Category: Industry News

New “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode- Memphis Libraries Comic Con And MSCA Event News

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New “Drawing Funny” podcast episode is available for downloading/listening. You can find it on podcast platforms like Spotify or get it directly from the source by clicking here. ✏️🎧🎤

Nicki Workman interviewed comic creators Mike Norton (former MSCA member) and the legenarywriter John Ostrander at the innagural Memphis Public Libraries Comic Con on Saturday, May 6th (Free Comic Book Day)- plus I share some upcoming Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) event news.

Such as our upcoming May Drink-N-Draw this Wednesay...

…and our June Sat-Art-Day – both at 901 Comics East on Macon Road in Cordova.

We had a great time at the comic con at the library, and many nfolks stoppe by the MSCA table as well as the many MSCA members’ tables around the library con floor.

You can see lots of pics on our MSCA Facebook page.

 

Another upcoming MSCA event is…MSCA ART DAY IN MAY AT WFH!

Sunday, May 21, 2023, from Noon-4 our friends at the Woodruff Fontaine House Museum have invited the Mid-South Cartoonists Association to come draw at the museum. It’s a great time to practice drawing architecture, still-life, portraits, flowers, photography, and more, inside and out.
The museum is at 680 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38105
https://goo.gl/maps/Jr1TGEcyGLAmLY2v5
ABOUT WOODRUFF FONTAINE HOUSE MUSEUM
This Victorian era mansion was completed in 1871, has been through the Woodruff and Fontaine families, seen multiple wars and pandemics such as Yellow Fever, and once even served as the first version of the Memphis College of Art. After having been reconstructed by the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities it has become the beautiful place presented today!
You can find out more about the Woodruff Fontaine House Museum at
https://www.woodruff-fontaine.org/
ENTRY FEE AND ART SALES
Free entry for MSCA members this day only (donations to the museum are welcome). When you arrive, just let them know you’re with the MSCA. Art created this day can be sold as prints (or originals) by the house on a consignment (25% to the museum), so we hope to offer the museum a few of our pieces that they can sell – they are a 501c3 for tax-minded people.
{General admission is typically $16 (membership for the year is only $30).} The Woodruff Fontaine House has been good friends to the Mid-South Cartoonists Association (and I’ve served on the board and am a long-time member of the museum). I think you’ll enjoy all the art opportunities you can find there in its many beautiful details!
HOUSEKEEPING RULES
Keep in mind, the furniture, flooring, everything about the property is vintage Victorian, so we want to be sure we’re super-duper respective of the property and keep it as clean as possible. We can’t sit on the furniture, but we can sit on the floors (small stools or camping chairs are OK). Also, because it is a living museum with regular operating hours, be sure to position yourself in areas that tourists can easily navigate the halls and rooms of the museum.
Indoors, feel free to bring your sketch books and sketch pads, pencils, colored pencils, ink pens/brush pens, Copics, markers, cameras, tablets, and erasers (keep the eraser dust cleaned up, please). Inside, we don’t want to use inks, brushes, paints – nothing that can stain, spill, or splatter.
Outside, feel free to set up your easels, canvases, paints, ink and brushes, pastels, but if you use paints/watercolor bring along a drop cloth/tarp to work on and be cautious of your surroundings.
Don’t forget- our next dinner meetin will be the first Tuesday next month, June 6th from 6-8pm, but we are skipping July because of July 4th/Independence Day. We’ll be back to our regular schedule with the following meeting  on August 1st.
Hope you can make it out to one or all of our events!

Drink, Draw, Eat, Repeat…Our Upcoming Monthly MSCA Events

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Hey, gang- lots of opportuniities for you to attend an MSCA event over the next few weeks.

First up is the Sat-Art-Day at 901 Comics East out on Macon Road in Cordova.

We’ll be meeting in the back gallery room this Saturday, April 22nd from 10am – 2pm. This is a free/open to the public drawing event. Bring your latest art project to work on or sketchbook to draw in.

We’ll also have art supplies available for anyone who needs them- lots of markers, pens, pencils, paper, and more will be on hand.

All ages are welcome, but if you aren’t old enough to drive yourself to the event, have a parent bring you and hang out as well.

The following Wednesday, April 26th, we’ll have our next Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East.

It’s another free and open to the public drawing event, but if you’d like a beer (on tap or in cans), soda, water, chips, or pizza those all will be available for purchase fro 901’s “Bar With No Name“.

