Buncha Banchan

Life, Bound and Miniature

bunchabanchan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:01:21 +0000

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.

bunchabanchan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:30:28 +0000

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.

So… uh, well, uh…

bunchabanchan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:16:58 +0000

The last time I wrote in this thing was October? Why was that, oh yeah, grad school at CCS has been crazy busy. I haven’t put up a lot of comics. but some of the work I did this semester is now at Rectangular, Rather. I’ll put up more when I’m less lazy. As you might have figured, a lot of shit has gone down since I’ve last written. In the interest of time, let’s summarize. In the interest of fun, let’s do it backwards!

Right now, I’m mildly obsessed with this Korean historical drama about the Silla Dynasty called The Great Queen Seondeok (having my emotions manipulated with a dose of history, why, yes). And devoured the second issue of David Chang’s food magazine, Lucky Peach.

I just got back from a two day stay in Cambridge and Boston, where I visited a friends and ate this pizza:

I’m a bit of a food snob when it comes to certain things, especially of the West Coast is the Best Coast variety, but I will concede East Coast dominates when it comes to pizza. This one was especially delicious, spinach, cheese, artichokes, tomatoes… yeah! We also visited the MFA museum, which uh, kinda stinks and the people who run it were sort of mean to us, but anyway, this sculpture! The glitter!

And while in Somersville, I saw this nifty museum, but we didn’t go inside.

More later, gotta watch more of that drama.

Embarrassed Drag Queen T-Rex.

bunchabanchan — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:48:35 +0000

As promised.

Some School Work.

bunchabanchan — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:37:18 +0000

SOOO… I’ve been really busy.

But here’s a sampling of what I’ve been working on.

Also, I thought I sent myself the file for my drawing of a embarrassed drag queen t-rex, but I guess that will have to wait. Also, life updates will have to wait as well. Let me sum it up succinctly COMICS COMICS FASHION SHOW SCHOOL SCHOOL CHICKEN WINGS SCHOOL SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIRDS SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL ZINE MAKING HATING PHOTOSHOP SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL.

My CCS Application Comic

bunchabanchan — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:34:24 +0000

Okay, yeah, so let’s put some comics on this page. As you might know, by virtue of reading this blog or knowing me in person, I’ve moved to White River Junction, Vermont and am currently attending the Center for Cartoon Studies. Anyway, to apply to the school, I had to draw a comic featuring: myself, a snowman, a robot, an animal, a piece of fruit, and the ocean. This is what I came up with. Also! Guess what I drew before my concussion and what I drew after! Let’s make this a game.

I’ll write more about the place, the people, and things that have been in my belly later on. For now, here.

Los Angeles, I Love You (And You Don’t Even Bring Me Down)*

bunchabanchan — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:48:23 +0000

* I don’t even really like LCD Soundsystem that much, but it seemed appropriate.

Traffic on the 405. I ain’t even mad.

It can be an odd thing returning to a city where you once lived. A friend and I were talking about how one can kind of sort of form romantic attachments with urban spaces, and that sometimes, when you leave and come back, it’s sort of like meeting up with an ex (P.S. Seoul is totally like my hot foreign ex-boyfriend that I had no conceivable future with, but was really really fun). There’s a sort of feeling of, feet shuffling-eyes downcast-ness, that cliche nostalgia whine “well why can’t it be the way that it was?” to returning, a searching for something that you can’t go back to once you’ve left. You kind of feel displaced and adrift in a place that used to be your home. Right? Or is it just me? Maybe it’s just me.

Anyway, I still love Los Angeles. It gets tons of flack, from, well, just about everybody. Haters, man. I will contend that Los Angeles takes awhile to know, there are some undesirable parts, but c’mon, overall, it’s just RAD. So much good food and good times to be had. My visit last weekend was the best LA trip I’ve had since I’ve been back. I think it’s because I concentrated on my “Los Angeles Greatest Hits.” I didn’t even take food porn pictures. Here’s my itinerary:

The bells weren’t on, but this was still cool.

