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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

Sketchy Details On Upcoming MSCA Events This Week

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If you’re free this Sunday, January 15th from 4:30 – 6 pm, go visit the MLK Day Celebration at the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery, 333 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103.

MSCA member Devin Hodges will be present with his comic book The Common Days of Cade!

He’ll also be set up and selling comics, zines, and prints at the Corinth Comic Con on Saturday, January 21st. The one day show will be held at the Crossroads Arena (2800 S Harper Rd.) in Corinth, MS

You can find out more about Devin and his comic on his stie at www.diastcartoons.com.

You can also find his comic for sale along with other locally created books at Comics and Collectibles on Poplar (near Colonial) and 901 Comics East on Macon Road out in Cordova.

And speaking of locally created and 901 Comics East, my hand-drawn sketchcards are now also for sale there- 551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018.

I have official artist returns for $100.00ea, and personal sketchcards drawn on my own custom blanks for $35.00ea. I’ll be adding more sketchcards and sketchcovers to the ones at 901 and The Cellar (in Bartlett) soon.

This Wednesday (Jan.18) the MSCA will be holding our first official Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East. It’s exactly what it sounds like- we’ll be drinking and drawing from 6-8pm at the Cordova location. 901 has a bar and gaming area and offers domestic and local beers on tap and in cans.

If you don’t drink beer, Lil’ Sweet says there are sodas, water, and some individual pizzas and snack items as well. So bring your art supplies and a few bucks to order something to drink/eat while you draw.

Later this month on Saturday, January 28ththe MSCA will be hosting our first “Sketchy Saturday” at 901 Comics East from 10am until 2pm. It’s going to be a free hands-on workshop that will focus on drawing on sketchcards, sketchcovers, and in sketchbooks. I’ll have some free MSCA sketchcard blanks to hand out, and lots of art supplies on hand for attendees to use and experiment with.

If you’re looking for art classes, the Wades and Team Toshigawa have The Comic Studio which are art classes with a comic book twist. The classes cover everything from photoshop techniques, to illustration techniques, to writing all from the perspective of comic book, manga and graphic design creation.

The Comic Studio meets virtually twice a week (Wednesdays at 12:00 noon and Thursdays at 5:00pm), and are for children ages 8-15. Look for more class times to be added soon. Know a child interested in manga and comic book illustration? Get them to the Comic Studio!

You can join The Comic Studio by clicking here!

Hope you can make it out to one or all our upcoming events!

Lin

MSCA January Happenings – 2023

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Well, after 35 years of drawing funny in the mid-south, we’re ready to do it some more next year!

MSCA MONTHLY DINNER MEET-UP AT GARIBALDI’S PIZZA

Our 35th anniversary year was packed with MSCA and member events (art shows, library display, dinners, etc.) and we started off the new year right with our first dinner meet up of 2023 onTuesday, January 3rd from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza’s U of M location. It’s just off Walker near the Highland Strip and Southern, and across from the Tiger Book Store. We had another great turnout for this month’s dinner.

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. If you have kids who are interested in cartooning, if you are a kid and want to learn from some comics professionals, or are just a kid at heart and love cartooning then stop on by. FREE parking!

Be sure to bring a parent and/or a friend along, too. We don’t teach classes at the dinners (that’s a separate event), but we do freely share tips, tricks, techniques, and sources. (Be sure to check out our links page for more helpful info!)

Also, if you attend be sure to bring some of your latest work to show around (sketchbooks, portfolios, works in progress, printed pieces, etc.) and don’t be afraid to show them to members, or share any promos you may have to hand out. We usually have a freebie table for those items so feel free to add to them or pick up some to take home.

Don’t forget to bring something to draw with, or be shy to ask to borrow a pen or pencil. Spontaneous sketching often happens during these events, and it’s always encouraged.

It doesn’t matter what hand (or foot) you draw with, what/who you sketch, or what you doodle on – sketchbook, notebook, sketchcard, sketchcover, jam piece, or even a napkin. There’s always plenty of those around.

This month I had some of our members do sketches for the press promo pizza boxes I’m working on, so thanks to everyone who drew one for me. I’m going to be putting them together this weekend and out to the local news media soon.

