Breaking into Comics - some quick tips

The first unassuming cover by Matt Bingham
for the comics zine that helped me
get into comics publishing. Subscribers
included Alan Moore.
Download a cbr of the issue

Regular readers will be aware, we hope, that our main downthetubes site features some guides to Breaking Into Comics, espcially on the writing side.

I recently had a few more requests than usual for tips on how to find work in the comics industry. It isn't easy, especially with the industry being quite small these days, at least in the UK, but here are some thoughts and suggestions...

• Post your strips online on a blog (which can be done for free) and see if they attract interest in your work

• Create and publish your own fanzine with your own strips (and perhaps some from other people you know) and sell it locally and via the above-mentioned blog (use Paypal), or get to nearby Comic Marts or events and try sell them there (all of which I did to get myself known several years ago). Your magazine doesn't have to be in colour (although a colour cover wil help) and you don't have to print many (because you won't sell many - it's about getting yourself known!)

• Get along to a comic convention - there are several across the UK through the year and we list them on DTT. Meet fellow creators and pick their brains. Show editors your work.

• Make sure that the portfolio you show editors includes only a small selection of your best work (and I do mean best work - if you feel you wouldn't pay to read it, it doesn't qualify!); make sure that if you want to show it to 2000AD, for example, you include a page of art featuring a 2000AD character; include samples of pencils and inks; and make sure the samples are comic strip, not full page illustrations (with editors it's more about seeing you can tell a story rather than 'can you draw'?)

• Listen to the feedback; learn from it. If an editor likes the work, get their details and then send copies of what they were shown once you get home, plus a couple of new pages, saying how much you enjoyed meeting that editor and that you hope the new samples have taken on board the advice you were given

• If you don't hear anything within six weeks, send a follow up, polite email asking if the editor has had a chance to look at the samples and that you're still keen to get the chance to draw

• Build your relationships with any audience you have built up through your blog and fanzine, develop your own audience. (Think about using Facebook and Twitter to maintain your personal marketing)

Quality will out in any industry but as with most things, breaking into comics is 10 per cent inspiration, 90 per cent perspiration...

• Check out downthetubes.net for other practical and hopefully useful advice. Our Writers Guide is here

• Advice to artists submitting work 

•  Live Pitching at Conventions

Tharg the Mighty meets Dragons’ Den!

2000AD has just announced its first official  convention portfolio session in years – culminating in a Dragons’ Den-style show off!

2000AD has teamed up with the annual Thought Bubble convention , which takes place in Leeds in November, to create a very special event for budding comic book artists.

"Tharg demands that budding artists prove their worth before he will let them enter the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic," a Marketing Droid informs us, "and this special portfolio session is not for the faint-hearted!"

To take part in the first Tharg’s Thrill Challenge, artists should view the free sample five-page script – the Terror Tale ‘Patch Pea Podlings’ by Arthur Wyatt – available on the Thought Bubble website, draw their own version of it, and bring their efforts to the Saturday portfolio sessions being held at the 2000AD stall.

The six best efforts chosen by Tharg himself will then go before a panel on the Sunday, where some of 2000AD’s top-name talent will pass judgement in front of a live audience!

Only the brave-hearted need apply, Earthlets. Dare you bring your wares before the searing gaze of Tharg the Mighty?!

• Please note: the portfolio sessions and Sunday event are open only to pages based on the script provided

• Further information: http://thoughtbubblefestival.com/events/2000ad-portfolio-competition/

British publisher MediKidz on the hunt for comic artists

British comics publisher Medikidz - a fast-expanding company set up to explain medicine to children through dynamic comics - are looking for enthusiastic pencillers, inkers, colourists, letterers and art studios to help create their books.

The London-based company is specifically looking for artists who will be able to match the artwork of their previous books (30 in progress).

"We produce two titles per month on average, so we are looking for regular artists," explains Ned Hartley, a name some readers may recognise as a former editor at Titan Magazines. "Consistency through the series is very important to us especially between characters, so we will not contact artists who we do not think will fit the established Medikidz style."

