Hey, howdy, hey, cartooning artists, writers, and lovers!
We’ve had some fun things going in May and June as a group and individually, and I have collected more information throughout the email. If you have news, please send a paragraph, link(s) and pictures to me before the last Monday of the month.
Always keep up with the MSCA News at www.midsouthcartoonists.org and by following us at https://www.facebook.com/midsouthcartoonists/. Always fun to catch up via the podcast at www.drawingfunny.com for more updates and information.
See you then,
Your Favorite Nerd,
Kevin Williams, MSCA Prez.
DINNER GATHERING
On the first Tuesday, July 7, 2026, we will gather at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, by the University of Memphis, from 6 – 8 pm. Some of us show up a little earlier sometimes if you want to come early.
Bring art to show and money to buy food, and we look forward to seeing you again!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kRSvDH7tB7hbzJF9
DINNER GATHERING JAM PIECE
Dale Martin has been creatively reinforcing our art and design ideas by bringing out sheets to create a Jam Piece, each with a particular theme. July’s dinner gathering will be a completion of the Dinosaurs jam, and likely starting a new one.
July Dinner Gathering Plus:
REFERENCE ART COLLECTION SHOW-AND-TELL
For the July Dinner Gathering, Dale Martin had a great idea: bring along your model sheets and reference material to show and tell with other folks. This can be your personal work (we can look, but not photograph!), or that which you’ve collected from other productions (which we can photograph). These are fun items to see: turn arounds, emotions, actions, costumes…
>Here’s a fun resource of these model sheets: https://archive.org/search?tab=all&query=model+sheets
CON CARDS BY GREG CRAVENS
The following night, July 8, 2026, you can hang with Greg Cravens and play some Con Cards at 6pm at 901 Games on Broad Ave, come hang and play with Greg Cravens’ Con Cards. Are there prizes? Sounds like it!
NOVEL BOOKSTORE JUNIOR DRAWING CLUB
Jamie Wells shares that The Junior Drawing Club is a free event for all ages (recommended for ages 5-15) that takes place one Friday a month from 4–6 PM in the Event Space at Novel Bookstore.
There are always many tables full of blank paper, coloring sheets, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils, and other arts and crafts equipment. Snacks, water, and music will also be provided. For those who need it, there is always an optional prompt. Everyone can draw whatever they want.
It’s not always the same Friday each month. Here is the schedule as set so far:
June 19th (prompt: draw a pet)
July 24th (prompt: draw your feelings)
August 7th (prompt: draw yourself)
September 11th (prompt: draw a word)
October TBD
November 20th
December 4th
ART SHOW INTEREST? MAY 2027 – Let me know!!
Katie has space during the Playhouse on the Square May 2027 presentation of Les Misérables, and has offered to make that available to the MSCA. Checking with you all first to see who is interested and available.
ART FOR JOBS – ADVANCE MEMPHIS ART SHOW
While not an MSCA event but supporting the arts:
Katie shares that the call for art is live now, and artists keep half the profits. https://www.advancememphis.org/afj
Art donation link: https://advancememphis.my.site.com/artDonation/s/
FEATURED CREATURES ART SHOW – Recap
Friday, June 5, 2026, was the reception of Lin Workman upstairs in 2nd Floor West gallery at Playhouse on the Square. Another artist, Angi Cooper, had their reception the same night/time in the downstairs gallery. You can find a recap of the event here on his art site:
http://www.linworkman.com/2026/06/featured-creatures-my-solo-monster-art-show-at-playhouse-on-the-square/
Lin shares:
My art show runs from June 6-August 2, 2026 and is in conjunction this month with Playhouse’s production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street“, June 12 – July 12, 2026. All art shows on display are free to attend during Playhouse’s normal business hours at 66 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104. Upstairs I have several scare-brushed Monsterpieces, some “Scared Silly” marker illustrations, and wood panel acrylic maker paintings on display and for sale. I’ve sold a few pieces already, and whatever doesn’t sell there I’ll have at the Memphis Monster Market in October, and the Memphis Monster Con in November, as well as some new pieces.
The location is: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU18HRs98bCsAQrb6
There are a few other art shows on display around the theater, including Angi Copper’s downstairs, and another horror themed one upstairs just around the corner from Lin’s show.
ADVANCED FIGURE DRAWING: HEADS AND FACIAL FEATURES
Dale Martin shares this event at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art happening June 25, 2026, from 5:30 – 7:30pm. It is a ticketed event, so check it out here:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/advanced-figure-drawing-heads-and-facial-f-tickets-224084
CROSSTOWN ARTS SUMMER EXHIBITION
Opening reception happens Friday, June 26, from 6 – 8 pm, including art by George Walker who created the snap logo for STAX! The show runs in the Crosstown Arts Gallery (Second Floor, East Atrium) until September 6, 2026.
https://crosstownconcourse.com/event/crosstown-arts-summer-exhibition-opening/
SALES OPPORTUNITY!
Jee Vahn Knight is CEO of the Baron Von Opperbean & the River of Time interactive experience happening at 101 Island Drive, Memphis, TN 38103 (in the former Mississippi River Museum), and hopes to create an inventory in their BVO Gift Shop of local comic art, plush, books, etc., which she plans to buy outright to display in their shop. Reach out to her at jee@bvoexp.com, and to see more about the program visit: BVO | Baron Von Opperbean and The River of Time | Memphis, TN
STAGE & SKETCH at THE DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
The next sketch event is July 9, 2026, from 6 – 8 pm. The location is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/DMR1XHZV4wAzuMCt8
Dale Martin shares: the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 6-8 pm in their education building (4339 Park Ave.). Past models have included wrestlers, belly dancers, and cosplayers. Organizer Shelda Edwards (@legendofshelda) keeps things fresh each time, though she did mention the wrestlers will be coming back soon…
July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, & Dec. 10, 2026.
“Drawing Funny” Episode 93
Show notes: In this 93rd episode of “Drawing Funny” features some info on Lin’s current “Featured Creatures” art show and a panel from the recent MSCA’s Comics Panel & Portfolio Review at A. Schwab’s on Beale Street.
Mid-South Cartoonists Association prez Kevin L. Williams, That Katie Jones, and This Lin Workman were all upstairs at Schwab’s for the portfolio review- the first one the MSCA has held since the mid-90s. I recorded our panel we did for our audience of one- or so.
You can hear that MSCA panel our three members did at A. Schwab in this episode.
“Drawing Funny” podcast hosted/produced by Lin Workman ©2025. “Drawing Funny” is intended for entertainment and educational purposes only.
You can listen on Spotify, Apple, or most other podcasting platforms.
Run time: 1hr 7min 34sec
Click HERE to listen on Spotify!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 7, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
August 4, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
September 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
October 3, 2026 – Nashville Comic Arts Festival https://nashcomicsfest.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/october-3-2026-save-the-date/
October 6, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
November 3, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
December 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
September 2027 – WKNO Art Show Exhibition, themed around “literacy,” including students from Katie Jones’ own class, and will happen in the gallery/lobby of WKNO https://maps.app.goo.gl/3YRSJy5v8e1qB3aZ8
Sincerely,
Mid-South Cartoonists Association
Formed in Memphis in 1987, the MSCA is comprised of cartooning professionals, amateurs, enthusiasts, and collectors celebrating and promoting cartoons as art.
www.midsouthcartoonists.org