2012 in Review: Li Chen

Li Chen

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 

Getting the chance to self publish my webcomic as books through funding from Kickstarter was pretty amazing. It allowed me to work full time on my comics and the books for most of the year, and it made me realise that I really wanted to make art and comics as a career.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

 

I discovered Ryan Andrews work this year. He is a brilliant artist and has written some beautifully haunting comics. I love his style of artwork, it's very inspiring.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012? (i.e. movies, film, prose, ballet, opera, fine art, exhibitions, etc)

 

I've really enjoyed watching a Cartoon Network show called Adventure Time this year. It has a really surreal sense of humor that I try to reflect in my own comics. I also went to the Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo this year and found it hugely inspiring. I love their films and they definitely influence my comics and artwork.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

 

Not really. My comics are still drawn manually with pencil and scanned. Any colour in my comics is then applied digitally. I've just been practicing a lot, and I think that my work has improved throughout the year, which is good!

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 

Making more comics, making more art. Petting cats.

exocomics.com

2012 in Review: M. P. Fikaris

M. P. Fikaris

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
Starting up a little store room in my studio and printing up a new periodical DAILIES while pushing through my inhibitions of medium and painting some comics.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
There's a bunch, best to get look for DAILIES 3 in early 2013 to see some of them! Pre-order one with me in January.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Local theatre, dance, poetry, live music, graffitti, film, performance, art, happenings and all other things seen in Melbourne- we are spoilt!

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

My work is mostly about implementing changes I think...though I have almost finished my second longer formative comic story (oh I mean graphic novel) but the guys who asked to print it are no longer wanting to, so I think it will stay in the files with the other one from 11 years ago... or I may do something I have never really done much before and -  ask for help..
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

More web comics, killer bees, and an event every month at Silent Army store room at 110 franklin street Melbourne city. Hope to see u there!

 http://fikarisart.tumblr.com/

http://www.silentarmy.org/

2012 in Review: J. Marc Schmidt

J. Marc Schmidt

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

This year three of my books were released within a few months of each other between June-August, in three countries, so I was very busy. For a few months there I was working on all three at the same time! I translated my first long comic, Egg Story, into Esperanto with the help of several other proofreaders and it was published as Rakonto de Ovoj in Japan. It's actually doing really well! Next was a collection of my short comics, titled All You Bastards Can Go Jump Off a Bridge!, published by Milk Shadow Books in Melbourne. I went to Melbourne for the launch; it was enjoyable. Last was my first ever textbook/comic book, Test Your English, a collection of comics and cartoons was published in South Korea for the ESL market. It contains all-new material which I drew this year. I think it's really good and different, I want to do more of that kind of thing. So this year had old and new, looking forward and looking back.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

'Iron' Mike Grell, whom I discovered just last week! I knew of him but had never read his work. I discovered Sable, an action comic by Mike Grell published by First Comics in the 1980s. It's amazing - characters, plotting, scenarios etc. Also excellent is his Starslayer: Legend of the Jolly Roger. The artists and writers who continued both books are also good, and I am getting the impression from these and other First Comics that that publisher had very tight editing, resulting good or better storytelling.  Yaroslav Horak, who drew James Bond comics in the 70s-80s. Excellent, unique, dynamic style, makes the Bond character really interesting. He lived in Sydney for a while and may still do.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I saw good exhibitions of Escher, Breughel, and Dutch masters (Vermeer, etc.). I read a lot of prose but the some that stood out were Time-Life's 1960s series on world history titled Great Ages of Man. Picked up almost the full series for $10 at the library. 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis. I found it on the side of the road during kerbside cleanup, I kid you not. What a terrific book. (As someone who sells books for a living, I should probably set a better example and buy retail more often!) Richard Roberts' Collier Quick & Easy Guide to Chess is both highly entertaining and informative. What a cheerful, funny and smart guy he is. I entered an art contest, teaching myself how to do acrylics in a day, then submitting two portraits. They turned out pretty well, but did not win. Was highly fun and rewarding anyway.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I've moved away from using computers, because I find it more satisfying to work that way, though I still have to use them a lot! I drew a lot of Test Your English on blank postcards; that way it's easy to do in trains, cafes etc. I made some comics from pet rocks that I made from river pebbles, dolls' eyes and fake eyelashes, then photographing them. That was very fun!

