Tag: zines

Dinner Dates, Dracula Bites, Zine Swap, Monsters And More- MSCA Fall Events

Hey, gang-

Well, it’s been a busy year for the MSCA, and the last quarter is gonne get even busier. But first here’s what’s happened so far in September…

First up was the Record Swap & Zine Fest at Crosstown Concourse over Labor Day weekend.

The two day event on Saturday and Sunday had numerous record vendors/dealers on the first floor.

Upstairs on the second floor he artists & zine creators were set up.

…and there even was an area where attendees could create their own zines.

I also saw  some familiar faces on the second floor, including local artists Tony Parker, Dale Martin, and Jason Negen.

Dale Martin was set up there both days. Dale had lots of his own original art, prints, comics, and zines for sale.

He was also debuting the new issue of the MSCA zine “The Good, The Bad, and The Sketchy” gaming issue with cover art by Devin Hodges (who was set up on Sunday only).

I purchased several items and enjoyed talking to all the creators and vendors while I was there. I hope to set up there next year with zines and trading cards, and sketchcards, and would love to see an MSCA group table/presence there.

This last Tuesday we got together again at Garibialdi’s Pizza near the U of M. We had another great turnout for this month’s dinner meet-up. We get together the first Tuesday of each month at Garibaldi’s from 6-8pm. Our next one will be October 3rd.

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The main topic of business this month was putting together more issues of the MSCA zine and divying up the issues to participating members and bundles to take to local comic shops around town.

Those zines, along with several comics by local creators, are now available at 901 Comics East (Macon Rd.), and will soon be at all 4 comic shops locations around town- 901 Comics (Cooper/Young), Comics & Collectibles (Poplar Ave.), and The Cellar (Bartlett, Blvd.).

Members at the dinner meeting also worked on their own art or checkec out the new gaming themed zine.

Plus some more work was done on the Vampire/Halloween jam piece which will be on display at the upcoming “Drawing Blood” art show.

We also had some freebies available including some blank sketchcards, which Ron Hicks drew on for the first time.

Sketchcards (or “art cards”) are the size of normal trading cards like baseball cards, but have a surface made for drawing or painting on. The only limits to working on sketchcards are your imagination. You can create your own blanks, buy them at art stores like the Art Center (Union Ave. ), or become an official sketchcard artist for trading card companies.

I ususally have some MSCA blanks available at our Sat-Art-Days and Drink-N-Draw events. I also have some free 3 Stooges, Ultraman, and Halloween/Trick-Or-Treat blanks from RRParks Cards available now, too. Hit me up at one of our events if you’d like some.

I recently sent back 15 sketchcards to Gabe’s Cave (El Dorado, AR), and they recently sent me this sweet banner.

Those cards will be given away on their YouTube channel. This is the second set/series I’ve done for Gabe’s Cave.

After people ask what a sketchcard is, the next question asked is almost always, “What do you do with them when you’re finished..?” Anything you want- trade, gift, donate, sell, hoard, etc. I sell most of mine (at shows online, or retail stores), or have been hired by card companies to be a part of a trading card set.

I’ve got several horror sketchcards that will be a part of theupcoming RRParks Cards Halloween Trick-Or-Treat card set this fall. The Kickstarter for it will be dropping soon.

This is the third Halloween set I’ve done for Richard Parks, andI’ll have some bat base cards and lenticular (or should I say “LINticular” motion cards as part of the set. He was kind enough to send me a bunch of sketchcard blanks and trading card packs to hand out at our MSCA events.

Currently I have several of my official artist returns and personal sketchcards for sale at 901 Comics East in Cordova…

…and more along with a couple sketchcovers at The Cellar in Bartlett. More to come, and I plan on releasing a trading card set with sketchcards next year- “stay tooned!”

For those participating in our Dracula themed art show, “Drawing Blood” here’s some info and dates for you.

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association’s “Drawing Blood” art show begins with an opening reception Friday, October 13, from 5:30 – 8 pm, with a full run from October 27 – November 12, 2023, from noon – 4pm and during shows of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” at Germantown Community Theater.  We will close out with an MSCA Fest from Noon – 4 pm on Saturday November 18, 2023.