Thanks to the staff at Garibaldi’s for letting us gather there each month (and the pizza boxes). It was great to finally get back to meeting in person again last year, and we look forward to being back there in the big room again throughout 2023!

Garibaldi’s Pizza
3530 Walker Ave
Memphis, TN 38111

(901) 327-6111
www.garibaldispizza.com

MSCA DRINK-N-DRAW

This month we’ll be experiencing our very first MSCA Drink-N-Draw event hosted by 901 Comics East out in Cordova on Wednesday, January 18th from 6-8pm. We’ve been known to drink and draw at our dinner meetings, and at con-related drink-n-draws, but this is officially our first! 901 Comics East now has a bar, gallery space, and gaming area. We are looking to make this a quarterly event at the friendly neighborhood comic shop.

The bar serves beer on tap and in cans- including some local brews. If you don’t drink beer, there are sodas, water, and some individual pizzas and snack items. So bring your art supplies and a few bucks to order something to drink/eat while you draw, and a designated driver. There is no theme or no real rules (other than 21 or older if you plan to drink beer), so feel free to draw or work on whatever art you’d like. ✏️🍺

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

Take Germantown Pkwy. to Macon (Malco and Whataburger), go about a half mile up and after the post office take the left at the 3-way stop, and then a right at the next 4-way between the school and apartments. Continue on Macon about another block or two, continuing straight after the 3-way stop at Dexter. The comic shop will be on the right in the shopping center next to the Pit Stop food truck court (the Greenline runs behind the shopping center).

There are several locally created comics for sale at 901 Comics as well!

MSCA SKETCHY SATURDAY

Later this month on Saturday, January 28th the MSCA will be hosting our first “Sketchy Saturday” at 901 Comics East from 10am until 2pm. It’s going to be a free hands-on workshop.

If anyone is interested in joining in on creating some sketchcards and sketchcovers please stop on by. I’ll have plenty of sketchcard blanks and a few sketchcover comics to share while they last, but if you need any 901 sells some blank sketchcovers, too. 

I’ll have some markers to use and extra Bristol paper to play on if anyone needs them or wants to learn how to color with markers. I’ll have a mix of Copics, Letraset, Prismacolor, and Sharpies on hand, plus some extra pencils, Pigma Micron and Gelly Roll pens, and other art supplies.

Please feel free to bring any supplies you’d like to use and/or your own sketchbook to work in. I’ll have some card sleeves for finished cards ((901 sells packs of 100), and we’ll have some art books for folks to look through for those who might need some inspiration and/or reference. We’ll be in a comic shop so that should help with getting inspiration, too!

Some of you may remember many of our members getting together at Bookstar on Poplar, Adam Shaw’s studio on Broad Ave., Michaels in Olive Branch, and other locations when we’d get together to just hang out, draw, and have fun together. If you’re not interested in drawing on sketchcards or sketchcovers, do come on by and like I said bring a sketchbook or other art project to work on with us. 

As with the drink-n-draw event, if this goes well we’ll look at doing more “Sketchy Saturday” type of events in 2023. We’d like to keep these casual and more of a social sharing of ideas and techniques than an actual art class, but if anyone would like to host/teach a class or if there is something you think would work as a project just give me (Lin Workman) or MSCA president Kevin Williams a yell- midsouthcartoonist(at)gmail(dot)com.

These gatherings are to encourage setting aside time to draw, being social/networking, and sharing ideas, news, and techniques with others. Hopefully it will give us some additional meet-up opportunities for anyone who can’t make our monthly dinner ones at Garibaldi’s. 

Kev  sends out an email reminder before events so be sure to join the mailing list. I try to post heads up online on social media and our site here, but here’s the 2023 dinner schedule if you need it.

Our podcast Drawing Funny is now in it’s third season and we’ll have a few more episodes dropping in January, including the 50th episode- “stay tooned!”

And if you’d like more info on the MSCA and/or how to become a member, either check out our ABOUT US page, shoot Kev an email, click the player above, or stop by an event and ask us in person.

