Barley Hush

Oh, Blogger, How We Once Loved...

2009-11-05T04:17:00.000-08:00

...but I must move on.

I have over the last few months been tentatively working on my new website. This combined with the all consuming nature of working on the National Young Writers' Festival in the last few months has resulted in me neglecting this blog, we have grown apart.

I miss using blogger for many reasons, but it just doesn't offer me multiple pages on top of the blog functionality, which is what i'm after.

Wordpress hints at greatness well beyond blogger, but it is often clumsy and confusing. I need to take some time with those online tutorials i think.

So I'm going to endeavor to post to both this blog and my new one for a while, ideally I'll find a way to syndicate the content across both rather than doing it manually, but no luck so far.

Ok, ok, alright. The new website address is www.sarahhowellprojects.com

I wish I could transfer those of you who "follow" me over easily, it would make it feel homely, the closest thing Wordpress offers is a function that shows you when other people have linked to you, which is pretty neat, but not as sociable.

See you on the other side.

Smiles,

Sarah

My New Job

2009-08-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

I now have my first ongoing work in Melbourne, which is extremely exciting to me. The job is as one of the Events Assistants at Glen Eira City Council.

This weekend there will be the following workshops and "In Conversation" talks:
Researching for the Writer with Meg Mundell;
Writing For Children with Nicolas Brasch;
In Conversation with Howard Goldenberg; and
In Conversation with Shane Maloney(my fiance David is excited about this one).

The photo above is part of the Carnegie Library building. Spending all of last Sunday there made me curious about whether the suburb's name was related to the philanthropic Carnegie Foundation, here is the answer discovered on the wikipedia article about Carnegie, Victoria.

"Originally called Rosstown, after William Murray Ross, a developer. The name was changed in 1909 to try and distance the suburb from the connotations of failure brought about by Ross' sugar beet mill project which never began production, and the Rosstown Railway. The name Carnegie was chosen in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure funds for a library from the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie "

Carnegie just had no luck in the early days apparently. They got their own back almost 100 years later but building an impressive Library and community centre.

My Inbox is Starting to Bulge

2009-06-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

I've been working quietly on the National Young Writers' festival for some months and it is now getting close to the stage where I will have something to show for it.

For those of you that don't know about what happens in Newcastle, NSW, on the labor day long weekend in October check out the video below. More soon!

National Young Writers Festival
This Is Not Art Festival (the mothership)

The Corner Hotel - til 10 July

2009-06-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

Close up.

Passerby has a read.

Additional orange/black band stickers not part of original art. Initially I was annoyed, but on closer inspection they had the cheek(respect?) to place the stickers in the line of vision of the characters on the two occassions they look off into the distance, a very awkward attempt to make like the stickers were part of the story.

Imagine My Art Here...

2009-06-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

It maybe that right this moment one of my comics is up on the side of The Corner hotel, Swan St, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.

It was supposed to go up anytime between 29 May and 5 June, so it should be up now.

It will be up there for 3 weeks.

Check-it-out! 1.3 x 4 m of goodness!

More info at: http://www.stripbillboard.com/

Journal Update 12/04/09 - 6/05/09

2009-05-29T01:55:00.000-07:00

Another Podcast Appearance

2009-05-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a recording of me talking at the Tasmania Book Prize forums back in the beginning of April.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/04/03/2534114.htm

I had trouble getting the audio file to play, so leave me a comment if you have any luck!

Superheroes & Schlemiels: Jews and Comic Art

2009-05-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

This Will Eisner looks great, I wonder if it is an original featured in the exhibition, I hope so.

03 May – 30 August 2009
Jewish Museum of Australia
26 Alma Rd, St Kilda Victoria 3182

The exhibition features reproduction and original works by Joe Shuster and
Jerry Siegel (Superman), Jack Kirby and Stan Lee (Fantastic Four and X-Men), Will Eisner (The Spirit and A Contract With God), Harvey Kurtzman (MAD) and Art Spiegelman (Maus).

Also included are original never-before-seen works by local Australian Jewish comic artists: Nicki Greenberg, Bernard Caleo, Andrew Weldon, David Blumenstein and John Kron.

Kid's Program ($5 Museum entry, plus $5 for materials):
Sun 7th June - Andrew Weldon
Sun 5 July - Sarah Howell
Sun 2 August - Mitch Vane

http://www.jewishmuseum.com.au/exhibitions.htm

Comic Book Funny Returns!