Again, we’ll be meeting in the back gallery room, but there’s plenty of room in the baming area and at the bar.

Then on Tuesday, May 2nd we’ll have our monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza near the U of M.  We’ll be there from 6-8pm in the bog dining room on the right.

You don’t have to be a member to attend any of our events like this or the ones at 901 Comics East, but you might want to bring a sketchbook and a few bucks to order off the menu.

Lots of great pizza, pasta, salads, and beverages available. We always meet on the first Tuesday of each month, but will pass on the July meeting which lands on the 4th.

Not one of our monthly meetings, but one of the upcoming events we’ll be a part of is the innagural Memphis Public Libraries Comic Con at the main library on Poplar Avenue. We’ll have an MSCA promo table at the evernt, and several of our members will have their own tables there as well.

The library comic con will have specialo guests artist and former MSCA member Mike Norton and comic writing legend (and “The Suicide Squad” movie star) “Uncle” John Ostrander.

It happens on May 6th, which is also Free Comic Book Day so the library will be giving away loads of comics, trade paperbacks, and graphic novels. Free Comic Book Day is the best day of the year, where comics from publishers like DC Comics and Marvel Comics are given away absolutely free to people at local comic shops. The comics aren’t free to the retailers, so if you can afford to buy something at one of the shops please do. Many stores will be having sales and other rewards for purching items that day.

All comic shops in the Memphis area (Comics & Collectibles/Poplar Ave., The Cellar/Barlett Blvd., 901 Comics/Cooper-Young, and 901 Comics East/Macon Rd.) participate in FCBD. To find a comic shop in your area check out FCBD’s comic shop locator here.

901 Comics East will have the Red Power Ranger, Steve Cordenas, in-store for a signing on FCBD. Steve stars in the recent “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always” which is currently showing on Netflix.

And don’t forget that MSCA member Peter Melonas currently has a one-man art show at Theatre Memphis in conjunction with their play “Sherlock’s Last Case“.

Oh, and while you’re at it, be sure to mark on your calendar our next group art show at Germantown Community Theatre – “Drawing Blood“. It will be a Halloween/Horror themed art show with bite this Oct/Nov.

Hope to see you there!

Our upcoming May Drink-N-Draw…

…and our June Sat-Art-Day.

Peter Melonas as a one-man show…”Excellent! I cried. “Elementary,” said he.

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Member Peter Melonas has an art show at Theatre Memphis.  See below and attached for more information:

Artists once depended only on galleries to showcase their work and be exhibited, but more venues now are actively seeking and supporting the Midsouth art scene in that role.

If you have walked into Theatre Memphis recently – whether you did so to attend a performance or to view an art exhibition – you may have noticed a type of drawings highlighting a local artist.

A solo performance, by Peter Melonas as a one-man show, which features a Private Investigator and his Inseparable Companion, each image telling a story for the purpose of entertainment. Artists have tended to settle for a hawkish profile for book-cover and magazine artwork but the film studios still seem to feel that virtually anyone can perform as Holmes, so long as they retain the virtual trappings.

I am an artist and not an actor, but if I were to try and showcase an illustration entitled Sherlock’s Last case, I would draw Mr. Holmes on one panel, Dr. Watson on another.

“Sherlock’s Last Case” is an intense and suspenseful play filled with betrayal, thrills, and witty humor; this story picks up where the classic stories end. The Game is Afoot as usual, not everything is as it appears, and the plot confronts the great detective with a unique challenge…straight through to its startling conclusion. This is the Holmes and Watson story you never expected.

April 21 – May 7 at Theatre Memphis performing their production of “Sherlock’s Last Case” on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays @ 7:30pm: Sundays @ 2pm

Tickets 901.682.8323 or online at WWW>THEATREMEMPHIS.ORG

Adults $25.00 / Student $15 / Military & Seniors $20


Peter Melonas

Peter Melonas has been a professional illustrator, and graphic designer. Along the way, he has built upon the visual language comics artists have been developing for more than a century.

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. Many collectors choose a particular area to collect, while others prefer a more eclectic approach and many have a little of everything! I like to break down my artwork into two subsets: Look at my talent and Tell Me what’s on your walls. what is your passion? I want to grab my viewers right away both emotionally and visually. I want my art to produce a positive and unforgettable “first impression. In other words, I try to prompt viewers to want to find out more about me and my work. I want to give viewers the opportunity to step into my world for a few minutes.”

