Some poorly taken photos from Tim Danko's Once launch party at Silent Army in Melbourne.
Showing posts with label Mandy Ord. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mandy Ord. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sunday Gem: Mandy Ord's City Tales
Mandy Ord's monthly comics at the Goethe -Institute City Tales blog.
Created by Mandy Ord ©Goethe -Institute
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Minicomics of the Month - Andrew Fulton Interview
Melbourne cartoonist and Smaller Comics Capo Andrew Fulton has launched Minicomic of the Month an initiative to get Australian comics into the hands of readers that might not otherwise be able to find them.
I asked Andrew a few questions about Minicomic of the Month and the folk involved.
If I recall rightly this is the second year of Minicomic of the Month (MOTM)? What was the initial response like? What has it been like this time?
Yeah this is the second time we are doing this - the
first one Pat Grant kicked off in 2009. You can still see his original
pitch here: http://www.patgrantart.
What inspired the use of a subscription format for getting your comics to prospective readers?
The first time sold out pretty much
overnight, so the response was great. I think this time it has been a
little slower, but still a great response, and spread a bit wider too -
we have a larger percentage of international subscribers this time
around, which is great.
Not sure that I can
answer directly to 'inspiration' as I have just stolen Pat's idea, but I
think the subscription is a great way to spread work around. It's a
pretty cheap up front cost from people, there's a sort of energy and
excitement that's different from buying something in a store. And people
probably get a mix of things from people whose work they know, and some
they are less familiar with. And just on a practical level it helps
keeps costs down - you know exactly how many you need to print, you
don't end up with the World's Saddest Cupboard, Overflowing With Unsold
Books.
Pat Grant and Ive Sorocuk
Mandy Ord and Megan Nairn
Are the mini-comics in a uniform format? Are the physical comics produced by each individual creator?
Initially I had thought to do a uniform
format, and kind of centralise the production and logistics of things to
make it a bit easier. But in the early stages of discussion we decided
that that took a little bit of the magic out of it. Part of the fun is
that someone is making this little minicomic with mostly their bare
hands, stapling it up and licking the stamps. There's a personal
connection there.
Is the subscription model for MOTM set at a limited run? Will each installment of Minicomic of the month be mailed from the individual creators?
Yeah, we are planning to limit the subscriptions. We
kind of agreed on 100 being the most we wanted to have to physically
put together and mail. I don't really want it to become a burden, but
also I also know it sold out super quick the first time around and a lot
of people missed out.
And yeah, each month the individual is responsible for getting it together and mailing it out -
although a large chunk of us are in Melbourne so we could get together
for a stapling party or two.
Australian Cartoonists in America: Caravan of Comics
Did you take anything from your experiences on the Caravan of Comics from the American indy/alt/minicomic scene that could be applied to Australia?
The Caravan was
probably the biggest inspiration for getting this thing rolling again,
and kind of sustain that momentum of getting Australian Comics out into
the world. It's kind of a downer but one of the big things I
"took" from the Caravan was a reminder of how far away we are from
everything. There's a much larger audience for our work that it's not
all that easy to connect with from here, Facebook and Twitter and all
that aside - $5 shipping on a $3 or whatever is kind of a hard sell. And
I guess even worse if someone wants one of my books and one of yours,
that's even worse maths. I think I may have lost my point in here. I
guess it's maybe that giving people a single point Get a bunch of things
from different people at once is a way to combat that? But
then, in some ways the answer to that is digital distribution- sensibly
we should be doing something like this as ebooks or whatever? Forget
about distance. But that comes back to what I was saying about magic.
It's the personal touch or whatever that makes a project like this work.
Some of the creators involved in MOTM have books
published through large above ground publishers, What do you think is the appeal in producing comics at a minicomic scale?
You'd probably have to ask someone like Pat or Mandy, but again I think it is
about the personal touch, about being able to do something quickly and
send it out directly to your audience. It's not something you have to
spend years toiling over, it's quick, dirty and fun.
