Hey! Lisa Hanawalt, Eleanor Davis and I are talking about stuff (stuff TBA) at the Society of Illustrators this month. All info here and below:

Work Plus Play: Jillian Tamaki, Lisa Hanawalt and Eleanor Davis
Society of Illustrators, NYC
February 23, 2012 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15 Non-members, $10 members, $7 students. Purchase tickets here.

Jillian Tamaki is an illustrator, cartoonist, textile artist, and SVA instructor. She has 3 books of comics, including SKIM (co-created with Mariko Tamaki), which was listed as one of Publishers Weekly best books of 2008. She has won 3 gold medals from the Society of Illustrators. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

I won two gold medals from the Society of Illustrators this year, in the Book and Institutional categories. HOORAY! This means you can see the original embroidery for Black Beauty (and The Secret Garden) at the show, which runs Jan 25- Feb 18. The opening is Feb 3.

The second gold medal is for this Croquet Poster, which was commissioned by Cramer-Krasselt to benefit the Penfield Children’s Center in Milwaukee. This image will be included in the Institutional/Advertising show, February 23, 2012 – March 17, 2012. Thank you, Society and jury!

Here is a sketch that no one was ever meant to see. it’s from a job that got killed. Boo-hoo, would have been fun. Oh well.

I will be signing at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival this weekend. Drawn + Quarterly table, 3-4. I am always happy to sign older books if you like, since if you’re reading this right now it’s likely you’ll have already bought my D+Q petit-livre.

I think most working illustrators will find the finessed language in this letter, from Nelson A. Rockefeller to Diego Rivera, very familiar.

Dear Mr. Rivera:

Sincerely,
Nelson A. Rockefeller

Chills! Oh well, what do you expect, I suppose. The mural was destroyed (the painting above is a recreation at Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City). You can read more about that particular dispute here. You can view the actual letter, which I transcribed, at the Diego Rivera exhibit now on view at the MoMA.

… did that get your attention?

Anyway, I’m putting in a short appearance at the Brooklyn Book Festival this weekend, signing Indoor Voice at the Drawn + Quarterly booth #27-28, Sunday 1-2pm.

Brooklyn Book Fest
Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn

Would knowing there’ll probably be food trucks there persuade you? I HOPE SO!

This man won the St. Patrick’s Day dress-up challenge, in my book.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

This is the first picture I drew on my NEW CINTIQ! I don’t plan on stopping drawing with actual ink, but I’m more than happy to not have to scan in sketches upon sketches anymore. They’re so much more beautiful with a pencil, true, but no more functional. PLUS, there may be a new graphic novel project on the horizon….

I’m at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival today (Saturday). I’m signing 6-8 at the D&Q table (#42).

But if you see anything at BCGF, go see LYNDA BARRY, who is giving a talk at 1. I saw her this week at the 92 St Y and was thrilled.

For Oprah Magazine.
AD Jaspal Riyait.

A few programming notes:

♬ I was recently interviewed for Canadian Art magazine on the topic of comics. Nice little intro piece that presents the possibilities of the medium. Canadian Art is a great magazine, by the way. ‘Had a subscription for many years.

♪ Next weekend I will be at the Brooklyn Book Festival, signing Indoor Voice ( D&Q booth 1.30-3.30PM) and participating on a panel. So if you’re in NYC and not at SPX, come say hi.

Comics and Form: Is the Medium Still the Message? Do comics change when they are released from their traditional print medium? And how? Creators, publishers and developers will combine to discuss the expanding boundaries of the comics format. Robert Berry (Ulysses Seen), Ben Katchor (Julius Knipl: Real Estate Photographer), Jillian Tamaki (Skim). Moderated by Columbia University librarian Karen Green. 4:00, NORTH STAGE.

Festival Address:
BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL
209 JORALEMON STREET
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11201

♫ School is starting soon! I’m teaching Sophomore Drawing for Illustrators at SVA this year. Sharpen those pencils!

Oh! And hello, amazing opportunity:

There are 2 studio spaces available in the Pencil Factory here in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. If you are sane, respectful, and don’t work with toxic chemicals, check out the info here. An amazing opportunity to share a space with some of the best in the biz.

Hello,

Here’s a picture of old-timey Catwoman I did at the request of the Doug Wright Awards.  When Brad MacKay, Chester Brown, and Seth ask you to do something, YOU DO IT. It will be auctioned off to benefit the Awards next month. I will mention it again closer to the date. The Doug Wright Awards have been so supportive of my career, so it’s the least I can do.

My D&Q Petit-Livre Indoor Voice, has NOT been released yet, as is proclaimed on Amazon. I will let you know when it is.

I had my final meeting with my SVA MFA Thesis Student, Anat Even Or, today. You can see her final project in the “Comics” section of her website. But really, someone should put it out as a book. Viewing it online doesn’t do it justice.

Such a melancholy and exciting time for students, this time of year. Especially seniors. Us teachers wish you only the best as we kick you out of the nest. If you’ve worked hard and made the most of yourself and your time, you’re ready. I saw two former students on the same day last week and I was unnaturally happy for the rest of the day. I really do grow attached to them!

Hopefully, wherever you are, there are cherry blossoms.