'Skinderella'

Medikidz was founded by Dr Kim Chilman-Blair and Dr Kate Hersov whom, after working in paediatrics, became frustrated by the lack of engaging education for their young patients. During their time as doctors, they were unable to provide children with resources to help educate them about their new diagnoses or medicines - in their language, at their level.

Worldwide, there's an enormous lack of useful material for young people about medicine and health - but most of what exists targets parents only. This realisation was the catalyst which lead them to create Medikidz.

"Gastro"

The 'Medikidz' are a gang of five larger-than-life superheroes from outer space, which are each specialists in different parts of the body. The characters are designed to be fun and appealing to young people in order to be able to entertain, as well as educate them about serious medical issues. They are destined to become characters with whom children can relate, and befriend.

The Medikidz characters live on 'Mediland' - a living, moving planet shaped just like the human body. The children are taught about their own body by going on a personal tour through Mediland. Medikidz is designed specifically for young people: therefore we will speak their language, at their level. Think "Marvel meets Medicine" and you have the concept!

"Chi"

Credibility is the cornerstone to the Medikidz offering - professional medical writers and doctors write all the content, which is subsequently peer-reviewed by leading consultants in each respective field. Medikidz also gains the endorsement of established and well-regarded medical institutions, foundations and spokespeople. Medikidz has established a Medical Advisory Board, consistsing of dozens of the world's preeminent physicians, as well as a Youth Advisory Board, a group of young people aged 6-16 years old, affected by illness, whose voice and opinion help to shape the direction of Medikidz.

"Pump"

As well as the 25 current comic book titles on paediatric conditions (such as Epilepsy, Scoliosis, Leukaemia and Cystic Fibrosis) Medikidz have also produced titles relating to adult conditions, so that a parent or loved one, when faced with a diagnosis, has somewhere to turn to help them explain it to their children.

Already published is What's Up with Bridget's Mum? Medikidz Explain Breast Cancer and What's Up with Tiffany's Dad? Medikidz Explain Melanoma and next in this series will be, What's Up With Grandpa? Medikidz Explain Alzheimer's Disease, with Colon Cancer, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and Schizophrenia to follow.

Medikidz keep on getting approached all the time to write on new conditions - in fact now there is a list of 300 to do.

The company also produce pamphlets and brochures explaining paediatrically-licensed medicines (increased understanding can lead to improved adherence) and hospitals investigations, such as "Medikidz Explain MRI Scan" or "Medikidz Explain Endoscopy".

"Axon"

Since launch in September 2009, for which Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the spokesperson, Medikidz has distributed over 1,000,000 comic books globally, demonstrating in this short space of time, the definite, substantial and unsatisfied need the Medikidz initiative.

• If you're interested, send MediKidz a sample drawing of the main Medikidz characters using this submission form, along with a sample of your previous work

Phoenix Comic post Submission Guidelines

The Phoenix Comic - the new weekly comic springing from the ashes of The DFC - has just updated its website and also published its submission guidelines, which we're running here in full.

Launching in January 2012, the team say the 32-page comic will offer both humour and adventure strips, along with features and puzzles.

The Phoenix Comic is looking for strips with heart – stories that are open and engaging, whether they are told across three panels, three pages, or episodically over several months.

"We’re always open for new submissions of self-contained (ie conclusive within one issue) and episodic strips.
 We consider pitches from makers working alone, or from writer/illustrator teams and are interested in strips in the following forms:

• Single panel to single page (fiction or non-fiction), self-contained
• 
Visually dynamic non-fiction spreads, self-contained

• Longer form episodic fiction strips (up to 3pp per week)


"Right now we’re particularly interested in receiving pitches for stand-alone (conclusive within one issue) stories of 4pp in length.

"We’re also keen to hear from puzzle-makers with experience in producing challenging and fun puzzle content for 8-11 year olds, and artists with experience of providing occasional illustrations for text content.

When it come to what they're not looking for, the Phoennix will not be publishing material for  very young children, or teenagers, or adults, or strips bulging with counter-culture angst. "We won’t be a good home for you. Sorry! And at present we are not accepting material from authors with a script but no illustrator on board."

