Graduation

I can't remember what Jesse's hair actually looks like, so I guessed.

Crying & Ironing.

Um, yeah. I've been feeling better lately, partly because we've actually had some sun, and partly because I started taking my mood-stabilizing herb cocktail again. I've never been diagnosed as depressed, but I've been struggling with it at least since middle school. It comes and it goes and I try to find healthy ways to deal.

I started doing some watercolors this week but forgot to bring them downtown to scan. Maybe on Thursday! Also I put a bunch of new crafty things in my shop - please peruse!

Bleh.

Not only is it totally miserable outside today, I have nothing to post! Father's Day means no IPRC shift means no access to a scanner. There should be a new comic on Tuesday though.

Update: I redid the design! What do you think?

Candidate? Candidate!

I am still plugging along, about a month behind, with the diary. I hope to get caught up soon, but it seems unlikely since it *finally* got nice out here in Portland.

Some things for you to remember!

-Saturday, June 26th is the release party for the Stumptown Underground mythology/folklore issue, which I have a 3 page story in. It's at the Waypost; they didn't hire me last year but are still pretty cool.

-Friday, July 9th I am doing a reading! With other diary comics folk Jesse Reklaw, Clutch McBastard and Melinda Boyce! Jesse organized it, he was my teacher and also his book, Ten Thousand Things To Do, is pretty great. It's at Reading Frenzy, which is also pretty great.

Bitchin'.

Popcorn is the best snack. It's cheap and easy to make and if you put nutritional yeast on it (which really you should, with a lil bit of sea salt) you get all your B vitamins and that makes you less crazy-feeling. Yay popcorn!

I've watched FLCL twice, and still, even after the second viewing (when I wasn't wasted on Bulleit and making out with my lady) I have no idea what it's about. There's a babe with a guitar, and a sad babe, and they're both in love with a little boy is what I got out of it. It's pretty awesome.

Also, I got a write-up on the Bitch Magazine blogs! I'm totes stoked! If you are my parents, though, please don't read it because I'm still processing some of the things quoted in the article, haha. No, seriously, mama, don't read it (I love you!).

What do I do ...

When I'm not doing diary comics? I know you ask yourselves this all the time, right? (Har har.) Well I usually sew or hang out with the gf, but sometimes I do other drawing projects!

I do a fair amount of illustration work for my job at the Independent Publishing Resource Center. Like the promo flier you see above.

I work on other projects too. Last month I submitted a three page story to the anthology Stumptown Underground. We'll see if it gets in! Here is a sample.




I'm also very slowly starting a project that is fiction about a bunch of queer and hipster kids in a town remarkably like Portland (or it might be Portland. I haven't decided yet). I hope to have the first issue done by the Portland Zine Symposium. Aaannndddd I am hoping to finally illustrate and publish the really long fantasy fiction stories I wrote a couple years ago. I am thinking about putting them out a couple chapters at a time in zine form.

I guess I look for a job a lot too, but that's not as much fun.

If you would like me to draw something (or sew something) for you, you can contact me! vlpaine at yahoo dot com. I like money, but am also willing to trade.