Month: August 2022

One Week Until Dinner…Hope To See You At Garibaldi’s Next Tuesday!

Just a quick reminder about our upcoming MSCA dinner meet-up for next month on Tuesday, September 6th– which is next week already!

We’ll be getting together again around 6 or 7’ish at the U of M Garibaldi’s Pizza at 3530 Walker Ave. – right across from Tiger Books Store and just off the Highland Strip (heads up- there may still be some road construction on Highland).

The dinner meetings are always free and open to the public, but you may want to bring a few extra bucks to order something off the menu to eat and/or drink.

Also, be sure to bring some of your latest work and something to draw with. Doodling does happen during these events, and it doesn’t matter what hand (or foot) you draw with.

We’ll be discussing the upcoming MSCA display in September at the Hernando Public Library, and our group art show at the Germantown Community Theatre next year. We will have some freebie swag for those who attend. If you have any news you’d like to share with the group please do!

Hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it this time be sure to mark the 1st Tuesday of each month on your calendar.

MSCA Members Featured On TV, On-Line, In Print…And In Person!

Hey, gang-

Lots to talk about- it’s been a busy week or two for several of our MSCA members…and one heck of a milestone for one!

Yep, happy 50th birthday to our president Kevin L. Williams!

Kevin celebrated half a century of being on this rock by hanging with friends last Saturday at First Congregational Church in the Cooper-Young neighborhood.

Muley The Mule And Friends performed for a room fool of party-goers and were joined by a special guest(s)…

Kevin’s friend Zach Haumesser and puppet pal Sebastian T. Frog flew in from Buffalo, NY – and boy were their wings tired..!

Okay, yeah- that joke was pretty bad…

Muley/Kevin and Sebastian/Zach performed with Missy Mule/Janet Wade, Buford Dog/Martheus Antone Wade, and Roy Duck/DaMarco Randle.

 

They did several numbers before we all had cake, and believe me there was plenty of cake, cookies, and other goodies to be had.

 

I really think Sebastian was just there for the cake…never get between a hungry frog with a fork and dessert!

 

 

Out in the hallway as we all made our way in there was a huge sketchbook for everyone to sign in, write birthday messages, and/or draw in which was a lot of fun to add to- and look at!

Before Nicki and I went by the birthday party, we had to stop by Marshall Arts (over near Sun Studio) to drop off my merch for the upcoming Monster Market in October.

The Monster Market is an on-line store which features original art, prints, and other monstrous merch. There will be an in-person open house on October 1st at Marshall Arts.

I’ll have some of my “Scared Silly” prints, canvases, buttons, stickers, magnets, and more available for sale there, as well as some of my hand drawn sketchcards. Dale Martin will also be a part of the artist line-up for this year’s market.

Speaking of sketchcards, I was on Episode 33 of the Penciled In Podcast, with hosts and sketchcard artists Lindsey and Ingrid. You can watch the episode on YouTube here, or listen on Spotify here.

We not only talked about drawing sketchcards, but also my beginnings in art, being a member of the MSCA and DeSoto Arts Council, art techniques, donating art to charities, and some of the times I’ve actually taught art classes like at the DAC and Little Art Hose Project.

My art has been featured on the promo cards for the upcoming Nosferatu Series Two trading card set being published by Attic Cards, RJF, Leg Day Cards and RRParksCARDS (4 publishers teaming up to produce a single card series). I’ll have sketchcards as part of that set, plus if anyone would like one I’ll have a few of the promo cards with me at the next MSCA dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Tuesday, September 6th. I’ll also have some MSCA sketchcard blanks and other swag with me, too- just ask if you make it out to join us.

A few months back Kevin Williams had been featured on TV5’s “Bluff City Life“. Last week, we had two more MSCA members featured on the show…

.

This time is was Martheus and Janet Wade from MAW Productions at  ToshigawaUniverse.com.

They were on with host Gina Neely to discuss their two creator owned comic series “Shinobi Ninja Princess” and “Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa“, working on comics as a family, and having their comics picked up by Scholastic. You can watch the interview online here.

