Drawn

The Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont offers a two-year course of study that centers on the creation and dissemination of comics, graphic novels and other manifestations of the visual narrative. I was pretty sure we had posted a link to the school before (which is headed up by James Sturm) but I’m glad we haven’t because I also get to share this link: LiveJournal user tundraboy visited an open house of the school and gives us a great photo tour of the facilities, which include exhibits of famous cartoonists, a library funded by Jeannie Schulz, and a state-of-the-art production studio. I sure wish a place like this was around when I was finishing highschool.

Lifemeter is a collection of comics and cartoon art inspired by a love of video games. This piece inspired by Nintendo’s Punch-Out by Chris Elio is particularly awesome. Be sure also not to miss the Adventures in Adventure comic!

One of my favourite local Toronto illustrators is Michael Cho, and thanks to Gregory I now know he has a blog! If you’re in the city, be sure to check out Michael’s illustrations that are scattered throughout one of the city’s best bookstores: Pages. The store regularly displays great artwork in its windows, and currently on display — you guessed it — Michael Cho!

Grandma Evelyn’s Old Fashioned Pudding Treats Wrestling Theatre is just about the best name for anything. It’s an online comic jam open to anyone who wants to participate. Each contributor adds one tier to the ongoing story. Want to add to the story? Go right ahead!

Hard to believe we’ve never featured Kevin Cornell’s Bearskinrug here on Drawn! The website is a piece of art itself, and you can get lost poking around its treasures. Included in the things you’ll find are Kevin’s infamous interactive sketchbook, a series of small sketches and cartoons called 100 One-Offs, and of course — an irrepressible little sock monkey named Mojo. shown here, who pops up all over the place.

Cow & Buffalo is an incredibly fun weekly comic by Mike Maihack, which I discovered via a piece of Jellaby fan art he sent to Kean Soo, who is celebrating the 1st year anniversary of The Secret Friend Society this week.

Ray Fenwick produces this comic weekly in Halifax. It’s called The Hall of Best Knowledge, and it’s just fantastic. His Flickr set showcases the first 35 entirely typographic (and beautifully hand-drawn) examples.

It’s hard to believe we haven’t gotten around to praising the fantastic Ben Caldwell on DRAWN! yet… he of the fabulous ‘How-To’ cartooning books, Wonder Woman chapbooks, Justice League Unlimited and Clone Wars comic books, and his own Dare Detectives stories. The man is oozing cartoon talent, and I strongly recommend you head over to his website and tool around… lots to learn, my friends. And if you want to see how a guy like this thinks, Silver Bullet has a great interview with Ben on their site.

Numerous people have written in to share the news that comic book artist Seth Fisher has passed away. A note was forwarded from a relative says:

Dear Friends of Seth,

I’ve just hung up the phone from talking with Vicki (Seth’s mother) in Japan. She is with family and friends at the wake. She was overwhelmed when I told her so many people are talking about him online, in blogs and forums. She thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers. It seems Seth fell seven stories off the roof of a club in Osaka. The autopsy revealed massive internal bleeding and suggests that he died instantly.

The funeral in Japan is on Saturday. Condolences may be sent to Hisako (his wife) at:

Hisako Sugiyama
Miyoshi Building 3C
2-13-8 Matsubara
Naka-ku Nagoya-shi
Aichi-ken 460-0017
Japan

There will be a service at Sacred Heart in Coronado (San Diego) when his mother returns from Japan (at least a week from now). The church will have the details:

Sacred Heart Parish
655 C Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
619-435-3167

You can see Seth’s marvelous art at his website: Flowering Nose

Drawn! favourite Hope Larson has started posting her new weekly feature She’s From Away. The autobiographical comic is printed weekly in the Halifax Coast. Also, next month her new book Gray Horses is released.. (15 page preview) lots to look forward to!