2009-03-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

My betrothed, Mr David Blumenstein, is once again organising Comic Book Funny as part of the free program of Melbourne Comedy Festival events at Trades Hall. I will be contributing artwork to the calendar mentioned below.

Dates and times:
5pm - 6.15pm Every Saturday in April

Week 1: a genteel exhibition launch and informal comics salon, directed by Mme Josephine Waite. All welcome.

We expect also that lady comic artists will be on hand to sketch attractive male comic artists for the upcoming art-calendar, THE SEXY MEN OF AUSTRALIAN COMICS 2009-2010 FINANCIAL YEAR CALENDAR. Twelve steamy months of hot cartoonist man-meat, as depicted by women who share their comics passion.

Watch the ladies draw, or do some drawing yourself.

Week 2: a very special Intimate Conversation between long-awaited interstate guest Gerard Ashworth (Modern Murder, Electric Ferret) and local comics broadcaster John Retallick (http://thecomicspot.blogspot.com/).

Week 3: join two of the funniest, filthiest cartoonists in Australia for a chat about why poos, wees, farts, boinks, taints and scrotes are really, really funny.

Week 4: the unexpected launch of THE SEXY MEN OF AUSTRALIAN COMICS 2009-2010 FINANCIAL YEAR CALENDAR! Your host is the dashing Bernard Caleo.

Where: Bella Union bar, Trades Hall
Corner Lygon and Victoria St, Carlton, Melbourne.

Chris Downes, Matt Coyle and Me on 3CR radio

2009-03-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

Back in September the Comic Spot, Melbourne's 3CR radio's Australian comics culture show did a feature on the Tasmanian Comics scene.

John Retallick interviews Chris Downes, Matt Coyle and myself.

The podcast is now available on The Comic Spot Blog.

Once Again We Wonder About The Future of Books?

2009-03-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

I'm appearing as part of the program of events surrounding the 2009 Tasmania Book Prizes which will be taking place as part of Ten Days on the Island, Tasmania's international arts festival.

The panel I'm talking on is titled
"Publishing and New Technologies: What is the future of publishing in Tasmania in an online world?"

Wednesday 1 April, 1pm – 1:45pm
Commissariat Store, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery , Hobart
(entry via car park off Davey St)

I'm hoping we can provide some specific visioning of what the Tasmanian Literature and Publishing scene will be like in 10 years time.

(The above image is from Penny-arcade.com and was brought to my attention by Aden Rolfe, one of the directors of the Critical Animals festival).

Film Shoot!

2009-03-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Here I am enjoying the exciting world of the film industry!

Completely out of the blue I was offered work as production assistant on an international co-production for launceston based Brown Bread and Butter productions.

The work was intense and fast paced, it has been awhile since I had worked under that kind of immediate pressure and it was good to know I could still handle it, though apparently i was looking worryingly pale on this day pictured.

Newcastle, 1st February

2009-02-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

It's Time for a Festival

2009-02-13T18:36:00.000-08:00

In December last year I accepted the position of Co-Director for the National Young Writers’ Festival, taking over from Nic Low and joining Queenslanders Amy Ingram and Daniel Evans.

It has been 6 years since I worked on a festival in any capacity greater than being a project assistant, so signing up to run a festival again has me wondering why I keep making events; something in me is compelled that’s for sure.

Every few years when I have the emotional and creative strength I just need to take on a new scale, but why the National Young Writers’ Festival? I get confused and embarrassed when people start discussing the nitty gritty of Australian novelists, playwrights, or poets, I only know about Australian comics. However I believe I know Australian comics very well and zines also to a slightly lesser extent, and it is because of this that I love the National Young Writers’ Festival, it is the premiere festival for Australian Comics.

I also have affection for Newcastle, despite the sub-tropical plants and balmy pacific ocean it feels like a Tasmanian town: physically beautiful with its beaches, dramatic headlands and hills, clock towers, churches, and old jail; yet it is awkward, self conscious, and angry.

I’m looking forward to getting to know Newcastle, and I’m looking forward to crafting a kickass program with Amy and Dan with additional guidance from The Lifted Brow founder and editor, Ronnie Scott.

Already from our first meeting as the new team good ideas are on the boil, ideas that will respond to what is happening culturally, socially, and economically in Australia, ideas that won’t be shy to question and debate, and ideas that will ask what the festival needs as it hits it’s tween years.

Wish me luck.

