I can't help myself!

While procrastinating on other drawing I need to get done, I warmed up by doodling some of my friends as Adventure Time characters, because I'm a cartoonist and I can do that:

Here's Penina Gal...

Evan Loeb...

Me and Caitlin McGurk...

 ...and Ryan Anderson!

How to: 3 layer pop-up card

YOU GUYS! I conducted a paper experiment and IT WORKED!  I've never attempted a pop-up before but, I wanted to do something really REALLY cool for my boyfriend for Valentine's Day - and it turned out so well that I now feel compelled to show you how to make one!  So, here's how:

What you'll need:

-3 pieces of card stock or bristol
-drawing and coloring tools of your choosing
-scissors
-a ruler
-hot glue gun and glue sticks
-2 eight inch pieces of ribbon or sturdy string

Step 1: Concept

Decide what you want your finished card to look like.  Your 3 sheets of card stock are 3 separate layers: background, foreground and a frame to see your scene through.  I decided to draw The Shire as my background for this one, my BF and I as the foreground and a heart as the frame to see the scene through.



Step 2: Measure

Your card can be any size you like but make sure that all 3 of your sheets of card stock are the same size to start with.

In order to create 3 distinct layers, you need your drawings to get incrementally narrower from background to frame.  My sheets of card stock were 7"x12" so I drew the background 7"x12".  Then, centering my drawings on the sheets, I drew the foreground at 7"x11" and the frame at 7"x10".  This left me with a half inch on either side of my foreground drawing to fold back and use as a tab to glue and an inch on either side of my frame drawing to use as tabs to glue.

Step 3: Draw

Hold your pencil between your thumb and middle finger...just kidding, you guys can figure this part out on your own.

Step 4: Cut

Cut out whatever shaped window you've chosen for your frame layer and, cut out your foreground layer so that you'll be able to see the background behind it.

Step 5: Assemble

Fold each layer carefully in half so that your card will close easily once it's assembled.  

Fold back the 1/2 inch tabs on either side of your foreground drawing and, using your hot glue gun, glue them carefully to the outside bottom edges of your background.  Your background should be slightly folded when the foreground appears flat to accomodate for the inch difference between it and the foreground layer.  

Next, fold back the 1 inch tabs on either side of your frame drawing and, repeat what you just did with the foreground layer - only this time, take your two pieces of ribbon and glue the ends between the foreground and the frame layer on either side of your card about halfway up.  This will create your closure.

When your frame layer is flat the foreground should appear slightly folded and the background should appear moderately folded creating three distinct dimensions.

I also encourage you to do a fourth drawing on the reverse side of your background layer so that the card is decorated on the outside as well - closed, mine looked like this:

Don't tie your card closed too tightly, you want the insides to have some breathing room so you don't have to wear out the paper  popping your foreground out every time you open it =)

I think that's it - GO FORTH AND MAKE THINGS, FRIENDS!!!

2013, and beyond...

I know there's been virtual radio silence since I packed up and moved to Seattle in September but, I'm still alive and I'm still drawing, REALLY I SWEAR IT!

I'm actually interning at Fantagraphics Books and back with a bunch of my old CCS pals and, there are new cartoonist friends aplenty in this city - it's amazing!

Here's a quick doodle from this weekend - more to follow soon!

Odds and Ends

Holy Kleenex, Batman!  A lot has gone on!

So, first and foremost, I am ecstatic that my new anthology, Wings for Wheels: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen is finished! It's a project I've been itching to do for ages and this year I finally harassed enough people that it came together.  The book features the incredible talents of Pat Barrett, Jen Vaughn, Todd McArthur, Jen May, Josh PM Frees and insane cover art by Dan McCool.  If you're going to SPX next weekend look for Pat or Jen to pick up a copy! (These are also available in my online store.)

Secondly, SF Zinefest this weekend was a rollicking success.  I got to table with the amazing Kane Lynch, the organizers were helpful, knowledgable and friendly, the attendance was great and I got to catch up with some cartoonist pals I haven't seen since last fall!