To submit material, include the following in your submission:

• a brief outline of the concept and, if not stand-alone, short detail on the proposed story arc and intended number of episodes.
• a script for the first episode
• style sheets showing key characters, a sample page layout and indication of finished colour work.

Tech info: detail on paper finish TBC but please assume a sheet-size of 211×297 (A4).
You can email your submission to: submissionsATthephoenixcomic.co.uk or send by post to: The Phoenix Comic, 29 Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX33 1AL (please enclose an SAE if you would like your material returned).

The Phoenix crew point out "we are a very small editorial team and look closely at every single submission. Sometimes this can take a little time.

"We will get to your material as fast as we can, but you may have to wait up to six weeks for a response (sorry).

"If we think your submission has potential we’ll contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss the material in more depth.

"If your submission isn’t right for us we will let you know the core reasons for rejection. And, in that event, please don’t give up hope – there are many other potential homes for great content out in the world and in many instances we will be saying no simply because of space limitations. We have to make tough choices, and of course there is a degree of subjectivity involved too. Unfortunately time constraints prevent us from engaging in extended correspondence on rejected submissions."

• Help spread the word about The Phoenix Comic and point parents, teachers, librarians and everyone else to www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk

Will you help bring back Captain Clevedon?

Comics artist and writer Kev F Sutherland, whose credits include The Beano, Doctor Who Adventures, Match and others, is looking for an artist, or artists, to help him finish a comic that's been lying dormant for a number of years.

Kev's a dedicated comics creator who I've worked with in the past on Doctor Who Magazine and has done much to promote comics to people, through the original Bristol Comic Festival, his Comics Masterclasses in schools across the country and TV appearances.

"In 1994 I wrote and drew an eight-page photocopied comic called Captain Clevedon, he explains via his blog. "He's a superhero based in the town where I live, and it's a comedy action strip intended for a wide audience, from kids to adults.

"Its initial run sold out in the town itself back in the day, and even got featured on local TV (cheesy, ain't it?) but I never progressed with it after that first taster issue.

"It's always been a popular character that people bring up in conversation," he continues, "and lots would like to see his story finished, but I can never quite find the time. Added to which my comic art style has crystallised as much more cartoony than I think suits this book.

"So, I'm looking for a superhero artist to help me complete it. I have the script plotted and almost complete for a 24 page self-contained first story (In which Captain Clevedon learns more about his powers of Enhanced Benevolence and defeats the Severn Boar/stroke/Sky Pig From Space). Who'd like to draw it?

"The caveat is that this is, most likely, not a money-making venture. I wrote and drew the original for love (and the vast profit from its sellout first run, which added up to less than fifty quid, spread over more than a year) and would expect this issue to not make big money. However I would offer any collaborators an agreed profit-share, in the event of the comic taking off, and would split all sales pro rata (eg Comic Convention sales, Indy Planet online sales, plus you could get cost price copies via Ka-Blam to sell yourself). This project is ideally suited to an up-and-coming artist who wants to use their pages to boost their portfolio of superhero art. And, by the way, the end product will be fun to read. And when they option it to make a movie we'll all get to go to a party (that last bit is not guaranteed, by the way)."

If you're intrigued, check out the original short story from 1994 on his blog here.

"The new 24-pager will not be in the same cramped comedy style with four bubbles to a panel, six panels to a page," Kev insists, "but will be in a more familiar superhero comic layout. Lots of splash pages and fight scenes, with flying, action, monsters, machinery and superhero posing. I plan to publish it as a black and white comic, to keep it affordable to the kids."

Kev's a regular face on TV spots about comics - his appearances include The One Show, among others. His next media spot is a webchat for BBC Northern Ireland next week (Friday 3rd June), answering questions about comics: more information here at www.bbc. co.uk/northernireland/arts/ live/ .

• If you are interested in drawing this comic, send a link to some online samples to Kev at kevf.sutherlandATvirgin.net. Please note - don't email him art as attachments.

Wanted: Your Mechanical Elephants

As part of their 'First Fridays' events, Marine Studios in Margate are putting together an exhibition that looks at comics, graphic novels and sequential art.