I hope you can attend one or all of our 2023 events- we’d love to have you join us!
Lin

New “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode With Info On Upcoming 2023 MSCA Events

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The first Drawing Funny episode of the new year is available for downloading.

You can listen on most podcasting platforms such as Spotify and Apple, check out the Drawing Funny website at www.drawingfunny.com, or click the player above.
(Run time 52min, 5sec)

Show notes: For the first 2023 episode of Drawing Funny I’m joined by MSCA president Kevin L. Williams (aka Soloman Blues). We took the show on the road did some recording over the weekend while in the MSCA’s secret mobile recording unit. We were on our way home from seeing the Alabama Blues Brothers perform at the Princess Theatre in Decatur, AL.

We discuss some of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association’s 35th Anniversary events that happened in 2022, some of the club’s history (founded in March, 1987). Plus we share info on upcoming events for this year including our next monthly dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza this Tuesday (January 3rd 6-8pm), our Drink-N-Draw (Wednesday, January 18th 6-8pm) and Sketchy Saturday (January 28th 10am-2pm) at 901 Comics East, and “Spamalittle” art show at Germantown Community Theatre (March 3-19).

Garibaldi’s Pizza
3530 Walker Ave
Memphis, TN 38111
(901) 327-6111
www.garibaldispizza.com

2023 MSCA Monthly Dinner Schedule- next dinner January 3rd 6-8pm.

MSCA Drink-N-Draw (Wed. 1/18/23 – 6-8pm)

We’re going to be starting off the new year with our very first MSCA Drink-N-Draw event at 901 Comics East on Wednesday, January 18th from 6-8pm. We’ve been known to drink and draw at our dinner meetings, and at con-related drink-n-draws, but this is officially our first. 901 Comics East now has a bar, gallery space, and gaming area. We are looking to make this a quarterly event at the shop. The bar serves beer both on tap and in cans (including local brews), as well as sodas, water, and some individual pizzas and snack items. So bring your art supplies and a few bucks to order something to drink/eat while you draw. There is no theme or no real rules (other than 21 or older if you plan to drink beer), so feel free to draw or work on whatever art you’d like.

Sketchy Saturday (1/28/23 – 10am-2pm)

Saturday, January 28th the MSCA will be hosting our first “Sketchy Saturday” at 901 Comics East from 10am until 2pm. It’s going to be a free hands-on workshop for anyone interested in creating some sketchcards and sketchcovers. We’ll have plenty of sketchcard blanks and a few sketchcover comics to share (901 sells some, too), plus some markers, and extra Bristol paper to play on if anyone needs them. Please feel free to bring any supplies you’d like to use, or if you’re not interested in drawing sketchcards or sketchcovers, do come on by and bring a sketchbook to work in.

Some of you may remember many of our members getting together at Bookstar, Adam Shaw’s studio, Michaels, and other locations when we’d get together to just hang out and draw.

Like the MSCA Drink-N-Draw event (Wed.1/18, 6-8pm), if this goes well we’ll look at doing more “Sketchy Saturday” type of events in 2023. We’d like to keep these casual and more of a sharing of ideas and techniques than an actual class, but if anyone would like to host/teach a class just give me or MSCA president Kevin Williams a yell: midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com.

These gatherings are to encourage setting aside time to draw, being social, and sharing ideas, news, and techniques with others, and give us some additional meet-ups for anyone who can’t make our monthly dinner ones at Garibaldi’s.

901 Comics East
8551 Macon Rd.
Cordova, TN 38018
www.901-comics.business.site

Just take Germantown Pkwy. to Macon Rd. (Malco and Whataburger), go about a half mile up and after the post office take the left at the 3-way stop, and then a right at the next 4-way between the school and apartments. Continue on Macon about another block or two, continuing straight after the 3-way stop at Dexter. The comic shop will be on the right in the shopping center next to the Pit Stop food truck court (Greenline runs behind the shopping center).

SPAMALOT/spamalittle (March 3-19, 2023)

Germantown Community Theatre
3037 Forest Hill Irene RD.
Germantown, TN 38138
www.gctcomeplay.org
901.453.7447

Happy New Year! Stay warm, stay dry, stay safe, stay tooned, and keep drawing funny!

