Calico Jack Fanart

Merry Christmas to my friend Patrick - this is Alder and Pickles, two characters from his awesome space pirate epic, Calico Jack.

Holidays! Sadie magazine!

Hey! First of all, happy holidays!
Second of all, I know I haven't posted in awhile - I have been working on semi-secret projects, such as this comic I did for Sadie magazine. There is another big project I hope to have done by the end of the year, so keep an eye out for it!

Writing

A couple weeks ago my girlfriend and I got into a discussion about the fate of the queer characters in one of my stories, pointing out that they die about 10 pages after it is revealed that they are queer. It was a pretty interesting conversation and now I am rethinking how my queer characters are portrayed.
This conversation and others about race and gender have led me to want to reexamine all my fiction, so - and I can't remember if I've mentioned this already - there will not be a new issue of The Courier anytime soon because I've found a lot of really problematic ideas buried in it, written by a younger, less educated Virginia. Writing in a way that is responsible is something that is absolutely necessary to me, now, and I want my writing to be something healthy and realistic for people who aren't necessarily represented that way in a lot of fiction.
Anyway, as an apology to my girlfriend, I drew the two queer characters being very sweet, open and alive together. I am still thinking about how to rewrite them.

Ladies

These ladies are either:

-characters from a story I wrote

OR!

-Pippa and Felicity from Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy, as my girlfriend insists.

You can choose!

I think I might try to color this digitally when I have some time.

Karaoke at the Know

On my new roommate's birthday we went to do karaoke at the Know. It was fun, and man, can those folks sing. I feel like everyone in Portland is really good at karaoke. I am not (that's me on the left). And I forgot the words.

I relisted a bunch of my older Milkyboots issues (#10-12) in my etsy shop!

Now I am Under

This is a test run of a "splash page," haha, for my next comic. The text will be different; these are lyrics from a song by Florence and the Machine. Every time I do a drawing with song lyrics on it, I feel like a teenager again.
I am done comics conventioning for the year and it is a relief! I plan to not leave the house until March when I'll probably be in Austin. Last week was especially stressful; three events, no sleep, work and an injured kitty. Our vet is great though, and Lyra is doing much better after something got a hold of her tail.

Guys, how awesome has Community been this season?! That show is like my security blanket.

Recent Favorites

I got back from MIX on Monday. I managed to get a little drawing done while I was gone, including this. There are more photos up on my flickr page (which I think you can get to by clicking on the image - I can never figure out how to link to my flickr.)

Minneapolis Indie Xpo

Hey guys!

I am at my folks' house in rural Wisconsin so I can't post any drawings - here instead is a picture of the cats trying to trick me into giving them lunch (It is 10:30 cats! You just had breakfast an hour ago!)
Anyway, I wanted to let y'all know I will be at MIX this weekend. I'm gonna be tabling for Sparkplug, but I will have a couple copies of the newest Milkyboots and Food Stamp Foodie. And by a couple, I mean like three of each ... I need to make more copies. So I guess if you want them, get there early haha.
Gotta go thrift store shopping with my dad now! TTYL

APE Trip, Part 4 & 5

APE Trip Part Three

I got my tooth pulled yesterday, and now there is a big weird hole in my mouth! It's an interesting feeling.

APE Trip, Part Two

It was okay that Tim was late, and I really appreciate him bringing the books for us.

Anyone else remember the Streets of Old Milwaukee?

NEWS: I am going to get my one tooth pulled, the one that has been bugging me for about a year. I'm gonna do it on Monday, I think. Though I am going to the cheap clinic, some support would be wonderful - if you would like to help, please consider buying something from my etsy store! I'd really appreciate it!

Adventure Time Fan Art!

Olie and I made this jam comic/fan art. BMO is my fave.

APE Trip

Two Stories from Yesterday

I guess I'm channeling John Porcellino today.

My scanner/photoshop is still doing totally bizarre things to my scans - such as reversing images like the top one. It looks okay like that, so I'm leaving it.

Etsy Sale!