And in other news- Roy Duck’s right-hand man DaMarco Randle was featured in an online interview with MemphisVoyager.com.

DaMarco discusses being inspired as a kid by watching art programs on TV, later earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Memphis College of Art, recently creating murals around Memphis, and the importance of always having a strong support system around him.

You can read the interview here and see more of his artwork at www.DamarcoArts.com.

If you have any member or industry news be sure to let me or Kevin know by emailing us at midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com.

Lin

ZineFest/Record Swap Coming Back To Crosstown Concourse In September

Shared by Dale Martin(our MSCA Zine editor/publisher), here’s an opportunity for many folks to get their first-ever table set-up, have a new outlet for your books, or return to the event!

Contact Courtney Fly (courtney@crosstownarts.org) for more information and/or to reserve your table for this awesome event at the Crosstown Concourse!

From Courtney…

Hi everyone!!!!

I hope you all have been great! I’m happy to announce that Zine Fest 7, in collaboration with the Memphis Listening Lab’s 2nd annual Record Swap, is a go this year! The event will take place again on the second floor of the Central Atrium. We do anticipate a good crowd this year as the Memphis Listening Lab will be open during this time and should also help generate some extra foot traffic!  Of course I wanted to go ahead and extend an invite to you all if you’d like to participate again this year! We can provide the table again! The times are 10-5 on Saturday, September 3rd and 10-3 on Sunday, September 4th. Please let me know if you’d like to be a zine vendor this year by Friday, August 19th so I can mark you down for a table! 

Looking forward to hearing from you! Please let me know if you have any questions! 

Courtney Fly
Event Coordinator
___________________________

C R O S S T O W N   A R T S
___________________________

1350 Concourse Ave. Ste 280
Memphis, TN 38104
www.crosstownconcourse.com

 

A “zine”  (/ziːn/ ZEEN; short for magazine or fanzine) is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a copy machine. Zines are the product of either a single person or of a very small group, and are popularly photocopied into physical prints for circulation. (Wikipedia)

The MSCA has published 6 issues of the “The Good, The Bad, And The Sketchy”, a  zine anthology with B/W interiors (5″ x 8.5″) which features art by various MSCA members. It was a fun group project that we hope to return to.

Some issues have not only had art created at MSCA dinner meet-ups, but the actual zine itself has been put together at them as well!

These zines can currently be purchased at MSCA events and at local Memphis comic shops– Comics & Collectibles, The Cellar, and 901 Comics. Be sure to stop by Dale’s  Zine Fest booth and check out his numerous zines and merch.

Crosstown Concourse
1350 Concourse Ave, Memphis, TN 38104 (off N. Watkins St. between Union and Jackson)

Crosstown Concourse is a mixed use development in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located in the heart of the Crosstown neighborhood, so named for the intersecting trolley tracks at Cleveland and Poplar that connected Memphis commuters to the neighborhood in 1927.

Crosstown Concourse itself is located at the intersection of North Parkway and N. Watkins Street and is the western terminus of the V&E Greenline.

The structure stands 14 stories tall and includes 65,000 square feet of retail, 630,000 square feet of commercial office space, 265 apartments, and a high school. Crosstown Concourse was once a Sears, Roebuck & Co. distribution center and retail store, which opened on August 27th, 1927, welcoming nearly 30,000 visitors on its first day.

“CONnnnnnnnnn…!!!” – News On Upcoming Cons And Events

Well, the San Diego Comic Con may be over, but that doesn’t mean that con season is over. Lots of events still to come…and a big one is returning to our own backyard!

That’s right- the Memphis Comic Expo (AKA “DonnieCon“) is back in the M-Town with over 70,000 square feet of expo space featuring comics, artists & writers, a cosplay contest, panels, vendors, voice actors, food, drinks, and more!

Agricenter International
(Entrance in Wing C)
7777 Walnut Grove Road (near Germantown Pkwy.)
Memphis, TN 38120
FREE PARKING on premise.

Expo Hours:
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
VIP Ticket holders will have early entry privileges at 9:30am both days.

Tickets are now on-sale, but VIP tickets have sold out.

