Happy July 2nd! (Firecracker shown is for illustrative purposes only — please leave all flammables and tater tots at home.) Do stop by to draw and chat this Saturday with your fellow cartoonists. The Open Studio is at the Minnesota Center for Books Arts. They have chairs, tables, a nice coffee shop nearby and free, semi-functioning wi-fi. Perfect for cartooning.

Saturday, July 2, from noon until 4 p.m., MCBA Bindery (high tables)

This is an open studio — all are welcome.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Open Book building
(Just down the street from Big Brain Comics)
1011 Washington Ave S, Suite 100
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-215-2520

Future Sat. Open Studio:
August 13, Bindery (high tables)

In this episode, we chat with Joe Juba, Senior Associate Editor of Game Informer Magazine!
Click here to listen!

Also, be sure to listen to Ted’s response to the Bronie backlash.

Dear cartoonists,

Here are some exciting events and opportunities coming up at our favorite gallery in Nordeast Minneapolis, Altered Esthetics.

June 30 — deadline to apply to Altered Esthetics 2012 Solo Exhibition Program

July 1 7:00-10:00pm — Hope of the Union opening reception

Wenesday, July 20th, 6:30-8:30pm — “Hot and Bothered” Suit Up – costumed figure drawing! Practice drawing the human figure in a variety of poses, with a variety of fabrics. You can even be a model if you want! Suggested donation $3.

Wednesday, July 27th, 6:30-8:30pm — Framing 101 workshop at AE. Learn about materials and techniques needed to showcase your work in the best way possible. Suggested donation $5.

Check out the Open Calls page for info on more exhibitions!

Listen to The Geek Report for more thrilling deadlines and death-defying news!

7000 BC presents two panels at ACE. On Saturday, uncover the rich history and compelling future of small press publishing. And on Sunday, learn how to make your own comics in a high-energy workshop.

Independent Comics
Saturday, June 25 12:30–2:00
Panel Room B

Independently produced comics have been on the rise for decades, ranging from commercially successful titles like Bone to the guy scribbling minis in his basement. With this panel we’ll explore the broad spectrum of indy comics, looking at indy history, creators’ rights, creating for kids and adults, the relationship between comics and other arts, and more.

PANELISTS:
Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother, Beasts of Burden, Sandman)
Larry Welz (Cherry, Captain Guts, 7000 BC)
Enrique “sykryk” Martinez (Syk, Birthmarks, Comboy, 7000 BC)
Jon Peters (Gypsy, Forty Winks, Squidworks)
Stephen McCranie (Mal and Chad)

MODERATOR:
Jeff Benham (Peoplings, The Salmonilla Chronicles, 7000 BC)

Create Your Own Comic
Saturday, June 26 11:00–12:30
Panel Room A

Words and images on a page? Put ‘em together and you get a comic book! Can it be that simple? Find out what makes comics tick (and CRASH! and BOOM! and hissssss) when New Mexico’s own sykryk conducts an informative, hands-on workshop on the comic book creation process. The emphasis is on storytelling – not draftsmanship – so even if you can only draw stick figures, you can make a compelling comic. Kids of all ages are welcome.

INSTRUCTOR:
Enrique “sykryk” Martinez (Syk, Birthmarks, Comboy, 7000 BC)

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Below, a map to our members and colleagues in Artist Alley. Click for larger:

After a long break from not posting much on the web, I’ve decided to start posting with appalling regularity. I figured I should start here with some shameless self-promotion.

On Mondays, I will be posting a new Soapy the Chicken strip on the Soapy the Chicken site. (you can subscribe to Soapy the Chicken here… you can read the previous Soapy strips here… or you can buy the collected Soapy in book form here). Click the image below for the first one…

On Fridays, my new collaborative comic with my good friend Ben Zmith, Monkey’s Paw, will be updated. The first four weeks have already been posted, actually. You can see them by clicking on the below images.

You can subscribe to the feed for Monkey’s Paw here.

I’ll also be posting whatever I feel like on the Stwallskull blog, whenever I feel like it. The posts moving forward will mostly be focusing on my personal comic work, rather than stuff relating to the history of comics and animation. You can subscribe to Stwallskull here, if you’re inclined.

Thanks for checking my comics out, if you decide to.

You can go register here!

You can flip the pages in the NEW WAY (make sure you have the flash plug in and you are in the blog)

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OR you can click on the image to dowload the pdf (less than two megas) as usual.

The below very cool-sounding opportunity was just posted here.

Call for Mini Comics and mini comix submissions

I am looking for mini comic submissions for a new two-volume set of hardbound books to be published by Fantagraphics. This series will cover mini comics from the dawn of time (early 70′s) to the present. Since Newave (1980’s) has already been covered, the main focus will be on the 1990′s to the present although earlier minis will be covered too. The books will be the same size as the original Newave book (only more like 700 pages each) and will only reproduce whole mini comics that are 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 or smaller just like in the Newave book. (If you are concerned about the size of your submission contact me and we can talk about it). No digest sized comics or bigger will be accepted.

The two volumes are to be simply titled “Treasury of Mini Comics” Volumes one & two.

I am looking for contributors. I am looking for the best of the best. Any creator can send me their mini comics, disks, or photocopies to be considered for publication for this project. Or email me and send low-res jpegs to: brownfieldpress(at)hotmail.com.

Please send titles to: Michael Dowers 361 E. Birnie Slough Rd., Cathlamet , WA 98612.

If you want your material returned it is important to enclose return postage. Any mini comics that are kept will be placed in the Fantagraphics collection after the books are published. Also anybody sending actual mini comics will receive comics in trade from Brownfield press.

Join the St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Cell and create a jam comic at Cahoots Coffee! This locale provides us with not only a spacious room in the back of the shop, but also they have tasty mediterranean food for sale!

The jamming is easy and it’s a fun time! Just bring some drawing utensils, an idea for the jam, and a few bucks to get a tasty beverage or some chow — don’t forget to tip, the baristas really do appreciate that!

The jam will start promptly at 6:30 and run until 10:30 at the latest. Come earlier to reserve your space! Seating can be limited at times!

The meetings are open to anyone who wants to draw with us, and the results will be posted here at some date yet to be determined.

To join us come to:
Cahoots Coffee
1562 Selby Ave
St Paul, MN 55104
(Southeast corner of Snelling and Selby)

More not than often we head on over to grab a brew at:
O’Gara’s Bar and Grill
164 Snelling Ave N
St. Paul, MN 55104
(Right next to Cahoots!)

Bus info here.

Hope to see you there!

If you are planning on joining in the fun at AE this Saturday, please note that the times have changed! The Arty Garage Sale will be starting at noon, not 7am. Peruse the schedule below for more info.

Arty Garage Sale 12pm-5pm
– Lots of great crap
– Abandoned artwork
– Frames
– more!

Bike Art Artists’ Discussion 1pm-3pm
– A thoughtful discussion with artists and curators from the Bike Art show

Bikini Bike Wash 3pm-5pm
– Tuneups and checkups from Behind Bars
– Bike Washes from the Bawdy Blue Burlesque Review
– Zardoz*

It’s going to be a rip-roarin’ good time.

(*Event may or may not have Zardoz)