Images © 2012 respective artists.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Dailies
The first edition of a new comics anthology, Dailies, was recently produced by the Silent Army publishing concern. Contained within the pages of the striking 32 page tabloid newspaper format are sixty artists from Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia producing their takes on 'newspaper strips'. Established cartoonist's such as Tim Molloy, Tim Danko, Mandy Ord, Glenn Smith, Ben Hutchings and more feature alongside emerging young talent. Cartoons are presented in a variety of forms from abstract art comics to riffs on popular newspaper strips as well as dense multi-panel narratives.
Excerpt of Mandy Ord's Desperate Times
Each release will feature different versions of contemporary views of the comic art strips presented in black and white, two colour, and full colour spreads.
I asked Dailies Editor M P Fikaris a few questions via email about his latest project.
What was the impetus to publish Dailies?
There were a few really. But mostly, as with all anthologies I have published, to show the fine talents of my friends. Also, with dailies it is a little bit of an idea on doing things quickly and without too much pre design and study as most comics tend to be). I asked the artists to submit something in a short time frame, hoping not only to get us doing something without too much thought but also to get something that could be repeated and continued like the daily comics of old newspaper cartoonists.
Excerpt from The Pox Girls Plan 9 From Outer Space
Some of the material in Dailies seems far removed from the concept of 'the comic art strip', some perhaps more in the realm of art comics, were there editorial guidelines for Dailies? Were you involved in editorial guidance with any of the contributors?
I asked a lot of friends, some with a more traditional comic strip making background and others who I thought were doing things that are very similar in nature to the comic strip. My mind is very open to comics in many mediums and I certainly don’t restrict a comic to squares on a page with characters talking.
Excerpt from Leigh Rigozzi
What was the print run of Dailies? Are you satisfied with the finished product?
The print run was 3000 copies. I am satisfied that it is complete, but there are certainly a lot of pips in it. It is the first time I have laid something out for newsprint and I have learnt a bunch of things. My budget was pretty low (but very gratefully it was covered by a fellow artist who wants to remain unknown) so I did it with a printer that was possibly less helpful than I could have hoped. The first issue is not about perfect layout for me but more about getting it complete and making it a progressive thing. The next issue is due in May this year and the following to come out in August, then again in November.
Were there any difficulties in assembling an anthology with this many creators spread out over the globe?
Yeah, a little frustrating – but that was the challenge.
Excerpt from 'Megg's Coven' by Simon Hanselman
Where is Dailies available from?
With this collection I plan to take it to the streets and sell it like a paper – but with a twist. Combining my background as an artist on the streets and doing work with local theatre companies I am very excited to try something a little different … to have unadvertised ‘happenings’ each month in a Melbourne laneway… each will be plastered with the papers contents on the walls(done the night before) and myself and another dressed to impress with paper in tow ‘performing’ a selling technique I hope will make the paper a more interesting and mysterious collection of stories and artworks for all sorts interested in ‘culture’.
I have plans to do this next week and will be recording it for future reference.
Currently I am also selling it on the silent army website - www.silentarmy.org. and successfully at various art fairs/stalls and markets. The plan with this has always been to glue into laneways of the city and distribute through other less traditional comic outlets. Flexing creative flare instead of bending to the needs of the stores.
All cartoons copyright 2012 their respective creators.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Walking to Japan Comic Launch
Melbourne Cartoonist Ben Hutchings launches his new comic, Walking To Japan, this Tuesday at the Toff in Town. Walking To Japan is the first of a few projects he has lined up with Milk Shadow Books. I had a quick chat via email with Ben about his new work.
What was the basis behind publishing Walking To Japan in Newspaper format?
We were thinking of alternative sizes. The mini size is too small. Normal American size is annoying, and A4 is ugly. Then I suddenly remembered newspaperclub.com and thought that would be a novelty, and great for the detailed panels. It's a 16 page story I think, and the whole comic is 20 pages. There are a few full page panels that I spent one or two days on.
What else do you have lined up with Milk Shadow Books?
What do you have prepared for the Walking To Japan launch party ?
Do you think you'll publish in newspaper format again?
Wow, I haven't even seen it yet. Gotta touch it and smell it and inspect the line quality close up. James sounded excited by it on email, and the process of making it was really fun. Ask me again after the launch!