2 DAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET

  • $45 if purchased by August 31, 2022
  • $50 if purchased on or after September 1, 2022

SATURDAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET

  • $35 if purchased by August 31, 2022
  • $40 if purchased on or after September 1, 2022

SUNDAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET 

  • $30 if purchased by August 31, 2022
  • $35 if purchased on or after September 1, 2022

CHILD TICKET – age 12 and under – FREE

  • Kids 12 and under get in FREE when supervised by a paying adult.  Unaccompanied children will not be admitted.

This year’s MCX has a HUGE guest list including SCOTT SNYDER, GREG CAPULLO, JIM STARLIN, MARK WAID, JAMES O’BARR, DENYS COWAN, MARC BERNARDIN, KEVIN NOWLAN, RON MARZ, DAN BRERETON, DEXTER VINES, and of course it wouldn’t be a DonnieCon without MIKE NORTON drawin’ dogs at the AggiCenter!!!

Plus there will be lots and lots of local creators including many of our own MSCA members. I’ll post a blog here featuring all of them soon- MEMPHIS REPRESENT!

Speaking of MSCA members, “Sour Grapes” creator Tim Jones will be a featured guest in the Artists Alley at Fan X up in Boston this coming weekend!

AUGUST 12-14 2022
BOSTON CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTER
www.fanexpohq.com/fanexpoboston

 

Also, here are a few other events that will be coming up in the Mid-South area…

Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention
November 18/19/20, 2022
Memphis Marriot East
5795 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38111

Coming up on November 5th at the Dyersburg Comic Con– Marvel/DC/Archie comic artist Steven Butler, local comic artist Larry Cathey, wrasslin’ historian Mark James, and special guest, Jackson “SHAZAM!” Bostwick. The show is at the The Lannom Center, 2000 Commerce Ave, Dyersburg TN. 38024. Admission is $10, and they offer a $15 early bird special. Find out more at dyersburgcomiccon.comor check out their Facebook page.


Monster Market is an online pop-up shop stocked with this year’s curated collection of maker-made goods open October 3rd – 31st!

The Monster Market 2022 Kick-Off Party will be Saturday October 1st at Marshall Arts Gallery in Memphis, TN (near Sun Studios). They will be selling a small selection of the inventory (not everything!) at this event, as a sort-of exclusive preview night for their Memphis customers.

Dale Martin and I (Lin Workman) will both have art for sale at the Monster Market.

MONSTER MARKET
memphismonstermarket.com
instagram.com/monster.market

DeSoto Arts Council– Hernando, MS.

Special Halloween edition of Midtown Con Sat Oct 29th at Black Lodge!

Vendors interested in selling comics, toys and records please DM them on Facebook for info.

Black Lodge
405 N. Cleveland Ave, Memphis, TN
www.blacklodgememphis.com/

Not Memphis, but within driving distance to Hunstville, AL– home of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Rocket City Toy and Comic Expo 2022
October 1st 10-5
Jaycee Building at John Hunt Park
2180 Airport Rd SW
Huntsville, AL 35801

Find toys from all your childhood favorites and comics from golden age to modern. There will be over 50 vendor booths with a great mix of toys and comics.
Admission is $5 and kids 12 and under are FREE.

For vendor information email: ROCKETCITYTOYCOMICEXPO@GMAIL.COM

Watertower Festival – Court Square in Hernando, MS (Free admission)

Arkansas Comic Con
September 10, 2022 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
September 11, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock, AR

Covington Comic Con
August 20-21, 2022
Covington Civic Center
100 W Washington Ave.
Covington, TN 38019

Elvis Week
August 11-17, 2022
Memphis, TN

Lots to see and do around Memphis and down in Tupelo, MS. Check out the Memphis Tourism  and Graceland/EPE websites for more info.

901 Comics presents Comic Book Trivia at Flip Side on the last Wednesday of each month.
Pool, Pinball & A Pint.. Located across the street from Crosstown Concourse, 16 pinball machines, one foosball table, dart board and pool table.

Flip Side
1349 Autumn Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
#SeeYouOnTheFlipSide

Oh, and don’t forget that this September we will have a month long MSCA 35th Anniversary display in the lobby of the Hernando Public Library in Hernando, MS.