Linwood

New “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode From A Couple Couch Potato Podpeople

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Calling all podpeople– a new “Drawing Funny” podcast episode is available !

You can listen in the player above, online directly at www.drawingfunny.com, or most podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple, and others.

Show notes: For this episode of Drawing Funny I take a trip to our couch to have a comics conversation with my wife and live-in I.T. person- Nicki Workman (with special guest appearance by our cat Jarael). This is a follow up to my Episode 47 – “Back To Basics”.

While on our way home from the MSCA December dinner meet-up this month I told Nicki about a couple conversations with some fellow local creators recently. They had asked for my advice on their art and projects. Well, even though I do a podcast that offers advice on just about every episode (and even multiple times on each of those episodes), after my many failures and less than stellar art career I’ve been questioning my art expertise when it comes to giving advice. I asked her is she thought I was qualified, and that conversation led to this episode which includes some very good advice by her.

Not just on creating art, but some of the business basics of being creative for a living, as well as her life in corporate America, and reasons for continuing her education at this point in her life. Was happy to catch her on break between semesters to get her to share her thoughts. I’m super proud of her being able to juggle a full time day job and work trips while attending grad school online and keeping a 4.0 GPA at the same time. She’s in the home stretch for her MBA!

I also have some local MSCA news about upcoming dinner meetings (next one is Tuesday, January 3rd), current and upcoming art shows and plays around town, as well as some news about the first ever MSCA Drink-N-Draw (Wed. 1/18/23) and Sketchy Saturday (1/18/23) at 901 Comics East (8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018).

I actually edited some of this episode sitting at 901’s bar while watching some of the World Cup highlights after work, and also back on my couch with Lena supervising me.

I plan on being back with another DF episode before the end of the year, and recording my 50th episode around the first of the year.

Also, as stated in the episode, we recently had our last MSCA dinner meet-up for 2022. We’ll be back at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Tuesday, January 3rd from 6-8pm.

It has been great to be able to meet back in person again, and we had another great turnout with a good mix of old familiar faces and new!

Some sketchy things happened during dinner, including our “semi-annual” holiday art swap.

Members brought art pieces to swap with each other by drawing numbers out of a hat.

There were also more freebies available for attendees and restaurant staff to take home for the holidays.

Thanks to the staff at Garibaldi’s for letting us gather there each month. Look forward to being there in 2023!

Garibaldi’s Pizza
3530 Walker Ave
Memphis, TN 38111

(901) 327-6111
www.garibaldispizza.com

Lin

No Spam- Just A Little News About Our MSCA “Spamalittle” Art Show

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From MSCA Prez Kevin L. Williams:

Greetings to all digital doodlers, ink slingers, pencil pushers, and wordsmiths, 

After the spectacularly well-received art  show “Murica: A Cartoonist’s Take on American History” during the presentation of the comedy musical “The Complete History of America: Abridged” at the Germantown Community Theater, the GCT has invited the Mid-South Cartoonists Association to return in Spring 2023 with an art show we call “Spamalittle: Knights of the Drawing Table” which, themed to “Spamalot,” is dedicated to the middle ages! 

The genius comedy “Spamalot” (or as we know it the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail) will be performed March 3 – 19, 2023.  The theater address is: 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd, Germantown, TN 38138  (We will keep you informed of the Friends & Family night to watch the play and see your art installed {usually the artist + 1}.) 

For the theme, think anything medieval: King Arthur, Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood, Faerie Tales, and most definitely Monty Python and the Holy Grail!  Lots of great imagery to play with from this period and especially the movie.  If you haven’t seen the play OR the film, check out this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmtSj4wH5Rg 

Deadline for art will be the dinner gathering on February 7, 2023, so we can get the art show hung before March.  Please commit early with the number of your pieces.  The more who participate, the less work each individual artist has to do to help fill the space. 

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT – March 3-19, 2023 

Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail. Inspired by the classic comedy film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical features shenanigans including a line of beautiful dancing girls, flatulent Frenchmen, and killer rabbits. Outside, there is plague with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine. Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Galahad. Besides the rabbits and farting Frenchman, they meet such characters as the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight, and the legendary Knights who say Ni. 

