ComiXology Release & Podcast

Page by Paige is now available thru comiXology!

 

Wow, the future has arrived!  I don't have an ipad or iphone or whatnot, so I can't wait to see how it looks.  Check out the digital version available for $10.

I'm thrilled to be featured on comiXology!  I've sung their praises before, particularly regarding Reilly Brown and Kurt Christenson's digital comic Power Play. (Plug! Plug!)  Eventually I'd love to create something specifically designed for a digital formal, but for now that goal is alas stuck simmering away on one of my back burners.

And this week I'm interviewed in their PODCAST!  

...listen here.

It's 15ish minutes long but Matt provides some topical markers. Warning: I've been spending an unhealthy amount of time alone in my studio so I embark on some random rambly tangents! I apologize in advance.

Currently Listening: Pulp...This is Hardcore

BCC/ Harvey Awards Recap

This year I didn't have a table, so instead I got to enjoy walking around for once. 

(Here's last year's BCC recap.) But hopefully next year I'll have a table again. Anyway...

This year was my first time attending the Harvey Awards!

I was nominated in five--yes FIVE--categories: 

Best Writer, Lettering, Inking, Original Graphic Novel, and Promising New Talent.  

I didn't win, but that's okay! (As if I could beat out people like Daredevil's Mark Waid for Best Writer. Pshaw. Seriously.) Just to gain recognition for a debut book like this is really more than I could have hoped for.  I'm not sure that I deserve such accolades, but I'll happily take it! This extra validation and exposure will only fuel my efforts as I strive to make my second book into something as inspiring and unique as the first one.

 

At the awards ceremony, I sat with the Abrams, Dark Horse and Hachette folks...

Oh, and Stan Lee was there! Sorry, this isn't the best photo...

I was thankful for the other artists from our Brooklyn community who kept me from freaking out whenever my awkward panic threatened to kick in: Reilly Brown, Greg Tumbarello, Seth Kushner, Joe Infurnari, Dean Haspiel, and Paul Pope. Thanks, guys!

 

Harvey Award Voting Reminder

Please vote for me in this year's Harvey Awards!
*Click here to vote*

I'm up for Best Writer, Lettering, Inking, Original Graphic Novel, and Promising New Talent. Final ballots are due by this Friday, August 17, 2012.  Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field.  

Since I'm a newbie I don't expect to get enough votes to win, but you never know! So I'd appreciate it if you can pass this along to other folks who you know will be voting. Thank you so much!

I'm DONE penciling "Will & Whit!"

Hooray!!

 

 Ugh, penciling is the most frustrating and challenging part of the whole book production process for me. It requires endless decision making, visualizing the sets and character's movements, getting the characters consistent, designing the locations, rearranging layouts, drawing all those pesky hands and noses, etc. The past few weeks in particular it was getting really hard for me to stay focused with this summer weather, so I am really thankful that this step of the process is DONE.

Last week I took all the penciled pages on a field trip to the Abrams offices over in Manhattan. Check out my book baby, all 182 pages of drawings! It's taken me 3 months of being a hermit in my studio 7 days a week to draw it all out.

 Here's my editor Maggie Lehrman and art director Chad Beckerman, as they scrutinize the book.  I asked them to "look concerned" for this photo, despite the fact that they didn't have many critiques. (Thankfully!) It's a bit scary drawing out a whole book without someone else seeing it.

And I thought I should share a few of the FINISHED penciled pages! My scanner doesn't pick up the blue pencil that well, so these are photos even though they're not the best quality. Shrug.

Here's Will in her room working at her desk, when her shadows first appear. Will ended up looking nothing like my sample drawings of her!

 

Here's Will surprising Reese on her birthday, with her best friends Noel and Autumn...

 

  

Here's Will meeting the kids who are putting on the arts carnival: Blake, Ava, and Desmond.

In some sections I had a lot of fun with the layouts. For instance, when they go mattress rafting I used only trees and water ripples to divide up the panels.

So what's the INKING gonna look like? Well, here's a process shot from one of the first pages I've started inking just this weekend. Very undone, but you can get the idea.

We'll see where things go! It'll take me 3 more months to complete inking, so come November I'll have some more fun show-and-tell. Stay tuned!

 Currently Reading: A Wrinkle in Time (graphic novel)...written by Madeleine L'Engle, adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson

Recap from San Diego Comic Con

I am finally back at my desk here in Brooklyn, what a whirlwind! Here's my SDCC recap...