OM10 at the Royal Botanical Gardens

2009-01-28T03:04:00.000-08:00

Awhile ago I became obsessed with getting a digital SLR camera. I overcame the belief that I NEEDED TO HAVE ONE by reminding myself that I had a perfectly good (and equally bulky) Olympus OM10 that I hadn't touched for maybe 10 years. A few weeks ago I bought film for it and last week I went to the botanical gardens and reacquainted myself with F-stops. The resulting photos are nice, but nothing out of the ordinary, but I expected that; I will have to run a lot more film through the camera before I'm decent at looking through a lens again.

Tools for Action

2009-01-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

http://cca-actions.org/

Actions: What You Can Do With the City documents and presents specific projects by a large and diverse group of activists whose personal involvement has triggered radical change in today’s cities. These human motors of change include architects, engineers, university professors, students, children, pastors, artists, skateboarders, cyclists, root eaters, pedestrians, municipal employees, and many others who answer the question of what can be done to improve the urban experience with surprising and often playful actions.

Take you riding in my car...

2009-01-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

Cute and very clever stop animation, would post it here but it too wide and looks messy. View it on youtube.

Slideshow of Old Zineness on We Make Zines

2009-01-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

Find more photos like this on We Make Zines

Believe it or not this is the smaller version!

Maya Angelou

2009-01-19T16:00:00.001-08:00

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. "

Merry Happiness

2008-12-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

To all my friends and colleagues, have a good new year.

Emma Kidd

2008-12-16T01:29:00.000-08:00

Digging this artist's sketchbook work, she is a friend of a friend. I have not met her.
http://www.benconservato.com/

Sketch Book Update 25th Oct - 14th Nov

2008-12-10T06:07:00.000-08:00

Lets Get It Strait Costume Ideas

2008-12-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

This week I put together a document noting down my ideas for costume designs for the community performances to take place on King and Flinders Islands. I had to think of things that would be cheap, quick to manufacture, allowed for fast costume changes in some cases, and with the older kids didn't make them look too dorky.

The design above is a little silly, it is a lighthouse, and it will be worn by the King Island kindergarten students and, importantly, was inspired by a costume designed by one of the older students during my workshops at the school.

Ten Days on the Island program launched

2008-12-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

The Ten Days on the Island program featuring Lets Get It Strait is now out.
www.tendaysontheislands.com

2008-12-07T03:26:00.000-08:00

"Art is only a means to life, to the life more abundant. It is not in itself the life more abundant. It merely points the way, something which is overlooked not only by the public, but very often by the artist himself. In becoming an end it defeats itself. "

- Henry Miller

Halloween

2008-10-31T04:22:00.000-07:00

Apparently my local supermarket doesn't believe in either Halloween or selling pumpkins that aren't pre-cut into portions, so this year I reverted to the far older British tradition of carving turnips to create lanterns to ward off the bad ghosts.

"The turnip lantern is the festival light for Halloween and is the ancient symbol of a damned soul."

Turnips are much easier to carve and have a lovely luminosity when you hollow them out enough.

Know Hope

2008-10-30T18:03:00.001-07:00

Excited today about this artist, Know Hope.
www.thisislimbo.com
Article about Know Hope:
http://www.sezio.org/feature/Know-Hope.aspx

Ugly, Drunk and Stupid exhibition @ Town Hall Gallery, Hawthorn

2008-10-29T19:07:00.001-07:00

The other exhibition that happened in my absence was Ugly, Drunk and Stupid at the Town Hall Gallery, Hawthorn, Victoria.

Curated by Jo Waite and Bernard Caleo the exhibition was part of the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival.

The format for the show was a portrait of an "Ugly, Drunk, and/or Stupid" character and a landscape format comic featuring this character.

I decided to use as the starting point the caricature of Paris Hilton I drew during one the Zine Cloud word game exercises back in June where I ended up with the words "Paris Hilton, "Smoking" and "Sword".

The resulting comic is the first I've done in a long time that aims to be funny and has a lot of words. Overall I was pretty happy with it.

Broken windows aside the opening apparently went well with a fine collection of secondhand sherry glasses provided by Jo.

More photos .

B&W exhibition @ This Is Not Art

2008-10-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

"Pat’s favourite comic: A tie between Sarah Howell’s silent comic and Tim Molloy’s Mr Unpronounceable."

- from curator Pat Grant's wrap up email (this email totally made my day).

Images 1. single panel detail.
Image 2. installation shot of exhibition, mine is the very white three page comic sandwiched between Ben Constantine's 12 page work and Mandy Ord's 4 pages.

