Yesterday was a day long in preparation for. For those not quite in the know, I have been collaborating with a group of other comic artists in Minneapolis (and some out of state) for a 3-volume project, "Muscles And Fights". Yesterday was the promotional events for vol. 2.
It started with a book signing at The Source in St. Paul, run by a staff who are enormously famous for encouraging local talent. We had three table set up for a group of about 8 artists who worked on the book. A few folks approached and asked for autographs, but most of the signing was going on between artists. When you've worked on a project such as this, you do get a bit of a juvenile "sign my yearbook" vibe going on. I've yet to run into an artist who WON'T sign anything, though. :)
Then followed the release party at Diamond's Coffee Cafe in Minneapolis. My wife and I got there almost an hour late due to a car accident clogging up the freeway. We were able to get there just in time for me to do the first of two demonstrations as party of the entertainment for the evening. I was able to have another black belt help me out to perform a Tae Kwon Do demonstration as well as a sword demonstration. It went well, and we got a lot of people approaching us afterwards to say how much they liked it.
It's a little weird being in the center of attention, but at the same time, kinda fun. I've done theater stage shows and I've had more of my share of public speaking, so I've gotten used to being in front of crowds before.
This small bit of excitement was desperately needed due to having to prepare for the end of another grading period, as well as the deprivation of sleep to finish the story for "Muscles And Fights vol. 3" in time for the deadline. In the end, it seems to be worth all the stress and aggravation that goes into it to hear people's compliments, as well as having folks seek you out to talk about your work.
I definitely need to do this more often.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
All Good Things
Well, this weekend marks my return back to the school grind. The holiday break, like many before it, never lasts as long as we all wish it would. Granted, we had more time off than other districts, but it still flies by way too fast.
As to the title, I'm not mourning the passing of break so much as the anticipation of a few exciting projects I'll hopefully be involved with. Before I do, I guess I have to explain a few things to thosde who aren't in the know.
I write/draw/self-publish a little mini-comic called "Sa-Bom Jim". I've been working on it for a few years now, and am currently working on issue #7 as well as a few other projects I am involved with through a group called "The International Cartoonist Conspiracy". Yes, it IS international, being that we have a few "cells" located in Canada, eh. The group keeps expanding, and we have splinter groups that have been created in St. Paul, Rice, San Francisco, and a lot of other places.
Essentially we are a group of comic artists who get together to draw, drink, network, and collaborate on a lot of different comics projects. I've been busy this last year with two anthologies (with the third volume deadline looming), a memorial anthology, and a spotlight story featured in a spin-off series for another local artist.
Now, after that long-winded explanation.....The deadline for the next volume of "Muscles And Fights", a truly collaborative effort of artists doing short stories of characters with muscles, or characters fighting each other, "Muscles And Fights 3: Muscliest And Fightiest" is coming due on the 15th, and I am scrambling to get my submission done for that. There's another show/project called "Lutefisk Sushi C"coming up this Spring, as well as two release parties for the last two volumes of "Muscles And Fights" where I'll be appearing as not only one of the artist/collaborators, but also to do some Tae Kwon Do demonstrations for those parties as well. A lot of folks liked the one I did in July, as well as a few others that did fire-spinning and staff demonstrations.
I am so fortunate to be a part of this group, when I was living in Mankato, there was nothing like this to be found anywhere..hell, there's hardly ANYTHING of ANY SORT to be found in that town! Much like Duluth, but that's another story.....
As to the title, I'm not mourning the passing of break so much as the anticipation of a few exciting projects I'll hopefully be involved with. Before I do, I guess I have to explain a few things to thosde who aren't in the know.
I write/draw/self-publish a little mini-comic called "Sa-Bom Jim". I've been working on it for a few years now, and am currently working on issue #7 as well as a few other projects I am involved with through a group called "The International Cartoonist Conspiracy". Yes, it IS international, being that we have a few "cells" located in Canada, eh. The group keeps expanding, and we have splinter groups that have been created in St. Paul, Rice, San Francisco, and a lot of other places.
Essentially we are a group of comic artists who get together to draw, drink, network, and collaborate on a lot of different comics projects. I've been busy this last year with two anthologies (with the third volume deadline looming), a memorial anthology, and a spotlight story featured in a spin-off series for another local artist.
Now, after that long-winded explanation.....The deadline for the next volume of "Muscles And Fights", a truly collaborative effort of artists doing short stories of characters with muscles, or characters fighting each other, "Muscles And Fights 3: Muscliest And Fightiest" is coming due on the 15th, and I am scrambling to get my submission done for that. There's another show/project called "Lutefisk Sushi C"coming up this Spring, as well as two release parties for the last two volumes of "Muscles And Fights" where I'll be appearing as not only one of the artist/collaborators, but also to do some Tae Kwon Do demonstrations for those parties as well. A lot of folks liked the one I did in July, as well as a few others that did fire-spinning and staff demonstrations.
I am so fortunate to be a part of this group, when I was living in Mankato, there was nothing like this to be found anywhere..hell, there's hardly ANYTHING of ANY SORT to be found in that town! Much like Duluth, but that's another story.....
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