Peter is also a member of Artists’ Link in Memphis.
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/fancifullart
Website: www.artquid.com/artist/fancifullart/peter-melonas

(
(Photo by Steve Roberts)

Theatre Memphis
630 Perkins Extd.
Memphis, Tennessee 38117
www.theatrememphis.org/

Peter will be set up at the Memphis Public Libraries’ Comic Con at the main Poplar Ave. branch on May 6th.

The MSCA Will Be “Drawing Blood” At GCT This Fall!

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It’s official- the MSCA will be back at the Germantown Community Theatre this fall and our art show will be “Drawing Blood” – our third show at GCT.

This art show will have “bite” and run in conjustion with their performance of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” from October 27 – November 12.

The art show will not only be Dracula themed art, but anything horror or Halloween in general- a subject I love and am very familiar with!

We will have a costume optional opening reception in October, so “stay tooned” for more info on it and how to be a part of the art show.

You can join aour mailing list at midsouthcartoonists (at) gmail (dot) com, follow our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, or listen to our “Drawing Funny” podcast at www.drawingfunny.com.

Our recent “SPAMalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” art show in their lobby was a huge success, and a few of the pieces sold before the show officially opened!

You can count on this next MSCA art show to be batastic..!

Lin

The MSCA On Display At The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art

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“Pop! The Art of Comics” exhibit at The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia, AL.

The exhibit covers comics history and notable comic artists and spotlights works by the Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) and the late Hanther, a comic artist from McNairy County, TN.

TVMA will hold a number of comics related events over the six-week run of the exhibition, including some movie nights. Be sure to keep track of them to find out more – tennesseevalleyarts.org.

Thanks to Brent Bonds and the Tishomingo Arts Council for getting us involved with the art exhibit (and thanks to Brent for the photos and transporting the art).

Some of us in the MSCA may make a roud trip over to see it if we can work out all the travel arrangements. Keep an eye out for an email about it, or contact MSCA prez Kevin L. Williams at midsouthcartoonists (at) gmail (dot) com.

Below is the press release….

MSCA: Comics Art Exhibition at the TN Valley Museum of Art

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) is proud to announce that member art is on display in the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art (TVMA) from March 18 – April 29, 2023.  The broader display will include pieces of original, vintage comics by Christopher Hanther of Marvel Comics, as well as MSCA members’ finished sequential art and process pieces from published pages of comic books and graphic novels and comic strips, to pieces used to propose projects.

Comics Art Exhibition

MARCH 18 – APRIL 29

This exhibition will explore comic book and sequential artwork. It will feature the comic illustrations of Christopher Hanther, who worked for Marvel Comics and illustrated the long-running comic Tandra. Learn more about Christopher Hanther in this video by the Tishomingo Arts Council: www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1221636025029324

Exhibition hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm

Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for TVAA members

The TVMA is located at 511 W Water Street, Tuscumbia, AL 35674

tennesseevalleyarts.org/events/comics-art-exhibition/
www.facebook.com/TheTVMA
This Tandra comic cover was painted by Memphis artist David Porch. The shirtless guy on the left was modled by the MSCA’s Greg Cravens, and the large alien with the cape was me (Lin Workman). The photoshoot for the reference pics was held in the garage of The Wild Hare on Mt. Moriah back in the ’90s.

Bluff City Life In The 901

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On Thursday, March 9th the MSCA’s Greg Cravens and myself (Lin Workman) stopped by the WMC TV5 studios to record a couple segments for thier show “Bluff City Life” with host Gina Neely.

MSCA president Kevin L. Willams was on “Bluff City Life“ back during the pandemic (3/29/22) to discuss the MSCA’s 35 anniversary with then host Andy Mannis. (You can watch the interview by clicking here.)

We were there to talk about our upcoming events, like our monthly dinner meeting in April at Garibaldi’s Pizza, and our Drink-N-Draw and Sat-Art-Day at 901 Comics East.

I dropped off a promo pizza box press kit to the station the week before on my way out to the “Spamalittle” art show reception at GCT.

We got to the station a bit after noon, and waited up front with Jamie from the Memphis Public Libraries. We met Gina in the lobby, then hung out in the “green room” for a few minutes with the other guest on the show, designer David Quarles IV and his Chasing Paper Wallpaper associates.

