The New Yorker has been on a recent run of covers by cartoonists, with Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes doing recent covers. Now Jaime Hernandez has joined the gang with a cover for the annual food issue. “I put both mustard and ketchup on my hot dogs,” Jaime Hernandez says of his image for the […]

In 2003 Paul Bahn led the team that discovered the first Ice Age cave art at Creswell Crags in Britain. In recent years, many more discoveries have been made including the expanding phenomenon of 'open-air Ice Age art'. In the slideshow below, you can see some of the earliest examples of art on the planet, and take a tour of prehistoric art throughout the world.

The post Art of the Ice Age [slideshow] appeared first on OUPblog.

After a road trip to the wildly successful Silicon Valley Comic Con, it is good to have a local con (even if it means putting up with the dreaded downtown LA traffic) this weekend. So WonderCon has moved for this year from Anaheim, which is in the middle of some heavy renovations and expansions, to downtown Los Angeles. Some will say this is good, others will say it is bad; nonetheless we shall be there ready to go on Friday.

Our booth will be set up in artist alley this year at D-16. We will being trying to cram our ever expanding wares upon a single table, which we may expand to two tables for next year. One of the new items will be 13″x 19″ sizes of some of our more popular prints due to growing interest in the larger sizes. These are printed on high quality paper and will sell for $30 apiece or 3 for $70. Due to limited space we will only have a limited amount of prints in that size available.

More to come next week as we will have a small break before we head up to Seattle for Emerald City Comicon.

– Shawn and Diana

The post WonderCon and new sizes of (certain) prints… appeared first on Ghoulish Bunny Studios.

1. Grape soda lupines—my favorite San Diego wildflower
2. Washi makes to-do lists more fun
3, 4. The milkweed is doing its glorious thing
5. Rilla’s shamrock garland
6. The wonderful Jane LaFazio doing a watercolor demo during her class
7, 8. Then it was my turn to try
9. I’m so in love with color

For better or worse I am a sucker for things Emily Dickinson. I love her poems so very much and she was such an interesting person — poet, gardener, baker of bread. So when offered the chance to review The Illustrated Emily Dickinson Nature Sketchbook I could not say no. Unlike past times I couldn’t say no, I was not disappointed this time around.

Just in time for National Poetry Month comes this gorgeous book that collects some of Dickinson’s poems about nature. But it isn’t just poetry. Illustrator Tara Lilly from Portland, Oregon, has created visually enchanting artwork to go along with the poems. Birds and flowers and mushrooms, butterflies and bees, I love the colors and just sat looking at them and smiling. Together with Dickinson’s poems, the art creates an uplifting and pleasant experience.

But that is not all. Perhaps inspired by the popularity of adult coloring books, The Illustrated Emily Dickinson is also a sketchbook. Most of the poems have blank pages opposite on which the reader is encouraged to create her own art while under the influence of Emily. And maybe you believe you cannot draw anything worthwhile. You don’t have to draw if you don’t want to. Maybe you just have fun swirling some colors around the page. Or, the pages are thick and could support collage if that takes you fancy.

There is no need to fear your own personal creations will be somehow lacking especially up next to Lilly’s art. Her illustrations are of the simple sort that look so easy anyone can do them. And even though we all know that is a difficult thing to pull off, it is comforting to the art-challenged because you feel like you can make a go of it. In other words, the illustrations are not intimidating but heartening. You could also use the book as a writing journal or even use the poems as writing prompts and the sketch pages as your writing area.

Even if you never find the confidence to add your own art, it is still a lovely book all on its own. It would also make a great gift for anyone with an artsy bent or who just plain loves Emily Dickinson.

The newest knockout competition on British television is The Great Pottery Throw Down (GPTD), in which an initial ten potters produce a variety of ceramic work each week, the most successful being declared Top Potter, and the least successful being ‘asked to leave’. The last four then compete in a final [...]

The post The Great Pottery Throw Down and language appeared first on OUPblog.

Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs, author of Thérèse Makes a Tapestry, loves exploring new places, including France, where she once studied.

Il Sung Na, illustrator of The Opposite Zoo, talks about the art of zoo animals in picture books. "The zoo is a great and fun place for children indeed."

