Category Archives: Projects

Altered Esthetics 5th Anniversary Show This Friday (April 17th) In Minneapolis

event, Events, gallery show, Good Causes, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities, Projects, St. Paul

Reposting as a reminder… hope to see you all there!

The Cartoonist Conspiracy is immensely fortunate to have found Altered Esthetics gallery to collaborate with. A non-profit, community and artist centered gallery, we have collaborated with them on the Eric Lappegard Benefit and Lutefisk Sushi Volume C, and this Summer we will be working with them to put together Big Funny (submissions due May First!).

Mark your calendars, because next month is Altered Esthetics fifth birthday, and to celebrate they are having a party/art show/fundraiser April 17th!

They are requesting wood-themed art donations for their fifth ‘wood’ anniversary. Find out the details of how you can donate art to them here.

One other very cool way you can contribute is by donating art to be in the Art Vending Machine
… mini-comics seem made for this.

Please consider donating art, and please let them know the Conspiracy sent you!

Celebrate Ae!

alteredesthetics.org/fiveyears

April 2009 marks our fifth birthday! We’re having a giant celebration to commemorate the occasion, in conjunction with our Spring Fundraiser.

Please join us on April 17, 2009 for a celebration and fundraiser featuring:

– A wood-themed art exhibition and silent auction
– A raffle with awesome prizes and goods from local businesses
– Live music
– Refreshments
– Wood themed games
– Awesome company
– And more!

Schedule of Awesomeness
5:00pm: Raffle, Silent Auction, Games, DJ
9:00pm: Silent Auction and Raffle ends, winners announced
9:30pm: Live music begins, festivities continue, the people rejoice.

BIG FUNNY Deadline in One Little Month (May 1st)

anthologies, BIG FUNNY, Opportunities, Projects

Things are moving fast… we are now a month from the BIG FUNNY deadline (May 1st). From the estimates we have received, it looks very likely that we will be able to do the whole publication in full color… so I hope participants will all strongly consider taking advantage of it!

Unless you make posters, there aren’t a lot of opportunities to get printed at such a huge size and in color… I can’t wait to be dazzled by what people do with it. It will be quite a unique publication… please do let all your cartoonist/poster artist/printmaker/designer/illustrator friends know about it, and encourage them to participate.

Specs and other information for the project can be found here on the BIG FUNNY website. There is also a text-only version of the information here.

I urge you to carefully read ALL of the information there before digging in, as the specs are particular… and we would really hate to have to reject people’s work because people didn’t follow the specs.

Here is a description of the project in the words of Kevin Cannon at the Big Time Attic blog:

So I was over at the watercooler today, and a co-worker leans over his cubicle wall and says, “Hey Kev, what’s this ‘BIG FUNNY’ all the kids are talking about?” So I say, “Well, Doug, check the BTA blog in a few minutes and I’ll tell you!”

So here’s the scoop:

Minneapolis cartoonists have a tradition of curating a yearly show at the Altered Esthetics gallery in Nordeast Minneapolis. Last year we mounted Lutefisk Sushi: Volume C, which was a huge hit, had a ton of great contributors, and had an absolutely packed opening night party.

This August we’re doing something a little different: Big Funny, a nod to the glorious & wacky full page (and often full color) newspaper comics of the turn of the century). Where Lutefisk Sushi asked participants to create mini-comics and gathered them all up in a BOX, Big Funny is asking people to draw a 15.5″w x 20″h comic strip (color or bw) which will then be printed in a big fat NEWSPAPER.

The Big Funny gallery show this August will have original art from the Big Funny newspaper, as well as vintage turn o’ the century comics (thanks to collector extraordinaire Steve Stwalley). You’ll also be able to get your hands on the Big Funny newspaper — right now we’re thinking it’ll be 48 pages.

Interested in having your cartoon grace one of those pages? Here’s a quick guide to get you started:

1. Read through www.cartoonistconspiracy.com/bigfunny. That should answer most of your questions.
2. Create your comic. Keep these specs in mind:
* Art should be 15.5″ (wide) x 20″ (high)
* If you’re doing color, make it 300 dpi
* If you’re doing black and white, make it at 1200 dpi
* You can submit more than one cartoon
* All submissions must be DIGITAL
* [This is a truncated list to get you started — PLEASE read the info on the Big Funny website!]

3. Content: This show is a nod to the old-timey comics, but your comic can be any style, theme, etc. Just try to be funny (it is called Big Funny, after all)
4. Deadline is MAY 1, 2009

Unlike Lutefisk Sushi, this is a juried show, which means that some comics won’t make it in the show. This has less to do with us being art snobs, and more to do with the complicated nature of putting a physical newspaper together on time and on budget.