The deadline to turn in your art is the October 3rd dinnier meeting at Garibaldi’s. This art show will run inconjunction with Gremantown Community Theatre’s run of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” from October 27 – November 12.. The closing reception for the art show and 1 day MSCA mini-con will be in the building behind the theater.

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, October 13, 2023, from 5:30 – 8pm.SHOW RUN:  October 17 – November 12, 2023, Noon-4pm and during shows at GCT.CLOSING RECEPTION/MSCA FEST!: Saturday November 18, 2023, Noon – 4pm behind GCT (this is also art pick-up day, too).

We’ll have another Drink-N-Draw in October at 901 Comics East.

We’ll also be a part of 901 Comics East’s Halloween Comic Fest the Saturday before Halloween. This is a free event much like Free Comic Book Day. If you’d like to set up with us let me (Lin) or Kevin know. Table space is limited.

And if you get a chance, stop by the Monster Market. It’s back in-person but for one week only!

Dinner And Zines- Next Tuesday, September 5th

First up- dinner meeting details and zine news from recent birthday boy and MSCA Prez Kevin L. Williams…

Hi, everyone, especially the digital doodlers, ink slingers, pencil pushers, wordsmiths, and enthusiasts,

Next Tuesday, September 5, 2023, is our dinner gathering.  Hopefully, folks are still in town as the day before is Labor Day!

We gather at 6pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN.  Bring money for delicious food, bring art to show, bring a friend…

I’ll be there a little early to meet up with Dale Martin and help get some binding underway for the next issue of The Good, The Bad, and The Sketchy, featuring a cover by Devin Hodges!  If you want to help and have a long-reach stapler, bring it.  CLICK HERE to see what I’m talking about.

At that dinner meeting we’ll be a month away from the art due date of our next big artshow, “Drawing Blood!”  If you’re participating, be ready to bring it to the October 3 dinner meeting!

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

In other local news…

Crosstown Concourse
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Record Swap: 10 am – 5 pm
Zine Fest: 10 am – 2 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public

This is a two-day event, on Saturday, September 2, and Sunday, September 3.

Calling all music lovers, record collectors, zinesters, artists, punks, poets, and weirdos!

Memphis Listening Lab/WYXR’s Record Swap and Crosstown Arts’ eighth annual Zine Fest are coming together for one awesome event in the Crosstown Concourse Central Atrium!

Shop from records, CDs, cassettes, and other music-related merch and memorabilia curated by Memphis Listening Lab on the first floor of the Central Atrium. WYXR will be selling tees and other radio station merch.

On the second floor of the Central Atrium, Crosstown Arts will host its annual Zine Fest where guests can shop for zines created by local makers.

Haven’t made a zine? No problem! We’ll have a free zine-making table! There will also be a DIY zine-making station each day of the fest with demonstrations and supplies to help you get started on making your very own zine! Just bring your ideas! Think Memphis, music, literature, punk, DIY, handmade prints, photographs, whatever you want!

This event is FREE and ALL AGES so bring your friends and family!

More MSCA news…

We recently had another great Satartday at 901 Comics.

“Stay Tooned!‘ for info on our next Satartday. They[re free and open to the public- and we have free art supplies for everyone to use including paper, sketchcards, markers, pencils, and more.

Our next MSCA Drink-N-Draw will be Wednesday, October 18th at 901 Comics East from 6-8pm.

That will be followed up by the Halloween Comic Fest at 901 Comics East on Saturday, October 28th from noon-4pm. Think Free Comic Book Day but with a Halloween twist.

Artist/author and now Arkansas resident Jerry Bingham was recently in the M-town for an in-store appearance/signing at 901 Comics East on August 19th. I was able to talk toons with Jerry and get my “Batman: Son Of The Demon” graphic novel signed.

Next 901 East comic guest will be local creator and ad-man Charles Marshall on October 14th.

Some congrats are in order- on August 5th at the FedEx Forum two of our MSCA members graduated from the University of Memphis.

 

Nick Workman not only completed her masters, but was the only one in her MBA class to graduate with a 4.0GPA..!

And Kevin Thorn completed was awarded his PHD and is now “Dr. Nuggethead”!
Congrats to both of our Brainiacs.