How Michigan Is The Perfect Home For Writers

Writers are those who want to convey their thoughts, perceptions and feelings through certain forms like novels, short stories, blogs, and the like. Writers are those who are inclined to convey their message to the world. The context of their message should be imperative and helpful. Considering that the functions of writers are very important in this world, it is a must for them to see to it that the location where they would spend their time in writing should be very suitable. And this is how the State of Michigan is the perfect home for novel writers.

There are 5 certain facts written and explained below why Michigan is the perfect home for writers.

Michigan environment is always conducive to writing. Conduciveness is the first thing that every novel writer has to consider. The climatic condition really matters as far as having a beguiling and worth-reading novel is concerned. Michigan is the perfect home for the writers, because the climatic condition in this area is really fit for writing.

Michigan has a lot of things to offer for the writers to write well their masterpieces. Michigan is one of the most livable places in the country, because of its capability to offer things suitable to all writers. The pride of this state has been known already and widely. One of the best things it can offer is local flair. And the locally made LivnFresh t-shirts, are among the best products that are made in Michigan. Wearing one, writers can wear comfortably dive into the Michican experience during summer. So writing during summer is still accompanied by comfort and convenience.

LivnFresh T-shirts really make the Michigan-based writers so amazing. There are various types of michigan pride gear, and one would typically wear one when they want to show off their pride of being from or visiting Michigan. The creators of this local brand of t-shirt did make sure that the writers can have a perfect clothing.

Clothing during summer writing is a crucial thing, because it is attached to the internal calmness and relaxation of both body and mind. Once the t-shirt the writers are wearing is really comfortable, for instance made up of 100% pure cotton, then there’s always comfort and pacification of the mind. This is essential to coming up with a perfect write-up every day.

Of course comfortable clothing is not the only thing that a writer needs.  He or she also often needs a comfortable pair of glasses.  But what about if you are a child needing glasses?  Well, stylish frames were hard to come by until Michigan couple Ben and Laura Harrision of Jones Paul Eyewear started their own fashion glasses company for children. Michigan really is a hot bed of innovation and creativity. So if your little writer needs glasses, make sure you go visit them.

Sometimes you may want to write outside of your vacation home or hotel room and for that you need to get out and gain some experiences to write about. There are some hangout locations in Michigan for the writers to unwind and relax regularly. There are famous hangout bars and nightlife areas here. These hangout locations serve as one of the pride and honor of this state. The famous hangout areas here are Hoppy’s Bar, The Tap Room, and Quinn and Tuite’s Irish Pub.

Life in Michigan is really great. Life greatness is what every person aspires for. Life greatness refers to the abundance of things that may lead to happiness and satisfaction. For writers, it is important to be happy and satisfied always. So any novel writer can have a wonderful time here because of the offered satisfying and elating things, like the natural parks (i.e. Isle Royale National Park) and the savory cuisines (i.e. Stanley’s Famous Restaurant).

They all say that writing is a passion and not an option. It might be true or not. For some, writing can be learned. But for others, writing should be a passion. Either of the two, writing novels, short stories and any other literary works can be done excellently once Michigan is chosen as the place to execute the writing. The things explained above are the reasons why and how the State of Michigan is reflected as the perfect home for writers.

Post by Chloe

Lotta Nieminen’s illustrations are packed with detail, colour and narrative. The bold vector shapes combined with subtle texture and an atmospheric colour-scheme is what really brings this work to life. Lotta Nieminen’s talent doesn’t stop at illustration either. She is also a graphic designer and art director who runs her own studio based in New York.

If you would like to see more of Lotta Nieminen’s work please visit her portfolio.

Yesterday the great Al Jaffee turned 95. He's been contributing to Mad Magazine for a mere 61 years as the master of the "Fold-In," a few of which are presented below. Still active and charming as ever, Mr. Jaffee is one of the few people who can genuinely be said to speak with a "stentorian" presence, and I would just sit and listen to him read the phone book.

Italian comics maestro Guide Crepax is getting what I'm willing to bet is his first ever US art exhibit this weekend at the Scott Eder Gallery in Dumbo.