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. 

The gallery will take care of sales: artist 60%, theater 40%.   

Let me know if you are interested in participating and how many pieces you wish to submit.  The spaces we need to fill are 4×4’, We can have 4 smaller pieces, 2 or 3 medium pieces, or 1 large piece, to fill the area.  You can submit one piece of art or 10 pieces.   

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! 

Art MUST BE turned in by the February 7, 2023, dinner gathering – 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). 

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. 

Artists MUST submit their own 3×3” note card listing:-Title-Media used-Price or NFS (Not for Sale)-Artist Name-Ways to contact the artist(Please write clearly or type on white cardstock paper.) 

If you haven’t already, artists MUST send a caricature and bio, including your social media, to be displayed.   

Artists agreeing to participate in art shows will not hold the MSCA nor 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! 

 

Our good friends at Germantown Community Theater, Annie Freres in particular, has shared a discount code for quite the “holiday party” show there.  Please see the details below.  Special thanks to Annie for the GCT’s generosity!

There is a wonderful Holiday double feature coming next week at GCT and we believe all of your citizens will enjoy this production! If anyone wants to reserve tickets online please tell them to use the promo code “CATIX” for that $12 group price, but otherwise I’m always more than happy to handle reservations over the phone! 

We begin the evening at 6:15 with cocktails and Live music of holiday classic hits with Michael Strickland then at 7pm Marques Brown treats us to One Man’s Christmas Carol- a one man adaptation of the Dickens classic. 

After a brief intermission All Is Calm will take the stage with 4 adult performers and the Houston High Men’s Choir telling the story of the Christmas Truce with beautiful song and story. The evening should end about 9pm. 

As the flyer mentions shows are M-F Dec. 19th – 23rd. We surely hope to see you at the show! 

Happy Holidays!

Annie Freres

Box Office Mgr.

Memberships Save You Money!

Germantown Community Theatre
3037 Forest Hill Irene RD.
Germantown, TN 38138
www.gctcomeplay.org
901.453.7447

 

 

 

 

“It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Lego…” – Christmas LEGO Display By Kevin Thorn And Upcoming Brick Con

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If you are a fan of LEGO have I got a couple local things to share with you.

First up, for the holidays a new Christmas LEGO display by MSCA member Kevin Thorn is now up at the Hernando Public Library for the month of December..!

He and his little helpers have a few new additions and have rearranged the layouts from last year’s display.

Kevin is not only builds with LEGO for fun, but has used the bricks for various projects in his freelance work. He is also one of the Planning Commissioners for the city of Hernando and is currently working on finishing up his PHD at the U of M.

There are two large cases on one wall, and a smaller one across the hall in the west lobby entrance.

If you get a chance to stop by the library, the LEGO display will be up for the rest of December. It is free to experience and open to the public during normal business hours (see below).

if If you didn’t make it out  to see the last two displays Kevin Williams and I did there you can see pics of the MSCA 35th Anniversary and Memphis Ghostbusters displays by clicking the red links or going to the MSCA Facebook page.

If you’d like to share some of your collection and set up a display please contact the Hernando Library-you can scan the QR code for more info.

And like the Southaven Library, the Hernando Library has a lot of art making opportunities. The library is located on Commerce Street near Hwy 51 and the Courthouse Square in Hernando, MS- about 15min from Memphis.

First Regional Library
(Hernando Public Library – established 1950)
370 W Commerce St
Hernando, MS 38632
www.firstregional.org

HOURS:
MONDAY  9:30-7:00
TUESDAY 9:30-7:00
WEDNESDAY 9:30-7:00
THURSDAY 9:30-7:00
FRIDAY 9:30-5:30
SATURDAY 9:30-5:00
SUNDAY CLOSED

And for our second LEGO event…

This spring, the LEGO are coming, the LEGO are coming..! (Yes, the plural of LEGO is “LEGO“.)

Memphis Brick Convention LEGO Fan Expo is coming to Memphis area  at the Landers Center (Southaven, MS) on April 22 & 23, 2023.
LEGO displays, LEGO masters, vendors, meet & greets, & MORE!From their website:Brick Convention is the ultimate LEGO® fan event, built by LEGO fans, for LEGO fans.

