Monday 1st September 1941

It's about time I shared this. Part of the Paper Jam Comics Collective Newcastle Stories and that anthology.

Thought Bubble

This year at Thought Bubble I'm behind the Newcastle Science Comic table along with the awesome Lydia Wysocki and the amazing Paul Thompson. We'll have copies of Asteroid Belter to give away AND a lovely selection of work from our contributors.

I'm looking forward to meeting said contributors in the flesh. Yay.

I realise that I haven't mentioned here that I am an editor on the Newcastle Science Comic and online editor for the web based stuffs. There, now mentioned.

See you on Saturday and Sunday in Leeds folks.

Samurai Crab

A 24 minute comic I did at Paper Jam the other week.

BALTIC Artist's Book Fair 14th & 15th June 2013

I'll be at this book fair. I've been working on a bit of a (not so) secret project for the book fair. I'm going to reveal some images of my prototype. Please ignore the binding, at this stage it's not meant to look pretty.

The final book will have a few scenes like this, all based on burlesque acts that I have seen perform, or want to see perform very soon. Giving a bit of life and reality to the silhouettes. I have learned from this prototype that I need thicker borders to achieve the solid results I want. That's what prototypes are for.

I'll also have a handful of mini comics with me. This will all be for sale. The paper-cut burlesque artbook will be a limited edition.

See you all there folks.

Things Happening

There are things happening!

First up on Saturday the 8th December we have the triumphant return of the Canny Comic Con.

What is the Canny Comic Con? It's a small festival of comics and illustration right here in Newcastle. Taking place in the Newcastle City Library, all day Saturday and free to all. There'll be activities, talks, panels and more comics than you can shake a long armed stapler at. What's not to like?

And if one day of awesome isn't enough, well we've got two!

The Make & Mend Christmas Market is kicking off this Sunday at 11.30am. I'm very excited about this one, it's the first time Make & Mend has returned to the Star and Shadow Cinema since I took on organising it. There are some truly amazing stallholders coming along to the last Make & Mend before Christmas.

Wonderful woolly Winter warmers for snug outings in the snow. Soft toys and handmade children's accessories for your younger ones.

Beautiful jewellery and accessories for all tastes including steampunk, vintage and felted creations.

Handmade textiles, wonderfully scented tea-cup candles, prints and illustrations to decorate the home. Plus Christmas cards and decorations to help get you into the festive spirit.

Comics for all and amazing luxury neck wear for the stylish tie wearer in your life.

I did a thing

On 24 hour comic day I created a comic. It was 24 pages long, it made enough sense to be called a story and had characters in it and everything. I'm happy with the result. Above is a little preview of the comic.

I didn't ink the comic though I would like to, I'm saying this counts within the rules of cleaning up for printing. A comic in blue pencil won't print up too well. I'll put up a few more images once I've taken them.

Anyway, here's a thing:

How Britt Survived 24 Hour Comic Day Successfully

1. Bring lined (or squared paper) for planning, planning on plain paper which should be used for drawing the comic can lead to problems down the line, also squares make the layout stage simple.
2. Spend the first 2 hours on your plot, write notes, words, themes. 
3. Go out while it's still light, have healthy but filling food (I had sushi for lunch and noodles for dinner).
4. Spend another hour on your page by page breakdown and supporting thumbnails, this means that when you get to 2am and have a major motivation issue you don't have to think. 
5. Every 4 pages take a break.
6. Drink tea, lots of tea. Good tea. Green tea. Matt where did you get that tea?
7. Midnight snack, balance your sweet and savoury, sugar rushes will not serve you well.
8. Music. 
9. A sleeping bag for warmth... followed by a quick 2 hour nap at 4am - I'd finished.
10. Mess about for the last 2 hours with music and inks.

Note: this method is how I survived 24 Hour Comic Day, it's not the only method and it may not work for you. Sleeping before the end may lead to being unable to finish for some. 

2011

The new year is well under way. That doesn't mean 2011 is forgotten. It was a big year. A lot of things happened.

December

By the time December hit I'd already been making Christmas for two months, this was a bit of a new experience. I must say it was well worth it thought. I thoroughly enjoyed making Christmas cards, especially the large order I got for my snowflake design. 

December also saw the first Canny Comic Con, in Newcastle City Library. And the wonderful reunion that was the Made in Newcastle Christmas Market.

November

I had a table at Thought Bubble during this month. I shared it with Paul Thompson and Cuttlefish. It was super awesome. Thought Bubble never disappoints. I intend to be there next year. 

October

I went to Prague with the absolutely wonderful Paul. This was the second time in my adult life that I had left the county and only the fourth time total. I love visiting new places and am not going to stop any time soon. I always have a soft spot for October. It's got Halloween in it for a start. During this October I visited the Alexandra Business Park with the #npwalk group. I also did my first Designers Marketplace. And a lot of preparing for Thought Bubble.

September

In a sort of back to school tradition September was all about change, doing new things and exploring. I drew robots. I started work on my current comic project, which is almost ready to show some development work from. Maybe. Until then I shall say no more on the matter. 