And belated birthday wishes to our own Kevin L. Williams who has a  birhtday earlier this month!

Some sad news…

Arleen Sorkin, original voice actress and inspiration for Harley Quinn, has passed away August 24 at the age of 67 f rom multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system.

Arleen, who made her TV debut as an extra on “Saturday Night Live” in 1982, achieved major recognition when she joined the cast of the popular soap opera “Days of Our Lives” in 1984. Her portrayal of Calliope Jones Bradford earned her two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress at the Daytime Emmy Awards. Sorkin would go on to reprise the role on several occasions, leaving a lasting impression on fans. In 1992, Arleen Sorkin ventured into the world of voice acting, taking on the role of Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn in the animated series “Batman: The Animated Series” after inspiring Paul Dini to create the character while he home sick watching “Days Of Our Lives”- as well as helping to inspire many future episode storylines. Arleen’s wise-cracking and charismatic portrayal of the Joker’s henchwoman resonated with audiences. That led to invitations for future episodes and voiceovers in video game adaptations featuring Harley. She was married to Christopher Llyod– the writer/producer (not actor/Doc Brown).

This week I’ve had a few folks reach out to me on local artist Mitch Foust’s recent passing (August 25). He and I had our falling out years ago, and only spoke in passing a few times at local conventions. We’d worked together with A.G. Howard and Greg Cravens for many years back in the late ‘80s and ‘90s and I do still have a lot of good memories. That’s me, Mitch, and A.G. at the 1992 Memphis Fantasy Con in Memphis.

My heart goes out to all his family and friends. I know they are hurting, and was glas to see so many people recalling positive experiences at cons and their appreciation of his art. He was very popular in the Sci-fi/fantasy community, did dozens of comic and book cover art, was a co-creator/publisher of “The Last Generation” comic book series, and co-founded The Wild Hare/Animated Jack’s retail stores in Memphis. I haven’t heard an exact cause of death, but 59 is way too young to leave this world.

Here are the visitation and funeral arrangements details:
Jerry Michell Foust Obituary – Memphis, TN (dignitymemorial.com)

Hope yo see you all this next Tuesday night at Garibaldi’s.

ZineFest/Record Swap Coming Back To Crosstown Concourse In September

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

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

From Courtney…

Hi everyone!!!!

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

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

Courtney Fly
Event Coordinator
___________________________

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I’m Going To Midtown!” – Midtown Comic Con at Black Lodge and “Memphis Quarantine” at Crosstown Arts

This weekend Nicki Workman and I headed over to midtown to do some running around and just get out of the house. It was just too pretty to stay indoors!

Our first stop Saturday was The Art Center over on Union Avenue. It’s been a while since I’ve been by the shop.

I had to check out their stock of Copic markers. I saw online that they had them, and I’m always looking for another source.

I was also happy to see they still sell sketchcard blanks and physical comic pages for creating comic books, manga, and comic strips…sweet!

I dropped off some swag for their customers, and I bought a few of their stickers and some other art supplies. (You can see more about my shopping experience here on my Lin Workman site.)

Our next stop was the MidTown Con at Black Lodge over on Cleveland. It’s was their inaugural mini-con.

When we first walked in it was obvious that many others had this event on their list of things to do on Saturday. The place was much bigger on the inside than I had expected, and definitely much more attended than I had expected as well.

The first folks we recognized were Gabriel DeRanzo and MSCA’s Greg Cravens with “Stoned Ninja” comics.

Apparently due to hunger Greg got one of his prints confused with the Stoned Ninja gummies!

I also ran into fellow MSCA member Jason Negan. Due to work and the pandemic it’s been too long since we’ve talked in person.

I also got to run into some other local artists at the show, such as Devin Hodges/DIAST Cartoons and The Common Days of Cade comics.

Billups Allen and Cramhole zine.

And artist/cosplayer Nora Childers, who is part of the Indie Artists Market (just around the corner from Black Lodge). She’ll be a part of the 901 Heroes Fantasy Wars cosplay fashion show at Black Lodge on Sunday, April 24th from 5-10pm.

I saw a lot of toys, comics, art, apparel and more. They even had a concession stand- and restrooms which I really appreciated.