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

More of everything! We are living in a world of abundance, there is so much that is new to try. For example I want to get a motorbike, try surfing, get a cat or a dog, go somewhere completely new to me. I am looking forward to my next comics project, too!

http://redroom.com/member/j-marc-schmidt

2012 in Review: Christopher Downes

Christopher Downes

 
What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
  
I went to the Australian Cartoonists Association's Stanley Awards weekend for the very first time. I had to crowd fund in order to get there, but it was really fun. I got to meet a lot of heroes of mine and they turned out to be genuinely nice people.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
I really enjoyed Pat Grant's BLUE. I love to slip into his world - partly because I'm in love with his art, but also because his characters do things that (as a teenager) I would have never dared to do. They steal, they cuss and they wag from school.  I didn't have the guts to do any of that stuff in high school. Speaking of high school, I also read Derf Backderf's MY FRIEND DAHMER. I read it in an hour. It was that good.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I've got a 1 year old daughter. She's fantastic. I'm still in awe of watching the becoming of a little person - how she changes and learns. It's like an ultracool version of Pokemon! I've also gotten into Peppa Pig. It took me a while to warm to it, but now I look forward to it coming on. That and Shaun the Sheep. Wow, I'm really sounding like a new parent aren't I? GAME OF THRONES! I liked Game of Thrones a lot! I especially liked the episode where they all went to the dinosaur park and went down the dinosaur slide with Grampy Rabbit. That happened in Game of Thrones, right?

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I procrastinate a hell of a lot less! That's one thing having a kid will teach you.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I think there's a movie I'm looking forward to. I remember seeing the date on the end of a pretty riveting trailer (and yet not riveting enough for me to remember the name or even the subject matter of the movie) and I thought, "Well, the world better not bloody end, cause I'd really like to see that."

http://sirwdchosen.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Matthew Hoddy and Caitlin Major

 Matthew Hoddy and Caitlin Major

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Matthew: The highlight for me was going to all the conventions. Just getting out there, meeting everyone. Both fans and other creators. It helped me feel like this is definitely the right path I should be taking. Especially after some of our more successful outings. Was some real positive reinforcement.

Biggest highlight though was the Brisbane Supanova in November. Our first con was a year before at the Brisnova, in Nov 2011. We knew absolutely NOTHING about cons and had two issues of Space Pyrates to show off. Our wall was pretty much bare (with the exception of our banner and a couple of prints). We were offering cosplay commissions for just $10 and made absolutely no money from the weekend. BUT, we had the greatest time. Everything about it just felt right. Each subsequent convention we attended we learnt something new and put it to practice for the next con. So, to do a whole years worth of cons and come back home with all that knowledge? It felt like everything came full circle.

We've made a bunch of great new friends and discovered things I didn't even think could exist in Australia. Plus, added extra bonus? We found that Brisbane actually has a thriving comics community. Who'd have thought it, right?
 
Caitlin: I guess the biggest highlight of 2012 is the number of people that are reading Space Pyrates, whether online or in print. We've had a lot of positive feedback from our readers and the general public and it seems the amount of readers has increased tenfold since we started out in  Jan 2011. It's the best feeling in the world when someone recognises us at conventions and has read the comic online and really liked it. It feels like I'm finally becoming a real comic book artist!

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

Matthew: I discovered Atomic Robo this year. By Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegna. Both are from the US. The tone, writing and artwork just speak to me. Burned through all 6 published trades and have been buying the single issues of 'The Flying She Devils' as they're released. I've never really been into buying the singles and usually just buy the collected editions if they look interesting. But this series? Man, it has got it claws into me something fierce.

I mean, one of the villains is a time travelling dinosaur scientist that uses sub machine guns and can talk. Plus, it's owner created. Which is exactly the sort of thing we'd like to do. So I look to creators like that for inspiration. Overseas and at home.

 
Caitlin: I've been seeking out other female comic artists this year and I've really been enjoying Hope Larson's comics. She's got a great art style and a real knack for storytelling, and I love a character driven story as much as the next person! I've also been reading Jane Mai's autobiographical comics online (I'm still waiting patiently for my copy of her printed comic to arrive in the mail) they're really cute and funny.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Matthew: Something non-comic related? Oh man... I don't know... Feels like I've been neck deep in comics this whole year and can't remember anything else! Paranorman was a great stop-motion film from the studio 'Laika'. We do a bit of animation ourselves, and that movie in particular I appreciated a great deal. Dredd was really cool. LOOPER, oh man, that was a great sci-fi film despite it's plot holes (albeit time-travel related).

Did see Bill Bailey live. That was a hell of a lot of fun too!