Nothing new today really, I've been busy actually relaxing this holiday weekend after going nonstop for the last couple months. It's been nice! And and and, this morning I remembered that season 2 of my favorite show Community comes out on DVD tomorrow. To celebrate, I am reposting this drawing I did of Britta and having a 20% off sale in my etsy shop! Just use the coupon code YEAHCOMMUNITY to receive the discount. Thanks! I am so looking forward to the start of season 3 on the 22nd!

Nat & Jo

These two drawings are my piece for the "This World and the Next" show at Pony Club here in Portland. It should be a fun show; the theme is diptychs and triptychs. The opening is this Thursday!

News and Things!

If you follow indie cartoonist/publisher news at all, I'm sure you have heard about what's going on with my boss, the head dude behind Sparkplug Comic Books. If you don't, well ... he is having some major health issues and those cost a lot of money. Folks much more eloquent than me have written about it, like Rob Clough (who is also a great comics reviewer). Dylan is probably the sweetest person on the planet, and a great boss, who gave me a job so I would stop bitching about Austin English stealing my carrots. If you would like to help him out, the best way is to .... order books from us! We publish a ton of great stuff and distro some really amazing titles too!

Here are my top ten Sparkplug Books (not in order):

1. Gay Genius Anthology (seriously, one of the best books I have ever read)
2. Flesh and Bone (weirdly sexual witchiness)
3. Whirlwind Wonderland (journal comics!)
4. The Heavy Hand (a bizarre, twisted trip)
5. David King's books (I don't understand them, but I like them. Also, his twitter is hilarious.)
6. Edison Steelhead's Lost Portfolio (drawings of girls and rabbits)
7. The Airy Tales (so, so pretty!)
8. Passage (Beautiful drawings. The story really reminded me of my adolescence.)
9. Reich Series (Orgone! Drama! Psychology!)
10. Asiaddict (a really cool travelogue)

Tomorrow I will try to put up my favorite distro books!

My other news item is that I will be doing the Pop-Up Shop again for Last Thursday. This month the artists will be Kortni Bottini, Patrick Devine, Andrice Arp, Emily Nilsson and Theo Ellsworth. The gallery is located in the northside alley between 28th and 29th on NE Alberta St. It's open from 5-10pm this Thursday, August 25th. Hope to see you there!

Milkyboots #13 available!

Yay! I figured out that it was the work computer I was using (the one I'm on now, coincidentally) that was preventing me from printing. Actually, it wasn't reading the files, so there were just all these gray squares where the images were supposed to be, blah blah blah InDesign blah blah CS2 blah.
Anyway! It is complete, and I have copied it, and it is now for sale in my etsy shop! And you can get 10% off with the coupon code HELLOAUGUST. Issue 13 is a little bit different than other Milkyboots issues; there are only a few diary comics. The rest is sketches, experiments and some of the fiction comics I've been working on. Consider your self warned: I think this is some of the best drawing I've done, but it's not normal journal-comicy Milkyboots.

Food Stamp Foodie #2

Hello all! I have finished the second issue of my cheap & easy vegan recipe zine, Food Stamp Foodie. It is available in my etsy shop (enter the coupon code HELLOAUGUST for 10% off!).

I have had a very eventful week with the Portland Zine Symposium; the little cat escaping and returning, and then going to the vet; my boss continuing to be in the hospital; receiving rushed orders for bags; and all the other, regular stuff like doing the dishes that just seems impossible sometimes. I'll be working both days this weekend and dogsitting, but mostly missing my girlfriend since she's leaving for a week and a half today.

I'm hoping that next week will be quieter and I will just be able to buckle down and get a bunch of drawing done, so keep your eye on this site! New art may be up soon!

Milkyboots #13 is done (it was actually completed before Zine Symposium) but due to CS2/CS3 issues and my own impatience after a long-ass day, I did not get to print it. But! I'm hoping to do it on Sunday, so it should be on my etsy next week.

Elfworld and the Zine Symposium

Hello! Here are the first six panels of a three page story I think I've been working on for a year and a half? Nothing like a deadline to help you finish something, huh? I have submitted the complete piece to the Elfworld Anthology, which is edited by Francois Vigneault, one of the nicest people in the universe.

