Dearest Pencil Practitioners, Ink Slingers, Digital Doodlers, Wordsmiths, and All,
In this update: Sat-Art-Day, 40th Anniversary Details, Dinner Gathering Nov. 3, Con Cards Nov. 4, Ave Maria Home Dec. 2, Zine Deadlines, January Dinner Gathering, recurring news, October wrap-up, and schedule of upcoming events at the very bottom.
If you have news, please send it before the last Monday of the month (copy and paste text and pictures, please). Even promotional stuff – we want to celebrate your good news! Email to: midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com
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.
Proudly yours,
Kevin Williams,
MSCA President
DINNER GATHERING
On the first Tuesday, November 3, 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
CON CARDS BY GREG CRAVENS
NEW LEGO GAME!! A new game will be played with the Lego Deck. Come along!!
The following night, October 7, 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. Will you win the prize..?
SAT-ART-DAY – DRAWING DAY!
Saturday afternoon, November 14, 2026, from 1 – 4 pm, come draw at Crone Memorials (you can see where Kevin works during the day). There will be tables set up, but there is also a tall table in the back room for inkers and painters to work at if you like. It’s next door to Elmwood Cemetery in case someone wants to show up earlier in the day and go there for photography and (literally) still-life sketching. It’s a chance to set aside time to work on your art, practice with various pens or other art tools, do some writing, and finish some art.
Crone Memorials is at811 S Dudley Street, Memphis, TN 38104
https://maps.app.goo.gl/knDFDvLUrQacSJQj8
GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS: If you would like to host the MSCA Sat-art-day, let us know at midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com
INDIE SPOTLIGHT FEATURES JETTA: TALES OF THE TOSHIGAWA
Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 1pm, Indie Spotlight presents Comics & Conversation with Martheus and Janet Wade of MAW Productions, hosted by Jess Hurth, and featuring cast members and a viewing of both Episodes 1 and 2 of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa. Happening at Haven Haus, 487 Broad Ave, Memphis, TN https://maps.app.goo.gl/sDbaEeHy8FLZcG3M8
Team Toshigawa will also be set up at the Memphis Japan Festival at the Memphis Botanic Gardens on November 1st.
OUTREACH – AVE MARIA HOME VISIT
We’ve been invited back on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, from 3 – 5 pm. Lin Workman is coming, who else? I know the time is odd, but it’s just enough time before they go to dinner. LET ME KNOW if you can come, please. Would like to have a few of us go, and they love to have us there.
Ave Maria is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
After, we can go to dinner at Pop’s Comfort Kitchen at https://maps.app.goo.gl/azBZgEoAe7QG5Qa96
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:
November 20th
December 4th
STAGE & SKETCH at THE DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
The next sketch event is November 12, 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.
Nov. 12, & Dec. 10, 2026.
MSCA 40th Anniversary!!
Special thanks to Katie Jones, our 40th Anniversary will be hosted at Nae Nae’s Comics at Abandoned Antiques!
Member Art Show
We want something you created over the past 40 years (something from your childhood or something original in your adulthood), and something new (2026/2027). Yes, you can sell the art. We get an entire wall to show the art which will run from our anniversary, March 22, 2027 through Free Comic Book Day.
Art must be due by the March Dinner Gathering on March 2, 2027, art show rules are below. Installation will be on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 2pm.
Just add 10% to your art prices for Nae Nae’s commission!
Artists’ Reception & Pop-up Shop
Working date: April 3, 2027. We will have a pop-up shop during the day for sales. That evening, The Potter’s Cup coffee shop will remain open for the artists’ reception for drink and food sales.
Nae Nae’s Comics at Abandoned Antiques, 8323 US-51, Millington, TN 38053 https://maps.app.goo.gl/KCQ7FW6ovXXL8WW4A
MSCA ART SHOW RULES
RULE ONE: HAVE FUN! You can be as funny or literal with the submissions as you like. It’s a mixed audience, so we want to stay away from far-leaning politics (stay centered) and while innuendo is acceptable keep in mind that kids will be there, too.
Let me know if you are interested in participating and how many pieces you wish to submit. All sizes are welcome.
Your art can be pencil and/or ink on paper, it can be a fine-art piece; it can be textiles, sculpture, photography, mixed media, trash-to-art – there are a gazillion ways to use art, and we’re always excited to see what people create! ANYTHING A.I. GENERATED WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
MONEY
Add 10% to your usual art price for Nae Nae’s Comics’ commission.
There will be a $5/piece hanging fee, so charge for your art accordingly. This is to offset expenses such as postcards and posters for advertising purposes. If you have questions about this, please let me know.
ART FRAMING & NAMING
Art MUST BE turned in by the dinner gathering just before the event – we’ve all got time to get some art created! Out of town? No problem, you can have the art shipped to us to display (you’ll also have to ship it back, btw.)
Art MUST be ready to hang (wired on back or some other way). If it is not, and cannot be hung, we will not hang the art.
The art does NOT have to be professionally framed, but DOES have to “look like it.” For unframed canvas, please use gallery-wrapped canvas and don’t forget to paint the sides of the canvas as well. (Art not properly framed for hanging will be rejected or hung toward the back of the gallery.)
Artists MUST submit their note listing:
-TitleS
-Media used
-Price or NFS (Not for Sale)
-Artist Name
-Ways to contact the artist
(Please write clearly or type the information. If we don’t receive this from you, your art may not be tagged with your details.)
COMMUNICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
If you haven’t already, artists MUST send a caricature and bio, including your website and/or social media, to be displayed.
Prior to the art show, the art show promotional art and a copy/paste paragraph will be sent to all participants so you can share on social media and with your personal email lists.
THE RECEPTION/PARTY
The members whose art is on display will be asked to bring along refreshments for the art show reception (there will be a sign-up form for this). These are always fun times to visit with one another, but also to network with attendees, share information about you with strangers, and promote, promote, promote yourself in person!
THE DISCLAIMER
Artists agreeing to participate in art shows will not hold the MSCA or the location liable or responsible for the artwork submitted.
If you have not participated in an art show before, we’re all here to help. Ask questions!
The First Regional Library in Hernando, MS has said they would love for us to do another display in their lobby to celebrate our 40th anniversary- “stay tooned” for more info on that.
CONTINUING NEWS:
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE SKETCHY: MSCA ZINE 2027 Issues
2027 represents our 40th anniversary, and part of that will be the next publication of the GBS with release in March 2027. So the deadline will be the January 2027 Dinner Gathering. Lin Workman will be the editor of this zine. We’re looking to publish MSCA history, but also want your earliest work since 1987.
The second issue will be a dinosaur theme edited by Eric McMeans who is the perfect editor for such a thing (Raptor Boy comics anyone?)! This is slated to be released in September 2027 with a deadline of June 2027.
Now is the time to start reserving your pages! $3/page to play gets you one full issue per page, $1 per zine after that. The template is attached for you.
THE COMIC STUDIO BY MARTHEUS WADE
There are cartooning classes being led by Martheus Wade for ages 10 – 15 years old. The class meets once per week for about an hour, and is a live video meeting. Classes are $14 per class, and if you don’t have a young’un to send but want to sponsor a young’un you know, you can. Sign up at: https://outschool.com/classes/the-comic-studio-fBdxAN77?srsltid=AU7gw4UhECRMP6jAbTmwMah_Kp1JZILdAcP9FO63L9zKaY3NDbCdyJYM
ALPHA OMEGA VETERANS CENTER
Katie Jones connected us to the Alpha Omega Veterans Center, and they are looking for comics – original publications by us, old copies of comic books and graphic novels – and if you have any you can donate, please bring this to the next dinner meeting and give to Kevin.
FREE LITTLE ART GALLERY – HERNANDO, MS
This is going to be an on-going request as an association whose primary goal is To Promote Cartoon as Art, we have an opportunity to probably anonymously inspire someone to create!
So, what exactly is a Free Little Art Gallery..? A Free Little Art Gallery (“FLAG” for short) is like a Little Free Library, but for tiny artworks!
Lin Workman recently dropped off some Halloween goodies, and is organizing another drop off at the Hippie FLAG in Hernando (2595 McIngvale Rd Ste 101, Hernando, MS 38632). We’ll have materials at our next Sat-Art-Day and at our monthly dinner gathering in October at Garibaldi’s for anyone who’d like to participate.
In addition to the FLAG at Mrs. Hippies, Lin noticed a Little Free Libraries outside of Lost Pizza Co. in Hernando, too- and it’s next door to the DeSoto Arts Council off Courthouse Square and Hwy. 51, as well as one in Conger Park. He plans on dropping off some books to them the next time he and Nicki visit.
To find out more about where to find one– or how start one in your area check out the Free Little Art Galleries website at https://freelittleartgalleries.art/.
You can also check out the blog post on our MSCA website:
http://www.midsouthcartoonists.org/2026/09/01/peace_love_art_we-need-your-art/
OCTOBER EVENT RECAP
Memphis Ghostbusters at the Memphis Botanic Gardens found Lin Workman and Kevin Williams heading up the team including Chris Royer and Matthew Wooten. We ran into a lot of junior Ghostbusters, including our buddy Bash!
After meeting and greeting a lot of families and kids, we did some photo shoots around the Botanic Gardens.
Another Monster Market has come and gone…
This Halloween pop-up shop was open from October 16th – 25th at the Medicine Factory in downtown Memphis.
Happy 15th wedding anniversary to Lin and Nicki Workman who got married in Conger Park on October 29, 2011.
On November 2nd (All Souls Day), Lin celebrates his 60th birthday!
The two latest episodes of the “Drawing Funny” podcast. You can listen on Spotify, Apple, or most other podcasting platforms.
CALENDAR
Please let me know about any 2027 events that I need to get listed into the calendar:
November 3, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
November 14, 2026 – 1-4pm SAT-ART-DAY! 811 S Dudley St, Memphis, TN 38104 https://maps.app.goo.gl/GCq3KsdnN46q1YMB7
November 21-22, 2026 – Memphis Monster Con at Agricenter International.
December 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN ART SWAP NIGHT!! (See above.)
January 5, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
February 2, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
March 2, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
March 22, 2027 – MSCA 40th Anniversary!! Our 40th Anniversary will be hosted at Nae Nae’s Comics at Abandoned Antiques!
April 6, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
May 4, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
June 1, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
July 6, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
August 3, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
September 7, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
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
October 5, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
November 2, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
December 7, 2027 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN https://share.google/VjktFYLpxRoDNv1Ea