• Take note of settings. Many of the places we've sketched in are venues I've never been to before. Making notes on all the fresh sights and sounds and smells, recording what I liked about the place (and what I didn't) has all gone into my sketch journals along with my drawing.
• Take note of details: Architecture, clothing, people watching . . . So much of what makes a story come to life depends on the details. Taking a few hours to really concentrate on every single little thing can only add to your next story project.
• Photography. Okay, let's say you really, really don't want to draw. Take pictures instead! Who knows, photography may become an entirely new vocation for you, one that fits your written work perfectly.
• Artist's Date: Before, during, and after. Most writers I know find the hardest advice to follow in Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way to be taking the "Artist's Date," probably because it involves a) going by yourself, and b) treating yourself to something fun. Writers are notoriously mean to themselves, especially when they feel they haven't written enough or to the quality they expect on any given day. Hence the need for the artist's date. Urban Sketchers allows you to start out in the security of a group, but then sends you on your way to discover your own unique path for a few hours. Take advantage of the time alone to do something that pleases your writer-self while feeding your entire creative being. (And you can buy yourself a treat somewhere along the way too!)
• Meet creative people. Who knows? They might be writers! (Or want to read your books!) Seeing the work of others is always inspiring.
• Get out of your comfort zone. Sketching, especially in public, might seem a scary thing if you've never tried it before. But if you can get over your initial fear of "What will people think?" wow, imagine how confident you'll be pitching a manuscript, or cold-calling on bookstores. Or even starting a new manuscript!
• Sketching is meditative. Remember how much fun you had when you were a  little kid and able to zone out with your crayons and paper? Believe it or not, you were meditating at the same time. Giving yourself that same childlike joy for a few hours now and then can help you solve a myriad of character and/or plot problems. 

Going back even further in time at the Natural History Museum:

If you do decide to visit your local Urban Sketchers, some essentials you'll need to bring along are: a collapsible camping-type stool, a set of color pencils (much easier and cleaner than fussing with watercolors or felt pens), a pencil sharpener, a sketch pen that you also like to write with, a hardback journal or sketchbook, hat and/or sunglasses, optional camera. Minimal tools for maximum fun.

A nagging suspicion grows that many writers, overawed and dazzled by Bach, still tacitly assume a direct correlation between his immense genius and his stature as a person. At best this can make them unusually tolerant of his faults, which are there for all to see: a certain tetchiness, contrariness and self importance, timidity in meeting intellectual challenges, and a fawning attitude toward royal personages and to authority in general that mixes suspicion with gain-seeking. But why should it be assumed that great music emanates from a great human being? Music may inspire and uplift us, but it does not have to be the manifestation of an inspiring (as opposed to an inspired) individual. In some cases there may be such correspondence, but we are not obliged to presume that it is so. It is very possible that "the teller may be so much slighter or less attractive than the tale." [source] The very fact that Bach's music was conceived and organized with the brilliance of a great mind does not directly give us any clues as to his personality. Indeed, knowledge of the one can lead to a misplaced knowingness about the other. At least with him there is not the slightest risk, as with so many of the great Romantics (Byron, Berlioz, Heine spring to mind), that we might discover almost too much about him or, as in the case of Richard Wagner, be led to an uncomfortable correlation between the creative and the pathological.

Lots to do, lots to do… and so little time. You would think we would be old pros at this now, but damn if the butterflies don’t start a fluttering around this time. Paying for shows, flights, hotel rooms, airbnbs… and a whole slew of other things that will cause a bit of anxiety. But it is worth it as we love traveling and seeing everyone at the shows, which will start off Saturday with a one day horror show.

The 4th Annual Spook Show at the Halloween Club in La Mirada is here on March 5th and it will be our third time doing it. It keeps getting better and better each year; artist, crafters, vendors, food trucks, music, and much more. One of our favorite small shows, plus it is a great way to start off the con season. The show is free, but you must RSVP your free tickets to gain admittance. It is from noon til 7 on Saturday and family friendly.

There are plenty of more shows in the coming weeks, so everyone have fun and we hope to see you soon.

The post Con season begins once again… appeared first on Ghoulish Bunny Studios.

