Why We Need Stories
Past student, Miranda Harmon, ‘Everything is Bad, But at Least I Can Make Comics About It’.
It’s the start of another week and to get us in the comics flow, we thought we’d bring you our regular recap from the SAW Mighty Network. If regular emails aren’t enough, don’t forget you can join the discussion anytime, here.
TUESDAY COMICS INSPIRATION
Thanks Gineen for pointing us to Lynda Barry’s ‘The Greatest of Marlys’ (pictured left).
FREE RESOURCES
Beth directed us towards a new online database of more than 600 previously overlooked women artists from the 15th-19th centuries.
Many of these artists were known during their lifetimes and have since become obscure parts of museum collections, and invisible to history books.
The non-profit, Advancing Women Artists is going about changing that. Read more here.
IN FLOW
This weeks exercise was to DO SOMETHING UNIMPORTANT! To get past that block that this thing is going to be great and brilliant, and to put pencil to paper. It’s not serious! It isn’t “Art”. No one’s going to see…
Tom proved that this can create a wonderful jumping off point for when you do get back to doing the “important” “art” things.
Here’s a loose, “unimportant” spread.
And here’s what that became in comics form…
“I don’t need an arc. I don’t care if your book has a plot. I want to understand how the gears were covered by cement and if we will ever see them move again... There is a seed buried in the crack of your tooth you can’t get out, no one believes it is there, and the chapters are the pick, the floss, and maybe even the chisel.”
FROM THE MEMOIR GROUP
More great resource sharing in the memoir group this week. This time a link to an interview with Sophia Shalmiyev about why we need stories.
You can read the full interview with PEN Ten online, here.
SHOUT OUT
We missed this a couple of weeks ago, but once we found it we loved it so much we had to share! In response to an exercise on constructing character for a reader, Jackie came up with this great visual metaphor.
Upcoming events and classes!
We’ve just launched a new series of inking classes with Justine (better known as Barefoot Justine), including inking basics. You can sign up and complete at your own pace anytime. Don’t miss out!
July 1 join our online book group to discuss ‘The Lie and How We Told It’ by Tommi Parrish.
July 8 storytelling FLOW is back. Join us online.
July 8-19 our Teen/Tween Summer Camp will be in session. Keep an eye out for the exhibition, most likely early August!
August 19 our year-long workshop kicks off in Gainesville (it’s not too late to join us…)
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for SAW alumni work in the upcoming issue of Ink Brick.
Join us
The SAW Mighty Network is free and accessible whenever you like. Join us now and be apart of the conversation!