King Island Sunsets

2008-10-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

As I don't normally live on a west coast I get quite excited about seeing the sunset over the ocean. Here are just three King Island sunsets.

King Island Lights

2008-10-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

King Island - Lets Get It Strait

2008-10-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

I arrive on King Island the morning of Tuesday 14th and promptly collapse with a cold; fever, aches, the lot, but only seriously for a few days. Luckily I'm not working alone, Emma Porteus and Gavin Clarke, the dancers working to produce the Lets Get It Strait performances on both islands look after me, though Gavin is also sick.

After a few days talking with Emma and Gavin I start to get a proper picture of where the project is going and tailor the work I do with the students towards visualising the whole performance so their understanding goes beyond the movements they are learning with Emma and Gavin.

The results were designs for: costumes, sculptures/props, lighting, and maps of the outdoor performance space.

I once again did a window display as a reminder to the students of the work we had done, this time I drew cartoons of: students performing different parts of the show, fish, and one of Emma and Gavin saying "Dance Rocks!"

In the above images you can see the entrance to Stockyard park where the performance will take place in March; a drawing by Prep student Ingrid showing herself dancing like seaweed and like a snake; and a map by Tom showing Stockyard park and all the logistics that will go into making the show happen.

Flinders Island textures

2008-10-29T17:14:00.001-07:00

Flinders Island - Lets Get It Strait

2008-10-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

And so I leave Alice Springs 11am monday 6th and arrive on Flinders Island 9am Tuesday 7th.

I'm on Flinders Island working for Tasdance at the Flinders Island District School, a school of about 90 students from grades K - 10.

The Tasdance project is a community contemporary dance performance called Lets Get It Strait and is to take place as part of 2009 Ten Days on the Island. My initial brief was to work with students in all grades to generate stories and imagery that the choreographers could take inspiration from.

As a way of leaving something behind as a reminder about the project I created this window display(half finished in this photo) by reproducing select images created by the students. The original landscapes I used here are by students from the prep class.

Alice Springs

2008-10-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

October has been a big month of travel for me (with large periods of no Internet access). The first six days I spent in Alice Springs at the biennial Regional Arts Australia conference, then I was on Flinders Island for a week and then King Island for two weeks.

I'd never been to Alice Springs before, and it surprised me in many ways. Firstly the landscape isn't nearly as flat as I anticipated, with dramatic red rocky hills framing the town, and secondly this was the first time I had been exposed to a strong and everyday indigenous cultural presence in a community, limited as this experience was by the context of a conference.

Alice Springs left me filled with confusion, sadness, and hope about who we are as Australians.

On the art side of things I met some amazing people, it was particularly good to meet other youth arts workers at the impromptu lunchtime YPAA (Young People and the Arts Australia) meeting.

Primarily by the end of the 4 days of the conference I simply felt stronger in who I am and what I do because I had spent this time surrounded by 950 people who care about the same things I do.

I won't be at TINA this year but my art will be.

2008-09-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

Sketch Book Update 11 July - 12 Sept

2008-09-12T02:05:00.000-07:00

Zine Cloud the Book - IT ROCKS!

2008-08-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

I finally got to see the Zine Cloud book! After about a week of people telling me how good it looked I was handed a copy while attending the 1.Five.O exhibition opening at the Academy Gallery, Launceston. I quickly took these photos.

Nicole, the graphic designer, is amazing.

Zine Cloud @ TLWW

2008-08-14T22:02:00.000-07:00

The Zine Cloud collection will be on display throughout Tasmanian Living Writers week (15 - 24 August) at the following branches of the State Library: Launceston, Burnie, Kingston, Glenorchy, Rosny, and Hobart, as well as at the Tasmanian Book Fair at the IXL Atrium, Hunter St, Hobart on Sunday 24 August.

The display will consist of 1 x set of the 4 individual posters, 1 x larger collated poster, 4 copies of the zine publication that collects highlights of the individual zines.

For more info and pdfs of selected images go to the Tasmanian Living Writers Week website and click on the Zine Cloud link.

Poster designed by Nicole Robson.

Part 1.

2008-08-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Images by Mardi Nowak of before and after installation of my work titled "Part 1"

Team Up, Thoughts from Sarah Howell

2008-08-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

An interview with me about the Team Up experience is now on the Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery blog, followed by one with my partnered artist Alix Halpern.
http://www.townhallgallery.blogspot.com/

Photos by Mardi Nowak.