Next weekend is the Portland Zine Symposium! I can't believe it's already here. I'll either be tabling for Sparkplug or myself, I'm not sure which yet. I am planning on having two new zines: the second issue of Food Stamp Foodie and another issue of Milkyboots. If you can't make the Symposium, I'll put them up on my etsy page as soon as I make them.

I'm back

I've returned from Louisville! Derby City Comic Con was great! My friend Laura (see ad to the right) is so inspiring! Exclamation point!

Okay world, you ready for me to roar through three zines, setting up a pop up shop, helping Neighbor Jenny with her quilt and making some sort of bow-involved birthday present for a friend plus working a whopping three days a week?!

Yeah, I know, I'm not sure either. But let's see how far I get.

The drawing above is of Carla, from the story that I was gonna call Just Sayin' but now I have to think of another name. I drew it on the plane! And I managed not to get any india ink on my fellow passengers.

Derby City Comic Con time!

I have some news! But first, a painting of our cats as their spirit animals:



News item #1:
I will be in Louisville, tabling for Sparkplug Comic Books at Derby City Comic Con. Please stop by! I will have my own zines there as well.

News item #2:
I am going to try to have 3 zines done by Portland Zine Symposium next month! I think I can do it.

News item #3:
Well this is old news actually. I am broke! I've been applying for every job I can find for about a month, with no luck so far. If you have any advice, I would love to hear it. I hate asking for money, but if you would like to help, please consider purchasing things from me! 15% off at check out with the coupon code VAISBROKE. Thanks y'all.

News item #4:
A couple things I have enjoyed recently:

Ignition Zero
My friend Yumi
Anne Emond's tumblr
I sort of can't get over how awesome Mel Stringer is. I wish she lived in Portland instead of Australia.
My acquaintance Kjerstin's tumblr. She makes good rage comics.

That's all! <3 Bye now!

Boom Boom Drama

Oh hello there. Yes, it's been forever since I posted. But I have been doing things! Comic things even. Here is the first page of a comic I did for my friends Gingham Ghost. If you want to read the rest*, you'll just have to subscribe to their e-zine, which you should do anyway, because Melinda and Aaron are amazzzzzing.

I've got large-ish projects going on for the next couple months, so I dunno how much I'll be updating. I have plans for new zines, and many more sewing things. If you really miss me, I post on my tumblr slightly more often, but not always comics. Yes, I know. I miss you too.

If you feel like helping me postpone getting a third job, consider purchasing some of my handmade things. If you think etsy sucks, send me an email and we'll work something out. I trade too! I could use some soap and chapstick, if anyone makes those.

I will be in Louisville for Derby City ComicCon! See y'all there.

*For now.

Unfinished Drawings from The Courier Pt.2

I don't really want to make a habit of posting unfinished works, but I will be busy then out of town next week. Here are some unfinished drawings for The Courier Part Two. I've been enjoying taking my time working on things and including a lot more detail.

Sketch and Plans for the Week

Just a lil sketch I did. It is available to purchase, if you'd like to!



I was taking photos for etsy and had the idea to take pictures of all my projects. So here are my plans for the week! The pink fabric and hardware are for an overnight bag I'm going to make. The rabbit plush toy is just for fun. The pattern is by the truly awesome Claire Sanders, who I traded with at Stumptown. And the ink and small drawing in the top right are for the illustrations for the next issue of The Courier.

Mural Process Pictures

I've finally uploaded the pictures from my trip to Wisconsin, so here are some in-progress pictures from the mural, plus the completely complete mural!



Our canvas, the side of the loafing shed. Yes, it's really called that. It's a shed that's open on three sides, so the cows have some shelter during the winter.



My mom and Aunt working on the stream and trees.



My Aunt and I painting. I didn't realize there was a smear on my camera lens until yesterday, haha.



Almost done with the sky!



The sky is done, my mom and Aunt are filling in details.



All done!



Here is the original drawing!