Featuring work from a range of local and international artists and writers, live talk from guest speaker Paul Gravett, more comics than you can stand, and the chance to discuss your work and ideas.

To kick start proceedings prior to the show they are inviting submissions for a 'Two Page Comic'.

The task: to create a two page comic under the title: 'Mechanical Elephant'. All ideas are welcome to inspire, amuse, terrify and entertain. There are no limits other than sticking to the two page rule (206 x 280 mm each, in either portrait or landscape), and of course, don't forget the Mechanical Elephant!

Send your entries as electronic files (jpeg, pdf, tif, eps or mov format) with the subject 'Mechanical Elephant' to: Kam@hkd.uk.com or Rick@hkd.uk.com

The deadline for entries is 21st January 2011. Marine Studios will display the finished artwork and as much of the preparatory work as possible in their show beginning 4th February 2011 at Marine Studios, Margate.

• Further info available at www.marinestudios.co.uk/gallery/events/

Glasgow's Hope Street Studios looking for intern

Hope Street Studios in Glasgow are looking for any illustration students interested in a paid internship, who would mainly be doing comic book work but possible storyboarding and design.

Top artist Gary Erskine, who is heading up the hunt, tells downthetubes they're looking for someone from Glasgow and Edinburgh (or within nearby area) as some work involves being on hand at the studio.

Sequential art experience is preferred but not essential.

To apply, please send a link to your Deviant Art site or similar and provide a contact email address.

• Email Gary at garyerskineonlineATbtinternet.com He will follow up with interested parties as soon as possible.

Artists challenged to create a Super Hero for the Stan Lee Foundation

Talenthouse has once again joined forces with the Stan Lee Foundation and Prismacolor to offer talented fans, designers and illustrators the unique opportunity to meet the legendary Stan Lee and create a comic book character for the foundation.

To participate, graphic designers, illustrators and fans -- and this does seem to be a worldwide comptition -- are asked to submit their original character designs to http://tlnt.at/bN1qeU , by 9th January 2011.

Not only will the the selected artist see their character turned into a limited edition action figure, but they will also be presented an award by Stan Lee at the the 2011 Comic-Con in San Diego. The Artist will also receive full flight and accommodations to San Diego along with tickets to Comic-Con.

The winner will be chosen from the 20 highest voted submissions ,but  The Stan Lee Foundation say they may look beyond these finalists to select the submission that they feel best fits their requirements.




Based in Palo Alto California, Talenthouse is a platform providing opportunities to the world’s creative community – a place to participate in unique projects with artists and brands, collaborate, gain recognition and compensation. The Stan Lee Foundation, established by Spider-Man creator Stan Lee, is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide access to literacy, education and the arts throughout the United States.

• For more information on the challenge go to: www.talenthouse.com/stan-lee-foundation-create-a-superhero.

• Latest Talent House news at http://blog.talenthouse.com or follow them on Twitter -  http://twitter.com/talenthouse

• Stan Lee Foundation: www.stanleefoundation.org

Japanese publisher seeks colourists

Tokyo-based publisher EigoTown is looking to have around 600 black and white and greyscale illustrations coloured for use on the iPhone and iPad and has put out an appeal for samples to British creators.

"We're creating Apps based on Oxford University Press' graded reader series for learners of English," explains EigoTown's Russell Willis, who some downthetubes readers may recall as the editor of some ace British indie comics magazines such as Infinity  back in the 1980s.

"We only need screen resolution and the maximum size is the viewable area of the iPad's screen (768 x 1004).

• Interested parties should contact Russell via russell.willisATeigotown.com. Please put "Colouring Work for iPad" in the subject line.

Inker Appeal from Ex Astris comic creator

Mike Nicoll - my colleague and co-creator of the Ex Astris science fiction strip we're producing - has too much work on his plate at the moment and he's looking for a reliable UK-based inker to work with him.

"There just aren't enough hours in the day!" says Mike. "I'm currently working on three CGI strips (Ex Astris and two others for a US company) as well as pencils and inks on a new project written by a rather famous UK creator for the European market - but John (Freeman) and I have two more projects which we're keen to get off the ground.

