Demo Day V: 2025 Recap/Landing Page

Just a real quick post of thanks for the gig yesterday: It was by far the best-ever event so far down at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (link for subscription/support here). Starting back in 2021 and featuring a beaver, moose, bear or dog (here + here); then again back in 2022 with a choice of either raven or salmon: then again the following year with a hare (here & here) for 2023; and last year, 2024, wound up with a walrus. The Singing Vole (here + here) went over wonderful as well: even though the numbers were comparatively the lowest to date - approximately 35 drawings were given out - it was a nicely paced day with steady company & conversations throughout the nine-hours total behind the table in the lobby area. Some folks even stopped by just to visit and simply say hello, and personally thank me, which is always so humbling to interact with real, live readers. And the most surprising was not a single kid, which stood in stark contrast with the numbers over all the other years. It may have just been bad timing and/or with the benefit of hindsight I didn't alert any other art teachers in the district with a heads-up. But instead it was so many intimate connections -lotsa ol' timers and sourdoughs sharing nostalgia, and including touching base with both old and new staff, since really half the whole thing was dedicated to expressing gratitude for all that they do. In fact, as I have belabored here many a time, it's incumbent on any cartoonist to develop such events with their home-town paper, as a way to support local, independent journalism, as well as literacy.

Pop-Con 2024

Got a surprise last-minute gig: taking the opportunity to run a couple tables for the twelfth annual UAF Pop-Con on campus in the Wood Center this weekend (both today/Friday & Saturday, 11am - 6pm). It's been a decade since I last sat in at this event, and along with doing some service for the university, plus promote the Art Department, I get to hang out amongst others of my kind... and get some work done.

I'll be showing off artwork done by my drawing students over the many years from teaching comics + the current Cartoon & Comic Arts course. Be doing demos all day along with some special guest appearances by cartooning alum... stop on by!

Update: Day one was good, with many new introductions to really cool and very nice people, and seeing some long-time friends & folks, previous & current students... all on both sides of the tables. Looking forward to tomorrow, which is surprising given how bleak and stressful it has been as of late. These are my people.

Demo Day IV: Recap (+ bonus video)

No ties this year!

While maybe half as many attendees this year as compared to the last, the Demo Day 2024 event went wonderfully in as how special the individual interactions were. In other words, it's never about me, but rather the folks on the other side of he table who make it worth it. Same could well be said for the newspaper panel and teaching in a classroom.

...this is what it's all about...

Put another way, I simply had a nice chance for a change to take more time, slow down, spend longer with anyone who came over to the table either claim their art after signing on with a new subscription - or recent renewal - and/or just watch a demo, or even catch up with an old friend, and make new ones too. There was also a bonus cookout right on the other side of the window in the front lobby, with publisher offering up hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill - thanks for breakfast and lunch!

One of the very last two drawn, when I finally put the nostrils in the correct face space

Not only is the spotlight on the host venue, and how important it is to support local, independent journalism (and the peripheral talent, natch), but in retrospect I thought about how the centralized hub of my home here in the Interior affords the opportunity to connect with folks from all over Alaska, like this little dude from Savoonga, Alaska's most remote island.

After almost burning up on re-entry to a busy fall semester (60-something hours a week for a short spell), it was extra nice to take a "break" from academia. Had to miss a faculty meeting and couldn't attend to any number of items on a long list of tasks, but gigs like this serve as a sort of psychological reboot, artwork once again offering up a therapeutic becalming, a temporary buffer zone against reality & responsibility.

And while ensconced within the zone, even if the overall output + pacing when producing approximately 30-odd (and I do mean odd) pieces, every one remained an original, each "walri" was unique individual. Stats: 1-minute to doodle out a rough sketch (down to 30-seconds at the end of the day), 2-minutes to ink it up, 3-minutes to add a color wash. Not counting dry-time, which was accelerated by the 80°F temps, or higher sitting in the sun inside the lobby, but I was fortunate to have a fan on me at the table, so as to not put a literal wash on the watercolors with perspiration. Not to mention avoid any sweat stains on my new uniform. And yup, there were a couple "coo-coo-katchoo" comments, and it did occur to me later that there probably was a few people who might have recently had a nice thick, juicy Odobenus rosmarus sammich some time recently. 
Oh and here's the obligatory reminder to subscribe - thank you.  

 

Spectacular fall weather (and the start of moose season) inspired a large demographic who bailed outta the 'Banks and got a head-start for a weekend away in the woods. But again, the comparative smaller stream of people made for a much more relaxed gig overall. Still stayed focused and managed to crank out one every ten minutes or so on the average. And while I did down a copious amount of coffee, the footage itself is ever so slightly sped up.

Demo Day 2024

Woo-HOO it's that time of the year once again (here's linkage to the previous 2021, 2022 and 2023 events) for the fourth annual in-house on-site live cartooning demos done downtown in the front lobby of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Hand-cramps aside, I absolutely love the opportunity to connect with friends & fans, so drop on by if you're out and about in this neck of the woods, be great to see ya.

It'll be on the first Friday for September from 9am - 6pm. As usual I'll be giving away original art to any new subscribers or recent renewals - if you can't make the gig please consider supporting local independent journalism... and the peripheral talent too, thank you kindly.