Nicki brought along her new mirrorless Sony to play with at the show. Thankfully she only wanted to shoot me with her camera, and not what she’s usually packin’ when we go around Memphis..!

We ran into local cosplayer supreme Kelldar…

…as well as a couple other cosplayers like this Mando and Harley. We had to cut out just as their costume contest got underway.

More and more folks were arriving and we felt the need to create a bit of space for them. Really glad the MidTown Con was such a success. I don’t know if the vendors did well, but I did see a lot of folks buying and selling. Overall it seems like folks are ready to get back to attending conventions and events.

Since we had parked at the Crosstown Concourse and Nicki had her camera, we decided to visit it next. It’s on Cleveland just half a block up from Black Lodge. Again, the weather was extremely nice out so we enjoyed the short walk.

We grabbed a few drinks at Farm Burger and walked around the Concourse.

We enjoyed checking out all the artwork hanging around on the walls.

We headed up the stairs to walk around the Crosstown Arts section on the second floor.

We noticed that there was an photography exhibit going on. It was “Memphis Quarantine” by photographer Jamie Harmon, who photographed 800 plus dwellings and over two thousand people between March 13th and May 31st of 2020- averaging 13 photoshoots a day lasting between 15-30 minutes..! Each home/person/family received a private web link with edited images they could download and have at no charge. (You can read more about the photo shoot here.)

There were photos everywhere we looked- all around the foyer area and in the large galleries. Two things I didn’t realize until last night. One- the show ended the next day, Sunday April 10th (today). And two- Jamie was actually hanging out in one of the areas. Had no idea what he looked like, and he was talking with folks so we tried not to bother them. Wish I had known both then!

If you missed the show, check out the website where they are doing preorders for the Memphis Quarantine book at www.memphisquarantine.com ($70ea).

When we were at Farm Burger earlier I noticed the guy behind the register was wearing a Memphis Listening Lab tee on. I asked him what that was and he said it was upstairs.

Yep, it wasn’t here the last time I had stopped in at the Concourse. Here’s the scoop on MLL–

Memphis Listening Lab is a curated collection of music and music history, a forum for music-related talks and performances, and a music education, appreciation, and experimentation space located in Crosstown Concourse. The MLL mission is to provide the community with opportunities to study, research, and enjoy popular music by way of a steadily expanding catalog of resources that represent the rich musical heritage of Memphis.
You can find out more about MLL here and buy some merch here.

We headed back downstairs to turn in Nicki’s photo pass. This was the first time I’d seen someone behind the boards at the radio station. Usually I’m there a bit later, and I’m not sure if they were in the studio during the pandemic or not.

After we left Crosstown, we headed over to The Cellar in Bartlett, and then over to Comics & Collectibles off Poplar. It’s been about a month since we’d been to either shop.

I’ve got sketchcovers and sketchcards for sale at The Cellar – each hand drawn and done in markers. MSCA member Lonnie Easterling has some sketchcovers for sale there, and I noticed another artist had added their sketchcards as well.

I saw some copies of The Dragon Templar by Brad Starnes and MSCA’s Dale Martin, sitting next to a Fathom comic with a Skoot Starnes cover, and just above some of our MSCA The Good, The Bad, and the Sketchy zine on the shelf at The Cellar. Later at Comics & Collectibles we saw copies of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa by Martheus Antone Wade, Janet Wade, and Kevin L. Williams .

If you need acrylic stands for your collectibles be sure to check out Charles Ettinger‘s at The Cellar, or on his Etsy shop- www.etsy.com/shop/LaserheadStudios.

You can always find freebie MSCA and Drawing Funny podcast swag at Comics & Collectibles, The Cellar, and 901 Comics in the Copper/Young neighborhood.

Hope you’ve all had a great weekend. If you were set up at the MidTown Con I hope it was a success for ya!

Lin

 

Black Lodge Video
405 N Cleveland St.
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 424-1514
blacklodgememphis.com

 

Crosstown Arts
Crosstown Concourse
1350 Concourse Ave #280
Memphis, TN 38104
crosstownarts.org

The Art Center
1636 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 276-6321
The Cellar: Tabletop Games & Comics
2737 Bartlett Blvd
Bartlett, TN 38134
(901) 382-8623

901 Comics (Cooper/Young)
2162 Young Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 421-8819
901-comics.business.site

Comics & Collectibles
4730 POPLAR AVENUE #2
MEMPHIS, TN 38117
901-683-7171
memphiscomics.com

Of Monkeys And MONSTERS!