It was strange to be in the studio…there were no camera operators on the news floor. The cameras were all operated remotely in the contol room, and Gina and her assistant were in contact with the director via ear buds.

And the studio was a lot greener than the actual green room! This was the big green screen for doing the Action News 5 weather.

While waiting out front Greg did a quick sketch of Jamie who was there to talk about the Memphis Public Libraries‘ “5 Fridays Of Jazz” events.

Greg warmed up a bit before our segment by doing a quick caricature of Gina while sitting off camera.

Greg got his start as a caricature artist at Opryland in Nashville, TN back in the ’80s.

Notice that Greg lettered this comic strip first before drawing in the figure.

Greg did this comic strip of Gina while off camera after our segment so it didn’t make it on the show.

Thanks to Gina and her crew at TV5. We had a lot of fun in the two or so hours we were there. Hope to get to be back on again later.

The show aired on Tuesday the 14th at noon on Channel 5 here in Memphis, and uou can watch on their site by clicking the links below..

Part 1:
https://www.actionnews5.com/video/2023/03/14/bluff-city-life-tuesday-14-march-pt-4-8/

Part 2:
https://www.actionnews5.com/video/2023/03/14/bluff-city-life-tuesday-14-march-pt-5-8/

The following night we had our latest Drink-N-Draw where as you may suspect, we drink and we draw.

The gang were hanging out in the back gallery room at 901 Comics East out on Macon Road.

We had a great turnout again for this event, and the weather outside was nice and were able to draw with the lights on inside this time.

Jake did some more sketchcard mash-ups…

And I did another Muppets sketcard.

First time attendee Jose’ handed out some great promo business cards.

Our next Drink-N-Draw will be on Wednesday, April 26th from 6-8pm. It’s free and open to the public, but bring a few bucks if you’d like something to drink and/or eat.

Our next MSCA monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Tuesday, April 4th from 6-8pm. Same as the Drink-N-Draw, it’s free to attend but bring your wallet if you’d like to order off the menu.

Our next Sat-Art-Day at 901 Comics East is this Saturday, March 25th from 10-2.

You never know who’s gonna show up at our events!

Lin

“Spamalittle and Drawalot” – Our Latest MSCA Art Show and Sat-Art-Day Events

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It been a very busy (and wet) couple of weeks here for our merry band of cartoonists, but overall it was a lot of fun.

First up was our “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” art show reception at Germantown Community Theatre on Friday night.

This is the second art show that the MSCA has exhibited in the lobby of GCT, and apparently we’ll be back for another next season.

GCT will be announcing their next season on March 9th, and we’ll be announcing that show shortly after.

This art show featured “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” inspired artwork on display (and for sale) by our members.

Lots of great takes on that epic Monty Python movie! You can see more pics by heading on over to the MSCA Facebook page.

We also got to enjoy a live performance of “Find Your Grail” by Sir Muley and Annie Freres who performs as ‘The Lady Of The Lake“). This video can also be seen on our Facebook page.

I really enjoyed catching up with A.G. Howard. We talked about many of our misdaventures togeher back in our airbrush days, and some of our recent health scares and brushes with death..! Yeah, it’s been a scary few years for many of us, but always great to still be able to get together for events like this.

The cold rain and scary weather around the midsouth kept the attendance down a bit, but definitely not the sales! Several of the show’s pieces were sold that night, and two were sold before we even got set up for the reception. Heck, the show hasn’t even officially opened yet and it’s been one of our most successful ones yet.

Thanks to Kevin Williams and DaMarco Randle for hanging the art show and setting up the refreshments table for the reception. And thanks to everyone who participated in the show, braved the bad weather, and bought art. Big thanks to the staff and volunteers at GCT for having us back out again, and again.

You can check out the show for yourself at the theater during their normal box office business hours and during Spamalot performances.

The Spamalittle art show runs in conjunction with their production of “Spamalot The Musical” March 3-19 at GCT – 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.👑

9014537447:Box Office    9014537444:Main  Box Office:office@gctcomeplay.org

The next morning many of us were drawn together for our latest Sat-Art-Day at 901 Comics East out on Macon Road.