Poster Signing: Books Range IV

Greg Hill, local literacy champion, a good friend, and former head librarian for the borough branch (and Guys Read founder), has released a fourth, and possibly final volume of his writings, "Books Range IV: Intellectual Dipnetting in Interesting Times."Proceeds benefit the Fairbanks Library Foundation, also very good folks who appreciate any support.

It's been since 2017 (see the detailed process behind building "The Many-Storied Cabin" here) that I've done a cover for his column compendium - one can most definitely see my personal progression in Photoshop skills across several editions over the years. I am really well-pleased at this cover design and we are doing a joint signing at Ursa Major Distilling this next Friday the 15th from 5-8pm, as part of their "Cocktails For a Cause." Hope to see you there and thanks!

Demo Day 2023

Today will be the third time for this annual event (here's the post for 2022's gig and 2021 + follow-up) where I get to be an in-house performing artist and hang out downtown and draw all day: everybody that work at the newspaper each get their choice of an original pen + ink/watercolor wash of their favorite critter, as does anybody that subscribes, or renews (or honestly just buys any issue of the paper).

Hippitty-hoppity: Added a new critter to the menagerie

It's my little way of saying "thank you" for all the support over the years, and a way to show some love for the folks behind the scenes at local paper, champion independent journalism and all the peripheral talent too. Here's the official event page on Facebook and the News-Miner community event calendar with more information... or just drop by to say hi, be great to see you!

"Ichabod Crane" (WAW/Quick Draw 2022)

Besides the Sandhill Crane Festival, another annual event that's also a fundraiser for Friends of Creamer's Field (see 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017) my "Wild Arts Walk/Quick Draw" piece for 2022 also went up for auction as a personalized published panel in the paper. Congratulations to the winning bidder Pam Brandt!

Also gotta give a really big thank-you display of proud plumage to all the volunteers who make this event happens. Hat-tip/tail-drum to the sponsor, and most of all to the flock of other participating artists.I unfortunately couldn't commit this year as events conspired to block out much of my calendar of community events this season.

In retrospect I put in a fair amount of preparatory work into the finished version of the panel. Probably the reason that I routinely finish up an hour before anybody else is done. Leaves time to heckle interact with the other contestants and whip up support from the crowd. But there's not only the initial idea to come up with but also a composition simple enough to knock out an a matter of minutes - and the handful of pre-selected watercolor wash pencils to have on hand for the finishing touch.

Well technically the final step is the framing, for which we are all allotted another extra set of time. And then it's up to the folks who have been wandering around looking over one's should while at work on each respective work.

So many good folks giving their time + resources in support of a real crown jewel in our creative community. As an added bonus I gave away free sketches to anyone who asked at my table - the way I look at it was an extra-special little thank you for folks paying the entrance fee/donation. Got to meet some rising talent and reconnect with old friends + fans alike... Thank to all again!

"Colony" Opening Tonite @ Flossie & May's

 
Final update on the new gig: as mentioned in earlier teaser posts I'll have a show up at Flossie & May's, the new cafe in the heart of Ester's downtown business district (comprised of two saloons + post office). The new owners are super nice folks and very supportive of our community out here, and the renovations done to this historical structure have made for an exceptionally unique venue. Here's a link to a short 30-second skim across the panels on display - up for the whole month of July, Weds - Sunday, 7am-2pm.

This is their second season and the first official after-hours (5-8pm) opening, and if yer in this neck of the woods come on out and meet the hosts who are providing munchies, libations and even some live piano!

Also this will be the unveiling of the centerpiece "The Lodge," which also has a small interactive element as viewers are invited to contribute their own pelt to the collective for a special future project. I'll have the usual original artwork for sale - and a new limited-edition bonus sticker to commemorate the event. It's the tentpole since I had no idea what I was gonna show as a counterweight to the annual retrospectives down the road at Ursa Major, but after spending fifty-odd hours on this piece, I decided to look over all the beaver-themed cartoons in the ol' archives and make a little exhibition (not all of 'em mind you - this is a family-safe gig). Poster will be available to order, and I'll post a recap of both the event and process piece for "The Lodge" sooner than later.

"Two Bars"

This one is so hyper-regional (ie sub-local like "you-gotta-be-from-here-to-get-it" caliber) I'm really proud of it, as it speaks to my people in a language that only they will understand. Well, long as that oft-cited Venn diagram of the demographic overlap between alcoholics and internet savvy folks. At least the ones that hang out at either one - or both - of our two watering holes (one being seasonal) for libations, liquid courage and creative juices. A reminder that out here in the hills around Ester I still have only dial-up modem speeds, and so sometimes opt for the quicker mode of communication, like writing a damn letter and using my stash of Forever Stamps. Scanned staright from the omnipresent sketchbook - so no precursor doodles for this one... Athenian again!

Demo Day today!