It’s Oscar week and who better to cover it for the New Yorker than former Oscar nominee Daniel Clowes himself. Clowes ultra-eagerly awaited graphic novel Patience hits in a few weeks. I’ve read it and it’s a mind blower. To say any more would be a spoiler. You know you’re going to read it anyway.

  For years, there have been rumors of Marvel and Dc shutting down the countless unauthorized prints, t-shirts and sketchbooks sold at conventions featuring licensed characters. While a few people have been shut down for doing something egregious, it’s mostly been a “look the other way” thing, as The Big Two don’t want to be […]

Admit it, who doesn’t love a good villain?!

Wickedly awesome, sometimes misunderstood…I’ve even found myself (at times) rooting for our villains. Some of my favorite Disney characters are, in fact, the villains. Which is why I’ve done a whole series dedicated to those dark and twisty baddies.

ALL are now available to BUY as prints on my site here as well as my Etsy Shop.

It’s okay…open up your home to a little villain or two…I promise they won’t bite but they may tempt you with a poison apple.

Ursula – $30

Snow White’s Evil Queen – $30

Just got notified they accepted me as a member to the:
GAP - Guild of American Papercrafters
Turning cut paper into Art.

https://gap.wildapricot.org/

My adorably rogue-ish nephew played a pirate in Peter and Wendy a few weeks back.
His mama asked if I'd like to try some Peter Pan art for the bake sale. 

Books!

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Did you offer a Caldecott art program at your library?  As soon as the winner was announced, I started thinking about outreach art programs.  Yellow paper! Bears!  Zoo maps! Diamond shapes! So many possibilities.

Whether you have five minutes or 45 minutes, below are a few ideas and resources to get you started.

A pop-up school outreach Caldecott program with Finding Winnie. Place the book on display, create a huge bear picture on yellow poster paper or keep the yellow paper blank and have each child draw their own bear.  If you have 15-20 minutes, read Finding Winnie by Sophie Blackall and ask questions about the drawings.  For example: What kinds of materials did Sophie Blackall use in her illustrations?

Imagination time!  What if you had a pet bear?  What would you name your bear?  Favorite food? What would you teach your bear?  Favorite game to play with your bear?  Draw out each answer on yellow poster paper for display.  For a longer visit, 30-45 minutes, use the resources below to add history, black and white photographs, science, art and more!

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

Supplies: photographs of bears, yellow, white and black paper, pencils, black markers, crayons (watercolor paints if available), bear puppet, tablet to share youtube and audio, one big piece of yellow poster paper.

Resources:

• Lindsay Mattick
  “Learn more about Lindsay’s new book, Finding Winnie, and view images of Harry & Winnie from the Colebourn family archive.” Remember the real Winnie through photos, videos, and exhibits.

• Sophie Blackall
  Discover the research Blackall did and how she made the illustrations for Finding Winnie from her blog “The Making of Finding Winnie-Part 1-4.”

• Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
  A short video of Lindsay Mattick sharing how she created Finding Winnie. Created by Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

• Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: One Picture-Book Roundtable Discussion Before Breakfast #4: Featuring the Women of Finding Women
  Julie Danielson’s post discusses the process of creating Finding Winnie, the research, the stories and more.

• Finding Winnie on NPR
  Listen to the true story of Winnie the Pooh and her pal, Christopher Robin.

• Educator’s Guide Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
  Little Brown Books for Young Readers created an amazing and detailed teacher’s guide for sharing, learning and discovering more about Finding Winnie. Includes a biography and sections on Social Studies, Language Arts, Art, Science, and Math.

• The Guardian: The Story of How Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a real bear-in pictures
  Explore the diary, real photos and more that inspired Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick.

• The Horn Book: Calling Caldecott-A tale of two Winnies 
  Explore the Calling Caldecott posts including “A tale of two Winnies” and various other blogs about Finding Winnie by Lolly Robinson.

• Review of the Day: Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick
  A Fuse #8 Production writer, Elizabeth Bird reviews Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattock illustrator Sophie Blackall

“Some of the best stories are true stories.” Lindsay Mattick.

photo by Paige Bentley-Flannery

The post Caldecott Library Programs with Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall appeared first on ALSC Blog.