It was another full house for our latest sketchy Saturday in the back gallery room at 901 Comics’ Cordova location. We were surrounded by a lot of comic art on the walls – including some original comic book pages from”The Walking Dead“.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had some of our regular attendees, as well as some new faces there. Was great to have Izzy and Timothy join us this time, and I hope they can make it back for future Sat-Art-Days and other MSCA  events.

Many folks brought their own stuff to draw with/on, but we also provided extra art supplies such as markers, pencils, pens, paper, and sketchcards for anyone who needed them.

And they were put to good use.

Like the night before at the art show reception, it was cold and wet outside, but warm, dry, and a lot of fun inside. We only heard the occasional bit of rain hitting the roof while we sketched.

The only rules we have other than have fun and be respectful of your felllow artists is that if you’re not old enough to drive yourself to the comic shop, you need to have a parent or guardian come with you.

They’re welcome to sit and draw as well, play a game in the gaming area, or hang out and watch some TV at the bar.

The shop serves beer on tap and in cans, but you don’t have to just drink beer. 901’s “Bar With No Name” also serves sodas, bottled water, snacks, and personal sized pizzas.

We’ll be back out at 901 for another Sat-Art-Day on March 25th, as well as another Drink-N-Draw event on March 15th, the Wednesday before St. Patrick’s Day.

901 Comics (both locations) also sells many locally created comics including several comics series made by MSCA members.

One of those Memphis made comics is “Stoned Ninja“.

It (and others) are published by 901’s Shannon Merritt and his own Bad Dog Comics Publishing.

And speaking of  Stoned Ninja, the creative team behind it will teach you what they know about making comics all while enjoying a beer at Crosstown Brewery (1264 Concourse Avenue, Crosstown Concourse) on March 23rd from 6-8pm.

Join writer Gabe DeRanzo and the MSCA’s own Greg Cravens (The Buckets, Hubris, Shoney Bear) as they teach the next class in Crosstown’s Creative Juices sereies- which are instuctional classes for the creative 901.

They’ll be throwing out lots of comic knowlege, and knowing Greg- probably a lot of ninja star stickers as well.

\

Everyone in the class will get:

  • A written breakdown of The Process, spelling out the steps and the order in which they have to be taken
  • A full size comic book practice page that you classroom creators will pencil your own dialogue, characters, and action into.
  • One beer will be included in ticket price for those of legal drinking age. Must present ID at the bar to get your beer. Minimum age for this class is 13 years old.

TIckets are $30.00ea and can be purchased through eventbrite by cliking here.

Our next upcoming MSCA event is the monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Walker Ave. near the U of M on Tuesday, March 7th from 6-8pm.✏️🍕

The meeting is casual, free, and open to the public. Do feel free to bring your sketchbook, tablet, or other drawing supplies if you like, as well as any promo items you might want to share with the group. Plus bring a few bucks to order off the menu if you’d like anything to eat or drink. Like the Sat-Art-Days, any age or skill level is welcome to join us, just bring a parent with you if you can’t drive yourself there. We meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month (except for the 4th of July this summer).

And be sure to “Stay Tooned” for the next episode of the Drawing Funny Podcast which will be dropping later this week….which reminds me- I need to record it!

Later,

Lin

Art Classes, Art Entries, and Art Shows – What’s Coming Up!

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Hey, gang-

Hope you’re all warm, dry, and not sitting in the dark. It’s been a couple crazy days here in the mid-south with all the ice blowing through the area over Ground Hog’s Day this week, but the sun has finally returned and the weather is warming back up…for now. Lots of art stuff coming up, so let’s not waste any time getting to it…

Up first, do you have, or know, a child who would be interested in learning all the ins-and-outs of creating comics?
Martheus Antone Wade (Shinobi: Ninja Princess; Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa) leads masterclasses for kids in just that topic !
The Comic Studio are classes that teach the art of comic book and manga illustration and storytelling. Prices are right for your kids, or for kids you know if you want to create a scholarship for them!  Click the link below and check it out…
https://outschool.com/classes/93f2f472-7e1b-4080-9407-92eab9b442b7?usid=UxLChPgg&utm_source=qr&utm_campaign=2021-oct
 
From MSCA member and NCS Membership Chairman, Greg Cravens:

The National Cartoonists Society has begun its annual call for entries for consideration for the NCS Divisional Reuben Awards recognizing excellence in professional cartooning for work published in 2022.