Also, in my spare time (what spare time?!?!)  I've been volunteering for the Obama campaign.  I'm not going to use this space to monologue about my political leanings but, if you want to show your support for the pres. and you're in the east bay on Thursday - please make your way to Pyramid Brewery on Gilman for  the DNC watch party!  There'll be good beer, good food, good company and a HUGE screen to watch Barack's speech on and get fired up as we get close to the election!

AND, lastly, I feel like a broken record BUT, I'm moving...again!  Another year, another adventure, another city.  Apparently, this nomadic heart will not be chained! 

This time I will be headed north to that lush, green, overcast grunge-haven, Seattle.  I'm not sure yet how permanent of a move this will be for me but, if anyone has any suggestions on paid work, housing or wants to come visit - shoot me an email!  I'm heading up on the 20th so, Bay Area friends, let's make the most of the next few weeks and, Seattle friends, batten down the hatches and lock up your daughters!

More Travel Doodles!

Bits and pieces from my trip through the Pacific Northwest:

This one will be available as a postcard shortly.

One can see how Todd Akin gets confused with so many species' reproductive systems to keep track of:

Finally, where bagels come from:

I'm always a sucker for cute kids cuddling things:

Jen to the 17-year-old cashier who forced his phone number upon us:

And, while there are many vegans I sincerely love, strangers who judge my eating habits generally get this reaction:

Travel Doodles

This happens to me more than I like to think about:

(Baking) Adventure Time!

You guys are probably already aware but, I'll say it publicly: I totally swoon for Adventure Time - luckily, so does almost everyone else I know so, I'm in good company.

What you might not know is that when I'm not drawing, I sometimes like to bake gimmicky cup-cakes. On a recent AT episode, Finn and Jake are followed home by a forest bear who proceeds to devour all of Finn's treasured Finn-cakes.  Moments after viewing this episode, I was chowing down some pretzel nuggets and, mid-chew, pretzel dust drifting down from my stunned open mouth, I had an epiphany: I'd stumbled onto one of the greatest innovations in cupcakery, PRETZEL NUGGETS!  I could use pretzel nuggets to three-dimensionalize my cupcakes and make real life Finn-cakes!

SO, for my dear friend and fellow Adventure Time fan, Chandra Krinsky's birthday, I put my plan to the test and, BEHOLD!  IT WORKED!

So, lovely readers, if you dare, the following are my instructions...

You will need to procure:
-1 box cake mix (can be any kind)
-eggs
-vegetable oil
-water
-1 bag pretzel nuggets (any brand will do)
-1 tub white frosting
-1 tub pink frosting (I added two drops of yellow food coloring to mine to make peach)
-1 tube black icing
-1 tube red icing
-white pearl sprinkles
-cupcake baking cups

You'll follow the instructions on the back of your cake mix to bake your cupcakes. Once cupcakes are baked, allow them to cool completely.  They should be no warmer than room temperature when you start to decorate or everything will melt.

Once your cupcakes have cooled, give each one a good coating of plain white frosting.

Next, push two pretzel nuggets into each cupcake with about an inch in between them.  Push the nuggets in far enough that they're firmly rooted in the cake part of your cupcakes.

Using a knife, coat the pretzel nuggets with white frosting, blending the frosting at the base of the nuggets so that you have what appears to be one smooth, continuous shape.

With a separate knife, scoop a good sized glob of your pink frosting and carefully spread it in an oval on top of the white layer.  The thicker a layer of pink you use, the less you risk the white frosting mixing in from underneath.

Next, you'll use your tube of black frosting to carefully draw eyes and a mouth...

Lastly, you'll use the pearl sprinkles and the red icing as teeth and a tongue. PRESTO: A FINN-CAKE!

AN ARMY OF FINN-CAKES!

And that's how the magic happens - and how the magic can happen in your kitchen! Or, yet another example of me having WAY too much time on my hands.