Showing posts with label Smudge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smudge. Show all posts

Thursday, April 02, 2015

Meet a Local Cartoonist: Dennis Johnson and Dedsquad

by Mike Rhode
Scott McCloud and Dennis Johnson at Politics and Prose

Dennis Johnson, Jr. tabled at Smudge with his minicomics last month. I was dashing out to check the parking meter and missed a photograph (so all images are from his blog), but I did buy his minis before leaving. Priorities!

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I am a self-taught artist, and have tried to learn everything about making comics. Currently I am doing a little bit of everything. I am working on writing, drawing, inking, and coloring my own original comics such as “The Ded Squad”, and “The New Frontier.”  My stories tend to range from slice of life, to superheroes. I am very versatile, and have also learned other types of art forms such as acrylic painting, and digital art.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

When creating comics I use a combination of techniques but most of the time I start with traditional pencil and paper. I am a huge fan of using brush and ink because the lines come out livelier. Afterwards, I scan my artwork into Photoshop and digitally color it.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born December 6, 1988 in Maryland.

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I have lived most of my life in Maryland. Currently I reside in Gaithersburg.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Most of my education in cartooning came from reading and practicing. I never was able to go to school for it so I tried to learn from everything I could get my hands on.

Who are your influences?

My biggest influence has to be Scott McCloud. He was a crucial part of why I am committed to comics. Through reading many of his books, I realized that comics aren’t just great art or a great story, they are a form of communication. He made me realize that comics are more than just superheroes. After I read his books everything about comics and life just clicked. I also tend to draw inspiration from cartoons, manga, and animated movies.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

If I could roll back the hangs of time to improve my career I think I would have started to practice making comics earlier. Since I am a self-taught artist, a lot of my work has been trial and error. If I had taken more time to learn more about making comics when I was younger, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.
What work are you best-known for?

 At this point in my comic book life I’m not sure if anyone knows my work. I am working on self-publishing my comics, and networking at conventions to get myself out there. In the future I hope to be known for my comic “The Ded Squad.”

What work are you most proud of?

 Not too long ago I submitted a very personal piece to the 10th edition of the Magic Bullet newspaper. The one-page comic illustrated depression, stress and anxiety to the best of my ability. It was tough for me to write about the pains that I have experienced for years, but the comic turned out to be a great release for me. When it was completed I was so proud of the piece, and it felt like I reached out into the world. Although it did not get accepted, I have displayed the comic at various conventions. I decided that I wanted to connect to those struggling with the same disorder. I feel like this work could really make people think about mental illness and how they can help someone else or help themselves.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

My future plan is to cultivate and continue to grow the art community that I’m trying to build. I believe that comics have a great healing power within them just like any other creative art. It also wouldn’t hurt to get “The Ded Squad” underway!

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

When a creative block hits I normally just take a break. I try to switch up my routine to try to break the cycle. Often times I turn to other mediums when I have a block or I try to learn new tricks. I have learned that trying to push through a creative block normally only causes frustration.

What do you think will be the future of your field? 

I think that comics will continue to grow in popularity. Especially the indie comic scene because right now publishing is the easiest it’s ever been. It seems like artists and writers are popping up everywhere. It’s only a matter of time before indie publishers like Retrofit and Koyama Press begin to acquire more talent and begin to compete with companies like Darkhorse and Image. The world also seems to take to movie or show adaptations of comics like The Walking Dead. Other industries seems to be taking more comic book writers and illustrators seriously because they are seeing that their work is no different from the work of a novelist or fine artist.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

So far I have exhibited at DC Zinefest 2014, SPX2013, Awesome-Con 2014, UFB-Con and Smudge Expo 2015. I will be exhibiting at Awesome-Con 2015 and Creator-Con 2015.

What's your favorite thing about DC? Least favorite?

I love how diverse the DMV is. D.C. is an amazing place to get to know many different people. My least favorite thing about D.C. is driving. The traffic lights, speed cameras, and one-way roads drive me crazy.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?

I love to visit the Hirshorn and the National Art Gallery. It’s fun to see the contrast of styles and ideals.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

My favorite restaurant in the DMV is a little sushi place called Yuraku in Germantown. Everything always tastes exquisite!

Do you have a website or blog?

My website is dedsquad.tumblr.com or you can find me on facebook.com/dedinkart.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Diego Quintanilla

Diego Quintanilla was a new face at the first Smudge Expo last month. He’s a college student who is studying animation and just getting into creating minicomics. I bought his mini, and he kindly answered my usual questions via email.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I mostly sketch in my book, I draw for personal projects and all that.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I use pens. Nothing fancy, just rollerball pens that you can get anywhere. Sometimes I'll use Microns though.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born here in D.C. at some point in the 90s.

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

Well, I don't really live in the D.C. area, unless you count Wheaton as part of D.C. I don't know why you would, but if you do, then there you go. As for why, our family was living with this other Latino family in a cramped apartment space back in D.C. and when my mom got pregnant with my sister, that's when my parents decided to find a nice place in the suburbs.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I'm in school right now, learning all this on the go, trying to learn things in my spare time too of course.

Who are your influences?

I'm very influenced by films.  I like movies. Arthouse films like The Holy Mountain, Brand upon the Brain. Movies like Bad Boy Bubby and Irreversible. Like, I really love visuals, you know? Looking at interesting things and all that, images that provoke, something that makes you think what the symbolism behind it is. I also like animated films too; my favorite is The Triplets of Belleville.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I've just started this career, having done my first Smudge Expo just recently, so can't really say I'd change anything.

What work are you best-known for?

I got this comic called Tough and Stuff about a boy with two moms. Almost half of my class knows about it (a lot of them skipped class the day I gave out copies) along with whoever bought it at Smudge.