Saturday:

Lunch (plantains!) @ Versailles.
A revisit to the Museum of Jurassic Technology (we also stopped by the Indian food store/restaurant across the street… just to smell it).
A walk down the Venice Boardwalk.
Chill time with friends.
Dinner @ Torofuku. (OMG grilled mochi with red bean and vanilla ice cream!)
Fancy drinks at the Wellsbourne.

Sunday

A walk to Sawtelle and to Giant Robot (I and II)
Lunch @ The Apple Pan (banana creme pie!)
Dinner @ Curry House in Sawtelle
Red Bean and Cheese pretzels @ Cafe Tomo.

With my favorite neuroscientist.

Monday

Coffee @ my old study spot, Elysee in Westwood.
Took the 720 Bus down Wilshire to Ktown to get soondubu @ BCD.
Took the subway to Silverlake. Went to Secret Headquarters and had a chai at Intelligencia.
Hong Kong milk tea @ La Mill (saw Scott Speedman hanging out by the bar. I noticed him by his nose).
In-car drinks and then TACO ZONE in Echo Park. Suadero, I shall miss you deeply.

I didn’t get to go to the jjimilbang in K-Town, but maybe those experiences are best left in other countries. I also did see this goofy tagging.

It’s the quadratic formula! Who says Angelenos are shallow and superficial? Also, on the train over, I saw this tagged: “Heaven and hell– it’s all a state of mind.” Is someone writing tweetified versions of Paradise Lost as well?

Boxes.

bunchabanchan — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:07:04 +0000

Oh Past, what shall we do with you?

Before I started my job, I thought about doing an Infinite Garage style blog, full of the odds and ends of my life from elementary school onward, but life got a little hectic. Maybe I’ll start doing it before I leave as I am cleaning things out.

Also, here’s some In-and-Out, look at this platonic ideal of a mothereffin’ burger!

On what’s been up lately: well, you know, some days just feel like ones you have to swim through.

The Opposite of Superman.

bunchabanchan — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 05:29:18 +0000

So I’m having a tough time. Your typical repatriot angst. Pitchforkreviewsreviews -type disconnection (remember that site?). The feeling that, by coming back, I have somehow lost all my super powers. Like, the super power of… mobility without use of a motor vehicle. Some others as well that are less humiliating– but less funny.

Anyway, I am trying to be positive. Some nice things about San Diego.

Two fish tacos from Roberto’s in Mira Mesa.

Spicy tuna roll with grilled shrimp, and avocado topped with yellowtail, lime, and baby cilantro @ Kappa Sushi in Mira Mesa.

Whole bowls of blueberries and the other availability of copious amounts of cheap fruit. I ate this with a spoon.

Jacarandas.

I think I just miss having my own place in a city.

Happy culturally-designated beginning of summer, everybody.

Birthday Business.

bunchabanchan — Mon, 09 May 2011 04:52:46 +0000

It was my birthday recently, and I headed to Los Angeles for the LA Times Book Fair and to see some of my friends. Highlights:

1. I went to Aimee Bender’s reading and got to meet her afterwards.

Picture courtesy of Soo. Awkwardness courtesy of me.

2. Went to the graphic novel panel with Daniel Clowes, Dash Shaw and Jim Woodring.

In other news, I got an ESL teaching job, am very very tired as a result most days. Exciting things I do now include: going to the Japanese supermarket and trying interesting kit kat flavors (green tea: thumbs up, cheese: not so much), sleeping, loitering at Barnes & Nobles, getting pate banh mi, boba, and taquitos all at the same complex, and uh…. lesson planning. I did have a story involving a pimp for a magician in North Park one night, but that’s a story better told in person.

Everyone not from San Diego always talks about beaches and sunshine, but I mean, when you live inland in a wealthy tract house suburb, you don’t see so much of that. Though there is the OB Farmers’ Market. Featuring…

Meat & Mashed Potatoes Sundaes.

And…

Gourmet tamales.