Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Crater On The Moon release party!


Local independent photo-comic creator Gus F. Martin and Cyclops Unlimited proudly announce the release of Volumes I & II of Crater on the Moon (story of a space marine) at a celebration to be held at Comics Dungeon, 250 NE 45th St. in Seattle, Nov. 23, 3pm to 7pm. Please RSVP to curtismusik@comcast.netto receive 20% discount on store items during the event.The event allows fans of the mythic mini-comic their first crack at these limited edition first-run compilations. And the occasion will provide many of the gifted cast their first opportunity to come together and perform. During the milestone celebration, the “Argonauts” will showcase their talents and COTM products will be available for purchase. Plus, new books, posters, patches and t-shirts will given away to some lucky door-prize ticket holders and game winners.Comics cognoscenti are calling Crater on the Moon a “balls-out fumetti re-telling of Jason and the Argonauts as a 1950s sci-fi movie” that “must be seen to be believed.” They describe the “lush attention to detail and obvious love and enthusiasm that wafts off every page.” This event marks a new level of accomplishment for this Best-of-the-Northwest independent photographic novel.Washington's own Keith Curtis, starring as Cmdr. Jason Crater, leads the cast of gifted musicians and actors in this comic noir space opera and will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Nov. 23 release party.The release party aftermath will continue into the evening at Kate’s Pub across the street immediately following. Contact Comics Dungeon through their website at http://www.comicsdungeon.com/

Friday, October 31, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING NOVEMBER 2008

We Go Seago!

Editor emeritus David Seago retired after forty-one years at The News Tribune of Tacoma. This fact, contrary to conventional wisdom, proves that some editors have what it takes to survive decades of workplace exposure to editorial cartoonists. Still, it begs the question: how the hell did he do it?? And with staff editorial cartoonists disappearing faster than interest in Joe the Plumber, what will Dave have to say about the status (and the future) of satire on the pages of American newspapers? When Dave takes the podium at the CNW November meeting, these answers and more will surely be a boon to any and all cartoonists who currently (or aspire to) work closely with print media editors. As the News Tribune noted upon Dave’s retirement, he is “talented, thoughtful, fair, empathetic and scrupulously honest. He made the pages he edited a forum of riveting debate.” Dave will surely be a riveting speaker at the November meeting of CNW! Come early and get a seat up close to a genuine guru of the op-ed page.

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:
+ Cartoonists review each others’ work and vote for ‘Best of the Northwest’. Bring your art and enter the friendly competition!
+ Other news and stuff, guaranteed to be of a cartoonishly edifying nature!

What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Sat. Nov. 15, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Location: The Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.), 2600 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Use main entrance at corner of Alaskan Way and Vine Street.
Parking: Street parking is free beginning at 6 PM. Best bets are metered spaces on Elliott Ave. There is also a paid parking garage on Elliott, a couple blocks south of Vine.

Contact: cartoonistNW@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Writers' Block Meeting

Come to the Writers' Block Meeting and stop feeling blah about yada-yada. That's right, we're going to dialogue about writing dialogue! From coming up with ten pithy words for that word balloon in your comic, to opening a vein and spilling a thousand words a day of purple prose, or anything in between, this meeting is not to be missed.

Date: Wednesday, Oct 29
Time: 7-9:30 pm
Location: at Jeff Hamill's house
4309 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA

ph: (206) 632-2288 or e-mail jeffhamill@gmail.com

Monday, October 6, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING OCTOBER 2008

Halloween is nigh, and OF COURSE you still have a lot of work to do repairing your Darth Vader costume before the big day, but come on, wear it to the October 18 meeting and give us a preview! Or, imagine the feeling of omnipotence you’ll enjoy if you cast your vote deciding the fate of the proposed changes to CNW Bylaws… while wearing your uber-powerful Dick Cheney mask! When David Juel presents his report on the Bell-Con Fiction Writing Panel, a few fictional facemasks amongst the audience would not be amiss. During Dji Renhard’s update on the progress of her “Space Vet” comic, there oughta be at least one little grey man (or a couple of M.I.B.’s) bearing witness! And, one wonders what Keith Curtis will say about his Bell Con experiences if he spots a Whatcom County Sasquatch staring at him from the third row? Come yourself, or send your ectoplasmic form, to the October meeting of CN-Double Boo.