From MSCA member and “The Good, The Bad, and the Sketchy” editor/publisher, Dale Martin…

Greetings, comic readers & art fans! I hope your fall (or your “autumn”, as the case may be) has gotten off to a good start! And not as busy as the start of mine…

It seems like a lot of opportunities with short deadlines dropped in my lap since I wrote the last of these newsletters. They’ve all been good things to take part in, but I really had to hit the ground running after my summer vacation, and things haven’t really let up yet. I’ll tell you more about those following this month’s Watusi comic. Or NOT Watusi comic, since the overwhelming number of you wanted to see what lab monkey Mitchell would do when the Professor and Watusi rushed off on an emergency errand. Unfortunately, he was about to step on the remnant of Watusi’s meteorite…


I may regret offering more than just two options this time! Be kind with any suggestions…

‘What’s next? GIANT Mitchell? [other] Mitchell? or Watusi?’

MONSTERS: MARKETS AND MELEES!

I’m happy to again be part of one of the most exciting popups in Memphis: Monster Market! It’s operating as an online only store again this year, and is already racking up a surprising number of “SOLD OUT” buttons, so if you’re interested, check it out sooner rather than later! As always, it runs only thru 10/31.

After a soft debut at last month’s Memphis Zine Fest 6 (my first IRL event, which actually went pretty well), my new minicomic Monster Melee is getting its wide release as part Monster Market. I think it will be a good fit. Or at least as good as can be in a virtual shop where people can’t pick it up and play with it…

You can read more about Monster Melee on my blog.

BULLSEYE: ARROW RETAIL SHOP

I’ve been trying to find an ongoing retail spot in Memphis to carry my prints & merchandise for some time, and that’s finally a reality! Arrow Creative celebrated the grand opening of their new location in September with (among other things) the opening of their new retail shop … and I’m happy to share that I’m one of the inaugural group of artists in that shop! It’s a great looking space, located just off Central at 653 Philadelphia Street, open Thursdays 10-4 and 10-6 on Fridays & Saturdays. Stop in and shop for a wide variety of goods– including art, jewelry, soap, hot sauce, and more– all from Memphis creators!

ON THE DRAWING BOARD…

I’ve been doing a number of prints focused on Memphis’ musical legacy this year. These next two– that I plan to finish up this month to debut at my November event– spotlight storied recording studios Stax and Ardent!

SHOW & SALE DATES

I’m on “tap” to be one of the artists at Memphis Flyer’s Crafts and Drafts on November 13th. It’s been a great event in the past, and I’m looking forward to it, even while a little antsy about what the COVID situation might be like then. But, since that’s out of my control, I’ll try not to obsess over it. More on Crafts and Drafts (along with a proper spotlight on my new project, The Dragon Templar) next time!

In addition to Monster Market & Arrow, you can always shop a selection of my art & comics via my online storefronts:

  • TeePublic: the go-to spot to get my work printed on T-shirts & other merch! 35% off sale dates are scheduled for October 13-17 & 27-31; TeePublic’s disclaimer is that “site-wide sales are subject to change, so the dates on the calendar are tentative”, but they don’t change them often. And when sales are on, you can’t miss it when you visit the site! 
  • Square: your place for direct-from-the-artist comics, prints, & notecards. 
  • Selz: your site for instant downloadable digital editions of my comics. While I don’t enjoy them as much as the printed comics, they’re good in a pinch. And some of them are FREE, too!

As always, thank you for your interest in my work. I hope you have a happy & safe October, 
– dale.

Dale Martin

Creating comics featuring his original characters since 1982, Dale is a Memphis-basedartist, writer, & publisher. He’s best known for a comic you’ve probably never heard of, Watusi the Talking Dog; fortunately, you can rectify that at www.watusithetalkingdog.com.