"Whilst I'm quite fast at pencilling, I'm criminally slow when it comes to inking -- so we need to recruit another member for our team who can take care of the inking."

Mike has sent us pencil samples of his art from one of the new projects (click the image above for full size). Anyone interested in applying should send samples to mikenicoll@hotmail.co.uk.

"Unfortunately there are no contracts up for grabs at the moment and therefore no guarantees of untold riches etc - yet!," Mike points out. "The new projects have not been approved for publication yet and so we can offer no money up front. But John and I have a pretty good record for getting our projects published so you'll just have to look at the art and decide if you feel we're worth taking a chance on."

Valentine Chronicles Comic Art Gallery Opens

The web-based story site The Valentine Chronicles is celebrating its third birthday with a brand new gallery featuring artwork by top UK artists like Alan Davis (ClanDestine, Excalibur, Marvelman), Dylan Teague (Judge Dredd) Duncan Fegredo (Hellboy, Judge Dredd), his image below, left, Sean Phillips (Marvel Zombies, Hellblazer), Jon Hodgson (Dragon Warriors, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering - check out his official web site for more art) and many more.

Launched in 2007, The Valentine Chronicles was created to generate donations for the Myasthenia Gravis association, a charity dedicated to the research of the auto-immune condition Myasthenia Gravis. The site itself is a 100% free web-site featuring the serialised struggle of retired mercenary Ivan Valentine as he fights to keep his neices alive in a hostile galaxy.

There are currently 13 complete serials and six galleries of artwork to enjoy, all brought to you with no pop-ups and no ads.

Visit the site at: www.thevalentinechronicles.com

All art © respective artists

London International Creative Competition Launched

The London International Creative Competition for 2010 has just been announced and is calling for entries.

Described as "a vehicle for facilitating contact between uniquely talented artists and an international audience", work is juried by a board of internationally esteemed artists, writers, curators, gallery owners and other luminaries of the visual arts (full list here). The jury-selected finalists and shortlist will be published in the LICC Annual Awards Book, on the LICC website and announced to the creative arts and media outlets worldwide.

The 15 finalists works will be presented at the LICC awards ceremony in London and one prize-winner chosen by the jury will receive the £2,000 cash prize.

This year's categories are:

• Architectural
• Audio/Music
• Design (Environmental/Fashion/Graphic/Interior)
• Drawing/Illustration
• Installation
• Mixed Media
• NetArt/Web Design
• Painting
• Performance
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture
• Textile
• Video and Film
• Writing
• Other

The Entry Fee is £20 single or series, Students £15 single or series. For an online entry form, click here. For PDF submission forms click here

LICC was founded by the Farmani Group in 2006 which, among other things, has founded many charities, businesses, and organizations including the award-winning VUE magazine, The Lucie Awards (the Oscars of photography), , Focus on AIDS, International Photography Awards, Px3-Prix del la Photographie de la Paris, Art For New York, the Farmani Gallery, aNet Communications, Design Awards and FYIdesign.

• For more info visit: www.licc.us

Al Davison offers Life Drawing Master Class

Comics artist Al Davison has just announced he's running an all-day Life Drawing Master Class in Coventry in April.

An all-day life drawing extravaganza, it's the opportunity of expert tuition by the very talented Al, in the beautiful surroundings of of the Lock Gallery in Coventry's Canal Basin.

"All mediums are welcome," says Al, "but you'll have to bring your own materials."

• Spaces are limited, so it is a first come first served. Tea and coffee is provided, but you'll need to bring food for the break. Contact Al to book a space via his Astral Gypsy web site: http://www.astralgypsy.com/

• More info on this Facebook page (Facebook membership required)

Are You a Tempolush?

London based comic creator Richy K. Chandler has just launched tempolush.com, a new website showcasing his artwork and comics.

downthetubes readers may have seen his work in titles published by Titan, Accent UK and Factor Fiction Press, and can now browse through a variety of small press comics, prints and gifts in the Tempo Lush Shop.

