The Better Things in Life

I think I'm meant for better things, I thought.
Oh goodness. Now I have to do them.

Been a while since I posted the stuff that I started this blog for, my sketchbook doodles. Trying to get back into the habit of sketching, been swamped and tired a lot lately - forget to do it when things get like that, but it would be good for the mental health to do it more. Here are a few older things I’d forgotten about, I just dug them up from a pad I grabbed to doodle in. Imp going to get to a life drawing session soon, finally there is a new figure drawing session starting up in town. MTL residents FYI, I’ve posted the where and when’s bellow.




figure drawing sessions in a new alternative art gallery.
Core Gallery 4615 Blvd. St.
Sessions begin Tuesday June 14, 8pm
Laurent, close to Mount Royal.
sessions are $5

We are also looking for models of all ages shapes and sizes, it`s a
paying gig!

RSVP to: jeannieustaylorus@hotmail.com

We hope to have enough people interested to have a session each week alternating models, however for the first little while it might be bi-weekly...but that depends on you.

I look forward to hearing from you. Pass the word along. All are welcome.

Jeannie.

Ok, some stuff for the comic geeks in all of you

first, I was at TCAF last week. And I attended the Doug Wright Awards, for which I was nominated in the best emerging category.

Deeply honoured by the nomination alone, I didn’t win it, rats. *sigh*
Would have been very nice - when I sat down in my seat and got a good look at the trophy I was actually for a moment very excited at the least chance of getting it.

But honestly this followed a month or so of not really expecting it – partly the classic low expectations strategy, a grand stand by - but also I had discounted it in my mind some time back. Not that I didn’t think my work was up to it, but that the book that I was nominated for is half a collaborative project, with 3 of the 9 bits of work in it being done with co-writers a.j.duric and John O'Brien - taking up most of the pages in it.

The award is supposed to go to cartoonists that "write and draw their own work" so given the company I was in, none of them shlubs in the least at all! - and all of their books completely the work of one...well...

I new where I would start drawing lines if I was a judge. ‘:- //

In fact, I was actually even more surprised and honoured when I thought about it! I’m mean, aside form getting short listed like that - a huge complement anytime, if I’m right about the category description, the committee that compiled the lists of qualified candidates had to kind of ignore the parameters, or stretch them anyway to make my book fit - They must have really liked it! :P

Well, that’s the way I’m thinking anyway, and I was very pleased to be complemented after the ceremonies by several folks for my book; inc some of the Wrights', Don McKellar & Chester Brown! Much thanks :)

They and jury moderator Brad Mackay noted happily and frequently at diner that the whole field in both categories was of a excellent calibre across the board, with every book being championed by one or more of the Jury.

Amusingly I was actually relived when it wasn’t my name called, though sad too for a moment. I was not looking forward to any kind of public speaking after my long day at the festival. Bone tried.

Still, rational opinion of my odds aside; for as long as it took for Seth to give his presentation I was kind of hopeful. In the end, Bryan Lee O'Malley took it for his excellent Scott Pilgrim. Poor Seth was both mortified and honoured to get his own trophy design for Clyde Fans Book I.

After saying good night to my mother who had come out with john for support [thanks guys!] I spent a pleasant low-key evening talking at the end of a long table with Seth, Don, Brad and some of the other event organizers. It was a lovely day not to win.

The next day flew by, lot of fun, sold lots of art and a decent handful of my books, was able to make some quick trips around the tent, say hi and picked up a few goodies, and caped the day off with a big sushi pig out and a long nap.

I have photos from the weekend that I’ll put up later. For now you can listen to my recoding of Seth’s Appreciation of Doug Wright presentation here.

And finally my old buddy sent me a link to a cool photo taken during a night shoot from a cretin Uk comic 2 film production going on as we speak where a sexy young sci-fi queen has been seen to be sporting a closed cropped look.

More to come on tcaf shortly.