At the September meeting, the proposed changes to CNW bylaws underwent the first of two membership votes to accept or reject. The results were: Ayes 9, and Nay 1. Now, come to the October meeting for the final vote! If you need a refresher, scroll down here and find the May 28 blogspot entry to see all the by-laws and proposed changes thereto.

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:
+ Cartoonists review each others’ work and vote for ‘Best of the Northwest’. Bring your art and enter the friendly competition!
+ Other news and stuff, guaranteed to be of a cartoonishly edifying nature!

What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Sat. Oct. 18, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Location: The Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.), 2600 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Use main entrance at corner of Alaskan Way and Vine Street. Street parking is free beginning at 6:00 p.m. (Psst! Best bets are along Elliott!)

Contact: cartoonistNW@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The CNW Writers Group Launches Oct. 1st!

Writers, artists, and lovers of the written word, this is for you!

Cartoonists Northwest is holding a free-wheeling symposium on issues surrounding writing, particularly within the wide sphere of cartooning and sequential art storytelling. The first get-together is Wed., Oct. 1, from 7 pm to 9:30.

We’ll discuss tactics, both visual and verbal. All aspects of storytelling will be embraced. We’ll take turns bringing up issues that we have with our own writing, and open it up for discussion. The exact format may depend on how many people show up. We may take a segment of time on each artist's work, to offer critiques/ problem solving/ and pointing to what works. Jeff Hamill is our host, and at the first meeting he’ll offer an intro to Scott McCloud’s works, "Writing for Comics with Peter David" and "Making Comics". Includes handouts! So, whether your focus is strip writing or figuring out how to squeeze Tolstoy's "War and Peace" into six single-panel gags, the CNW Writers Group may help you get to the next level!

Location: 4903 Fremont Avenue NorthSeattle, WA 98103

Directions:

FROM I-5: Take the 45th St/50th Street Exit (I think it's Exit 169) and head west on 50th Street for 1.5 miles. Turn left at Fremont Avenue North (just past the tiny underpass). Go one block, then park. We're the big blue house on the NW corner.

FROM 99: Head north until you get to the Wallingford Zoo exit (it's about 1 mile past the Aurora Bridge). Go to the bottom of the ramp and turn left (going west) after waiting about 30 minutes for the light to change. Go under Aurora (Hwy 99) and turn right at the first light, which will be Fremont Avenue North. Go to the corner of 49th and Fremont Ave N; we will be the big blue house on the NW corner. (It's actually the same big blue house if you come the other way, too.)

Jeff Hamill’s phone: 206-632-2288.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING SEPT. 2008

“A Cornucopia of Comicana”

Here’s how to spot a cartoonist hurrying to the September meeting. You will notice several horizontal speed lines and small dust clouds emanating from his or her speeding feet. Be ready to dodge the sweat droplets that fly from the cartoonist’s brow, the result of exertion and worry about arriving late. In this anxious state, it is inadvisable to get in the way of the cartoonist. Anyone who dares may be subjected to a vicious torrent of small stars, curlicues, saturns, and angry scribbles.

Do you know the secret cartoonist shorthand for describing the above scene? Well, if not, don’t plewd it! Come to the September meeting and learn to speak and draw in the high-brow artsy fartsy language of the cartoonist, and a whole lot more symbolic nonsense, as we review the hilarious language of comics. Who knows, we may come up with some brand new secret code words of our very own!

Ask not for whom the Bell Con tolls! It tolls for THEE! …and for your products! Yes, members can sell their wares at the CNW table at Bell Con (Sept. 27). CNW traditionally asks for a mere 10% of sales to help defray costs. Bring your salable products and drop them off at the September meeting. We’ll transport them to Bellingham. This also means we need a few good volunteer-minded members to drive and help manage the table. Please offer your time and transportation to help make the CNW presence at Bell Con a ringing success!

PROMO A-GO-GO! Imagine yourself included in a classy CNW promo newsletter with Technicolor cover, and featuring member art and short bios. Members interested in shameless self-promotion (isn’t that ALL of us??) should not miss this opportunity. To that worthy end, be it known that all September meeting attendees (or those submitting artwork [200 dpi tiff] to Dick Rogers by Sept. 20) will be given priority for this special edition Penstuff-like CNW promotional tool.