Joann Sfar

2008-08-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joann_Sfar

Aya Takano

2008-08-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

http://english.kaikaikiki.co.jp/artists/list/C5/

Team Up Exhibition

2008-08-11T03:15:00.000-07:00

An exhibition resulting from a mentoring project involving 10 artists (5 pairs).

Opening 6-8pm, Thursday 8th August Open Wed - Sat, 12-5pm until 30th August Town Hall Gallery, rear, Hawthorn Town Hall, 358 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC http://www.townhallgallery.blogspot.com/

The above picture is one of my preparatory sketches, photos of the show will be will be posted here shortly.

Zine Cloud

2008-08-05T03:41:00.000-07:00

23 – 27 June I co-ordinated 4 teams of zine creators and art teachers to deliver a statewide (Tasmania) program of workshops called Zine Cloud, the results of which will be available during the 2008 Tasmanian Living Writers' Week, 15 August - 7 September.

In a week we produced over 60 zine publications.

I had the pleasure of being one of the South Eastern team's artists along with Nicole Robson and Felicity Copeland-Brown.

Other artist teams where:
North West: Pat Grant, Karlee Foster, and Michelle Best
North: Jo Waite, Ingrid Reynolds, and Lisa Drinkwater
South:Leigh Rigozzi, Sarah Badcock, and Peter Young.

The resounding feedback from everyone, artists, teachers, and students alike, has been that the week was intense but highly rewarding. We were all kind of buzzing for about a week afterwards.

The Zine Cloud project is a partnership between arts@work and the Tasmanian Department of Education.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in this project, it was amazing!

Photo of North West team's zine creations was taken by Karlee Foster.

Sketch Book Catch Up

2008-07-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

I've been attending this...

2008-05-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

Street Press @ City Library
Starting Wed 14 May > Wed 9 July 2008
6 > 7.45pm.

To book ring 96589500

This is an opportunity for all of those interested in any aspect of Street Press from zines to comics, from magazines to blogs, any genre and any level, all are welcome.

Whether you're a budding writer, designer, editor, artist, programmer or photographer, there will a space for you to meet the like minded, exchange ideas and learn new skills .

http://www.citylibrary.org.au/streetpress.htm

Good group of people, things are just getting underway.

The Smile

2008-05-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Here is an animation I created as part of the Australian Network for Art and Technology's (ANAT) mobile phone workshops held at the Academy for the Arts in Launceston 3 - 4 May.

The animation was drawn on a whiteboard, captured as still images with my LG TU550 mobile phone, edited with an old version of imovie where I added the mirror filters to create the kaleidoscope look, and exported for mobile phone format using quicktime pro.

My video and the work of the other workshop participants is now on display as part of the Portable Worlds exhibition (but will only be on display in Launceston, not the rest of the exhibition tour) at the Academy Gallery, Launceston until June 4.

The workshop was presented as part of my Gravity Project for Tasmanian Regional Arts.

Blonde Redhead Video featuring Miranda July

2008-05-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

This reminds me of the moment to moment type comics I have been drawing over the last year, of which January's box story is part of.

A focus on gesture and stillness.

Miranda July Interview

2008-05-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

"My favourite thing in the world is when I look at a piece of art, or read a story, or watch a movie, where I walk away feeling like, oh my God, I have to do something, I have to make something, or talk to someone, things are not the same anymore!

And so I try to make work where you come away with that feeling...you're thinking about what you just saw, but even more than that, you feel able, you feel kind of propelled."

Also there is her website mirandajuly.com

It's Chris Ware...and I it like it!

2008-05-22T20:36:00.001-07:00

Heart Boy and Plant Girl

2008-04-01T00:48:00.000-07:00

Idea generation towards Lucy and Alex's wedding present.

Chewing Gum Story Exercise

2008-04-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

Comic Book Funny - the events.

2008-03-08T22:41:00.000-08:00

A wonderful extravaganza of weekly events devoted to funny Australian comics, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
4pm Saturday Mar 22, Mar 29, Apr 5, Apr 12
Trades Hall, Melbourne, Vic
//www.comedyattrades.com.au/program_guide/show_43/

Below Tree Level Book Launch

2008-03-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

Leigh Rigozzi and Benny Walter are launching their book Below Tree Level as part of The Mountain Festival.

Thursday, March 13, 2008
6:00pm - 7:35pm
Fullers Bookshop
140 Collins Street
Hobart, Australia

Experiment with Copic Pens

2008-02-04T23:48:00.000-08:00

Got given a bunch of Copic pens for christmas, here is an experiment with them. I don't have any skin tones so the shadows on the skin are warm grey No.5 blended with Yellow Ochre. More of these to come.

