Category: Comics

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Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Tasters: Francesca Dare, James Hickman and Kim Clements

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A final set of snippets of wonderful pictures from the recent Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox anthology on the theme of positive change.
Each contributor also suggested a positive idea in keeping with the theme of the anthology…

FRANCESCA DARE

Previous works include: Penny Blackfeather

Positive Idea:  “No matter how down and alone you feel, there is always someone there to talk to.  Your friends, your family, even a teacher or a doctor.  And hey, there’s always a comic hermit in London who’ll listen if you want.
Remember that you are loved.”

Art sample from her Tempo Lush tale:  UndertowFran-Tanoox-SampleJAMES HICKMAN

Previous works include: Score & Script

Positive Idea:  “It’s an old cliche but we were given two ears and only one mouth.  It’s a reminder that we should listen more than we talk.
Change is inevitable but positive change is entirely up to us. It’s a journey that begins only when we stop going wherever we’ve been heading and take the time to listen to one another.
Also bring snacks.  Snacks are always welcome on any journey.”

Art sample from his Tempo Lush tale:  ColossiJames-Tanoox-SampleKIM CLEMENTS

Previous works include: The Great Cat Mystery, Rabbit Thoughts

Positive Idea:  “When I feel down I think about the famous Audrey Hepburn quote that there is much beauty in kindness.  I also find that when all the anger and the sadness of the world makes things feel difficult, that it can be easy to look through people. I hate myself for doing this so I always try to slow down and imagine people’s life stories and talents that I pass on the street.  When I do this I feel much happier and I often end up having spontaneous conversations.”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Kim-Tanoox-SampleTLT-2-Cover-Double-Page-Spread-UpdateYou can get hold of the book online here, or at Gosh Comics!

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Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Tasters: Sarah Lightman & Nicola Streeten, Naz Bee & Angela Wraight and Emmeline Pui Ling Dobson

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More snippets of wonderful pictures and words too from the recent Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox anthology on the theme of positive change.
Contributors also suggested a positive idea in keeping with the theme of the anthology…

SARAH LIGHTMAN & NICOLA STREETEN

Previous works include:
Sarah – Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women
Nicola – Billy Me and You, Becoming of Age

Positive Idea:
Sarah – Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women
Nicola – STOP EATING ANIMALS

Snippet from the Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Anthology Foreword discussing the positive effect of Laydeez Do Comics:
“In a sense, the monthly gatherings echoed the early 1970s feminist grassroots meetings, with the purpose of raising consciousness, sharing knowledge and information. Laydeez do Comics offers a taste of the good things – a supportive community, where contacts and introductions, new opportunities, colleagues, comrades, book contracts and new partnerships, even love await. And the homemade cake we serve reminds us of the comforts of home, of joyful occasions, celebrations in our lives.”

NAZ BEE & ANGELA WRAIGHT

Previous works include:
Nas – Paper Houses
Angela – Circuit Breaker, Yoshitoki is Making Waves, Paper Houses

Positive Idea: Join a mentoring charity to support and guide troubled young people.
centrepoint.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/mentoring

Art sample from their Tempo Lush tale: Give it a GoNas-and-Angela-Tanoox-SampleEMMELINE PUI LING DOBSON

Previous works include: Knights of Eve, Wu Wei

Positive Idea: “Effective Altruism” covers a range of projects aiming to help people have a bigger positive impact on the world with their time, money, and energy. A good place to start is givewell.org, which has regularly updated analytical information on which charities bring the greatest benefit
to the most underprivileged communities.

Art sample from her Tempo Lush tale: Malice/Aria
Emmeline-Tanoox-Sample

TLT-2-Cover-Double-Page-Spread-UpdateYou can get hold of the book online here, or at Gosh Comics.

