Holy Comixtravaganza!

Early bird extra credit opportunity-- attend the lecture by David Lasky that kicks off Comixtravaganza tomorrow night at the Ballard branch of the Seattle Public Library. Take notes and write a single page for your own personal growth and education, but then hand it in to me to start your quarter with some extra school-style points.

Kick-Off with David Lasky
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7
Ballard Branch
5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089

Local cartoonist David Lasky will present a slide show and information about major cartoonists from the Pacific Northwest.

welcome!

(image: "This Flooded World" Sarajo Frieden)

This is your entry point into an ongoing blog dedicated to Seattle Pacific University Illustration courses taught by Gala Bent. Feel free to browse back in time and let me know if you have any great links for illustration or illustrators. I look forward to another semester of engaging work from talented students. Sis boom bah, rah rah rah!

how digital can you get?

Scott McCloud, comics-creator and author of the series beginning with "Understanding Comics," has been making web-based comics in the last few years. While not entirely up to date (last updated in 2004) he also has kept a list of links for others doing the same.
Here are a few more links:
How-to articles
An enormous database (=wide range of quality)
Notable webcomics (according to Wikipedia)

While the medium seems especially obvious for this day-n-age, rife with possibility, prepare yourself for a lot of sorting. Anyone can publish this way, which is a populist's dream, but it also means that you have to wade through a lot of mediocre work. Any other tips for good pools?

idea block help

Just ran across this blog post by illustrator Penelope Dullaghan (who is also the brains behind Illustration Friday) about what to do if you get blocked on an assignment. It's always so good to hear from artists who are busy at work. It's reassuring to realize that everyone gets stuck, but even more reassuring to get tips on how to overcome it. Read away.

Jillian Tamaki has a great post on a similar subject (scroll down to October 19th, and enjoy the rest of this prolific illustrator's work on the way as well).

From the field...

note: date change

Visiting illustrators *next* Friday (November 21st, 9:30-12:30):
Tom DesLongchamp and Jessica Phoenix DesLongchamp.

Check out Tom's and Jess's websites beforehand!

talitha shipman

Here's Talitha's website, and here is the site she mentioned for finding free textures...

And here's another interesting book that you can purchase as a resource.

Julie Heffernan

Self-Portrait as Broken Home, 2008, Oil on canvas, 67 x 57 inches

I just was reminded of the work of Julie Heffernan, who I heard speak as a visiting artist at Ball State (my undergrad alma mater) a few years ago. Her work is a beautiful and disturbing lucid dream. See an interview with her here, and more work here and here.