Let's see...on Kids Day (Sunday) I did a signing at the Abrams Table. Everyone was so supportive!

I gave out my Paige inspired easter eggs to folks, and dropped some in the bags of people walking by. It included some of my Mermaid Parade glitter from a few weeks ago.

 I was up for an Eisner Award, which I didn't win. But honestly, I didn't care because I felt so honored to be there in the first place! I was definitely battling a Wayne's World style "I'm not worthy" complex.

 

Abrams had our own table! My publicist Mary Ann was a fabulous partner in crime for the evening.

There were many amazing presenters, but the geek in me was especially excited to see Battlestar Galactica actors Tricia Helfer and Michael Trucco!  (I've actually hosted a couple BSG themed events in the past...)

I finally got to meet some folks who I really admire, such as new Eisner winner for Best Artist/ Writer Craig Thompson! I mentioned his book latest book Habibi a few months back.

 And amazing female-empowering comic historian/ artist/ writer Trina Robbins!

And I crossed paths with some NY comic friends, such as Smile writer/artist Raina Telgemeier.

And fellow Jugs & Capes member Colleen AF Venable, who was also nominated for an Eisner Award! (For Best Publication for Kids) Here we're holding "Izzy," my fake Eisner award/ swiped coconut centerpiece.

 And I was excited to see my former studiomate Reilly Brown who had a table in Artist Alley.

And I must give a shout out to Adrienne Lombardo and the New York Jedis. Jedi photo bomb!

What about the convention itself? Well, I went to some great panels, a Tr!ckster workshop,gaped at many fabulous costumes, and had some zany adventures. I've posted ALL my pics on Flickr.

 My constant traveling companion Mr Duck came along, and he made many new friends.
To see all of Mr Duck's pics, click here!

It was a professional goal of mine to make it out to SDCC, so I am very thankful I was able to make it happen. I'm so lucky that I get to be a part of this community! Thank you everyone for your continued support, especially now that I'm delving back into "hermit mode" here in my studio. After seeing so many inspiring artists there, I am determined to make Will & Whit as amazing as possible!

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Currently Reading: Imagine by Jonah Lehrer

Will & Whit: In the Studio

I've been working the past four months on producing my second graphic novel Will & Whit, so I thought I'd share some pics from behind the scenes so far! 

Here is my messy studio, which is in the second bedroom of my apartment. Which means I can go DAYS without leaving the house!  I admit I've been a total eccentric hermit through this whole process, so my apologies to all folks I have not been able to hang out with while I've been spending all my time living under a rock.

The view from my studio window...

Rory is my constant companion (heh, companion) in the studio. He makes the isolation much more tolerable!  He's sneakily distracting ALL the time.

On my computer I have HUNDREDS of reference photos I've taken to use as reference for penciling out characters. These pics are mostly of my hands since hands give me so much trouble. HANDS.
 

I'm in the reference photos a lot as well. Sometimes wearing curlers! 

 

 Once I've finished polishing out all these penciled pages, I'll definitely post some samples. My new characters are so much fun to draw and I can't wait to share them!

Currently Listening:  We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions by Bruce Springstein

San Diego Comic Con: NEXT WEEK!

Next week I'm going to SAN DIEGO COMIC CON!

I am SUPER EXCITED for many reasons...

1. This will be my FIRST TIME going to this convention, which is the biggest one in the country! (There will be something like 130,000 people attending.) So if you are planning on going, please drop me a line.

2. I'm up for an EISNER AWARD for Best Lettering, and the ceremony will be held on Friday! Talk about feeling like a true comics professional! Award presenters include British talk show host/ comics author Jonathan Ross; author George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones); The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, etc, etc.

  

3. I'll be doing a BOOK SIGNING of Page by Paige at the ABRAMS TABLE on Sunday July 15th (Kids day) 11:30am - Noon. Here's a map! It's table #1216, amid the chaos. Please come by!

4.  My ARTNER Lauren Larken is coming down from Oakland, so I get to spend some quality time with her at the beach. And let's face it, I've been working 7 days a week over here in my studio. I can use some relaxation!

5. My favorite traveling companion Mr Duck is coming with me! He's been itching to hit the road again. I'm thinking of making him a costume. Suggestions?

Did I mention that I'm excited?!

Currently Reading: Steve Jobs....by Walter Isaacson