We’ve already got a few submissions in (which, for a month before the deadline, is pretty outstanding), and they look great, so keep ’em coming!

If you have any questions, please read the Big Funny website. If you still have questions, please leave them in the comments section, and we’ll answer them there.

Here’s a BIG FUNNY chicklet for your website or blog:

MicroCon Wants Your Posters!

conventions, Opportunities, Projects

Our good friends at the Midwest Comic Book Association (organizers of FallCon and MicroCon) are looking for lots of people to make posters for MicroCon 2009. What fun! Here is the scoop:

Hello Everyone!

The new year is upon us and the mighty MCBA is gearing up! Initial preperations are under way for both MicroCon & FallCon so we thought it would be a good time to send out this special request! 

Over the years, we’ve had many dedicated creators that have generously volunteered their creative super powers to help promote and enhance MCBA events. A perfect example was last years awesome MCBA FallCon Sketch Card promotion. The positive feedback from that effort was nothing short of spectacular and given that success and the many more recent requests that we’ve received from our creative community, we thought it would be a good idea to offer a new volunteer opportunity for creators to get involved.

Every year, for MicroCon and FallCon we distribute about 15,000 flyers & 150 posters into local/regional comic book stores, libraries, book stores, community centers, music stores, night clubs, tattoo parlors, etc. Once again, this year we’ll not only be following that pattern, but expanding it significantly. That’s where you come in…

In response to many comic book folk requests, we’d like to officially invite anyone of you would like to do a flyer for MicroCon 2009 to participate. Generally speaking, we’re looking to distribute flyers promoting MicroCon that are designed and created by the people who make the comic book media magic happen. All flyers & posters donated will be distributed and everyone is welcome to participate! Here’s the particulars…

All flyers should probably include the following:

* MicroCon Comic Book Party
* Sunday April 26, 2009
* 10AM to 4PM
* Minnesota State Fairgrounds
  1621 Randall Avenue
  St. Paul, MN 55108
* Tickets available at the door! $7.00 per person. Children 9 & Under FREE!
  Get $1.00 Off Admission with a canned food shelf donation!
* MCBA logo (e-mail us for a high res copy)
* Some sort of call to action!
* For More Info: email MNCBA at aol.com (replace the at with an @)   www.MNCBA.com   612-237-1801
* Creator acknowledgement. Your name & website and/or contact info

Other elements of interest:

* Over 60 Comic Book Creators in Attendance! 
* Huge Comic Book Marketplace!
* Door Prizes & Prize Drawings!
* Gigantic MCBA Grab Bags to the First 500 Attendees!
* Free Parking!

Format notes:

* Flyers will be printed in black & white (8.5″ X 11″). Posters in color (11″ X 17″).
* High res Jpegs are preferred.

Creative notes:

We are not 100% committed to a specific style or content, format, layout or presentation. We encourage you to design and implement a concept of your own creation and that you’re happy with! If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to e-mail us!

Timeliness:

The sooner the better! We’re planning to send out our first wave of flyers on January 31st, 2009

Please submit to:

MNCBA at aol.com (replace the at with an @)

So there you have it! Thanks in advance to those of you who will be participating and  for those of you who can’t or are unable, please remember this is strictly a volunteer thing and it ain’t no thang!

Thanks! Hope to hear from you soon!
 

Midwest Comic Book Association Volunteers   

SOMETHING YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO CHECK OUT!
Local comic book artist extraordinaire Christopher Jones is involved in a way cool event! Seriously, take the time to check this out!
 

 
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=55426038472 

2009 MCBA MICROCON & FALLCON DATES

For those of you who like to plan way in advance, here’s the 2009 MCBA event dates & times.
 

MCBA MICROCON COMIC BOOK PARTY

Sunday April 26, 2009 – 10AM to 4PM

Minnesota State Fairgrounds

1265 Snelling Ave

Saint Paul, MN. 55108

MCBA FALLCON COMIC BOOK CELEBRATION 

Saturday & Sunday, October 10 & 11, 2009 – 10AM to 5PM Both Days

Minnesota State Fairgrounds

1265 Snelling Ave

Saint Paul, MN. 55108

INFORMATION BITS:

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns!

E-mail

MNCBA at aol.com (replace the at with an @)  

Myspace

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=102936863

Facebook
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8300987767  

Comic Art Fans
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=32061   

Website 
www.MNCBA.com 

New MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK Starts Tuesday

Opportunities, Projects

Below is a repost of the MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK info, as the new challenge starts tomorrow (Tuesday, January 6th, 2008).

MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK seeks committed minicomics creators to join in the minicomics makin’ fun.

MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK is a collective of cartoonists from around the country who join together via a podcast and their webpage to create and exchange minicomics in 4 month-long “rounds”.