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MCM London Comic Con October 2015

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Had a lovely time at MCM London Comic Con last month and here’s the photographic evidence to prove it…mcm2015-01Always good to have the best table buddies, including Inko, Chie Kutsuwada, Van Nim and Zarina Liew…mcm2015-02 mcm2015-03 mcm2015-04Some awesome cosplayers…
 mcm2015-05 mcm2015-06An interesting commission…mcm2015-07Some portraits I did…mcm2015-08 mcm2015-09 mcm2015-10 mcm2015-11 mcm2015-12 mcm2015-13 mcm2015-14 mcm2015-15 mcm2015-16 mcm2015-17 mcm2015-18 mcm2015-19And finally an amazing portrait of me and Lucy by Inko…mcm2015-20

 

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Square McBear and his tummy full of comics!

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It’s been a 6 years since I first started producing my Tempo Lush Mini Comics Box Set available here on Etsy as well as MCM London Comic Con this weekend and Thought Bubble in November.

Here’s some nice words from Small Press News Room about the set back in the day!

Thing is, even though I wrote and drew the ten mini comics back in 2009, I’m still hand making the grizzly bears that they fit in.  His name’s Square McBear for those who don’t know and he stars in the last comic in the set.

First I print off a batch of the A4 comics and fold them into squares…Bear1Having printed off the flat bear box parts, I add double sided sticky tape to parts of the body and head, then with a guillotine and scissors I cut out each body, head, ears, arms, feet and tail…Bear2I fold the bodies and heads and glue on the ears…Bear3Then, removing the peely bit from the double sided tape I stick the bodies in place and add a bit of glue to the arms…Bear4Once the arms are stuck on I add some glue to the feet.  You can see I’ve squidged it about a bit…Bear5The feet and tails are glued on and I place the heads on top with the double-sided tape…Bear6These grizzlies are ready for the comics to be placed inside…Bear7Then each bear goes for a snooze in its own box, comfortably resting amongst packing peanuts…Bear8All boxed up and ready to head to the cons, while the Tempo Lush CEO checks it’s all been done properly…Bear9
Finally, here’s an old video from when the boxes first appeared on the scene…

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The Lakes International Comic Festival 2015

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I had a wonderful time visiting Kendal in the Lake District this past weekend for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
Lakes1You can see the Clock Tower on the left of the pic above where I had a table displaying all my Tempo Lush goodies, next to by talented bud, Mike Medaglia, whose new book One Year Wiser was selling by the bucket load!Lakes7Lakes6 It was fabulous to see the whole town getting involved, with banners everywhere and wonderful posters including Mike’s…
 Lakes2A highlight for me was taking part in the Windows on Comic Art Trail where I created this comic to hang in the window of the Thuline Studio Gallery.  It features various sites and events around Kendal, and it was fun drawing small coloured pencil drawings knowing how big they would be blown up on the image…Lakes3 Lakes4  Thanks Lakes!  Hope to be back one day!

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Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Tasters: Lisa Woynarski & Mike Medaglia, Sally-Anne Hickman and Tammy Taylor

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More snippets of fantastic drawings from the recent Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox anthology on the theme of positive change.
The contributors also suggested a positive idea in keeping with the theme of the anthology…

LISA WOYNARSKI & MIKE MEDAGLIA

Previous works include:
Lisa – Performance + Ecology
Mike – One Year Wiser, Wu Wei, Last Days of Nobodies

Positive Idea:  “Our positive idea is of a collective awareness across the planet of our ecological connectedness where people face the effects of climate change head-on and have the courage to make a change in a big and meaningful way.”

Art sample from their Tempo Lush tale:  The Death of the Familiar (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tanoox)Mike and Lisa-Tanoox-SampleSALLY-ANNE HICKMAN

Previous works include: Bang! Crash! Whizz!, Black Diamonds and Blue Scars

Positive Idea:  “The Margins Project based in the Union Chapel provides a range of vital support services to people facing homelessness, they offer a kitchen training programme to develop skills that can lead to employment. They also provide a winter night shelter followed by a hearty breakfast in the winter months.
www.unionchapel.org.uk”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry TreeSallyAnne-Tanoox-SampleTAMMY TAYLOR

