The Corner of Some Foreign Field

Yeah, wow. The updates, they were going along well for some time, weren't they? And then — it's November and last post was our anniversary and hey look a comic I lettered is posted to read for free:



I've collaborated with writer Martin Hayes on a few comics now, I always enjoy working with him; his Gentlemen Ghouls with artist Alfie Gallagher was one of my favoritest lettering projects ever. When they approached me with a weird folk horror short, I didn't even think twice.

It's beautiful, subtle, haunting. For reals, it was as I was wrapping up and searched the opening caption to make sure the spelling was right that I learned the backstory, which only makes it all better.

Drawing the Opera

Um, wow, over a week ago on a beautiful Thursday evening, we went to the dress rehearsal for Vanessa at Santa Fe Opera. Of course, one simply must tailgate.



Members of 7000 BC were invited to draw the performance as a part of their "opera meets art" initiative. Was in the back of my head, but luckily Jeff remembered in time for the last rehearsal and arranged it all. Turned out to be a great choice — Vanessa is generally described as being heavily influenced by Seven Gothic Tales, but this production was more film noir-influenced. A minimal set, limited color palette, evocative lighting design made it really visual.







We had great seats, space to spread out. Rehearsal made an even more relaxed, casual atmosphere. The setting itself, of course, is just amazing.

Jeff was there, ran into an Albuquerque-based artist he knew, and Israel joined us with a giant drawing pad. Even I filled a few pages with gesture drawings and notes.

Turned out be an amazing way to experience the opera. In, say, the same way that taking notes at a lecture focuses your attention, I think I wound up concentrating more on the performance. Hopefully again next season.

Bram's On About Comics Again

I got to offer some thoughts on comics as a prelude to this Santa Fe Reporter article on local (and formerly local) creators.

Great to be drawn by the enormously talented Turner; I'd just received the images of that tintype photo shoot when Alex requested a reference photo. Next thing I know, there I am in fencing gear on the cover.

Lynda Barry at The Lensic

Last Tuesday, we got to see cartoonist Lynda Barry speak at The Lensic, part of the ongoing free lecture series presented by Santa Fe Institute.



Turns out, the now-president of SFI was the one who hired her to teach at Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery; her book Syllabus comes from her experiences there, and I drew heavily on it when I was designing my advanced comics-making class.

She spoke for about 90 minutes, energetic and funny even after a day leading a workshop at SFI. She's doing some big thinking about image and creativity, her presentation covered some of the things she covered in Syllabus and ranged even further before concluding with a party trick. Inspiring and insightful.

Back To School

Well, in two days. But some big preparations, the first time I'll be teaching an advanced class.

Bram Talks Comics, As If He Ever Stops

Got to speak with Albuquerque's alt-newsweekly The Alibi about 7000 BC, but it moved on to my thoughts about what makes comics unique, and some of my favorite stuff going on in the medium today.

The View From This Year's New Year's

As usual, it was an evening in, by the fire, snacky dinner, reading.

One more, because Dog Pictures!

One for Raph

"… but I'm a puppy of three — of two again. The snow on my snout is a baptism."

Comics Class in the Jackalope

Photo by Kyleigh Carter

The Creating Comics class I teach is the subject of an article in Santa Fe University of Art and Design's student-run Jackalope Magazine. My independent study student's also interviewed about her webcomic project.

Then there was that snow we got last weekend …

Awoke last Saturday to snow,* not at all like the beautiful day it is outside now, let's take look … ohhhh.



Last week's melted before noon. Probably did in most of, if not all, the apricots. I think we're OK with that.





Yesterday, at Fuller Lodge for the Los Alamos Book Fair.



A good time, if a little slow (which allowed for some Squirrels progress). And gave the chance for an Oppenheimer statue selfie.


* hmm, looking at the past few posts … really obsessed with snow and winter, aren't I?

Relaxin' on Friday Night

We're in this week's Pasatiempo

Pasatiempo, the weekly arts magazine in The Santa Fe New Mexican, features comics creators from Santa Fe and north in this article about 7000 BC.

Talkin' About Talkin' About Comics

Video by my friends at Narrative Media promoting a workshop I'll be running at Big Adventure Comics this Thursday.

"I'm Somebody Now!"

The new Previews just arrived, and a logo I designed for an upcoming comic is in it. Makes me feel like Steve Martin

Out With Mary and Bill

Finally caught up with Mary on this trip to Santa Fe (which turned out to be not that urgent, as she's now staying on for a couple more weeks for more training). A lovely dinner out at Santacafé, out in the courtyard, on Friday.


Other updates and things:
Photos from the con last weekend posted at 7000 BC's Flickr, and the inevitable stop-motion movie of Artist Alley is here.


Blatant call to "look at me!"

 

I've launched the website for my comic lettering, and updated the letterpress store with some new products (some of which should look familiar).

The Imperial Rooster at ACE

… or at least one-third of them. Everett and Ryk put on a little performance in Artist Alley at Albuquerque Comic Expo.

At the Con this Weekend

Dale's photo of us at Albuquerque Comic Expo this past weekend. More later.

AAAV (Another Artist Alley Video)

I spent Friday at the 7000 BC table at the Albuquerque Comic Con, in its new location south of the city at Hard Rock Casino. It was slow, as most Fridays are, so I again set the camera to "continuous" and ran through Artist Alley.

Photos at Flickr; give it a couple days, I hope to add some from Pete, ones that don't look like they were photographed through fog (what's up with that?).

Big Adventure

Our friend Kevin bought out Santa Fe's only comic shop at the beginning of September. He'd been a part owner of its predecessor and, after more than a year-and-a-half, is its sole owner. He began referring to the whole process as his big adventure, and one of the kids at the regular Magic gathering suggested that as name.

Danny designed the logo and we've been working with them to put it all together. A couple weeks later, Pronto was at the shop on a rainy, gray, windy Monday to install the sign. While the name was in question, Kevin just put up banner that said "COMICS" in big red; turns out, that brought in more people than anything the shop had ever done. The new logo was driven by that lesson.

It's been a real kick to get to work with Kevin on Big Adventure Comics, putting together the sign, business cards, ads — to watch his dream come together and be a part of it. Being an insider at the comic shop, well, that's just bonus.

D&D Night

Now that Kevin's running the shop, the long-discussed D&D night finally came together yesterday. Yes. Dungeons & Dragons. At Big Adventure Comics. Maybe the first of a weekly event. It doesn't get much more geeky than that.

  
Above, our band of adventurers; Steve's a great DM, very dry sense of humor; the one I threw trying to be stealthy, which resulted in my flare exploding.

Really, that "nerdy" tag down there's pretty redundant, isn't it?