Festival of the Photocopier

2008-02-03T17:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday 9th Feb - Saturday 1 March,
mostly at Sticky in Melbourne.

Events Listings here:

http://www.stickyinstitute.com/festival/events.html

And I Am Rehabilitated?

2008-01-28T15:49:00.000-08:00

I posted the last installment of my Box Story to Comic Artist Rehab on Sunday. If you wish to see all seven of my posts collected together go to:

http://wordpress.com/tag/sarah-howell/

Comic Artist Rehab

2008-01-08T19:22:00.001-08:00

I am in rehab for the following dates: January 11, 15, 19, 23, 27 (two posts already up)

Check out my simple little story of a girl who finds a magic wand and a boy who won't move.

Myself and others who are in Comic Artist Rehab would appreciate your comments on our work!

"Comic Artist Rehab is where four comic artists (who haven’t been as busy as they should) commit to drawing four panels every four days for four weeks."

http://comicrehab.wordpress.com/

Brooch

2008-01-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

I made this brooch as a Secret Santa gift for a colleague at Tasmanian Regional Arts. It is the best thing I've made in years.

Materials: blue anodized safety pin, white plastic flower shaped button bound to pin with blue anodized wire; two silver wires suspended from pin ending with pink star-shaped shell beads and a silver plated heart bead with burred star motif.

From the Vaults # 4

2007-12-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

This is the only page I have on file that has the dialogue laid over the top. Click on the image to see a slightly bigger version if you can't read the text.

This is the last finished page, after this point the collaboration process between Greg and I started to fall over.

I particularly enjoyed drawing the backgrounds on this page, I also felt it was the most successful in terms of overall page layout.

From the Vaults # 3

2007-11-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

So yes, these scripted pages had dialogue once upon a time layered on top with photoshop, but now I only have the original artwork. Basically the nasty guy that attacked the main character is actually her friend and was teaching her a lesson to be on her guard more, strangely enough she is annoyed by this.

The monster in the background that eats the seagull is to casually reinforce the threatening environment.

From the Vaults # 2

2007-11-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

So here is the second page. I dreamt up the first page as a cover for a zine/anthology I was putting together with my friends at the time. Greg Gerrand liked the first image so much he wrote a script for a story, this second page is the first scripted page.

Just Looking! Exhibition

2007-11-27T04:23:00.000-08:00

Just Looking, an exhibition of comics and illustration works

When: 12 - 5pm, Wed - Sat, 21 Nov - 15 Dec
Where: The Town Hall Gallery, 358 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, Melbourne.

I have two ink drawings in the show, I borrowed a friend's slick new digital SLR to take photos at the opening last week, I'll post the images when I have copies.

http://justlookingexhibition.blogspot.com/

From the Vaults # 1

2007-11-27T03:42:00.000-08:00

Today I was scanning in old artwork, so I thought I would post some here. This is the first page of four I did way back in my early years of reading comics,1999. It was a good distraction from the jewellery design studies I was doing at the time.

Cross Armed Girl

2007-11-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

We Meet Again Emperor Zombie!

2007-10-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

Have recently re-read this wonderful Mike Mignola book. It so deserved the 2003 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication. The pacing is perfection.

Cuckoo vs Owlings

2007-10-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

A Plague o' Bad Beets Will Kick Your Ass

2007-10-08T01:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a detail of Melbourne illustrator Jo Waite's take on the bad beetroots. Pure Trouble.

Beetroot Mayhem

2007-10-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

A non-jam drawing I did as a warm up during the Comics Jam session at TINA on Saturday night.

The Festival Club

2007-10-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

David Blumenstein drew this sketch of us all seated at a table in the This Is Not Art festival club last Friday.There was a ranting competition going on onstage which we couldn't really hear, even if we wanted to, so we swapped sketchbooks and drew instead. David was the only one to draw a group portrait, so I'm lucky it was in my sketchbook.

The next day I overheard someone commenting on how much they didn't like the performance and how they were amused to see "Nicki Greenberg's" table ignoring it all and just drawing.

Experiments in Shadow Play

2007-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

New Zine

2007-10-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Titled "She Could Still Feel...", this zine is a collection of comic and drawing journal entries from this year. It is A5, 42 pages, with white card cover, sand interior pages, and orange end papers. I have only printed 30, all of which I have already swapped, sold or put aside for posting to friends. I will print a new edition when finances next allow, so if you would like a copy please let me know.

