Blogging about blogging is a sin... but this is different

So, in pursuing this whole new be-a-cartoonist deal, I have had the pleasure of working with some folks from SAW (Sequential Artists Workshop), a school and online community based out of Gainesville, Florida but with members from around the world. One close associate has been Syne Mitchell, who coincidentally just lives down the proverbial road apiece, in King County. We have been sharing a few open studios on zoom each week for many months now, and this Valentine's Day saw the release of two projects, one all hers and one a sort-of collaboration.

In any case, you can read all about it in these posts:

Me talking about my project and Syne's project on my art blog

Syne talking about my project on her blog

and if you want to go right to the source:

Syne's latest project, My Ex, Vlad

My flip books, including the latest project, Marla of the Plains

Some good stuff there, folks - especially from Syne.

International Man of Mystery

So, as you may or may not recall, last August I completed my first big comicking project, Selkie-Boy: Stories of a Cat, which you can read about/read/order a copy/&c. here, on Talent Not Guaranteed.

Well, it took six months, but the zine is now officially an international best seller:

Libby Dean, a great and good friend from the Sequential Artists Workshop community, had been trying to get a hold of a copy ever since it was published, but whether through malice or mishap, somewhere along the chain of custody it disappeared. 

It took some doing, but through the combined efforts of the United States Postal Service and the Canada Post Corporation/Société canadienne des postes, the zine finally made its way to the wilds of Nova Scotia and into Libby's hands.

Anyhoo, digital versions of this and all my longer works (new item coming soon!) and be found on my Anyflip page.

And BTW, Libby is a totally cool human who works in the environment, conservation, and community health fields as a researcher and a graphic recorder at meetings. Her graphic representations of meaningful discussions are awesome, as in this excerpt:

Read all about Libby on her website. It's too bad she's 3,541miles away, or I would figure out some collaborations.

Solitaire Book Club: If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal

If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal by Justin Gregg. Scientists still aren't quite sure just what the definition of intelligence is, but Gregg is pretty sure that whatever it is, humans having developed it is at best a two-edged sword and at worst the stupidest thing ever. Gregg uses his experience in animal behavior and communication to walk us through human and animal examples of the various types of cognition that comprise aspects of intelligence and consciousness - theory of mind, episodic foresight, mental time travel, death wisdom - and demonstrate that however useful they may be, they are not necessary for a species or individual to survive and thrive, and in fact may have unintended consequences that actually create unhappiness, not just for individuals, but for the rest if the world as well.

The book functions as primer on what it means to think and feel, and Gregg's snappy writing keeps it grounded, accessible, and entertaining on every page.