Inspired by Tim Corrigan and the small press scene of the mid-80s, Dale still enjoys self-publishing his comics. Crafting the finished form of a project is as much a part of his artistic process as the words or the pictures. In addition to his self-published work, Dale has had comics published in anthologies across the country.

Websites: watusithetalkingdog.com
smearysoapboxpress.com
Twitter: @smearysoapbox
Instagram: @smearysoapbox

Back To Virtual Until 2022

Hey, gang-

I have a quick few bits of MSCA news for you. First up is some meeting updates from our Prez Kevin L. Williams…

Hi, all-

With the latest details on Covid-19/Delta Variant from the Shelby County Health Department, I am going to cancel further in-person gatherings until January 2022. We will still gather digitally (via Z00m).

I look forward to seeing you all in a week at the zoom meeting!!  Have a great week, keep well, and keep safe

Sling that ink!
Push those pencils!
Craft those words!
Doodle those digitals!

Your Prez,
Kev

For the link to join in on the Zoom meeting or to join our mailing list contact Kevin at midsouthcartoonists (at) gmail (dot) com.

Hopefully if all goes well between now and the end of the year we will be back in person in the big room at Garibaldi’s Pizza near the U of M on the first Tuesday of January, 2022.

Here is some MSCA member news…

Member Jim Palmer let us know that he’s acting in “The Secret Garden” starting this month at Theatre Memphis. We all know it’s no secret that Jim and his wife JoLynn are terrific thespians!

Jim says, “I play the “crusty ol’ gardener” BEN WEATHERSTAFF, (a nice, but small role).  Of course, ALL this could change due to Covid, but, for now, this is the plan.”

The Secret Garden                

Next Stage

Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Adapted and Directed by Jason Spitzer

Touching and Sentimental. Foul-tempered, young Mary Lennox is an orphan sent from India to live in her distant family’s gloomy mansion on the desolate English moor. Once there, she discovers a sickly cousin who has never seen the light of day, a magical boy who can talk to the animals, a mysterious uncle haunted by the memory of his dead wife, and a long forgotten, secret garden hidden behind a locked door. This new adaptation of a timeless classic will open the door to the innermost places of your heart.

THE SECRET GARDEN is scheduled to open Fri. September 24 at THEATRE MEMPHIS, & continue Sept. 25, 26, 29, 30, Oct. 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,&10.  All evening performances will now begin at 7:30pm & Sunday afternoon shows at 2:00pm.

For information contact Box-office at 901•682•8323 or email theatrememphis.org .

The MSCA would like to welcome cartoonist Tim Jones to our group!

Tim is a self-syndicated comic strip artist from Rhode Island where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Cartooning for over 20 years, he created his comic strip, Sour Grapes, in 2013, which is currently published in multiple newspapers throughout Rhode Island, Southern Massachusetts, California and Texas. Tim is a member of ARIA (Association of Rhode Island Authors) and a member of The National Cartoonists Society.

You can read his comic at sourgrapescomic.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

I (Lin) got laid off this summer from my printing day job. Since most of what we printed was event and school related orders, COVID had caused printing orders to slow to a trickle. I was able to pick up a part time job working at Area 51 Ice Cream a couple weeks ago. The new/larger location is still on Commerce Street in Hernando, MS. It’s within walking distance of our house, so I don’t have to risk my life driving on I-55 and 240 every day- well, unless they need me to fill in any at their Crosstown Concourse location! I’m also working on some new tee designs for them and will post those later.

Nicki and I have known the Cubbage family who run A51 for years now. We stopped in for Nicki’s birthday right after they opened and have been frequent customers ever since. Oh, I’m not the only “Lin” at the shop- their alien mascot shares my name. The ice cream is scratch made in-house and several of the flavors feature produce grown locally. Great seasonal flavors, shakes, drinks, and baked goods are available. Check out their Facebook page for their daily menus, or stop by and sample some.

I recently dropped off my latest sketchcover to The Cellar out in Bartlett. It’s a “Suicide Squad” Polka-Dot Man comic with a wraparound hand-drawn cover. Done in pencil, Copic markers, black Pigma Micron pens, white Gelly Roll pen, and white Prismacolor pencil.

Lonnie Easterling’s two sketchcovers (top left and center) and my three- Polka-Dot Man, Dr. Who, and The Riddler are for sale at the shop.