Conference Sketches

2007-09-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

This gentleman had the classic Tasmanian look about him, which made him a joy to draw. If my parents had moved to Oatlands way back in the late eighties like they were planning, I would of grown up round folk like this.

Today has been like this:

2007-09-18T01:22:00.000-07:00

"It is not necessary that you leave the house. Remain at your table and listen. Do not even wait, be wholly still and alone. The world will present itself to you for its unmasking, it can do no other, in ecstasy it will writhe at your feet."
Franz Kafka, quoted from the album sleeve of B(if)tek's 2020 CD.

James Gleeson

2007-09-09T20:21:00.001-07:00

I've never been into James Gleeson's paintings much, but I am always deeply affected by his black and white drawings and collages that are the starting point for his larger works. There is a raw, surprising quality to them that i enjoy and a very sensual, ether-like use of charcoal. Apologies I couldn't find any really good reproductions.

Dusty Springfield?

2007-09-09T20:00:00.001-07:00

4 September - evening.

2007-09-05T21:53:00.001-07:00

Shadow Puppetry

2007-09-04T02:46:00.001-07:00

Shadow puppets live in the intersection between my love of comics, sculpture and photography.

I'm thinking to play around with an element of shadow puppetry with the longer project I've got in mind at the moment.

The Shadow Tall exhibition pieces were all done on tracing film and I'm wondering if this would be an interesting medium to base more work on.

Walking Turnips

2007-09-04T00:23:00.000-07:00

These walking turnips were inspired by the animation "I lived on the Moon" by Yannick Puig (june 2007).

Pentel Coincidence

2007-09-04T00:19:00.001-07:00

Greg gave me this tiny green Ball Pentel purchased from Officeworks on a pen buying spree of his, the day after my previous post. He says he had not seen my post.

The ball point of this pen is a lot more like a classic ball point, not as liquid as the standard size Pentel Ball.

As of last weekend Greg has his own website now: www.greggerrand.com

I'm a Pentel Girl

2007-08-21T20:45:00.001-07:00

These are my standard tools I take with me EVERYWHERE. From left to right: Pentel Extra Fine Point Correction Pen, Ball Pentel Fine Point R50, Kuretake Co. Ltd watercolour brush pen filled with Art Spectrum white and black inks to make grey, Pentel brush pen filled with Art Spectrum black ink.

I haven't been able to find the Pentel brush pens again (hence the purchase of the Kuretake), I bought this one from Arts Stretchers in Melbourne, only to be told when I went in to buy more that they had stopped stocking them :(

Brush Pens Rock!

20th August

2007-08-21T20:02:00.001-07:00

Eerie and Delicate.

2007-08-21T01:50:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the cover of Neko Case's album The Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, I have discovered this artist, Julie Morstad, her website is http://www.juliemorstad.com

Shiny New Moleskin

2007-08-19T17:40:00.001-07:00

One of the few drawings I've done in my new moleskin. I usually use a brushpen when working in a moleskin, and I'm discovering that my other usual pen, a green Ball Pentel R50, is horrible to use on shiny moleskin pages. This sketch of Greg before our lunch arrived is with an Artline Ergoline Fine 0.4, which I'm finding more pleasant to work with, but I miss my green pentel.

Teacups to Cry Into.

2007-08-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

Here is my favorite artwork from last week's shared items, I've been haunted by these emotive line drawings since seeing them. To drink out of them would be something special. I was sorely tempted to buy one, but now they are all sold out.

The artist, Irana Douer, is also the creator of the online-only art zine Ruby Mag. Issue 20 just came out the last few days.

Today I Remembered...

2007-08-15T02:10:00.001-07:00

...this man is one of my all time favorite artists. For a long time I wanted my drawings to feel like a Ralph Eugene Meatyard photo.

Exhibition and Zine Fair

2007-08-14T00:07:00.000-07:00

JUST LOOKING
When/Where: 21 November - 15 December @ Town Hall Gallery, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC.

Zine Fair: Saturday 24th November.

Showcasing new works by illustrators, comic book creators and zine makers.

A reading area will be part of the exhibition and each artist is asked to provide finished books, magazines and zines for people to take time out to read.

All works are to be for sale, the gallery takes 20% commission.

Read the article on the the Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery's previous zine exhibition "Are You Going to Buy That?" in The Age.