Previous works include: Bon Appetit, 18 This Summer

Positive Idea:  “I think a good charity to support would be Springboard for Children as they provide one-to-one support to improve reading and writing for children who are in danger of being left behind in the education system
www.springboard.org.uk”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Tammy-Tanoox-SampleTLT-2-Cover-Double-Page-Spread-UpdateYou can get hold of the book online here, or at Gosh Comics or if you’re heading to any comic festivals this year you can find me and Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox at…
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Kendal, Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October 2015)
MCM London Comic Con (Excel London, Friday 23 – Sunday 25 October 2015)
Thought Bubble (Leeds, Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November 2015)

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Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Tasters: Chie Kutsuwada, Anna Dowsland, Matt Boyer and Jessica Martin

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More snippets of wonderful pictures from the recent Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox anthology on the theme of positive change.
Each contributor also suggested a positive idea in keeping with the theme of the anthology…

CHIE KUTSUWADA

Previous works include: Go! Go! Metro!, The Story of Lee, Hagakure: Code of the Samurai, Rosie and Jacinda: Demon Cloud, Manga Shakespeare: As You Like It

Positive Idea:  “I care about children and old people. They are the first and final chapter of this long, long trip called life.  I think it would be the best if the world was where they can relax and smile.”

Art sample from her Tempo Lush tale:  ReunionCHie-Tanoox-SampleANNA DOWSLAND

Previous works include: Don’t Feed the Pigeons

Positive Idea:  “Amnesty!  www.amnesty.org.uk”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Anna-Tanoox-SampleMATT BOYER

Previous works include: Runnning

Positive Idea:  “I feel that the elderly can often be overlooked in our society, so a charity like Age UK that offers a number of services for those alone and potentially vulnerable is a great thing deserving of support: www.ageuk.org.uk”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Matt-Tanoox-SampleJESSICA MARTIN

Previous works include: It Girl, Vivacity, Elsie Harris Picture Palace

Positive Idea:  “My mantra for making your dreams come true, however small or great is “ Conceive, Believe, Achieve”.  I also believe that creative endeavour in writing and art is a form of therapy.  And anything that makes you feel good ( within reason) has got to benefit everyone!  The book that reawakened my ‘sleeping artist’ was The Creative License by Danny Gregory. Picked up my pen and haven’t stopped drawing since.”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Jessica-Tanoox-SampleTLT-2-Cover-Double-Page-Spread-UpdateYou can get hold of the book online here, or at Gosh Comics or if you’re heading to any comic festivals this year you can find me and Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox at…
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Kendal, Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October 2015)
MCM London Comic Con (Excel London, Friday 23 – Sunday 25 October 2015)
Thought Bubble (Leeds, Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November 2015)

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Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Tasters: David O’Connell, Chonto and Chibi Shibby

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More snippets of wonderful pictures from the recent Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox.
Each contributor also suggested a positive idea in keeping with the theme of the anthology…

DAVID O’CONNELL

Previous works include: Jampires, Monster & Chips, Tozo, The Public Servant

Positive Idea:  “The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust: bumblebeeconservation.org”

Art sample from his Tempo Lush tale:  Flat E David-Tanoox-SampleCHONTO

Previous works include: Illustrations for newspapers, novels, advertising, books, magazines, video, TV, theatre, performance art and more.

Positive Idea:  “Rich imagination and creativity don’t necessarily come from constantly staring at mobiles, tablets and laptops.  How about letting your imagination go wild by connecting with people and nature directly?”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Chonto-Tanoox-SampleCHIBI SHIBBY

Previous works include: Stories about Me and You

Positive Idea: “Do more of what makes you happy!”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Chibi-Tanoox-SampleTLT-2-Cover-Double-Page-Spread-UpdateYou can get hold of the book online here, or at Gosh Comics or if you’re heading to any comic festivals this year you can find me and Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox at…
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Kendal, Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October 2015)
MCM London Comic Con (Excel London, Friday 23 – Sunday 25 October 2015)
Thought Bubble (Leeds, Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November 2015)

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Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox Tasters: Inko, John Miers and Rachael Smith

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Here we go with the first of a series of samples of amazing artwork from the recent Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox.
I also asked each contributor for a positive idea in keeping with the theme of the anthology…

INKO

Previous works include: Go! Go! Metro!, Manga Cupcakes, MangaQuake, Howl!, Rosie and Jacinda: Demon Cloud