I also still have several of my sketchcards that are available for sale- both official artist returns from companies like Topps, Crytozoic, and RRParks Cards and personal sketch cards drawn on my own custom blanks. The profits from those sales help fund my comics and art supplies habits..! I recently did sketchcards for an Ultraman card set, and am finishing up a Zorro set this week.

Be sure to check out the MSCA Zine The Good, The Bad, And The Sketchy at The Cellar- issues 1-6 are available for sale.

Don’t forget to snag you some free MSCA, Drawing Funny Podcast, and Memphis Ghostbusters swag while you’re there. It’s near the front door. Lots of stickers and buttons to choose from.

The Cellar: Tabletop Games & Comics

2737 Bartlett Blvd

Bartlett, TN 38134

(901) 382-8623

ComicCellarOnline.com

Hope you all are having a Happy 901 Day!

Lin

News On New “Drawing Funny” Podcast News Episode

Hey, gang-

We’ve got a new news episode of “Drawing Funny“- Episode 27 – “MSCA News Update”.

Show Notes: This episode is a semi-shorter one, but lots of MSCA news like Greg Cravens‘ “Hubris” Patreon, Kevin “Nuggethead” Thorn‘s new political hat in Hernando, MS, the updated MSCA links page, thoughts on next year’s MSCA 35th anniversary (1987-2022), info on upcoming MSCA monthly meet-ups – plus local events like Free Comic Book Day, The Covington Comic Con, Disney exhibit at Graceland, and Artists’ Link art show at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Also a little bit of discussion of this year’s Superman Celebration and Supergirl Radio podcast interview, “The Suicide Squad” movie, and my recent sketchcards and unemployment situation- yay, fun…

Stay safe, and stay tooned- but mostly stay safe..!

BTW: If you want to be a part of the show, would like to have your comics project, event, or podcast featured on a future episode, or have MSCA member/Memphis art scene news please give me a yell. 30-60sec MP3 commercials are welcome, too.

You can contact me at:

podcast(at)drawingfunny(dot)com

You can hear my “Drawing Funny” promo spot here.

Hope to talk toons with ya!

Lin

.

$upport You Local Cartoonist$


Our own Greg Cravens has a Patreon for his webcomic “Hubris”. Patreon levels begin at $1 a month!

“As the newspapers dwindle, and webcomics are the go-to for the daily comics, Hubris! is your safe-for-work/family comic. Aside from four comic strips a week (at this point), there are links to outdoorsy videos, cartooning lessons and video, absurd product reviews by people that, frankly, abuse their outdoor/recreational gear just the way YOU do, and silly stories about mishaps out-of-doors. Join Team Hubris, read, enjoy, then go outside and play, for heaven’s sake.”

There are several different sponsorship levels, some include getting original comic strip art and caricatures by Greg.

Check out the Greg goodies at:
www.patreon.com/Hubris

You can find copies of his books in bookstores and online at Amazon, and see several examples of Greg’s advertising, illustration, syndicated strips and webcomics work on his site:

www.cravenscartoonist.com


Greg also has his comic book “Stoned Ninja” available for sale at 901 Comics.

While you’re at 901, be sure to pick up one of our  MSCA zines, or Dale Martin’s “Watusi” zines. You can also pick up the MSCA zines in town at Comics & Collectibles and The Cellar.


At The Cellar you can also purchase sketchcards by me (Lin Workman), and sketchcovers by me and Lonnie Easterling.

Each are hand-drawn and one of a kind. There are both official artist returns from companies like Topps, Cryptozoic, Breygent, and RRParks Cards ($100ea)…

…and personal sketchcards done on my own custom card blanks ($25ea).

I’ll be adding more of them and hopefully soon we can get back to drawing these at the comic shop and/or at Michaels again.

We are planning to be at the Woodruff-Fontaine House next month, and back at Garibaldi’s Pizza starting in January (fingers crossed), so be sure to get Greg to scribble on your comics at one of our MSCA monthly meet-ups!