● The Divisional Reuben Awards recognize individuals for their artistic excellence in cartoon arts.
● You do not have to be a member of the NCS to enter.
● There is no fee for submissions.
● All submissions must complete the online entry form and comply with division requirements. If you are unable to submit via the online form, please email us at ncs@nationalcartoonists.com
● Only work FIRST published between the dates of January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 can be considered. Submitted work must be accompanied by verification of the date of first publication or it will be disqualified–see detailed instructions below.
● Entries should represent professional cartooning, as demonstrated by publication, syndication, production, or distribution through a professional organization via a platform or manner widely available and consumed by the general public such as Amazon. For example, art created solely for a card mailed to family or self-published for a school assignment or posted on social media for fun or done as a hobby should not be submitted.
● The NCS always encourages the exploration of new ways technology enables our members to create their work. We do, however, oppose the commercial use of AI-generated images that have been trained on copyrighted works, and will not allow any artificially-generated art to be submitted for any category of our awards.

Your submissions must completed by February 15, 2023 for consideration for one or more of the following Division Awards:
-Comic Book
-Book Illustration
-Online Comics: Long Form
-On-line Comics: Short Form
-Gag Cartoon
-Newspaper Strip
-Greeting Card
-Newspaper Panel
-Advertising/ Product Illustration
-Graphic Novel
-Variety Entertainment
-Magazine/Newspaper Illustration
-Editorial Cartoon
-Art for Animated Media

In the interest of ensuring that the NCS Divisional Reuben Awards are representative of the very best work produced in each category, entries are juried by members of our regional chapters or by specialty juries. The results of nominations from jurors are compiled and the top 3 nominees in each division will be posted for online voting by the entire NCS voting membership. Winners will be announced at the Reuben Awards, Fall 2023.

You  can find more info at:
www.nationalcartoonists.com/awards/guidelines/

Our MSCA art show, “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” next month at Germantown Community Theatre. The deadline for art will be at the next MSCA monthly dinner meet-up this coming Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza in the U of M area. The art show will be in conjunction with GCT’s production of “Spamalot“, and we will have an opening reception on Friday, February 24th from 5:30-8:00pm in the lobby area of the theater.

Here are some of MSCA member Dale Martin‘s art for the show.

If you mised our latest drawing event, we’ll be doing more Sketchy Saturdays at 901 Comics East. The next one is Saturday, February 25th, and the following will be on March 25th. Both Sat-Art-Days will be from 10am-2pm and free/open to the public. They aren’t art classes, but a chance for local artists to get together and draw with others. You can either work on your own project, or experiment with some of the art materials on-hand.

We will also be doing more MSCA Drink-N-Draw nights on March 15th and May 17th from 6-8pm at 901 Comics East.

The comic shop has a bar, gaming area, and gallery room where we can drink and draw.

At the last Drink-N-Draw in January we had to deal with thunderstorms and a power outage, but that didn’t stop the artsits there from drawing- even in the dark! The events are free to attend, but if you’d like to order from the bar (local and domestic beer on tap and in cans- plus sodas, water, pizza or snacks) then bring a few bucks with ya.

One of the artists who participated in our Sketchy Saturday was Katie Jones. She shared her recent Mitsui Lecture Series online lecture with us and I hope you get an opportunity to see it and enjoy!

I wanted to share this with you and the group from the recent lecture I did with the Japan Society of TN if anyone wants to watch it. It’s about bringing Japanese culture in the classroom and I am the only artist and art teacher in the entire lecture and I talk about comics and anime if anyone is interested.

https://youtu.be/T7-boyZUmAs

The 2nd Midtown Con is coming up this April 8th at Black Lodge Video (near Crosstown Concourse).

Here’s some info on the first Memphis Libraries Comic Con on the first Saturday in May (Free Comic Book Day) at the main library on Poplar Avenue.

Hello, and I, hope all is well. 

My  name is Jody Callahan, and I’m a librarian at the Central Library here in Memphis. We have formed a committee to put on the first Memphis Libraries Comic Con, planned for May 6, 2023. We hope to make it a quality con, and to that end, we’ve gotten backing from our foundation. The plan right now is to offer tables to local artists and sellers to sell their wares. We expect to use the main library foyer as well as the meeting rooms. The tables would be free to artists and vendors. Those selling would have to donate 10 percent of the day’s proceeds to the Friends of The Library nonprofit charity (It’s a condition the library has set for commercial activity on the site).