Caitlin: I've been enjoying Gravity Falls a lot lately. It's like the new Adventure Time! Cute and funny and awesome and I absolutely love the art direction. It's probably the best thing to come out of Disney for a long time.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Matthew: The whole process of making Space Pyrates has been about learning. It's taken two years to get the this point and we're not even done! While I could draw before, albeit crudely compared to now, just pushing my artwork has been the biggest change. Thinking about it more critically and looking at what I could do differently to make thing better. Streamlining the whole process on my end anyway, from thumbnail sketches to finished & inked page. I've been watching a bunch of artists and trying to learn their tricks. Still need to learn a whole lot more though!
 
Caitlin: I wouldn't say significant changes, but I'm constantly trying to improve my work and I am always inspired by other artists to try different styles or techniques. Space Pyrates was intended as a learning exercise, to experience creating a comic and get my head around the production process and best practises.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Matthew: Finishing this story arc of SP and having it printed. Then? Touring around to all cities for conventions to promote it. Looking at relocating from Brisbane at some point too. Depending on work. Also looking forward to starting something new comic-related and promoting the hell out of that. Big plans!

Caitlin: We're releasing the collected edition of Space Pyrates next year so that's very exciting, I can't wait to have that tome in my hands! We've got a lot of conventions planned to promote the book and it's always fun going around and talking to people about comics. I'm also starting to work on a solo comic project, which is slightly different in tone and style to Space Pyrates, so looking forward to that too!

http://spacepyrates.com/

2012 in review: Cory Mathis

Cory Mathis

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Finishing another mini-comic and getting up to the Armageddon Expo in Auckland to sell it. Earlier this year I did a week long comics class with Dylan Horrocks. I got heaps from it and was great to meet him.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

Some local talent - Karl Wills' Princess Seppuku and James Davidson's, Moa. I get totally amped when I discover great stuff being made locally. From overseas, James Stokoe's Orc Stain graphic novel was a wonderful gift from a friend in the States and I'm getting awful excited about Mike Mignola getting back into drawing the next Hellboy arc. Also found the original Nausicaa paperbacks which have completely blown me away.

 

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012? 

I play a few video-games and I am finding it exciting the amount of original quirky games coming out by smaller independent studios. The PS3 game, Journey was a particular highlight for me.

 

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I've been getting into a fair bit of dip-pen inking and watercolours, just to balance out all the digital work. That and pushing myself to use more colour and keeping at the figure studies - yip, student life. I think the most important thing I've done is really slow down and take my time with things, both reading and creating. I have a habit of power-reading and churning out pictures then regretting it later.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Bringing it all together! That, and an illustration show early next year. I am working on a series of pieces that has nothing to do with dinosaurs!

www.corysaur.wordpress.com

2012 in Review: Dean Rankine

Dean Rankine

 

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Continuing to contribute the occasional comic to Simpsons and Futurama has been an absolute blast. Starting my own project, 'Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land' has been long overdue heaps of fun.

Also being a guest at both OzComic Con and Armageddon Expo were definite highlights. I was treated extremely well by the organizers and I got to me some really great people who've been very supportive of my work.

And just generally feeling pretty proud of the artwork I've made of the year.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

I had the pleasure of meeting Agnes Garbowska earlier in the year. And I have to say her work is pretty damn adorable - http://www.facebook.com/agnesgarbowska?fref=ts

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I've been lovin' Dr Who at the moment.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I bought one of those cintiq wacom tablets (either late last year or early this year. I can't quite remember). But I swear, that thing has changed my life. I do all my 'inking' on it now and just love it.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I've got about 8 more pages to go on 'Itty Bitty Bunnies' and I'm looking forward to exposing them to an unsuspecting public.

I'm really hoping to be doing more Simpsons stuff. And I'm working on some try-out pages for Spongebob. So wish me luck!

The official announcement hasn't been made yet but I'm coming over to New Zealand mid next year! Woo-Hoo!

http://deanrankine.deviantart.com/

2012 in Review: Mat Tait

Mat Tait

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
Just getting a few pages finished that I was happy with.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
Carl Barks via the great Fantagraphics reprints. It was nice to discover work that I've heard so much about lived up to the billing.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?
I've been enjoying poring over a massive collection of Piranesi's fantastically detailed and grandiose etchings (via a cheap 2 volume set from Taschen - well worth a buy).  Best movies I've seen this year: Drive, Kill List, and The Battle of Algiers.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
Mainly making sure that I draw every day, no matter how little, or how busy I've been with other stuff. It gets things done and avoids The Fear.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?
Getting some of the stuff I'm working on completed, maybe getting some stuff into print.

http://www.mattait.com/

http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/09/cartoon-alley-mike-brown-mat-tait/