I was going through things, backing them up, and saw this hanging around. It’s the layout to a comic I did. The comic is no masterpiece, but since this blog is about process, I thought I’d throw this up. It’s also an English translation of the strip.

Went to a chat today by Peggy Burns, who is the marketing person for Drawn and Quarterly Books in Montreal, speaking at the Atwater Library. She talked about the history of Drawn and Quarterly, some of their artists such as Chester Brown, Daniel Clowes, Adrian Tomine, and Lynda Barry. Also got into a little of what it takes to get a graphic project published with their press. Very inspiring, actually. Even though webcomics are becoming more important as a way to get your work seen, it’s still good to have something paper such as a zine to be able to send, which they can hold in their hands.

They also like productions from a single artist, rather than the assembly-line or collaboration mode that many more mainstream comics are created with. Something slightly dismaying for yours truly was the idea that “funny” does not go along with graphic novels in North America. Still, I’m not going to change the sorts of things that I like to do, but do more of it, hoping that people like it.

I’m leaving the little notes I jotted here along with my sketches; samples of my horrible handwriting. That’s Peggy up above, and the rest are faces in the crowd. Look at all the arty people! It’s pleasant to draw them while they are paying attention to something. Thanks to ALEAQ for hosting the event.

Still some kind of work by Yours Truly will be on offer. Above is the cover for Le Beau Pourri, a fanzine set up by my pals with the Montreal Comic Jam, said zine which will be on offer at the fair. The cover is designed and executed by Rick Gagnon.

Below is my contribution to the mag (outside of panels done in various jams over the months, which might pop up here and there). You’ll have to pick up the zine to see the whole story.

Rick Gagnon did the French translation and lettered the balloons. I could post the original English here, but what fun would that be?

[UPDATE: Check my rough for the story, which includes the translation: link]

Anyhow, I’ll be at Expozine on Sunday, Nov. 27. Probably put up more stuff then. Say hi if you see me there!

It took an effort, but I caught up with the Maurice Sendak “Exhibition” at the Jewish Public library. CBC radio on the weekend had told me about it. Unfortunately, the exhibition was 8 double-sided placards arranged in the lobby. Interesting information, but no original art, or even books to look at. The info was courtesy the Rosenbach Collection (I know the name, because Rosie the bookstore cat at S.W. Welch’s, the used bookstore I worked at in the 90s, was named after this famous collector). Too bad they didn’t send over a couple of things. Guess I’d have to go to Philadelphia to see that.

Had a slightly testy exchange with the man at the security desk when I asked permission to take a snap of the show. Apparently, you’re not allowed to photograph the JPL even from the street, but I don’t think they can enforce that. Anyhow, I’m a polite type, so no images.

I might, however (if I have time) do a little autobio comic about the trip over and the experience. I also had fun taking my bike onto the Montreal metro. All of these problems might be my fault, but interesting stories nonetheless. And someone said that I should do more autobiographic comics.

Next I pedalled over the mountain to the Kate Beaton launch at the Drawn & Quarterly store. This was already full to capacity at quarter to seven, and here’s the scene around seven o’clock:

THAT wasn’t going to happen, so I carried on and bought supper (ran into an old cartoonist buddy at the supermarket). Then to home.

I guess the moral is, you can’t always do what you want. Good bike ride, though.

My Cat Fight comic. Based on my Youtube video here

I don’t really know where this comic came from, because it grew out of the first panel, and I took it from there without knowing about characters, or a joke, only that I had to do a six panel story. Guess I was influenced by reading about R. Crumb’s “The Book of Genesis,” because I’m not a religious sort, or given to quoting the Bible. Still, I’m happy to have made a new comic.

I like children, but have seen a lot of complainers, and put-upon moms. This one wasn’t written as much as it sort of fell out of my subconscious. I’m uncomfortable about it (hence the title), but it’s just paint and paper.

Painting comics like this seems to take about as long as drawing them in ink for me. And next time I’ll use better paper, rather than just drawing in my sketchbook. That’s not a promise though. But I want to draw more comics, featuring whatever or whomever.

The creature at middle right was a plastic animal the service left to mark where an order of nacho chips should go. Got taken away before I finished, but I drew it, in time.

Here’s Rick working on this:

And here are Sirkowski and Kurt Beaulieu, just to prove there were other people there:

Here’s a bonus Rachel Maddow: