ALMOST FREE

Hello dear readers!
I have much to post because I had to build a website recently with my artwork (in class, it's not actually online, but I'm working on it!). So, I have a lot of sketchbook photos and some new art, though I'll disperse it into a couple of posts.
The semester is almost over. My weekend includes Saturday, Sunday and Monday (where I'll be finishing up some painitng for class, but that'll be a breeze compared to the work load I'm used to doing) and then Tuesday I have a final painting critique until 3, then a flight to catch back home.
I have 2 1/2 weeks of break where I plan to work on some comics! Hurrah!











I'll have more later!

We losers lurk around the 17th floor...

By the way, my best-17th-floor-friend (because we both know our friendship doesn't extend past the dorms), Maelle Doliveux makes fantastic diary comics. I am ALWAYS excited to see new work from her, and think she should ditch illustration and pursue her true calling, cartooning (though she's equally good at both). Anyways, she's now posting these comics online now over here:

The Pretentious Fool

Check it out. You'll love it. Not only do her comics include ME, but you'll also see some sightings of Carey Grant, David Bowie and Taylor Mali (a hilarious spoken word poet-- youtube his stuff, you will not regret it!)

Swamped!

I don’t have much to show right now. I’m swamped with work and trying to catch up (fell a bit behind, but I’m catching up quite well). Sorry for the low quality pictures. My camera is dead right now, so all I have is my phone. Better ones to come soon!


This self portrait was to be included in a grouping of drawings from the AMNH, so I tried to make myself look wilder. I’ve always been a fan of the Adam Ant stripe. Seemed like a perfect time to throw it in.


Drawing of bison bones, which was part of the grouping.


Doodle of a character that appears in something I’m working on.


Clara Bow sketches! I find her to be stunning.



I’m designing a portfolio website, and this is just a tiny snippet of what’s going on (don’t want to give it away too much!). I did the original drawing in my sketchbook, scanned it, and coloured it/amped up the line work in photoshop. This was my first stab at taking anything on paper, into photoshop, and colouring it. The colour being fairly flat was a personal choice (not laziness).

I recently finished Local by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly, and David Small’s “Stitches”. Stitches was really disturbing (I didn’t want to believe it was true!), but I had a good cry at the end. The only thing that bugged me about it at points was the lack of backgrounds. Too many panels zoomed in, and not enough energy spent on the backgrounds as on the figures. I understand that at some points it’s meant to emphasize isolation, or the eeriness/sterility of hospitals, but I found myself wanting more information in some panels. This is a problem I’m sure I have so that’s why I’m so aware of it in others.

My closest friend (who actually has a fantastic art history blog: http://www.michelangeloscave.wordpress.com) shared this quote (from our favourite author) with me, and I thought I would pass it along:
"Why are you afraid of women?" I asked a group of men "We’re afraid they’ll laugh at us," replied the men.
"Why are you afraid of men?" I asked a group of women "We’re afraid they’ll kill us," replied the woman.- Margaret Atwood

It has been a long time!

You’ll have to excuse me for the long wait for a new blog post. You’ll also have to excuse me, because for the next little bit, I’m going to get fine artsy on you guys! Which isn’t a bad thing! I enjoy the fine arts, but I miss having some free time to make some cartoons or comics, or just doodles.

As of right now, I am a month and a half into school at SVA. My experience thus far is amazing. The block I currently take has the best teachers (so say the students and I can’t disagree), but also the most work. I get one free day in the week, Saturday (spent cleaning, doing groceries and laundry). Four days of classes, but 6 days spent on homework (and I don’t slack either!). Life as an art student is thrilling, I know. In all seriousness, I am having fun. Stressing out, but not too much, and I’m constantly surrounded by interesting artists.

I briefly interned on Monday’s for a wonderful cartoonist, but some things came up, so the internship will be resumed next semester (hopefully). Regardless of how short, I had a really amazing time and can’t wait to do it again! For now, I have more free time to do homework (and post a blog! Gasp!)

So, all that being said, don’t be too disappointed if you don’t see a lot of original stories, or fun sketches. Right now, we’re mainly doing still lifes and figure drawings and I’m loving it. I try to sketch when I can, especially since our drawing teacher likes to check up on our sketch books, so there will be some stuff like that.

By the way, if any of you have any questions, feedback, etc. feel free to e-mail them to drweckaart@hotmail.com

Okay, no more chatting! Here’s some new stuff:

First off, here’s some pictures of the mini-comic I assembled that I mentioned in my last post:
Some pages...


And the final result (silk-screened cover)...



School work:

1. My first oil painting, a b/w still life
2. This was an interesting excercise. My drawing teacher inserted a slide upside down, and had it so unfocused that when we began this drawing, we had no idea of what it was. Since it was so unfocused, there were no sharp edges, only blurry shapes and values. We drew this and as the day progressed, we focused the image a little more and more, adding more fuzzy shapes and values. In the last 20 minutes (once most of the shading had been built up) the image was completely focused (but still upside down) and we could put in some details. It really altered the way I looked at how to create a drawing (and helped me with how to build up shading).
3. One of our assignments was to do a mood drawing, using expressive lines and shading (my teacher puts a strong emphasis on line and what it can do). This is a corner in my dorm (by the door). My mood? Disgusted. I made the paper dirty on purpose.


Book design for Sylvia Plath's, the Bell Jar (my favourite book). My photoshop skills are not the greatest...




Sketches:

1. Sketch of my friend, Maelle, and the Reverend Mother from the Dune TV mini-series (based off of Frank Herbert's novel)
2. Animal sketches from the Museum of Natural History
3. A sketch of an idea I have for a comic
4. A plan for a book cover for class that we created in photoshop.



Cosmic comics near my dorm, has a 30% off sale and I took the opportunity to pick up Vampire Loves, by Joann Sfar, and Local, by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly.
Vampire Loves was something I borrowed from my library in the summer to read. I fell in love with Sfar’s sense of humour, and yes, even his wobbly lines. Sfar portrays a bunch of mythical creatures (vampires, golems, etc.) experiencing everyday problems (like relationship problems). The dialogue is excellent and hilarious, this is a book that is sure to make you laugh!


One more thing! My friend Stephanie Mannheim, a brilliant young cartoonist (who has always inspired me), had her mini-comic, Roxie #2, reviewed at this blog:
http://strengthinbrooklyn.blogspot.com
Check it out, and congratulate Steph!

GAH

I swear I will update soon. I have so much to do right now. My family barely sees me, let alone my friends and the internet/blog. I have to finish my final art project tomorrow before 5, then go to photocopy it, and put the mini comic together.

Thursday is the art show, "Freshly Squeezed" (and my birthday) and I have to help set up, grab dinner, then be at the show from 7-9.

Friday, I'll probably skip my morning class to finally get some sleep. Then, go in for my afternoon classes to finish up final projects.

Wednesday is my art exam (from 12:00-2:30). Then, oh THEN, I will be a free woman! No more high school!!

So, I hope you understand.

WANT A FREE SHORT MINI COMIC?!?!?!

I haven’t updated in a while, sorry! I am SWAMPED with final projects. High School is almost over for me, dear readers (if any of you exist—feel free to leave me comments, anonymous are fine too! I welcome constructive criticism!!).
Anyways, I had my friends Steph and Sally come to Canada, to go to TCAF. It was a great time! We got to meet some of our favourite artists! And we passed out some mini comics.

Sally stayed longer (Steph was only there for the weekend), and because of that I slacked on some work, which I am now making up.
Some progress…





I made a very short (6 pages plus cover and info page), and very simple mini-comic for TCAF. I printed a lot because the photocopier I used wasn’t taking money from my copy card, so I took advantage of that…haha… SO, with that in mind, I’d love to send out some of them to you! I have 18 left! If you want one, e-mail your address at drweckaart@hotmail.com
Seriously, it’s no trouble. It would really make my day!
PREVIEW…

Death, Making Comics, SAME THING!

I'm not dead-- just a cartoonist. Pretty similar though! Been working on a REALLY simple comic (the pages are crap!) to shove in people's faces at TCAF, which requires making 2 pages a day. And then back into my page a day for my summative.

P.S. If you're in the GTA, GO TO TCAF!! IT'S FREEEEEEEE!!!!!

My friend's are going to be here so soon! I'm really excited to be able to have them here, and to be surrounded by people who are genuinly interested in my rants about amazing inking and story telling. Haha.

No pictures, sorry!!