We are hoping the Mid-South Cartoonists would be interested in joining us!

The event is free and open to the public. We already have members signed up to set up at the show, and I’ve heard the comic legend John Ostrander (writer- Suicide Squad, The Specter, Star Wars: Legacy, Grim Jack)…

…and comic creator and former MSCA member Mike Norton (Gravity, Spider-Man, Battlepug, The Rock Gods Of Jackson, Tennessee) will be there as guests. If you’re interested give Jody Callahan a yell at Jody(dot)Callahan(at)memphistn(dot)gov. Table space is limited and available on a  first come basis.

All the local comic shops in Memphis participate in FCBD and each have different ways they celebrate it including in-store guests, cosplayers, sales, contrests, free merch, and more. To find them or a comic retailer nearest to you check out the FCBD site’s Store Locator page- www.freecomicbookday.com/StoreLocator.

Hope you can make it out to join us at the dinner meet-up or any of the other upcoming events, like our next dinner meeting this Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Walker Ave, near the U of M and Highland Strip- rignt across the street from Tiger Bookstore. Dinner meet-ups are free and open to the public, but like the Drink-N-Draw events, be sure to bring something to draw with and/or a few bucks to order off the menu. We meet in the big dining room on the right on the first Tuesday of each month.

Lin

“Drawing Funny” Podcast Reaches 50 Episodes!

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Well, Drawing Funny has made it to 50! Yep, that’s 49 episodes more than I thought I was going to make it to with the pandemic inspired podcast.

You can listen to Episode 50 at www.drawingfunny.com, on Apple, Spotify, or any podcasting platform you like to use.

You can also click on the player above.

Show notes: For this 50th episode of Drawing Funny I was joined by MSCA president Kevin L. Williams as we interview his longtime friend Steve Troop. 

Steve has worked as an animator, cartoonist and graphic designer for around 30 years now. He’s the creator of Mayberry Melonpool, an online comic strip series since 1996.

In the late-2000s, Steve’s puppet versions of Melonpool were featured in the online web series Quickcast by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy). He has worked as an illustrator and storyboard artist for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes – The Animated Series, and the CGI animated feature Ping Pong Rabbit.

Steve co-owns Puppet Design Studio in Valencia, CA where he’s designed and built puppets for Nike, American Greetings, Glee, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Teen Titans, and The Big Bang Theory. Steve’s credits include working with Mike Johnson (director – Corpse Bride), Phil Nibbelink (animator – Roger Rabbit), Kid Cudi, Pharell, live puppetry performance in Trace Adkins’ music video “Brown Chicken, Brown Cow” as well as Ed Sheeran’s 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Best Male Video, “Sing.”

Steve and Melonpool made a cameo in Comic Book: The Movie, and is also the co-creator of the off-off-Broadway FRINGE production, Alien VS Musical.

Steve will be the instructor at a puppetry design/build workshop at The Land Schools in Las Vegas this March 24-26, 2023. He’ll teach you everything he learned in the first ten years of building puppets – in three days! If you are serious about puppetry, you should attend this class. Use code Prcy30 at checkout for 30% off ANY workshop. More info at www.thelandschools.com.

We’ll have video segments from this interview on the MSCA’s YouTube channel soon.

“Stay TOONED!”

Oh. don’t forget that our next MSCA monthly dinner meet-up will be this coming Tuesday, February 7th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza in the U of M area. We’ll be talking about the recent Drink-N-Draw and Sketchy Saturday events at 901 Comics East, the dates for future events at the comic shop, and discudssing our next art show- “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” at Germantown Community Theatre in March.

Deadline for submitting art for the show will be at this dinner meeting, and we’ll have art show invites and flyers for anyone who’d like some to help spread the word about the show.

Hope you can join us for it.

Lin

1st MSCA Drink-N-Draw and Sketchy Saturday Events Draw To A Close

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Well. gang- our first MSCA Drink-N-Draw and Sketchy Saturday events were a success, and a whole lot of fun!