Some of North America’s best LEGO® builders will gather to display their incredible LEGO creations in the Fan Display Zone. Professional LEGO artists from around the world will be onsite showing off their works and available for meet-and-greets.

There are THOUSANDS of LEGO® bricks for you to play with in our multiple BUILDING ZONES.​

See the latest LEGO® sets to buy as well as specialist retailers selling cool vintage and collectible rare sets and accessories too. Plus lots of fantastic LEGO® themed gift ideas for fans of all ages. 

This is a MUST for all fans of LEGO® whatever their age!

According to their site, “tickets are selling out fast”. You can buy your general admission ticket with an exclusive 20% off by clicking here, otherwise they are $14.99ea. Children 2 years old and younger are free. Valid for Saturday or Sunday, 10am-1pm or 2-5pm. Please note that the exhibit hall will be cleared out at 1pm each day. A portion of the proceeds will go to the all-volunteer nonprofit organization — Creations for Charity.

4560 Venture Drive
Southaven, MS 38671

www.landerscenter.com/events/detail/brick-convention
www.brickconvention.com/

Hope you get a chance to check out Kevin’s LEGO Christmas display and visit the Brick Con.

Lin

The name ‘LEGO’ is an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well”. It’s our name and it’s our ideal.

The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder.

www.lego.com/en-us
www.lego.com/en-us/history/

“There once was a man named John Lotshaw.” – NCS Member And Friend Of The MSCA Has Passed Away

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Hey, gang-

Unfortunately this time I have some very sad news to pass along….MSCA prez Kevin Williams has informed me that longtime National Cartoonists Society member and friend of the MSCA , John Lotshaw, has passed away while visiting family in South Carolina for Thanksgiving.

John was a familiar face at the NCS events I got to attend, including the NCS’s Annual Rueben’s Awards meeting her at St. Jude, the Southeast Chapter of The National Cartoonists Society‘s meeting here at the U of M, and their meetings in Gainesville and Nashville. He could be seen working the A/V equipment and/or recording the events, and was a champion of cartooning and other cartoonists. His cartooning  collogues and friends in Atlanta had just given him a Bon Voyage sendoff party only days before his passing.

While looking at his Facebook page today, I realized John was 6 days younger than me. These days I may feel old and my grey hair makes me look old, but 56 is way too young to die.


The MSCA and SEC/NCS having dinner at The Rendezvous in Memphis, 2005.

 

From MSCA President, Kevin L. Williams–

I will always have a fond memory of John Lotshaw. He was fun and funny, and I enjoyed talking Peanuts with him. Not news I expected to see today, but I’m thankful to have made his acquaintance. 

 

From NCS Membership Chairman and former MSCA President, Greg Cravens–

John Lotshaw.
There once was a man who was diligent, educated, fun, silly, scattered, and knew about how to do the kinds of things that tied up the loose ends that cartoonists usually leave hanging.  His name was John.  His initials were JPL and that was good, since he wore a jacket that sported more NASA patches than you knew existed, and he could tell you all about all the missions they represented.  He gleefully created cartoons, and video, and printed books, and internet content- mostly for other cartoonists, and he rarely charged us enough for the value he created.  He also chased several projects ‘round and ‘round that cost him time and energy… just like most of us do, I guess.  But on top of that, he coded computers- lots of them.  He had a collection of computers that stretched back to Texas Instrument equipment his father insisted that John learn to code for before he’d be allowed to “play with it”.  John made other cartoonists’ projects sing and dance, and left himself very little time to make his own projects sing and dance.  A lot of us owe him a lot.

John built a career, which included plenty of television production early on- and he owned his own production company at one point.  He freelanced all kinds of projects to do with video and audio. He created a webcomic called ‘Accidental Centaurs’.  He published books under the business name ‘Moonbase Press’, and would happily help you to do the same if he thought you didn’t need him doing it all for you.  He was generous to a fault like that.