Also on the site you can read the online serialisation of Tempo Lush's first comic Delicate Axiom and even check out Richy's musical side projects.

• Go to www.tempolush.com

Colchester's firstsite puts out Call to Comic Artists

(with thanks to Smallzone and Bryan Talbot): Colchester-based visual arts organisation firstsite wants to hear from artists working with comic imagery and media, who are interested in undertaking a unique residency as part of their next project... here's the details in full.

WHAAM! Comics, art and popular culture : Artist Residency


Minimum of 10 days between 12 April - 1 May 2010, to include some evening and weekend work Based at firstsite, 4-6 Short Wyre Street, Colchester, Essex Artist Fee £3,000 + expenses (including materials, accommodation and per diems as required). This residency is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

The opportunity


firstsite is hosting an artist residency as part of their forthcoming programme, WHAAM! Comics, art and popular culture.

The selected artist should be able to demonstrate a professional artistic practice working with comic imagery and media. During the residency the artist will be expected to develop and produce an artwork that can be printed or reproduced at the end.

This artwork could take the form of a comic book or graphic novel (approximately 8-12 pages), wall drawing, storyboard, animation, projection, installation but must be rooted in the language of comic art. The subject matter of the artwork should develop from Colchester and its urban landscape, using this as a backdrop to develop a new narrative.

The total artist fee available can be used by one artist to produce the artwork; any fees associated with a collaborative work must come from the allotted budget.

The residency will be hosted in firstsite's Project Space. This is a semi-public space and the appointed artist would be expected to engage with audiences and visitors, discussing their work and the project they are developing.

During the residency (12 April - 1 May) it is expected that the artist will be working in firstsite's Project Space for at least 10 days, which should include at least two Saturdays. The artist will need to run a "masterclass" for the public (to include all ages) on Saturday 24 April.

This residency is part of firstsite's Artist Space programme which was piloted at the Minories Art Gallery and will be an integral part of the programme planned for firstsite's new building. It seeks to be process-led and developmental, continuing to occupy the space between an open studio event and an exhibition.

firstsite is open to a range of career stages, practices and activities. All activity needs to be planned and proposed to firstsite in advance so that it can be prepared for.


WHAAM! Comics, art and popular culture Programme details: April 2010


This programme focuses on comics and graphic novels from the 1950s to the present day. Writers, graphic artists, academics, school children, teenagers and members of the public will be taking part in talks, workshops and an artist residency.

Talks include:

• Dan Dare and Misty: boys and girls comics from the 1950s and 1970s
Pat Mills, comics writer and editor Eric Fernie, ex-director of the Courtauld Institute and comics specialist

• How contemporary artists are using popular culture in their work
Richard Reynolds, Central Saint Martins and comic artist Simon Grennan, artist

• Manga comic artists on the subversion of popular culture / female stereotypes
Paul Gravett, Manga specialist, comic historian and curator Chie Kutsuwada, Manga artist

WHAAM! Comics, art and popular culture is programmed in collaboration with Ace Comics.

How to apply


Interested artists should submit:

• a CV
• up to 3 images
• a proposal (not exceeding 350 words) describing their aims and intentions for the residency and scope of activity that it would involve over the 10 days.

• Questions and applications should be sent by email to: laurae@firstsite.uk.net


• Deadline for submissions: 5pm Monday 15 February 2010. Interviews may be held on Monday 22 February 2010



• firstsite website

Comics for Windows Wanted

Mantle Arts, a small UK based arts organisation, is running an interesting project to brighten up a town centre - and is looking for comics artists to get involved.

The project is employing artists to create artwork for empty shop windows in Coalville, Leicestershire and is looking for submissions from sequential artists and illustrators.

To apply, send them your CV, some examples of work (a web link will do) and a paragraph on what you might like to create for a shop window. Email submissions to matthewATmantlearts.org.uk.

The closing date on the brief is 11th January but it might be worth contacting Mantle to se if they can extend that a little as on some online postings they've pushed that back to 15th January.

Based in North West Leicestershire and working across the Midlands, Mantle Arts is a particpatory arts organisation creating arts projects, festivals, events and manage public art commissions.

