I will have a new mini-comic to take to TCAF in May— “The Jake Stories,” which will eventually be collected in The Magic Hedge Issue #2, set to debut at CAKE in June!!!! I am so excited about both festivals!! Look at this cover illustration! I just drew it!
This is the introduction page to the story I’ve been writing/drawing at my residency with the Ragdale Foundation these past 2 weeks. I’m coming home in a couple days, but thought I’d post a little something to show that I’ve been working hard out here in the prairie (Lake Forest, IL). I’m a little dizzy from the joy of focusing on cartooning, singing (there’s a baby grand piano in my studio!), playing guitar, reading, and walking through the prairie with red-tailed hawks circling overhead. The story this drawing introduces will be one of the major comics in The Magic Hedge #2…It deals with something I’ve never been brave enough to write about before— my ballet-dancing past. I’m so excited & nervous to see which other stories end up in the book!
So, as he mentioned in his Chicago scene report for The Comics Journal, the magical Edie Fake and I have been working through Ivan Brunetti’s Cartooning syllabus and meeting up to gab about our “assignments.” Here’s a quick look at a few panels from the chapter 5 homework…I think Issue #2 of The Magic Hedge is going to devote a high page count to “childhood” related stories, and I’m considering including/expanding the story that includes these panels….Thoughts, concerns!? I leave for my 2 week artist’s residency at the Ragdale Foundation this week and I’m excited to get Issue #2 mapped out and well on its way to becoming a “thing…” Don’t worry, there will also be birds and queers and present-day Chicago, but I do think we’ll go back in time for the bulk of the book.
Alright! The insanity of Spring is upon us! I’m off to a 2-week artist’s residency at the Ragdale Foundation in a few days, to work on solidifying what will be Issue #2 of The Magic Hedge! It won’t be done in time for:
The Chicago Zine Fest March 9-10
Where I will be tabling (alongside BFF Rebecca Mir) on March 10, and reading something exciting at the Exhibitor Reading on March 9. BUT I will have copies of The Magic Hedge #1 as well as the usual many other books and comics! The zine fest was awesome last year, and I’m so jazzed to return!
BUT, I WILL debut The Magic Hedge Issue #2 at:
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival
May 5-6……AND I CAN”T WAIT!!
Coincidentally, my comics hero Alison Bechdel will be a featured guest this year— she’s debuting her new book at TCAF, too! I plan to dramatically faint at her feet after queuing up for an autographed copy.
Now, I’ve got to get back to packing for my residency and frantically finishing up my guest page for the upcoming 3rd issue of the anthology THREE, edited by the lovely Rob Kirby.
Thanks for reading, guys! I’m so excited to see all of you comics friends on what I’m going to name the “Spring Festival Circuit!”
Starting to draw some “Life Birds” for The Magic Hedge #2…A couple of snowy owls have been hanging out at Montrose Point (on Lake Michigan, Chicago, IL) since late November. They’re uncommon to rare this far south, so it’s a pretty special bird. I watched it for about 45 minutes yesterday, during which time it sat in the sand, occasionally rotating its head towards me, and then away again. Fascinating stuff!
Come visit me at the Small Press Expo this weekend in Washington, D.C.! I’ll have copies of The Magic Hedge ( which is Ignatz nominated!), my older books, and also a new little mini-comic I just printed, called 6 Days in a Month. I’m so excited to go to D.C. for the first time in years, and get to hang out at SPX for the first time ever!