They have one large 2-sided display case and another smaller single case on the opposite wall.

Nicki and I have done several lobby displays for them in the past including Batman ’66, Star Wars, Harry Potter, hockey, comics, and an animation one.

Kevin and I will also be doing a “Ghostbusters” display there in October.

Hope you get to check out these events. If you know of any others happening around our area, or if you’re a member and are going to be a guest and/or setting up at a show please shoot us the info on it and I’ll be happy to share it here, on our MSCA Facebook page, and Drawing Funny podcast.

Lin

MSCA News, Updates, Links, and August Dinner Meeting Notes

Hey, gang- it was great to be back at Garibaldi’s Pizza again for our monthly dinner meet-up.

We had a great turn out and look forward to doing it again next month on September, 6th.

Also- I’ve got a message from the MSCA’s president, Kevin L. Williams…

Tonight’s MSCA dinner gathering was a lot of fun, and thanks everyone for the great resource information! Good to see everyone there, and look forward to next month. Anytime you have good resources to share, please do.

Here are some notes from tonight: 

INTERNET 

First, another call for self-caricatures and bios, including all your social media and websites, for the Members Directory section of the website. You can send that to midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com.

Also, ANYTIME that you have something that is newsworthy (even if you don’t think it is), please share it for the website and MSCA page.  Art shows, publications, articles, performances – it’s all newsworthy! 

Second, please share the attached graphic and link to www.midsouthcartoonists.org on your own websites/social media.  Help us spread the word!

Dinner gatherings are always the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm (or a bit earlier if you’d like) at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave.

Third, if you haven’t been on yet contact Lin Workman about the MSCA’s “DrawingFunny” podcast! It’s a good time and you get to pimp your work to the world for free!

Interviews can be recorded over Zoom or in person. Email midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com or podcast@drawingfunny.com and he’ll get the message.

Fourth, Lin Workman secured display space at the Hernando Public Library to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association. They have a large 2-sided display case and a smaller single case on the other side of the lobby hall. Both have locks and can be viewed during library business hours. Display will be up for the whole month of September. The MSCA display will be a great way to spread the word about our group, its history, members’ work, and show some how-to draw examples.

Some members dropped off items at the last dinner meeting, but if you have any ‘historical’ MSCA stuff- napkin doodles, publications (personal projects/comics, magazine covers, MSCA newsletters, etc.), progression examples of your work (like our “Drawing Inspiration” art show) that you wouldn’t mind loaning us for the display, let me know when/where I can pick it up.

I’ve tried to keep up with a good collection of stuff in a box I consider our “archives” which I’ll dig into as well. 

RESOURCES 

Lastly, as per our discussions, I’ve attached “Wally Woods 22 Panels That Always Work” which is a great reference for drawing comics. 

A few books mentioned tonight: 

Comics and Sequential Art: Principles and Practices from the Legendary Cartoonist (Will Eisner Instructional Books) www.amazon.com/dp/0393331261/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_RQX9FCR3S55SVK52N0A4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 

Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storyteller www.amazon.com/dp/1933492953/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_3PHJ6F2SYP08R5Z8RVYK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 

Websites: 

Line-of-action.com is great reference for figure drawing.

Oh, and speaking of figure drawing, sign up for the Facebook group Memphis Life Drawing and go visit with some of our members and DRAW!!  (Just a little money due to pay for the models.)www.facebook.com/groups/1169039783154774/

Podcasts: 

www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/screen-tones-a-webcomic-podcast/id1591620548

www.youtube.com/user/tommyswass

www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off-panel-a-comics-interview-podcast/id1006337409

www.drawingfunny.com

Be Safe, Be Happy, Be Well!Your Pals,Kevin L. Williams& Muley the Mule

BTW- don’t forget you can pick up some MSCA and Drawing Funny free swag around town at Comics & Collectibles (East Memphis), The Cellar Table Top Games and Comics (Bartlett), and both locations of 901 Comics (Cooper/Young and Cordova). We always have some at our dinner meet-ups at Garibaldi’s, too.