Lin

Three Amigos- Our Latest In Person Monthly Meeting

Hey, gang-

Well, this last Tuesday was the 1st Tuesday of the month which means it was time for our monthly MSCA meet-up. The weather was amazing- especially for the first week of August in Memphis! Kevin Williams, Greg Cravens, and I met up in a shaded area of Overton Park. We had a fun time talkin’ toons and swapping freelance war stories.

The next in-person meeting will be at the Woodruff-Fontaine House on Tuesday, September  7th at 6pm. We’ll be meeting outdoors under one of the many shade trees on the grounds, so bring a chair, something to eat/drink, and any art, books, swag, etc. you’d like to share/show with everyone. I’ll have some freebie “Drawing Funny”swag to share.

Beginning in January we’ll be meeting in person back at Garibaldi’s Pizza – fingers crossed!

2022 will be the MSCA’s 35th anniversary. This was the promo flyer for the first meeting way back in March, 1987- art by Jack Cassady.

What would you like to see the group do to celebrate this milestone..? Any suggestions on making those things happen? Any upcoming 2022 events we could participate in as a group?

Bring your wish list and suggestions, plus any ways you think we could make them happen to our next meeting and let’s discuss the future of the MSCA.

Speaking of upcoming events, Dale Martin shared this Zine Fest news from the Crosstown Concourse…

“The 6th annual Memphis Zine Fest will be held inside the Central Atrium of Crosstown Concourse for two days, Saturday, September 4th and Sunday, September 5th. The event times will be 10-4 pm and this year, the Zine Fest will be in conjunction with the first annual Memphis Listening Lab/WYXR Record Swap event. There will be a lot going on that weekend and it should be a lot of fun!”

We’re planning on setting up a group table at the event. If any members would like to take a turn manning the table please give Dale or Kevin a yell. It will be the weekend before our next monthly meet-up in September. Should be a great way to promote our group and move some MSCA “The Good, The Bad, & The Sketchy” Zines..!

BTW- last Saturday, July 31st Nicki and I made a day trip up to Metropolis, IL for the annual Superman Celebration. I’ll have a blog post about our adventures in the home town of Superman on my Have Geek, Will Travel blog, as well as doing a recap on “Drawing Funny” soon, but you can see/hear us on the Supergirl Radio podcast or their YouTube channel. We were interviewed at the Celebration by Supergirl Radio co-host Rebecca Johnson. Our segment is towards the end of the episode, but you can see us behind Rebecca in the episode video on YouTube and Facebook.

Next year the Superman Celebration should be back to its normal weekend of the second full weekend of June.

That’s all for this update- stay \S/uper!

Lin

 

Sweet Things In Store For You At Local Comic Shops

This just in…the latest issue of “The Good, The Bad, and the Sketchy” zine! Issue #6 has a Memphis theme and features a cover by MSCA member Charles Ettinger. You can purchase a copy at any of the 3 local comic shops here in Memphis- Comics & Collectibles, 901 Comics, and The Cellar.

If you’ve missed out, there are still copies of issues #1-5 available, too.

While you are there be sure to snag some free swag– MSCA, Drawing Funny podcast, and Memphis Ghostbusters items are available while they last- buttons, pins, stickers, magnets, and more.

At The Cellar you can purchase some original art by MSCA members!

There are hand-drawn sketchcovers…

…and hand-drawn sketchcards available, including official artist returns from sets like Star Wars, Transformers, Mars Attacks, and more.

Two new Ultraman artist returns from RRParks Cards were recently added to the inventory of sketchcards.

Each is a one of a kind original art piece drawn by Lin Workman (me).

I did 10 sketchcards for the set, plus the two artist returns. You can see how I created them and others on my site- linworkman.com.

April 2nd was World Autism Awareness Day, and April is Autism Awareness Month.
Southaven Arts Council is pleased to exhibit artwork by artists who participate in Little House Art Project, which is sponsored by The Arc Northwest Mississippi, in the M.R. Davis Southaven Public Library gallery. The Arc Northwest Mississippi is an advocacy organization for individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Gallery is open to the public during normal library business hours.

BTW- if you are interested in starting up a Kickstarter or other crowdfunding campaign for your own art project, check out some of the Drawing Funny podcast episodes. We will have other episodes on Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, and Patreon coming up. You can find links to other comics related podcasts on our MSCA links page.