The next round begins January 6th, 2009.

Here’s how the MINICOMIC DUMPTRUCK works:

1) Pre-register your name, email address, physical address (or PO Box), and a link to your website/blog with DUMPTRUCK poo-bah Kevin Cross at the MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK forum.

2) During the live podcast on January 6th, 2009 at 9pm CST (7pm PST) they will pick some “items” which MUST be used SOMEWHERE in the course of the minicomic you are going to create. The items can be used as a central theme, a plot device, or even just a background gag. But the chosen items have to show up somewhere.

3) During the same podcast, a book LENGTH (generally 12 to 24 pages) will be assigned, as will a specific SIZE for your finished minicomic (in the first”round” they chose “quarter-size”-4.25″x5.5″–but this could and probably will change for round 2).

4) You then have 4 months to complete, print, and mail-off one copy of your minicomic to all the other “Truckers”. (All the other Truckers addresses will be emailed to you after the 6th.)

5) During the 4 month period, there will be a new podcast every two weeks or so where you are encouraged to call-in or participate via live chat on how your work is going, and to give thoughts and suggestions to your fellow Truckers (you will need to set up a Talkshow account to do this).
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/24924
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 24924

6) You are also encouraged to post your work-in-progress and to particiapte in the DUMPTRUCK forum.

7) Again, please only sign-on if you are 100% committed to the project.

Anyway, the DUMPTRUCK sounds like lots o’ fun to me, and I can’t wait to get started!
Hope to see you all at the dump!

Super Fantastica Comix #4 (2009 Edition) — Call for Submissions

anthologies, Opportunities, Projects, self-publishing

Hello Friends!

After the last three, successful, releases of Super Fantastica Comix, we are now taking submissions for Super Fantastica Comix #4 (2009 Edition).

If you aren’t familiar, you may be asking yourself, “what is Super Fantasica Comix?” Well, Super Fantastica Comix! (SFC!) is a compendium of comix created by talented, up-and-coming amateurs and professional artists alike.

Want to participate? Please read the following information carefully as submissions not following the guidelines will not be accepted.

Theme: Science Fair! What do we mean by “Science Fair”? Well, a science fair is generally a competition where contestants present their science project results in the form of a report, display board, and models that they have created. A science fair allow students in grade schools and high schools to compete in science and/or technology activities. Now, take your own spin on it!

Comic Dimensions: Submissions lengths must be between one to six pages, black and white, or greyscale. All pages will be printed at 5.5″ x 8.5″ including an eighth inch gutter on all sides. Therefore all art must not exceed the printable dimensions of 5.25″ x 8.25″. Make certain to include your name, title of the entry, and a web address (if applicable) on the first or last page of the entry.

Biographies: Each artist must compose a biography of no more than 100 words. Make certain to include your name, previous works, and any applicable contact information (i.e. web addresses, social networking accounts, etc.).

How to Submit: We will take submissions both digital and physical. If you choose to send your submissions digitally please format them at 800 dpi for black and white and 300 dpi for greyscale. Please save images as JPG or PSD file formats. Attach the files, along with how you would like to be credited, to superfantasticacomix at hotmail dot com. If you cannot send your submissions electronically, please contact superfantasticacomix at hotmail dot com and we will determine another method of shipment. Prior to submitting to this anthology, please contact superfantasticacomix at hotmail dot com with a rough estimate of your page count, so we can take into account the approximate size of the book and make a contingency for printing options.

Deadline:The solid deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 7th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. Its duel debut will take place at SPACE (Small Press and Comix Expo), which takes place in Columbus, OH from April 18 & 19, 2009 at the Aladdin Shrine Center and MCBA Microcon on Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Availability: These books will be carried at any establishment kind enough to carry them. Additional sites will become available as the deadline approaches. If you have a shop that you are aware of that consigns or purchases mini-comic anthologies, please e-mail superfantasticacomix at hotmail dot com with the appropriate contact information.

Compensation: Each participant will receive one free copy of Super Fantastica Comix — not much I know, damn the economy. If the participant would like extra copies, they can pay for them at cost. Generally speaking cost will be half of the cover price. Cover price will be determined by the amount of contributors to the book.

Exclamation point!

Minicomics Dumptruck

Opportunities, Projects

MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK seeks committed minicomics creators to join in the minicomics makin’ fun.

MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK is a collective of cartoonists from around the country who join together via a podcast and their webpage to create and exchange minicomics in 4 month-long “rounds”.

The next round begins January 6th, 2009.

Here’s how the MINICOMIC DUMPTRUCK works:

1) Pre-register your name, email address, physical address (or PO Box), and a link to your website/blog with DUMPTRUCK poo-bah Kevin Cross at the MINICOMICS DUMPTRUCK forum.