He lived in Atlanta (or at least in the insane sprawl that’s centered on Atlanta) and he knew more trivia about Star Trek, Science Fiction in general, and Television at large than people could keep up with.  He had just started (finally) dabbling in a stand-up comedy career, and that’s good.  His weight was the subject of some of his humor, and that’s to be expected.  His weight was also the subject of a lot of his friends’ concern about him.  But lately, we were worried because one of his beloved Shelty dogs had passed away, then his mother passed away, and then of course he had to deal with selling her house and getting all that in order.  On the other hand, he’d landed a regular job that played to his strengths, and even though he said it’d still leave him time to pursue all the projects his friends and clients needed him to pursue, we knew it’d give him a chance to let some of the more irritating small jobs slip past him now.  So things were looking up.  He was moving to a new town to do the kind of work he was trained to do best for a good yearly pay that was probably half of what he would be worth to the company- which is AT&T, in case you’re wondering.  

Yep.  There once was that man.  And now, just before he moved, and just before he began his new job, and just before he did a little more stand-up, and just before he volunteered to run AV for the National Cartoonists Society or it’s Southeastern Chapter again… he’s gone.  My friend has gone to where deadlines, and the vagaries of the business climate, and the Sisyphean uphill struggle of the cartooning industry are not an issue.  

He was John Lotshaw, and he made the world a better place for those of us who knew him. It would have been better still for us if he could have stayed longer.
Greg

 

From his sister, Ana–

Many of you have heard but others not of the unexpectedly passing of my brother John yesterday as he was spending the Thanksgiving holiday with me in Greenville SC. Thanks to everyone for your kind messages and calls during this very painful time, your thoughts, prayers and wonderful memories are comforting. Time can be cruel to end friendships deepening as we grew older and all the new chapters and experiences waiting for him just around the corner but, I know he is at peace in heaven and once gain reunited with our parents and family who have gone on before.

There are no specific arrangements as of yet but I will update this page when we work out a way to honor the life of my brother until then…

When NASA does something spectacular.. think of John
When you hear Star Trek trivia… think of John
When you pass the Varsity or your favorite BBQ.. think of John
When you see your favorite cartoon strip.. think of John
When you hear a wacky joke… think of John

John. I love and miss you more than you will ever know. Give Mom and Dad a big hug for me and don’t worry I will love and take good care of your Jessie.
Love ya- Ana

Accidental Centaurs’

On the worst Thursday ever, an experimental teleporter under development by Alex and Sam explodes, opening a wormhole that propels them into an alternate dimension and transforming them into creatures of legend. Then, things really start to get weird…

www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/accidental-centaurs/

www.amazon.com/John-Lotshaw/

 

John videoing cartoonist Mike Peters at the NSC dinner at St. Jude in Memphis, 2016.

John Lotshaw (back center) at the SEC/NCS fall meeting in Nashville, 2012.

Roy Doty (L) and John Lotshaw (R) in Memphis, 2005.

Godspeed, John.

 

 

www.nationalcartoonists.com

New “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode Available- Plus A Short Bonus Episode!

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Hey, gang- I’m back to start off Season 3 of the “Drawing Funny” podcast with a new full length episode, as well as a short bonus episode, too!

Episode 47 – “Back To Basics”

Show notes: Well, I’m back to basics on comics and cartooning with this episode of Drawing Funny. After a couple conversations with some new comic creators, I wanted to share some more thoughts I have on creating comics with you the listening audience. Trust me, they’re very basic, but knowing the basics of creating comic books is something I feel can be often overlooked by those new to writing, drawing, printing, and promoting comics (and themselves).

This is a bit of a follow up for Episode 40 – “Where Do I Begin?”.

I also share some local MSCA news about upcoming dinner meetings, current art shows, and plays around town, as well as some very sad Bat-news about the passing of Kevin Conroy– the iconic voice of Batman for 30yrs. Plus I send out some congrats to Joe Stuber on his Comic Book Central podcast’s 9th Anniversary!

Run time: 1hr 4min 42sec

 

MSCA Membership Info – Join Now For Free!

Show notes: So, just what is the MSCA, and how can you join..? Find out in this bonus mini-episode. It should answer all your questions about our the history or our sketchy group and how to be a part of it, but if not there’s plenty of contact info included and ways how you can get those questions answered by me or the MSCA’s prez Kevin L. Williams.