Bye-Bye Bylaws? In this season of decision-making, it’s time to review the proposed changes to CNW bylaws once more, and then VOTE to accept or reject them! If you need a refresher, go to cnwnews.blogspot.com. Find the May 28 entry to see all the by-laws and changes thereto. Come to the meeting and be a part of this important step.

And if we have time….anyone for a comic jam incorporating as much comicana as possible? Bring pens!

Saturday, August 2, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING AUGUST 2008

"ABE's Graphic WITZardry!”

At the August meeting, Abe Waranowitz will demo two popular computer programs in computer art and animation. AND, both of these programs are FREE! Yes, FREE! Are they as good as $300+ programs? That’s debatable, but with these programs you can get your feet wet while you save up for Photoshop or Maya. The interfaces of these programs differ, but the CONCEPTS are the same. Learn the basics of the following and you'll be able to learn Photoshop or similar programs more quickly:

The GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) is a free creative graphics program that is best compared with Photoshop. The GIMP lets you edit photos, make comics and even animated GIF's. Abe will demonstrate the GIMP program to create comics and art. Learn how to use layers and flats to speed up image processing and drawing. See how Abe refurbishes old comics for Marvel.










Blender (http://www.blender.org/) is a free 3D modeling, animation and game creation package that was used to create the short movies "Elephant's Dream" and "Big Buck Bunny". Learn how simple, yet complex 3D modeling can be as Abe demonstrates how he made the airship for his in-progress/future graphic novel, "Cloudliner: Corona".





This WILL NOT be a boring technical presentation! (Unless you want it to be!) For fun, we will watch the short movies "Elephant's Dream" and "Big Buck Bunny", so you can see what Blender is capable of. Then laugh as you see how futile Abe's attempts are in comparison! Just kidding. ;)Seriously, don't give up on your dream of art or animation because you think you can’t afford the software or it's too hard to learn. You CAN get started right now! You CAN learn a little each week! Come and learn how to make your computer do your work for you for once....


About Abe:

Abe Waranowitz started drawing in high school because he was jealous of a friend's talent. His imagination went wild and his talent grew, but the engineering side of the brain took over as he studied EE in college, got a job, got married and had kids.

His love of Linux and computers starved the artistic side of his brain. But, gasping for life, hanging by a thread, Abe's last creative brain cell refused to die. In a daring coup, this tiny brain cell managed to inspire these boring computer brain cells to use computers in new & artistic ways. Gimp and Blender greatly appealed to those geeky brain cells. "Oooooo!" they drooled over the eye candy of digital art and animation. "We wants it! Our Precious!"

The tide had turned, the dam had burst, and the last creative brain cell had created a monster! Resistant brain cells were slaughtered. Many were lost, and creative juices stained the battle field. Victorious, Abe now spends his free time possessed by an army of creative geeky brain cells, learning how to use Gimp and Blender to create a graphic novel/web comic in the Steam Punk genre. Inspired by Jules Verne, Dune, Myst and Nausica, his novel will be full of air-ships, submarines, steam power, knights, magic and monsters! He's currently working on the outline, script and character design, and looking for serious feedback from willing victims... er.. volunteers.

What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Sat. August 16, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Where: The Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.), 2600 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121

Main entrance is at northeast corner of Alaskan and Vine. NOTE: DURING SUMMER SESSION, USE ALTERNATE ENTRANCE ONE BLOCK EAST OF ALASKAN WAY, AT NORTHWEST CORNER OF ELLIOTT AVE. AND VINE ST. Street parking is free beginning at 6 PM.

ABOUT CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST: Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists. Established in 1981, CNW is one of Seattle’s longest-standing organizations and boasts membership of such artists as: Lynn Johnston (“For Better or For Worse”), David Horsey (Seattle PI), John Lustig (Disney and “Last Kiss”), Brian Basset (“Adam @ Home” and “Red and Rover”), Donna Barr (“The Desert Peach” and “Stinz”) and many more.