Walking To Japan preview here.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Drawn From Life
With more than a dozen events involving cartoonists in the Melbourne Writers Festival this year the expanding presence of Cartoonists has seen the production of a cartoon newspaper featuring 27 local and international cartoonists. Oslo Davis edited and produced the project and answered a few questions for me about Drawn From Life.
What was the print run of Drawn From Life?
35,000. We handed out 12,000 at 6 train stations on the morning of Friday the 26th of August, and the rest were handed out and picked up at the Melbourne Writers Festival at Fed Square and ACMI.
35,000. We handed out 12,000 at 6 train stations on the morning of Friday the 26th of August, and the rest were handed out and picked up at the Melbourne Writers Festival at Fed Square and ACMI.
Were there any difficulties in coordinating the twenty-seven cartoonists featured in Drawn From Life?
Not really, there were some people who were too busy to be involved, but mostly I got who I wanted and everyone got their work in on time. A couple struggled with the concept, and I left my own contribution to the last minute so felt under the pump a bit, but we all worked through it.
I really enjoyed working with everyone, especially the extremely talented Colombian Diego Patino who did the cover - that was a very important part to get right.
I really enjoyed working with everyone, especially the extremely talented Colombian Diego Patino who did the cover - that was a very important part to get right.
With the expanding presence of local and international cartoonists in the Melbourne Writers Festival program do you think Drawn From Life could become a regular fixture?
Many people have asked if this could become more regular, but I am not sure if I could be the one to continue it. Not that I haven't enjoyed it, mind, but I need to step away from it for a while. Also, it will depend on funding and sponsorship.
What was the response to the distribution of Drawn From Life on selected train routes in Melbourne?
Very good. People came to the stations looking for it. Most were surprised to get it (in many cases it was thrust into their hands so they didn't have a choice!). There was no one 'type' of person who took a copy: everyone from students to business men to old people to housewives (or at least people who were dressed like housewives, whatever housewives dress like ...) took a copy and read it.
How did you go about selecting contributors for Drawn From Life? and what was the lead in time?
I had the luxury of a lot of time to select the artists I wanted in Drawn From Life. I came up with a 'hit list' and then worked with Steve Grimwade and the staff at the Melbourne Writers Festival to refine the list and contact the artists. I was in the fortunate position of choosing people whose work I liked, and those whose work I wanted to see more of, hence the mixed-bag nature of it all. Obvious I have been a fan of Bruce Petty and Ron Tandberg for many years, but I was also keen to see them alongside some up-and-comings and little-knowns, like Rebecca Hayes and picnick.
Interview conducted via email September 2011
Drawn From Life Contributors
Drawn From Life Contributors
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Inherent Vice
The NGV Studio
From July 16th - Aug 14th, Eight Melbourne Cartoonists have recreated their studios in the NGV Studio for five weeks of intensive cartooning. Mandy Ord, Ben Hutchings, Sarah Howell, Michael Hawkins, Simon Hanselman, Michael P. Fikaris, Pat Grant and Rebecca Clements have all inhabited the NGV's Atrium for the last few weeks with an open studio space allowing visitors to come see them work and chat about their projects. Amongst the drawing tables and art supplies the artist's have personal libraries of inspiration, Individual displays of work in progress, and the large far wall is a collage of pages of comics, paraphernalia, gig and exhibition posters and work from other Melbourne cartoonists.
Simon Hanselman
Simon Hanselman's Megg Mogg & Owl
Simon Hanselman's Casper
The NGV gallery space was created to engage with artists that would not normally have involvement with a large metropolitan gallery. Curated by Beckett Rozentals, Inherent Vice is the second residency since the creation of the studio.
Pillar behind Ben Hutching's drawing table
Pat Grant
Original pages of Pat Grant's Blue
Come Inside My Body by Rebecca Clement - Click on pic for more info and to get your own copy
Ben Hutching's Handball Heaven reaches to the Heavens
Heads
Ord's Space
Michael Hawkins
Ben Hutchings
Comics Wall
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