Back in the day, several of us MSCA’ers would get together at Bookstar, Adam Shaw’s studio, Michaels, and other locations to draw together. It was usually on a weekend morning or an evening during the week. Other than our montly dinner meetings, in the last few years we had kind of gotten away from those gatherings, and the pandemic put a hold on all in-person meet-ups and forced us to try to keep in touch through social media and Zoom calls. Finally in 2022 we were able to start meeting back at Garibaldi’s Pizza for our 35th anniversary year, and we’ve started off 2023 by meeting at 901 Comics East.

On Wednesday, January 18th we held our first Drink-N-Draw, and on Saturday, January 28th we got together for our first Sat-Art-Day at 901- Sketchy Saturday.

For the Drink-N-Draw, I stayed after work and got the gallery room at the back of the comic shop set up with art supplies including sketchcard blanks, Bristol paper, and a variety of pencils, pens, markers, and more for attending artists to use and experiment with.

Unfortunately, about 10- 15min before we got started a severe thunderstorm moved in and the lights started to flicker. 5min before the event the power went out and stayed out..!

Luckily we had several light sources and other devices with us, so between them and the emergency lights we were able to have the event happen- even in the darkened shop.

It was a bit tricky, but we were all already there, and it was stormy outide, so we made the best of it.

901 Comics East’s “bar with no name” serves not only domestic and local beers in cans and on tap, but sodas, bottled water, personal pizzas, and snacks as well. Since the power was out, we had to pass on the pizza.

And of course, just as we were wrapping up…the power came back on! Seriously, about 5min after we started packing up for the night.

Thankfully we didn’t have any power outage issues for the Sketchy Saturday event today, and only some light rain!

This was another chance for local artists to get together, draw, share tips/techniques, exchange thoughts on the comic industry, give others a heads up on upcoming events, try different art materials, but most importantly meet others in our area who draw funny, too!

Again, we had a great turnout for this Sat-Art-Day. By my count we had 10 (plus me) today, and about 8 total on Wednesday for the Drink-N-Draw. Definitely a great mix of new folks and longtime MSCA members. Honestly, it almost became standing room only!

There were enough seats for everyone to sit and work, but next time we may have to spill out into the gaming area as well.

I was able to finish the Beeker sketchcard I started on the Drink-N-Draw night and get another one with the Sweedish Chef started today.

A new artist in town, Eman Casallos, actually knocked out all four of these while he was there, and he even showed up a bit late..! He recently moved to Memphis from the Phillipines and is a freelance comic artist who has worked for Dynamite. This guy is talented and FAST!

Artist Jake Bostain was another artist attendee, and that’s his comic above. Jason Negan brought his clip on light just in case..!

Artist/art teacher Katie Jones used some paint pens on stretched canvases for an upcoming charity art show.

Everyone was asking when we were going to be doing this again. I honestly only expected maybe a couple artists, but obviously I was wrong and folks are interested in getting together to draw like this.

We’ll definitely be scheduling more events like these at 901 Comics East. “Stay Tooned!”✏️🍺

Our next event is our monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Walker Ave. near the U of M and Tiger Bookstore. We’ll be there on Tuesday, February 7th, from 6-8pm. Like the events at 901 Comics East, the meeting is free to attend and open to the public.

Just bring a few bucks to order off the menu if you’d like to enjoy some pizza, pasta, sandwich, salad, or beverage.  We get together to talk toons and draw funny, so feel free to bring along a sketchbook, pick up a blank sketchcard, or even snag a napkin to draw on. We also usually have some freebies for folks to take home.

We’ll have some art show promos to hand out to anyone who’d like some to help spread the word about our upcoming art show “Spamalittle: Knights Of The Drawing Table” at Germantown Community Theatre. The deadline for turning in art for this show will be at this dinner meeting since we will be hanging the show before the next meet-up. Just see MSCA president Kevin L. Williams to hand off your art for the show in March. You can also email Kev at midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com to join our mailing list and stay informed on all our event and member news such as the opening reception for this Monty Python inspired art show, future Sat-Art-Days, and upcoming conventions and Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 6, 2023).

Thanks to 901 Comics East for hosting our two latest events, thanks to everyone who attended, and thanks to Vicky Neyman for getting us all the extra art supplies. They definitely came in handy and will be used for future MSCA events! If you have an idea for an event let us know.

Oh, and don’t forget that 901 Comics (East and Midtown) sells several locally created comics, including some by our own MSCA members.

Lin

901 Comics East
8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018

(901) 249-7959
www.901-comics.business.site
On Facebook – 901 Comics East/901 Games East