Positive Idea:  “Ichinichi Ichizen is a Japanese saying means One good thing a day, to encourage you to do anything good (as small as making a cup of tea for someone). No pressure to do anything big or a lot, just one in a day!
How about going to One Click Donations? By clicking company adverts there once a day, the company will donate to various charities instead of you! It’s a very simple and easy way of making a positive move!
www.thenonprofits.com”

Art sample from her Tempo Lush tale:  Tanuko
Inko-Tanoox-SampleJOHN MIERS

Previous works include: Score & Script, How to Train your Robot

Positive Ideas:  “(1) “Mimesis as Make-Believe”, which is American philosopher Kendall Walton’s theory of how representational art works.  Basically he says that works of art “function as props in games of make-believe”.  So enjoying a fiction is a more developed version of what a kid does when it imagines that a stick is a horse, or its bed
is the sea.  I think it’s a lovely idea.
(2) Whatever happens with the Labour leadership election, the whole “Jez We Can” thing seems to provide good evidence that if a coherent anti-austerity position gets a decent platform, it can enthuse a wide range of people, including plenty who don’t normally vote.  That feels like a much-needed sliver of hope in contemporary politics.”

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
John-Miers-Tanoox-SampleRACHAEL SMITH

Previous works include: The Rabbit, House Party, Flimsy the Kitten, Dr Who

Positive Idea: “I’m a big supporter of the Alzheimer’s Society.  My Grandad sadly passed away a few years ago after suffering from Alzheimer’s for many years.  He was the nicest man in the world and I’d love for more support to go to this charity so they can care for people with this illness and make sure they still get the most out of life.”
www.alzheimers.org.uk

Art sample from the Tempo Lush tale:  Bugleberry Tree
Rachael-Smith-Tanoox-SampleTLT-2-Cover-Double-Page-Spread-UpdateYou can get hold of the book online here, or at Gosh Comics or if you’re heading to any comic festivals this year you can find me and Tempo Lush Tales of the Tanoox at…
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (Kendal, Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October 2015)
MCM London Comic Con (Excel London, Friday 23 – Sunday 25 October 2015)
Thought Bubble (Leeds, Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November 2015)

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Support Art Aid Nepal’s HOME Anthology

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I was incredibly proud when I was asked to contribute some pages to the amazing Art Aid Nepal Anthology, alongside an amazing range of multicultural artists.  It’s a wonderful and important project set up to support the children who lost their home in the devastating earthquake in Nepal earlier this year.

You can find out more, support the project and get your own copy of the book plus original artwork,  by visiting The Art Aid Anthology Kickstarter Page. 467e374bafb23c300321758d335e4402_originalYou can see two pages of my four page tale above.  My work appears alongside a mind-blowingly talented and varied group of creators in the 92 page book, such as Katriona Chapman, Chie Kutsuwada, Mike Medaglia, Francesca Mancuso, Sarah Lightman, Hannah Lee Miller, Inko, John Miers  and the founders of the project Kripa Joshi and Elena Vitagliano.

As Kripa and Elena say on the kickstarter page…

“Art Aid Nepal enable us to use our ability as artists to raise funds. We wanted to do something to help children recover from the trauma that they faced during the earthquake and which resurfaces after every aftershock.
The 7.8 magnitude quake created a lot of destruction and loss of life. Even those who survived were not spared the mental trauma and even months later the aftershocks causes our hearts and minds to tremble. Thousands of adults and children lost their homes and are still displaced.
The need to help them remains, for their troubles are far from over.
…All funds raised from the sale will be used to support education and art therapy workshops for children affected by the tragedy. Art can help to heal and bring simple joy to their otherwise troubled lives.“

Donating to the project will not only make a real positive difference to children’s lives, but will enable you to get your hands on the following goodies…

8b08b9f6b0e4c8d9ec5068199260cde7_originalHere’s my original art that’s available to you if you can donate £100…186b524816eba89fa0859dfb182ceba0_originalPlease visit the kickstarter page and donate!

Thanks for reading!