DEADLINE For Submissions: 5pm Monday 1 October.
Notification of acceptance by 12 October.
Contact: Mardi Nowak mardi.nowak@boroondara.vic.gov.au
Download exhibition brief: www.boroondara.vic.gov.au

Upcoming Zine Fairs

2007-08-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY'S INAUGURAL SPRING ZINE FAIR
When/Where: 10am to 5pm, Saturday 1^st September @ 86 River Road, Emu Plains.

The Fair will coincide with 'Zine Factory', an exhibition/workshop project featuring Leigh Rigozzi and Miss Helen. The Fair will feature croquet, food stalls and live music, as well as talks by Sue Pedley and zine expert Glenn Barkley (Art curator for the University of Wollongong).

Contact: Anne Loxley <aloxley@penrith.nsw.gov.au>

**
VERGE ARTS FESTIVAL & ZINE FAIR
When/Where: 6pm to 10pm, Friday 14th September @ Science Road, Sydney University

Registration fee: $5
Contact: Irina Belova verge.markets@gmail.com

**
INDEPENDENT PRESS FAIR, NATIONAL YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL
When/Where: 12 to 6pm, Sunday 30th of September @ Auckland St, Newcastle

The Newcastle Zine and Independent Press Fair is one of the largest events of its kind in the world, and certainly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Drawing together all manner of zinesters, comic nerds, general artists and small / independent publishers, it takes place as part of the ever sprawling This Is Not Art Festival.

Contact: fair@nywf.org.au

Favorite Image of the Week (kind of)

2007-08-10T00:50:00.001-07:00

"Tony Blair Heckled" by Tim McGrath.

This artist was featured in Drawn.ca on July 29th, but I couldn't pass him up even if he's over a week's old news.

View more of his work here:
http://tedmcgrath.com/

Abbotsford Convent

2007-08-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

I Miss My Studio :(

2007-08-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Interview

2007-05-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here is an interview with me by Lisa Greenaway from the www.theprogram.net.au about my my Gravity project for Tas Regional Arts, but I also rant a fair bit about my current thinking about cartooning, things along the lines of the following:

"I'm currently preoccupied with the way cartooning provides a snapshot of how something feels physically, a type of shorthand for physical memory."

Read more:
http://www.theprogram.net.au/creativeIndustrySub.asp?id=1906

City Folk

2007-05-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

One of the inspirations I had last weekend was discovering the latest series of Scary Girl toys. I had always like the style of these toys by Nathan, but this series, City Folk, really struck home with my imagination, so I braved the world of blind box toys (it's like a lucky dip) and ended up taking a doctor character home from Pocketspace. This little doctor wasn't one of the toys I really wanted, but on reflection he seemed appropriate. I feel like I need a doctor with a trailer full of fire at the moment and of course the Shadow Tall story is still preoccupied with the hospital scenes.

Well, enough with the talking about it, I'm off to do some drawing now :)

Nicki Greenberg's Great Gatsby graphic novel

2007-05-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

I wish I had pictures to show you, but order now anyway!

The Great Gatsby (graphic novel) - 39.95
NICKI GREENBERG
Allen & Unwin
ISBN 9781741751338
September release.

This is the first graphic novel to be published by Allen and Unwin Australia, so even if you didn't like the original Great Gatsby novel go out and buy this book to enjoy Nicki's fine, playful artwork and help send the message to Allen and Unwin that graphic novels are worth investing in.

Shadow Tall images - ink on tracing film

2007-03-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

Shadow Tall Exhibition

2007-03-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

9 - 31 March, Loft Gallery, top floor Salamanca Arts Centre, 77 Salamanca Place, Hobart.

Work in progress showing of storyboard work and character designs.

Shadow Tall

2007-02-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

I've been doing heaps of drawing but little blogging!

Pictures as soon as I get more batteries for my camera.

In the meantime, here's a heads up on my little exhibition Shadow Tall, which opens 6pm Friday 9th March at the Loft Gallery, Salamanca Arts Centre.

A Happy New Year of Drawing

2007-01-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

Drawing for 2007 commenses from 6pm tonight!

I hope everyone received comics and/or drawing materials for christmas! I got "The Essential Guide to World Comics" and 2 moleskin sketchbooks from family and friends.

Over the Christmas season I read: Blankets by Craig Thompson, Mister O by Lewis Trondheim and Dungeon by Lewis Trondheim and Joann Sfar.

Next Drawing Party

2006-11-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

6pm - 9pm Tuesday 28th November
My Studio, Salamanca Place.

I'm going to ask people to think a bit about what they will create prior to the evening this time. See how a bit of focused attention shifts the process.