How can people order your comics, or do they have to buy them from you in person?

People can buy them from me in person, there is no other way.

What work are you most proud of?

I've made three comics, two are creation myths that I made up and one a "how a jaguar lost its spots" sort of stories. I also liked the mini comics I made. I've just started so my options are limited here. That isn't to say I don't like my work - I just think I can go no other way then up.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

In terms of comics, I've already got two ideas in my mind. One's about a horny lizard taking care of a fox and an episodic story about Nollywood. I'm real excited and I hope to put them on print real soon!

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I'm not sure, I guess my answer would be, "don't worry, it comes when it comes." That's my answer to a lot of things, it doesn't work with everyone, I know.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

Do you mean, what will happen to me in the comic book field, or what will happen to the comic book field? If it's the first, I'm not expecting anything grand. I imagine myself in my sixties still selling my comics. I think I'd be more focused on making animation, but I'm guessing I'm getting off topic.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

I'm expecting to go to Small Press Expo, just as a guy looking around and stuff, not an exhibitor.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

The museums! I love The Museum of African Art, The Museum of the American Indian, and The National Gallery of Art are some of my favorites. I remember watching a whole bunch of Jan Svankmajer films which was fantastic.

 Least favorite?

This is just a personal opinion; I'm not city folk, I enjoy the suburbs. I love D.C. but I wouldn't be in the epicenter of all the political and social hubbbub, it would be overwhelming.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

I don't usually eat out, but I do enjoy Los Chorros which is in my hometown, Wheaton. Try the quesdailla or pupusas! Those are what I always get so I can't vouch for what else is on the menu.

Do you have a website or blog?

I have a tumblr, Essential Avant-Garde Noise, where I post sketches, digital drawings, animations etc.  as Scrinkle: http://scrinkle.tumblr.com/

I also have a deviantart page where I post as DickQuint: http://dickquint.deviantart.com/ 

(updated 3/27/2014)

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Pictures from Smudge Expo

Santiago Casares

G.E. Gallas


Kevin Rechin




Matt Dembicki, Mike Rhode and Matt's original ComicsDC art
ComicsDC artwork over Mike's desk

Sunday, March 02, 2014

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Santiago Casares


What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I do mostly cartoony comics, if that makes sense. My style relates more to comic strips than to superhero comics.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
Every finished piece of art I do passes through the computer nowadays, and most of it is being done 100% digitally. That being said, I still draw in my sketchbook every day in pencil/pen and ink.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in Mexico City in the 70’s.

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?
I moved to Washington DC because of love (even though that might sound like a cliché!). We live in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I studied a BFA in Visual Arts in Mexico City and then a MFA in Illustration at the Academy of Art University is San Francisco.

Who are your influences?
My biggest influence as a cartoonist is Bill Watterson, who I consider the best there ever was. Besides him the people I admire and allow their work to influence me are very varied, from Mike Mignola to Scott Morse.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would’ve taken my drawing skills more seriously, and would’ve practiced more while growing up.

What work are you best-known for?
My best-known work is my webcomic, Chili’s World.

What work are you most proud of?
This is a hard question to answer, as it’s usually the last thing I’ve done! So, I guess it depends on what page I’ve just finished.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I am currently trying to break into the Picture Books market. Picture Books have the same element than comics in that it’s a medium that combines images and words to create a whole new world.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
When I don’t know what to do, I still have to do the work. Even though creativity might not be flowing as I wish it was, my webcomic still needs to be updated. So basically, I keep on working through the rut or writer’s block…

What do you think will be the future of your field?
It’s taken a while, but now comics are being recognized as a proper medium to tell stories (both fiction and non-fiction). I believe that just like with books, most comics are going to be delivered digitally, with print becoming more of a collectors market.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?
I’ve exhibited at SPX and at the DC Zine Fest. And this year I’m going to be a part of a new show that looks very promising called Smudge Expo, over at the Artisphere in Arlington, VA. Attending shows is important to get to know the people that like your stuff and to promote it to new crowds.

What's your favorite thing about DC?
I love that you can walk almost anywhere in the city without the need of a car. And having amazing museums for free isn’t too shabby either! :)

Least favorite?
The scorching summer.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?
I love taking visitors to the Kogod Courtyard inside the Portrait Gallery / American Art Museum (after visiting the museums, of course). It’s such a peaceful place!

How about a favorite local restaurant?
I really like Beau Thai here in Mount Pleasant, or maybe Red Rocks Pizza or El Chucho's in Columbia Heights… I guess it depends on what I'm craving.

Do you have a website or blog?
Yes, I do! You can check out Chili’s World at www.chilisworld.com and my portfolio at www.santiagocasares.com.

As he noted, Mr. Casares will be at Smudge this coming Saturday, March 8th.

Friday, February 28, 2014

Free Dust Elves Ashcan Comic





February 28, 2014
Free DUST ELVES Ashcan Comic
Gordon will be giving away ASHCAN copies of the next issue of THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THE DUSTELVES at the SMUDGE COMIC ARTS EXPO next Saturday, March 8th.
That’s right, he’ll be GIVING THEM AWAY FOR FREE. But before you get all excited and send that soda out your nose, you might want to see what an ASHCAN is.
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Tuesday, February 04, 2014

'Dear Mr. Watterson' at Artisphere on March 8

Artisphere is Rosslyn, Va., will show "Dear Mr. Watterson: An Exploration of Calvin & Hobbes" on March 8 at 7:30 p.m. ($8 tickets), plus a live music introduction by We Were Pirates (the D.C.-based musicians who composed/performed the film’s original score) and post-screening Q&A with Mike Boggs and Nevin Martell.

March 8 also is the day the inaugural Smudge Indie Comic Expo is being held at the Artisphere from noon to 6. So make it a special full day of comics!