• The full brief can be downloaded from here: http://www.mantlearts.org.uk/projects/community/introduction/Window-works

Mohawk Media issues call for Comic Art Samples

Publisher Mohawk Media has announced that it is in search of artists for upcoming comic book and graphic novel projects.

Having had success with its Mr. T graphic novels, the publisher is readying to get new projects underway in 2010.

To help spearhead this search, Mr. T author, British comic creator Christopher Bunting, has been appointed as Editor-In-Chief.

"As a freelance writer, one in the early stages of his career, I know just how tough it is to break into comic books," he explains.

"I’ve often heard aspiring artists say there are no openings. I’m therefore proud to be part of this Mohawk Media initiative to give artists the opportunity to become published, paid, and involved in some of the coolest titles of 2010!"

The publisher recommends the following:

• A brief email about yourself and any published experience, accompanied by a minimum of 5 sequential pages

• Story pages only (no pinups, paintings or portraits)

• Your strongest – and preferably, recent – work

• A variety of genres if possible

• Samples in jpeg or PDF format only. Links will not be opened

• All submissions to chris@mohawkmedia.co.uk

"Remember, comics are a storytelling medium,"Bunting continues. "Those are the skills that you need to demonstrate."

"We’re excited to see what comes in. Good luck!"

• Mohawk Media website: www.mohawkmedia.co.uk


• The official Mr. T graphic novel is distributed to the comic book trade through Diamond Comics Distributors, and to the book trade by Bertrams. ISBN: 9780956018908. It is also available signed by the author from the Mohawk Media store

Guardian's Free Drawing Guide Out Tomorrow

Hot on the heels of what seems to have been a popular giveaway, judging by the scant number of copies in local newsagents, The Guardian is following up its week-long comics promotion with two guides for budding artists being given away in the Guardian and sister Sunday newspaper the Observer this weekend.

The Guides to Drawing and Painting - free with the Guardian on Saturday (19 September) and The Observer on Sunday, are produced in collaboration with the Slade School of Art and the University of Gloucestershire. The guides will prove to be a useful starting point for anyone interested in learning how to draw (including the comic artists of the future!) or wanting to 'brush-up' (groan) on their existing skills.

Three art tutors at the University of Gloucestershire have drawn upon their years of experience to produce a the 66-page Guardian Guide to Drawing circulated free with the newspaper on Saturday, penning a series of exercises to inspire even complete beginners to pick up a pencil and start to sketch.

Mick Maslem, who recently retired after teaching drawing and painting to foundation students at the University for more than 30 years has teamed up with fine art tutor Jack Southern, senior lecturer in illustration and drawing, Jennifer Whiskerd and London-based Atul Vohora to produce the guide.

Jack Southern was approached by the guide’s editorial advisor, Dale Berning, a friend from his days at the Slade art school. Jack recommended Mick as ‘the best drawing tutor I’d ever met.’

“Mick sent in a rough draft of a book that he'd had on the shelf for years," explains Nell Card, of Guardian News and Media, "a selection of teaching notes and exercises that he'd found had produced exciting, unusual results amongst his students over the years.

“We were really keen for the guide to be unlike the any guides we'd seen in the shops: we wanted the exercises to be encouraging, innovative and non-prescriptive and Mick's lessons were exactly that.

“Knowing that Mick had worked alongside both Jack and Jen, we asked all three if they'd be willing to work together on the exercises for our guide. The result is a set of fantastic exercises that will encourage our readers to learn to look, to broaden their visual language, and to value the uniqueness of their own mark-making.”

"Working on the guide with Mick and Jen has been a fascinating experience," says Jack. "Coming up with ideas and writing new exercises was an extremely exciting creative process.

“I think it's wonderful that the drawing knowledge, experience and expertise which has been the backbone of the foundation course at Pittville for so many years, will now be disseminated both nationally and internationally, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to develop their understanding of the possibilities of drawing.”

The Guide also features contributions from Grayson Perry and Louise Bourgeois.