Run time: 10min

You can listen by clicking on the podcast players here, download and subscribe wherever you like to listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Anchor, etc.), or go directly to the show’s website- www.drawingfunny.com

If you’d like to be a guest on the podcast, please let me know at podcast(at)drawingfunny(dot)com or mention it to me at any MSCA event. We can record live, or online over Zoom. I’d love to talk toons with you, and would like to start recording roundtable discussions with members next year. I also would like to hear any thoughts you have on the podcast, plus have you share any art related news you may have about the industry, any art shows or conventions you may know of, and any personal projects you may want to promote.

BTW-  our pandemic inspired podcast just turned 2 years old in October!

 

Oh, I mention it in the recent episodes of the podcast, but don’t forget that the next MSCA dinner meet-up (and last one for 2022) will be Tuesday, December 6th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Avenue near the U of M (www.garibaldispizza.com). We’ll be doing an art swap, have some more freebies to snag, and are looking forward to sharing some exciting news about a few upcoming events in the mid-south.

Keep an eye out for an email from Kevin soon about all the details on the last dinner meeting and art swap, and info on how you can be a part of these new upcoming events in 2023. They’re shaping up to be a lot of fun.

If you’re not on the MSCA email list, contact Kev here- midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com, and feel free to download the dinner calendar and MSCA info graphic and share on social media. Oh, and I’m working on putting together an events calendar for this website- should be up between Thanksgiving and the next dinner at Garibaldi’s…fingers crossed!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Stay safe, stay tooned, and keep drawing funny!

Lin

“Beyond The Emerald City” At Playhouse On The Square – A New Art Show By Dale Martin

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On Friday, November 12th Nicki and I eased on down the road to check out MSCA member Dale Martin‘s opening reception for his latest art show “Beyond The Emerald City” at Playhouse on the Square. We were running a bit behind getting to the show after grabbing some dinner at The Bayou around the corner, but were able to follow the black top road (Cooper Street) to it with a few minutes to spare!

It’s being shown upstairs in conjunction with Playhouse’s performances of “The Wizard Of OZ“. Talk about some fortuitous timing..!

Dale is a huge fan of the Land Of OZ, and it has been featured prominently in his “Watusi The Talking Dog” comics, zines, and art.

The art show is on display at Playhouse through December 28th, 2022 and can be visited during normal business hours and play performances.

To see the art show, as well as other art on display upstairs, just take the stairs (or elevator) to the second floor.

Dale’s show is just to the right and down that hallway. Many wonderful Wizard of OZ inspired pieces are hanging on both sides of the hallway space.

Dale and Wendy had refreshments and a pop-up shop set up at the top of the stairs near where his art pieces are on display.

There were prints, comics, and zines available for purchase, and Dale will have another pop-up-shop there on December 10th, from 10am-1:30pm.

Nicki and I really enjoyed getting to see Dale’s show, plus seeing some familiar faces including the MSCA’s Courtney and Kevin (and his friend Lisa) who were there as well when we finally arrived.

We loved checking out much of the other art by various artists that was on display at Playhouse on the Square by Priscilla Cunningham, Gerecho Delaney, Suzanne Evans, and Martha Kelly. They even had a large monitor  showing what was happening on stage at the time.

The space inside was amazing, as was the art. Really want to come back to explore more of the gallery areas and spend more time with the art.

Hope you can make it down to Overton Square to check out Dale’s “Beyond The Emerald City” art hos. Just be careful crossing the street –  Overton Square is pretty hoppin’ these days and you know how Memphis drivers can be when it comes to yielding to pedestrians, even at rainbow colored crosswalks!

Playhouse on the Square
66 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104
HOURS: Monday – Friday: 9AM – 5PM
Phone: (901) 725-0776 / Fax: (901) 272-2309
Email: info@playhouseonthesquare.org

Dale Martin, Cartoonist / P.O. Box 11291 / Memphis, TN 38111
Handcrafting comics since 1985! www.smearysoapboxpress.com

Newsletter subscription: eepurl.com/bawHc9