Mural, mostly finished!

Here is the mural, mostly completed. I'll put up some photos of the process soon. This one was taken by my mom. She and my aunt did most of the painting. I did the sky - doing a gradient with exterior house paint was interesting for sure! Kind of difficult. We ended up with 8 yogurt containers of extra blues of various shades.

P.S. I put up some sketchies on my tumblr, including some Alison Mossheart fanart!

Vacation Jams!

Some silly things for Thursday! John, Rachel, Hunter, Brian and I did this one while playing rummy, using the Trubble Club & Quimby's free Make Your Own Jams zine.



This one was just John, Rach and I, fueled by many margaritas. I know the scans on these make it look like I don't know how to use Photoshop, but my Photoshop is having some kind of cognitive dissonance which makes it unable to save cleaned up images, and I don't have time to figure out what's wrong right now.

I lowered the prices on a bunch of stuff in my etsy shop!

ALSOOOOO, I completely forgot to mention I will be at the Olympia Comics Fest on Saturday! It will be my first time at this (free!) event. I'll be tabling with Sparkplug and have some copies of my own zines as well. Many other awesome folks will be there, come check it out!

Mom's Day

I had a busy week last week, and this was part of it: designing the mural for my folk's farm. I'm going to Wisconsin next week and we'll be working on painting it, so expect pictures soon!

I can leave stuff on the scanner now, cause the scanner is in my house.

I don't know how it takes me a month to finish these, since I only work two days a week and can't really afford to do anything that requires more than $3.

In other news, I am working on a mural for the side of my parents' loafing shed (where the cows sleep). I think it will involve some cows.

So yeah, basically, I am taking commissions now! I'd be happy to draw something for y'all, just email me about it - vlpaine (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Radio Silence

Lately I have been working on another super-textured diary page and also the above. I did the cover for Your Secretary #9! I'm only putting up one panel cause I don't want to spoil the surprise. It was fun and Jami is super nice. You can get your copy on her website: http://yoursecretaryisout.wordpress.com/

Bella pinup!

I had the idea to do pinup-style sketches of the Just Sayin' ladies, so here is the idea for the one of Bella. I can sketch remarkably well after 2.5 beers, haha.

I discovered yesterday that more-well-known comic artist has a blog called Just Sayin', so I think I need to change the name of the comic. Anybody got any ideas?

Old News

The Diary Page That Took Forever

Yup, there it is! Sorry about the long silence. I don't even know what I've been doing with my time besides watching Blazers games and eating salads.

Hey, Stumptown Comics Fest is this weekend! I will be there at the Sparkplug table with a bunch of my own work. If you stop by, I will probably try to give you one of my brand-new business cards that I'm very excited about. I'll also at Drink and Draw Like a Lady on Friday and probably the thing at Pony Club on Sunday but who knows!

Hope to see you there!

UPDATE: I turned this page into a zine! Get yours here!

Page 7 of Just Sayin'!

Yassssss...remember this? I have been working on it, and hope to have it done soon!

I put some pictures I took on my tumblr ... my camera sucks but I still try to be arty haha. So, I hope you enjoy pictures of cats and vegannaise jars.

Courier Fanart!

My friend Patrick, creator of all things awesome, did this fanart of Meredith, the main character in The Courier! It is so so cool.

Also I now have both a twitter and a tumblr ... so add me or whatever if you feel like it. I'm still getting the hang of them.

Finally (for two things)!

Check it out! This is the new ad I did for my awesome friend laurafauna. She's an amazing seamstress and creator of beautiful things. Take a look around her shop, I'm sure you'll see something you like!

Speaking of etsy...



I've finally finished my mysterious fantasy fiction project (well, atleast the first issue) and it's available for sale in my shop! Click here to peep at The Courier Part One! It's 32 pages, with illustrations.

I'm going to spend the rest of March and early April getting the first issue of Just Sayin' together, so it'll probably be a lot of stuff from that project until Stumptown Comics Fest.
See ya soon!

Austin!

And here's Melinda's much better version. Woohoo, I made it into someone else's diary comic!