2) During the live podcast on January 6th, 2009 at 9pm CST (7pm PST) they will pick some “items” which MUST be used SOMEWHERE in the course of the minicomic you are going to create. The items can be used as a central theme, a plot device, or even just a background gag. But the chosen items have to show up somewhere.

3) During the same podcast, a book LENGTH (generally 12 to 24 pages) will be assigned, as will a specific SIZE for your finished minicomic (in the first”round” they chose “quarter-size”-4.25″x5.5″–but this could and probably will change for round 2).

4) You then have 4 months to complete, print, and mail-off one copy of your minicomic to all the other “Truckers”. (All the other Truckers addresses will be emailed to you after the 6th.)

5) During the 4 month period, there will be a new podcast every two weeks or so where you are encouraged to call-in or participate via live chat on how your work is going, and to give thoughts and suggestions to your fellow Truckers (you will need to set up a Talkshow account to do this).
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/24924
Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 24924

6) You are also encouraged to post your work-in-progress and to particiapte in the DUMPTRUCK forum.

7) Again, please only sign-on if you are 100% committed to the project.

Anyway, the DUMPTRUCK sounds like lots o’ fun to me, and I can’t wait to get started!
Hope to see you all at the dump!

24 HOUR COMICS DAY 2008, MINNEAPOLIS

24 Hour Comics, event, Events, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities, Projects, St. Paul

Mark your calendars for Minneapolis’ fifth annual “24 Hour Comics Day” event. The details are as follows:
24 HOUR COMICS DAY
Saturday October 18, 2008 – Sunday October 19, 2008
10am – 10am

Bring food to share, and art materials for yourself (but know that Wet Paint will have a booth set up so you can buy all your stuff there if you want!)

For all the latest info, check out 24-hourcomic.blogspot.com

To register, email your name, email address and phone number to us at mpls24hourcomicday at yahoo.com. You can also ask questions there, but we would prefer if you did it in the comments for this post, as it will hopefully answer other people with the same question!

We will be making another box set collecting comics from this year’s event. We hope all event participants will want to participate in this as well. Everyone contributing a mini-comic to the box will get a copy of the box. In previous years we have made 100 of these… this year there will be less… the number is tbd, based on the number of participants.

Help spread the word by posting/printing/emailing the fantastic poster by Kevin Cannon (who may hold the world record for most 24 hour comics drawn)! Choose from:

400 px wide (blog-friendly)
800 px wide
1600 px wide (cartoon is readable at this size)
hi-res black (good for printing)

Thanks much to our sponsors at Big Brain Comics, Big Time Attic, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and Wet Paint!

Here is an icon you can use on your blog sidebar, social networking site, etc. to link to the 24 hour Mpls blog:

Here is a link to the official 24 Hour Comics Day website for the international event. Here is Scott McCloud’s dare which defines what a 24 hour comic is.

Lutefisk Sushi for Sale Online

Lutefisk Sushi, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Projects, St. Paul

I’m happy to report that we now have Lutefisk Sushi Bento Boxes volumes B and C available for sale online here (or by clicking the below picture). The Lutefisk Sushi boxes feature an enormous quantity of mini-comics by Minnesota cartoonists… around 40 minis in Volume B and around 50 minis in Volume C. You can buy them online for thirty bucks each, which is one hell of a deal.

Both boxes were limited to 150 copies, and both are getting close to being sold out, so if you want one, order soon. They can never be reprinted, so when they are gone, they are gone for good. All profits from the Sushi boxes go to support Altered Esthetics, a wonderful non-profit Minneapolis gallery that we collaborate with.

Note that in addition to the Sushi boxes, you can buy our 2006 and 2007 collections of 24 Hour Comic mini-comics for $10 each.

More Comics In City Pages Comix Issue Online

comics, Minneapolis, mn, press, Projects, St. Paul

Above: A teeny view of Zander Cannon‘s contribution to the Comix Issue.

Due to some confusion at City Pages, a number of excellent entries to the previously mentioned City Pages Comix issue did not make it into the print and, initially, the online edition. Some have now been added to the online edition… go check them out!

“Five Blind Elephants” by Zander Cannon
“Republican Party Loyalists” by Andy Singer
“The Republicans are Coming… To Get you!” by Spanky Cermak
“When the Elephants Come to Town” by King Drowns

Muscles and Fights 2 Reviewed… Still Time to Submit Comics to Volume 3

Cartooning Projects, Projects, reviews


Muscles and Fights 2, an anthology a number of Conspiracy folks are in (including me), was recently reviewed here. Muscles and Fights 3 is coming up soon… the deadline is January 15th. Visit the Muscles and Fights website to get the guidelines for submitting your work. Also, there is a contest for designing “The Guy” for the back cover.