• More details at: www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/competition/2009/sep/11/art

UK Comic Creators Launch "Cartoon Classroom"

UK comic creators are encouraged to sign aboard a new initiative, Cartoon Classroom, which aims to foster links between artists, writers and others and educational institutions, and detail events and workshops that promote the comics form in Britain.

"Cartoon Classroom is the inspiration of Steve Marchant, a cartoonist and teacher of cartooning, who began his tutoring career at The London Cartoon Centre," explains one of the project's backers, V for Vendetta and Kickback artist David Lloyd. "That was a charity-run, full-time evening school of cartoon and sequential art creation, which I was connected with for many years before it ran out of funding. Efforts to raise cash for it were continued until it became obvious the Centre could not be resurrected and continued for any worthwhile period.

"It then became a matter of deciding whether to return these donations to their source, or - at the permission of the donors - to use them to initiate something else that might generally help the cause the Centre espoused.

"Steve decided that a good extension of the service the school once offered would be a website which had the main aim of centralising access to all the various means of studying cartoon and comic strip creation which exist throughout the UK - and Southern Ireland if we can."

David is asking professional cartoonists and comic creators, or those aspiring to being such, or are interested in the study of cartoon art as a teacher or an educationalist, to register their interest in the project.

Cartoon Classroom aims to put educational institutions in touch with cartoonists/comic art creators who teach this specialised art form on a part-time or full-time basis, and to document whatever is available through art colleges, workshops, recommended manuals and other media, which can help anyone studying to be a good cartoonist/comic creator.

The site will also eventually list all museums and galleries in its target area which have comic/cartoon art on public view or in their archives, and to encourage those without any to acquire examples from local notable creators.

"It's our intention that only a fraction of the information required for the site's operation will need to be supplied to the site by us - its administrators," David explains. "Instead, details of courses, collections, locations and availability of tutoring will be added directly to the site by all those who use it. Ideally, it should be almost self-generating.

"The most important thing for the site's effectiveness is that it offer comprehensive coverage of its designated area," he continues, "and for this to be achieved, we initially need to maximise our communication to all those institutions and individuals who'll make use of the site. Prior to its coming launch, this is the toughest job we have.

"The site's initiators and supporters have time-consuming jobs and responsibilities which limit the hours we can devote to phoning and emailing - so the more work that can be done by simply spreading the word about it, the better."

If you can, please help by contacting any person or institution you feel would add content to the Cartoon Classroom database, and/or make use of it. To register an interest, and/or register a wish to enter Cartoon Classroom's database, is easy - go to www.cartoonclassroom.co.uk.

Brief details of what you'd like to put on the finished site can be sent to us at the email address following. Fuller information on what you have to offer can be entered when the site launches in October. Email to contactcartoonclassroomATyahoo.co.uk

Sharp Advice on Breaking Into Comics

British comics artist Liam Sharp (publisher of MamTor, artist on Gears of War and, many moons ago, Death's Head II) has just posted a revamped version of his excellent guide to breaking into comics over on DeviantArt.

The post is packed with a huge amount of useful advice and suggestions for aspiring creators, building on an article he first wrote a couple of years back.

"Getting into comics is something a lot of people want to know how to do, but there's a lot of questions you want to ask yourself first," he advises. "There's such a vast array of genre and subgenre, technique, approach, and so on, that it’s important to be clear on where you want to go with your work at the outset – and you have to be really honest and tough with yourself at this stage!

"If you're into the capes and tights and you want to go mainstream you’re going to have to want it incredibly badly, as the competition is the most extreme I’ve ever known it right now," he warns. "...Right across the industry there's an enormous amount of competition.

"One thing I'm not seeing at cons is break-the-mould, edgy and accomplished new types of comic art," Liam notes. "Invariably it's by-numbers superhero fare of a fairly similar standard - what I would typify as three or four years off pro-standard but showing promise. I often wonder when we're going to see the next Sienkewicz, the next great stylist. Originality is not only becoming rarer, it seems less desired - either by the industry or the fans, who want above all else consistency."

• Packed with advice on indie publishing and promotion, you can read Liam's article in full on DeviantArt here.