn’t spend too long on each instalment most were completed under 30 minutes,this made it immediate and more satisfying for me.
2. What, if anything, did you learn from the program?
i dunno, that now I maybe want to put images online more, realising some of my ‘comic pals’ have not seen what I have been doing over last few years and generally remembering communication through computers is a whole different experience.
3. Which one of your own comics are you most pleased with and why?
hmm, all of them and none of them…
I’ll just have a look to refresh my memory.
Ok. I think the last one because it sums up how I feel about creating comics these days – and it plopped out a whole new ‘me drawing’.
4. Which one of your own comics are you least pleased with and why?
umm, all of them and none of them…I’m one of those people who keeps doing things again to please one self each time but then realising I could have done ten different ideas all over. I mean – if there were 5 sites like this, I would probably do something different on each one.
5. Do you hope to keep up drawing comics after rehab? If so, how often.
I never have stopped drawing or drawing comics.only changed the outlets or motivations. Just this afternoon I set up a stand with a wall painting to get some paper goods into the hands of others at a film night in a warehouse nearby. I am also putting together a small booklet this weekend again screenprinted for a hand made books exhibition in two weeks and have almost finished my twentieth issue of ‘froth’ comic art thing. I am not sure though of approaching publishers anytime soon again but have been working on a few larger things through inspiration of age.
6. Any suggestions for future rounds?
not really. I think It’s a pretty tight idea Amber. the artists you choose are those you know and/or like.
this is how I will remember the project- as another fine representation of your creative managing and directing of artists.
Rehab Exit Interview: Alice Mrongovius
February 29, 20081. Briefly describe your experience at comic artist rehab:
I really enjoyed having the chance to do smaller pieces – and auto-bio as well, capturing something from each four day period. The live drawing at sticky was the highlight – getting everyone together, talking and drawing comics.
2. What, if anything, did you learn from the program?
Just how quickly I can come up with and produce something (that I am happy with).
3. Which one of your own comics are you most pleased with and why?
Day 10, I have had this thought on my mind for a while, usually on the walk back from the city it hits me. Really feel like this captures the moment – but also I am now relieved of it clunking around in my head.
4. Which one of your own comics are you least pleased with and why?
It’s not whole comics – each of them has its own thing going for it – just some panels are rushed and was probably too hungover too often.
5. Do you hope to keep up drawing comics after rehab? If so, how often.
I was just getting back into drawing comics everyday when rehab came along… so its really pushed that along. I have a long term comic book project that I want to finish this year, and this has really helped get me into the pace I need to work at.
6. Any suggestions for future rounds?
Having a compounded hangover on the day you are posting, looking at a blank page is something to be avoided.
Rehab Exit Interview: Cassandra Tytler
February 29, 20081. Briefly describe your experience at comic artist rehab:
I liked the fact that I only had to draw four panels each time. Usually my stories at six at a minimum, but often 12 or more. Having four panels meant that I could tell smaller stories, which meant I felt freer. It was nice having my work online and reading people’s comments on what had been posted. It was also nice that other people were doing the same thing as me on the other days, and also great to meet them all. Gave me a sense of community.
2. What, if anything, did you learn from the program?
That the interest in my comics isn’t in my skills as a drawer, and to stop being paranoid about my lack of technique.
3. Which one of your own comics are you most pleased with and why?
Probably my one about living in France cos it’s a story I like to tell, but not enough people ask!
4. Which one of your own comics are you least pleased with and why?
Maybe my one about Aussie men, cos I’m not entirely sure it made sense, and in a way what I was feeling wasn’t thought through enough, or at least was hard to communicate in four panels.
5. Do you hope to keep up drawing comics after rehab? If so, how often.
Yes, but it was great to have rehab to push me along.
6. Any suggestions for future rounds?
Can’t think of anything. All ran smoothly for me and can’t think of any changes necessary. Thanks!
Round Four: Day Twenty Eight
February 28, 2008
Comic Artist Rehab 