The ever-awesome folks down at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner sweetened the deal for today's special event by boosting bonus donations to teh United Way. Be sure and email me your mailing address if you sign up online for a digital subscription (subscription options link here) and I'll get you one of these four critter designs of your choosing. As a side-note, one of the reasons I'm tenuously okay with this gig in the face of another COVID outbreak in our community is according to CDC guidelines "close contact" is defined as being withing 6' (3' in a classroom/business setting) for longer than fifteen minutes - hence my training runs to crank these out in approx. 6-8 minutes per illustration. That and being fully vaccinated + masked up, obviously.

Just be glad you only read my blog, since I've been subjecting everyone everywhere else on social media platforms - and, should our paths ever cross in person, you'll also get the one-on-one pitch - to a daily barrage of thinly disguised pleading. But again, I truly believe that this is the time for fellow practitioners of the cartoon craft to step up to the plate and deliver on behalf of our collective benefactors, with the added benefit of supporting journalism and ensuring survival of the first amendment.

And thanks... your support really means a lot.

Winter Guide II

A buncha years back I had a panel appear in the pages of the official visitor's guide to the 'Banks, and I recently scored a second appearance with a colorized update to this classic from 2017.

Discerning readers will note the subtle tweaks (aside from the omnibored adolescent who are never ever impressed) - the original expressions were a wee bit more strained and exhausted. As they many times seem to be in person, especially during their Alaskan experience - at either extreme. Please enjoy your stay, come agin - and bring the whole family!

Art/Work: Out & About the 'Banks (Opera Fairbanks + LuLu's)

2019 Run of the Valkyries: Following on the successful incorporation of imagery from the respective chosen opera (see 2018’s Pagliacci), the core of this years design is based on the titular character “Falstaff.”

Which in itself is an obscure homage to the mythological being Herne the Hunter, so I loved exploring all of the possible interpretations and creating something that worked on multiple levels – a funny, attention-grabbing image but with some extra elements of trivia for those in the know.

image h/t reader LJ Evans

And as usual, the proof is in the printing - of a black and white tshirt version, as this will arguably be seen by just as many folks as the full-color image used for marketing.

Another recent manifestation of my art showed up in the form of a spiffy decal on a new arctic entryway constructed at one of my favorite local haunts. Nothing like savoring creative juices in a cup stamped with one of your designs… cheers!

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Creating Alaska: "All the 'toons that are (mostly) fit to print"

It's about Jamie Smith by the way

Last Sunday's edition of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (worth a ) had a really, really nice profile piece done about me by a long-time favorite local critic and one of the best freelance authors in Alaska, David James. A veteran of the Ester Republic days, he had to not only sluice through a big ol' heap of cartoon tailings to get to the, ah, nuggets of the story, but also endured a couple hours of listening to me talk at him an interview that was probably not unlike succumbing to journalistic hypothermia.

In all seriousness like + follow James' pages (linkage here and here) for upcoming events. Oh and also grab a copy of the paper, as there's a bonus joke about shrinkage in the same issue that serves as an excellent example of not only Alaska class, but of why supporting local journalism is a crucial to upholding our democracy. Or hey at least I'm worth a buck-fifty a week. Most of the time.

Seems legit: We knew him when

"Authentic Alaskan Tours" + "The Helpful Alaskan"

Here's a coupla panels that illustrate the recurring motif of the Ol' Timer - not so much of a caricature but one of any number of iconic sourdough types populating the dirt roads of rural Alaska. The first is a fairly common occurrence amongst residents of Alaska: playing host to friends & family from the Lower 48 invariably results in assuming the role of tour guide. That in itself means one or more of the following duties: historian, naturalist, cook, driver, maid, sherpa and more.

Hint: From the actor who starred in Robin Hood (1922) and Mask of Zorro (1920)

That said it's always an opportunity to brush up on trivia nuggets. Maybe even read a map for once, or at least ask for directions.

But seriously, having a captive audience has given me lots of practice for new material. Like how Denali is North America's longest river. And the aurora scale used on the official forecast secretly goes up to ten (that's when you need to use the wipers on the car to see the road), and the state is actually a small island located off the coast of California etc. etc.

I think somewhere before in another posting I mentioned how I was deliberately aiming for more of a Instagram/foodie aesthetic instead of what used to be formal process shots (ie separate scans of sketchbook doodles + pencil stage of panels). This is leading me to investigate all sorts of interesting contexts in which to photograph my artwork. Or at least it must look amusing to the casual bystander that sees me taking odd pictures. They should see what goes in my mind coming up with the ideas for the cartoon - now that's a real curious process.

For years I've noticed that the smaller the community, the greater the propensity of folks to just strike up in-depth conversations anywhere at any time. This is evident at Fred Meyers, the post office, cafes and bars, or even in the middle of the street. They're like little eddies in the flow of our everyday activity.

Update: I licensed the Vernon Nash folks - the local Antique Automobile Club of America group - to run this panel in their newsletter. The friend that asked for permission also regularly makes my annual retrospects (and supports the arts with their patronage) noted how uncannily this particular panel depicts a fairly common behavior whenever a member has to pull over to the side of the road during one of their public runs.

Over the years it’s been an amusing side-effect to hear from folks how a cartoon documents an event in retrospect, or even unknowingly presages it. I actually was inspired  I love these instances over the years when Life Imitates Art... or is it more of a case of Art imitating Life?