OK, I’m no genius, but if you replace “genius” with “art,” Edison was right when he said, “genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
Case in point: Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars, my graphic novel-in-progress. How did I come up with this epic space opera? Well, back in 2006, I drew these illustrations for Chapter 10 (“Getting Into Character”) of the first comics textbook Matt and I wrote together, Drawing Words & Writing Pictures.
Another vintage item for my Kickstarter supporters, a red t-shirt from the 70s. It’s simple, plain, but again, it’s the fit that counts. Wabi sabi ripped sleeve trim, very punk. I’d love to give this to someone my age in the picture below, or younger.
(Below: Artbabe signing in at the original Quimby’s, on Damen, circa 1997.)
Not every one of my Kickstarter drawing subjects/gifts is some amazing piece of vintage fabulous.
You know that one pair of jeans that you would have thrown out five years ago, but you just can’t bear to part with them?
From left to right: Dean Haspiel, Josh Neufield, me and my favorite jeans at the Keyhole #1 release party. 1996. Continue reading
For years, this was my go-to shirt when heading out to a party or to go dancing. Vintage 1970s, clingy, sexy, I’ve had it since about 1993, but I just CAN’T get away with it anymore, as much as I would like to. Are you a young, cute, smart-assed, vintage-wearing woman? Do you know someone who is? Donate to my Kickstarter and put dibs on this shirt! It deserves to be worn. If you don’t, I’m keeping it for my daughter.
At right: Matt, the shirt, and me at a drunken party in Austin in 1997.
This… is a goatskin backpack. It comes from Guinea, West Africa. It’s made of an entire goatskin, in one piece. Lovely, very useful, and also a conversation piece! I’ll be doing a color drawing with this one.
Want it? Check out my Kickstarter.
These are vintage 1940s men’s wool swim trunks. I think I acquired them in the late 80s, maybe 1990, and that they’re “new vintage” –i.e. old unworn stock. I find it kind of hilarious that they were intended to be worn over bare skin. Hard for me to imagine a man wearing the equivalent of a wool sweater directly over his intimate details. There is a little slightly-less scratchy liner part, but seriously. Those 1940s heroes of the beach must have been made of some tough stuff.
They also make very hot hotpants for women.
So: Burt Lancaster or Ginger Rogers? The choice is yours.
We do have a photo of me wearing these pants from the pre-digital era of my 20′s. Hilary, my intern, will attest to the existence of this photo. She’s seen it. But the internet never will. Sorry. Continue reading
This is gonna totally screw with GraNoDraMo, and I’m only going for like 3 days, but I’m psyched anyway.
My bags are packed for the first International Conference on Comics and Graphic Novels, to be held November 9 – 12 at the Universidad de Alcalá, near Madrid.
“The main objective of the conference is to bring together the highest number of specialists and researchers on comics (graphic novels, manga, BD, etc) in order to reflect the study of this area. The theme is ‘Sites of visual and textual innovation’ and it welcomes papers on (but not limited to): the origins of comics, avant-garde and experimental narration and biography and autobiography.” Continue reading
OK: I’ve written about my new graphic novel, Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars, and about how out of practice I feel as a cartoonist. I need to be doing some serious preparatory drawing. My goal is to draw a complete figure sketch every day that I’m in my studio (and to be in my studio a LOT).
Would you do me a favor and hold me accountable?
I’m serious. I’ll send you art. And my old clothes! I know it sounds wacky, but take a look at my Kickstarter video. I promise it almost makes sense.
You get: art and a bit of weird ephemera, and I get: a real drawing workout. Continue reading
That’s “Graphic Novel Draw More” month, for the uninitiated.
So, guess what? It’s been a while, but I’m making a new graphic novel. I’ve actually been writing it for years. But now I’m drawing it too, and dude, it’s like 2 years late. Hence Graphic Novel Draw More month. Continue reading
”RWP” is Reading With Pictures, a foundation dedicated to promoting the use of comics in the schools. If you’re a teacher or comics pro, and you’ll be at the “pros only” day of NYCC, come on out and see us catch up on the stat of comics edu!
Date: Thursday, 13-Oct
Time: 12:15PM – 1:15PM
Location: 1A02
Find out how YOU can help get comics into schools and get schools into comics in this informational seminar hosted by some of the biggest names in the world of comics and education. Join Josh Elder of Reading With Pictures, Dr. Michael Bitz of the Comic Book Project, Charlie LaGreca of Comic Book Classroom, Jessica Abel and Matt Madden of Drawing Words and Writing Pictures and David Uslan of Graphicly and the Stan Lee Foundation as they unveil their plans for 2012 and beyond.
