which is to say, this happened (click for alt text!):
here’s a spread from the samples I sent in for the pitch, to give an idea of the ~vibes~
This is a book about siblings, about the family you build versus the one you’re born into, about being poor, about the mess of racial perception and relations in the americas, about laughing at the things that make you wanna cry (and remembering that you should probably also cry too), a book about finding belonging and joy and connection on stolen land. a deep atlantic dive into afroindigenous dreaming / remembering, and what happens when you shed all the lies you’re taught, and look at what is left gleaming underneath.
I LOVE research. But before I dropped out of school to work, I had all my professors thinking I was majoring in evolutionary biology, journalism, or anthropology. But when the arts knocked at my door with a rare living wage, I answered immediately, because I know what poverty is. So the prospect of studying all these subjects to make this book as real as can be, to go deeper into everything I love but had to learn on my own, to be able to shed light on a path I wish I had been shown when I was a kid? it’s a dream.
I’ll be going hard on this (as well as other secret things) on my patreon where I’ve already uploaded tons of concept art, the near entirety of the pitch, and more, so if you wanna see the start to finish process of what it takes to pitch, write, and publish a graphic novel, come through!
… all that being said however, against the backdrop of ever worsening weather patterns, wild poverty spikes, the wealthy hoarding as much as they can as everything falls apart the world over, workers are OVER IT. Artists are no exception to this. Between the writer’s strike, the #comicsbrokeme discussions after the untimely death of an overworked colleague, I want to invite all comics fans and creators to take a look at the CARTOONIST COOPERATIVE! Change starts with coming together, and everyone on earth deserves a living wage. So pull up to the discord, cuz we are talking about that.
in other book news:
COOK LIKE YOUR ANCESTORS is officially off to print and out of my hands.
Tying things up while moving was a literal trip but it’s so pretty now, and I can’t wait to show it! I will, however, show you this little bit of the back cover, because I still can’t believe it:
meanwhile:
season two of FX’s show THE BEAR is now streaming in full on Hulu. peep epsiode 5 for some storyboards I did for the party scenes!
if you want to see them in full and in order, the entirety of the PDF I sent in is on patreon ;)
also, season 2 of CLONE HIGH came to a close this week, which means I can upload some boards I did for episodes 4, 7 and 9, with even more to come for season 3!
when I have the time I’ll throw together some side by sides of the boards vs the final release, as I know there’s some funny stuff that the animators just made funnier.
that’s it work-wise. it’s been a really busy last two years, and it feels wild to be able to speak on it all now. things are definitely going to be a bit quieter for a bit as I am officially in between projects, and will be chilling while I can~
happy summer solstice, happy pride, and wishing you all lots of sunshine and ripe fruits.
Wow how friggin' cool! So happy for you MRM