August

The month of the bicycle. The month of walking through fields of flowers as high as my knees and eating sandwiches outside.

July

All about drawing, making cards and more drawing. I went to my first Dr Sketchy's. It was lovely.

June

The first month without the Made in Newcastle shop. The month I really started to use my etsy shop.The month I learned a lot of things. 

May

Paul and I went to Bristol Expo and bought comics. We explored Bristol and then went South to stay a few days in the New Forest. It was lovely. We were nearly attacked by wild horses. We then went further South  to Bournemouth and explored the coast a bit. Holidays. Yay. 

At the very end of the month Made in Newcastle left Grainger Street. 

April

I visited Beamish with the #npwalk lot. We had fun, playing with the shops, the trains and the trams. 

March

During March The Paper Jam Comics Collective launched the long awaited History And That with an exhibition of History inspired comics at Made in Newcastle. March was pretty cool as the Maker Faire also happened, which was part of Newcastle Science Festival, a week of clever stuff. 

February

Barcelona. My first holiday with Paul. 

January

It was cold. It was very cold. At least Made in Newcastle was full of warmth and smiles.

And that was the year. Woohoo. 

Canny Comic Con Report

The Canny Comic Con happened on the 10th of December 2011.
I would like to think it set a challenge for the larger cons to give you more awesome for your money (we did it for free).

First of all a huge thanks to Alexi Conman for taking the reins and making the CCC come into being. Good work sir. We're all proud of you. Also thanks to the wonderful Newcastle City Library who gave us shelter and tables to sell our wares from.

Now. There were so many awesome people involved both in front of and behind the scenes that I fear I would never mention them all, so instead I bring you the rest of the day in the form of pictures.

Sticker Map

The map for the sticker hunt at Canny Comic Con. That happens to be tomorrow.

On the map:
Nigel Auchterlounie
Art Heroes
Gary Bainbridge
Ben Clark
Cuttlefish
Jack Fallows

Ingi Jensson

Paul Thompson

Readers of the Lost Art

Travelling Man

And there will be many more at the con. 

Canny Comic Con

This Saturday is the Canny Comic Con. I will be there drawing pictures, selling paper goodies and running a little sticker hunt. Fun for all ages. I will share the sticker map with you all very soon but for now here's some more info on the CCC. 

http://cannycomiccon.blogspot.com/

The Canny Comic Con is a little festival of comics and sequential art. It will be held at Newcastle City Library all day on Saturday 10th December 2011.

Comics, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels, manga, sequential art - however you want to refer to it, the CCC wants to celebrate everything about telling stories in pictures. Whilst it won't be on the same scale as some of the bigger UK comic conventions, we're going to have a full range of activities, including: talks and panel discussions, workshops, and a hall of stalls where you can meet some of the finest comic-creating talent from the region and beyond.

Whatever your age or experience, whether you read comics, make comics, or are just interested to know a little more, we hope to have something to interest you.

Entry to the CCC will be FREE. That's right, no charge. You don't need to book tickets, you don't need to pay us anything. Come along and support the biggest comic event to be held in the North East for over fifteen years.

High Bridge Christmas Arts Bazaar

For a bit of a warm up before Made in Newcastle's very own Christmas Market a few of us (including myself) will be appearing at the Highbridge Art Bazaar this Saturday. It should be a great day, there are many talented folk involved. 

The Facebook Event for your RSVPing and calendar needs: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176306775790337

Where to find me in December:

Made in Newcastle Christmas Market on Sunday the 4th December.

The Canny Comic Con on Saturday the 10th December.

After that who knows.

Hope to catch you all at one event or another, or all. All would be awesome. 

Thought Bubble

This time next week I will be at Thought Bubble. In preparation I have been busy putting together cards and the like.

These lovely designs will be appearing on my speech bubble cards, which I hope you will all like. I am also putting together a couple sets of blank speech bubbles so that you can make your own live photo comic. These sets will come with a link to a flickr group where you can share your comic and see others. It should be good fun. As long as I get them finished.

I will have copies of my 24 hour comic done in 2010, Not Mushroom for Thought  and a little collection of mini comics. Unfortunately my current comic project is still at the script stage and will not be ready for this years con. I do aim to have it done by Hi-Ex, this will be my first Hi-Ex, good thing I'll have Paul to show me the ropes.

On that note my table buddies for Thought Bubble are Paul Thompson and Cuttlefish. Many of the other Paper Jam Comics Collective regulars will be present. If last year is anything to go by you will probably find most of the Newcastle comics scene on the one row, throwing paper planes and challenging passing artists to 24 minute comics.

It should be good fun. Hope to see you there.

Not Mushroom for Thought

My very own 24 Hour Comic Day contribution Not Mushroom for Thought is finally up in my shop for one and a half of your English Pounds. If you feel like supporting my comic endeavours and at the same time getting yourself a good read then head over there and pick it up!

Paperwork...

And now a word of wisdom about the danger of shoving over unmarked boxes: