Life, Bound and Miniature

So, I attend the Center for Cartoon Studies. One of the things my school is known for is concentrating on making a final comic– that is, written, drawn, inked, and bound. As a result, I not only possess a startling array of these minicomics from my classmates…

These are only the ones I obtained at ICAF– mostly through trade, monetary exchange, and puppy-dog-eyed looks. 

But I’ve also made a bunch of stuff since I got here, and even got to peddle my wares. This semester I got to attend SPX in Bethesda, Maryland (I did not have anything to sell then, but it was still a fun experience) and the ICAF conference on my campus. Here is a picture of me peddling said wares:

I didn’t make all of these. I was merely attending the table for me and four other individuals, collectively known as Team Firehazard (this a literal, rather than figurative piece of nomenclature).

This semester I made the following items:

  Two minis of some of my older work. One detailing dreams I’ve had and another about something that happened to me while I was living in Seoul. Hint: It’s a surprise! 

Several one-page diary comics. This is about a trip to the woods we took.

An eight page minicomic about vampire mermaids and uh, how writers write about racial identity.

And last, but not, least, a triple screenprinted, perfect bound, five authors in total, belly-banded final anthology project. It was called [SCI]ense and it’s about each of the five senses with a science-fiction bent. Fact: it was hard to make. Also, fact: I got food poisoning the weekend before this was due. Fact: it was not fun, but we finished it!

I have some other stuff over at Rectangular, Rather, too. Once I get back to VT I’ll be scanning a bunch-load more. And that concludes this summary of my academic life.  Stay tuned for… some food pictures.

Vermont-ing.

So, let’s talk about my life in Vermont. I live in the 2,000 people-populated town of White River Junction, situated in the Upper Valley that splits in the middle of Vermont and New Hampshire. Life there is fine– good– different. You literally (and I mean that in the actual sense, not the, I’m exaggerating but I’m exaggerating using words that mean that I am not exaggerating and speaking truthfully) cannot walk down the street without seeing a cartoonist. This excludes some odd hours of the day of course, for the most part, yes, this happens. It’s been good creatively and I’m learning a lot and I feel I have the support of my peers– you get the idea.

This is the town. Most of it. Also, my friend Nate’s head.

Vermont, of course, is known as a hot spot for “leaf peepers” (to the unfamiliar ear, sounds slightly perverted, yes?)  in the fall. And yeah, there is plenty of peeping to be had. Especially when we went on our trip to Mt. Ascutney.

Yeah. That’s the stuff. 

I know what you are thinking. What about the grub, April? Well, my favorite weekly brunch spot is Shyrl’s (am I spelling this right?) in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, for their cheapness, the out of town but not too out of townness, and these raspberry chocolate pancakes:

White River Junction is also somewhat of a fancy french fry town– from the truffle fries at Elixir with their garlic aioli to the garlic fries at The Tip Top Cafe. I might have to do a whole post investigating and illustrating the matter.

Anyway, it’s been fun. Right now I’m in 80 degree San Diego, so I can’t comment on the current awfulness of its coldness, but I’m sure there will be more time for that later.