Tumblr

So I'm sure a lot of people are familiar with the blogging site Tumblr, but I just want to put it out there that I now have a Tumblr blog for art as well, which will be updated more frequently with casual doodles and fanart and other tidbits that won't be found here. So if you'd like to see that, take a look!

Mimi Cee Draws

In other news, I've started up a sketch comic called "Brutal". It's basically an honest portrayal of my everyday life. This is also hosted via Tumblr, as they have nice webcomic layouts and lots of useful functions. It doesn't hurt that it's free, either.

Brutal

Here's a quick preview of what's up on Brutal:

Outlines

In case anyone wondered what it looks like when I start the rough outline for a comic. Spoiler alert: it's this.

Aftershock

So! Remember the earthquakes in Japan? I know you all do. This summer (we're looking at July or August) a comic anthology entitled "Aftershock" will be digitally released by Topshelf. I am a contributor, so I'd like to take the time to tell you all to buy it! Proceeds go towards relief for the earthquakes, which people still need (it's only been a couple of months).

Here's a page from the 3-page short I submitted:

Finish to Start

Finished up a concept illustration for the Maiz project!

And because I'm addicted to showing process, here are the stages in reverse order: flat colors, linework, and pencils.

Maiz again

I'm busy working on what is currently my most ambitious photoshop project yet (and it is long overdue), so here are some more sketches in the meantime, all having to do with my current comic in the works.

I considered this sketch for a postcard, actually, but ended up going with a different illustration.


Here are some more character designs. Above is Marcus, the faithful dog of the group. He was a stray before he met Maiz, and so is the precocious type. He's also a music lover. Below is a secondary character who will appear in the first story arc, though I haven't thought up a name for her. Her village worships a giant macaw with sapphire teeth, who I will probably be talking about much more later on.

Maiz

So, my computer died quite a while ago, and while it's not fixed it IS mysteriously up and running right now. I thought I had lost all the files for my website, so this is tremendous news, seeing as I had the chance to back it all up onto my flash drive.

In the past few months I started writing a new comic, and drawing up a lot of character designs for it (I'm just now getting into environment designs and straight-up script writing and such). I won't say too much about it, except it's an adventure comic heavily inspired by Mayan mythology and Guatemala.

So here are some designs I've been working on for the two main characters... I thought it would be interesting to show the progress I made from earlier designs to what I have now.



This is the main character, who I'll call Maiz for now-- since according to Mayan mythology people were formed out of corn. I may or may not change it. Maiz is the inspiration for the whole story, since I wanted to do an adventure with a chubby female lead. I feel like there's practically nothing out there featuring an overweight female character, and the few things I have seen are frankly insulting. But I won't get into my rage right now. Here, have some more Maiz:



I've gotten into the habit of sometimes sketching with ink, and I really like the results... Although it is sometimes disconcerting to not be able to erase anything. But they're just sketches anyway.



Here's Maiz's faithful sidekick, who I'm calling the Blue Monkey for now (again, subject to change) after the Mayan astrological sign. As you can probably tell, the comic will be filled with anthropomorphic animals. I'll stop here for now, but expect to see more work related to this project in the future.

Jess and Lizzie in: "Hey Jess?" and SPX interview

So SPX was a lot of fun, and overall successful in my mind. I'll definitely sign up again for next year! One of the many cool things that happened to me during the weekend: I was interviewed by a feminist podcast/blog, Fully Engaged Feminism! Here's the link:

Fully Engaged Feminism: Interview with Marie Condenzio

I apologize in advance for the nervous laughter and constant clapping (can you tell I don't do these kinds of things often?) Also, I didn't recognize my own voice at first. I sound so much more high-pitched in my own ears.

Anyway, here's the second Jess and Lizzie comic, which was in the compilation we talked about (and you can see the booklet in all its hand-made, stapled glory in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture on the blog page).

And there you have it!

So, my checklist is getting pretty full. We have:

1) Continue Jess and Lizzie Series

2) SPX

3) ???

4) World Domination

So far, so good.

News: Small Press Expo

Well, I have some exciting news for everyone!

I will be an exhibitor at this year's Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD. The Expo is September 26th and 27th, and you can buy admission for the weekend or for a single day if you like.

In addition to touting some completely new comics, which you will be able to see the inklings of up here as they reach a finished state, I will also be selling printed books of Bad Grammar: Chapter 1. This in particular is exciting news for me.

So, if you're in the area, please stop on by to see me, and of course all the tons of wonderfully talented people who will also be selling their craft. Or, if you're not, buy a plane ticket now. I know I'll certainly be breaking the bank, with all the comics I'll be buying!

Jess and Lizzie in: "Ummm..."

Here we have Jess and Lizzie, who are here to teach you about the dreaded "Curse." But in a somewhat tasteful fashion-- at least that's what I would like to believe. I've decided that I'm going to need a lot more practice painting comic pages before I try to do it on a deadline again (it took me a long time), but once I get faster at it I'll be doing a lot more acrylic comics. In the meantime, the further adventures of Jess and Lizzie will most likely be in photoshop. And yes, they will have further adventures. Peace out.

Thump

This is "Thump," a comic about the trials and tribulations of roommates sharing a bunk bed. Everyone who reads this says I don't understand men, but how do they know that these people aren't gay or related or something? They're not, but I never tell anyone that when I show them the comic. Maybe I just believe that somewhere out there, a gentleman exists.

Anyway, enjoy this comic, even though I did it before I got good at hand lettering.

Hansel and Gretel

I had this idea for a series of comics about a spider who was in love with a dumb dog... But this is the only comic that ever came of it. It's "Hansel and Gretel" because Gretel was my childhood dog, who just died of old age last October. If you have a dog, hug it right now, and never let go.

Bad Grammar Chapter 1 Cover

Just wanted to post the cover to Chapter One of my comic in progress, Bad Grammar. I'll be posting the pages on a blog dedicated specifically to the comic:

http://badgrammarmc.blogspot.com

I wish I could have used "badgrammar," but that was already taken by an actual grammar blog. Darn the luck.

Update: Just wanted to add the final version of the cover to this post.