Become a member! $30 per year to become a member of Cartoonists Northwest ($40 outside the US) – It’s a bargain at twice the price! Plus you get a one-year subscription to the CNW newsletter, PENSTUFF. To heck with your un-read subscription to Newsweek! JOIN CNW TODAY!
Contact: Keith Curtis, CNW President, at cartoonistNW@gmail.com

Saturday, July 5, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING JULY 2008



“Bluewater on a Hot Summer Night”

Catch a c-o-o-o-l comic wave this summer, when the crew from Bluewater Productions, Inc. engulfs the Cartoonists Northwest meeting on July 19! Bluewater, headed by publisher and writer Darren G. Davis, is an independent production studio of comics, young adult books and graphic novel titles. Based in Bellingham, Bluewater’s stable of titles includes “10th Muse”, “VSS”, “The Legend of Isis”, and produces comic book titles across the United States. But you better zip up your wetsuit, ‘cuz Bluewater runs even deeper!

In May of 2007, Bluewater moved from production studio to publisher, in conjunction with renowned filmmaker, Ray Harryhausen. The comic series “Ray Harryhausen Presents” features comic sequels to such unforgettable classic flicks as “The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad”, “Clash of the Titans”, and “20 Million Miles to Earth”. The series has proven to be a sales success and the project continues into 2008 with such titles as “Jason And The Argonauts: The Kingdom of Hades”, “It Came From Beneath The Sea”, “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers”, and “Back to Mysterious Island”.

Bluewater also publishes self-created characters and titles, most notably of Davis' character “Isis” and the super-hero “10th Muse”. In December 2007, CastleBright Studios optioned Davis' “10th Muse” character for a feature film. And the flood of Bluewater’s creativity doesn’t stop there! In 2007, Bluewater also hosted Bell Con, the Bellingham community's first comic convention. (For all the latest news and plans for Bell Con 2008, happening on Sept. 27, go to: http://www.myspace.com/bellcon2007) Recently, Bluewater announced another new horror comic series, “Distortions Unlimited” with characters based on creations from the noted studio of the same name. There’s more! Coming in October, Bluewater will continue their tsunami of comic books with the new horror titles “Vincent Price Presents” and “Bartholomew of the Scissors”. Come to the July meet and be prepared to be swept away by Bluewater!

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:
• Cartoonists review each others’ work and vote for ‘Best of the Northwest’. Bring your cartoons and enter the friendly competition!
• Other news and stuff, guaranteed to be of a cartoonishly edifying nature!

What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Sat. July 19, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Location: The Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.) 2600 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 98121
Use entrance at northwest corner of Elliott and Vine St., one block east of Alaskan Way.
Street parking is free beginning at 6 p.m.

ABOUT CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST: Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists. Established in 1981, CNW is one of Seattle’s longest-standing organizations and boasts membership of such artists as: Lynn Johnston (“For Better or For Worse”), David Horsey (Seattle PI), John Lustig (Disney and “Last Kiss”), Brian Basset (“Adam @ Home” and “Red and Rover”), Donna Barr (“The Desert Peach” and “Stinz”) and many more.

Become a member! $30 per year to become a member of Cartoonists Northwest ($40 outside the US) – It’s a bargain at twice the price! Plus you get a one-year subscription to the CNW newsletter, PENSTUFF. To heck with your un-read subscription to Newsweek! JOIN CNW TODAY! Contact: Keith Curtis, CNW President, at curtismusik@comcast.net

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING JUNE 2008

Get Stumped at the June Meeting!

Cartoonist, illustrator, and cartooning instructor Greg Stump will plant himself at the podium for the June meeting of Cartoonists Northwest! The illustrious guest speaker is co-creator of “Urban Hipster” comics, the debut issue of which was nominated for a Harvey Award for Best New Series in 1999. Co-created with Cartoonists Northwest member David Lasky, the popular title was followed-up with a second issue from Alternative Comics in 2003.
When asked in an interview to define “Urban Hipster”, the irrepressible Stump called it “The most exciting comic series since Kamandi.” Asked to explain how U.H. differs from ‘normal’ comics, Stump said “It's more self aware, plus it's funnier.”
While in college, Stump discovered the work of Peter Bagge and Dan Clowes, who influenced him away from his former interest in editorial cartooning. His weekly strip “Dwarf Attack” has graced the pages of The Stranger and the Portland Mercury. According to the Merc, Stump’s strip is “ALWAYS FUNNY! … Greg Stump: genius.”
Whether you consider yourself urban, suburban, urbane or sub-urbane, it’s easy to be a hipster! Come to the meeting on Saturday, June 21! (See below for location, time, etc.)

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:

+ Cartoonists review each others’ work and vote for ‘Best of the Northwest’. Bring your cartoons and enter the friendly competition!
+ Ongoing discussion of proposed changes to CNW Bylaws.
+ Other news and stuff, guaranteed to be of a cartoonishly edifying nature!

What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Saturday, June 21, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Where: The Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.), 2600 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Use main entrance at corner of Alaskan Way and Vine St. Street parking is free beginning at 6 PM.


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Sneak preview of the July Meeting!

Psst! The guest speakers at the July CNW meeting will be the crew from Bluewater Productions, Inc., the independent production studio of comics, young adult books and graphic novel titles. Based in Bellingham, Bluewater publishes many comic titles, including “Ray Harryhausen Presents”, the exciting project with famed filmmaker Ray Harryhausen. Ray’s unforgettable classic films (“The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad”, “Clash of the Titans”, and “20 Million Miles to Earth” to name a few) get transformed into comic sequels. Yep, the July meeting’s gonna be hot with the coolest name in Seattle area comics! Plus, you’ll hear all the latest plans for Bell Con 2008 (another of Bluewater’s brainchildren), which takes place on Sept. 27! (For more details, go to: http://www.myspace.com/bellcon2007)

********************************************

ABOUT CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST: Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists. Established in 1981, CNW is one of Seattle’s longest-standing organizations and boasts membership of such artists as: Lynn Johnston (“For Better or For Worse”), David Horsey (Seattle PI), John Lustig (Disney and “Last Kiss”), Brian Basset (“Adam @ Home” and “Red and Rover”), Donna Barr (“The Desert Peach” and “Stinz”) and many more. Become a member! $30 per year to become a member of Cartoonists Northwest ($40 outside the US) – It’s a bargain at twice the price! Plus you get a one-year subscription to the CNW newsletter, PENSTUFF. To heck with your un-read subscription to Newsweek! JOIN CNW TODAY! Contact: cartoonistnw@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Proposed Changes to CNW Bylaws

Below are the current bylaws of Cartoonists Northwest. Following them are proposed changes, which were first reviewed and discussed at the May 17, 2008 meeting. All CNW members are invited and encouraged to express their views on this topic, including proposing additional changes. Discussion will continue at future monthly meetings. Here we go...


CURRENT Cartoonists Northwest Bylaws
PO Box 31122, Seattle, WA 98103

Article 1
The name of this organization is Cartoonists Northwest. The organization seeks to promote the art of cartooning and humorous illustration in the Pacific Northwest and provide guidance and education for cartoonists, artists and others who support and assist the organization.

Article 2
Membership is open to anyone. Members are required to pay dues annually. The Executive
Board may from time-to-time establish additional types of membership and shall determine what the dues for each shall be.

Article 3
Funds from dues and donations will be used to pay the expenses of the organization. No officer of the organization will receive a salary.

Article 4
Meetings of Cartoonists Northwest will be scheduled at monthly intervals. The Executive Board will determine the time, the day and the locations and revise or add to them.

Article 5
Business matters and organization affairs will be initiated or reviewed by the Executive Board and presented to the membership for approval. Business matters may be voted upon by voice vote from members in good standing and in attendance. A secret ballot may be requested by
members.

Article 6
Dissolution of the organization or other items of business requested by bankers, lawyers or government agencies may be presented before the entire membership, with the vote to be conducted by mail. A quorum for this vote will consist of at least a 2 per cent return of mailed ballots and a passing vote will be 75 per cent of those votes received.

Article 7
The President is the single elected officer. The President will be elected by a majority or plurality of members in attendance at the regular January meeting. The Executive Board may select and offer a candidate. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the election meeting.

Article 8
The President will select a Vice President and Treasurer. These three officers will then select, by plurality, four Executive Board officers. The President will serve as leader and preside over regular Cartoonists Northwest membership meetings and Executive Board meetings.
• The President will set an agenda for each meeting and establish committees and appoint chairman for all committees.
• The Vice President will serve as leader and preside at membership meetings in the President's absence..
• The Treasurer will keep an accurate account of all money received and spent, sign all checks and pay all bills.

Article 9
The President may be removed from office for malfeasance or nonattendance, by unanimous vote of the six other officers. Other officers may be removed or replaced by other nominees at the initiative of the President and with a plurality approval by the other officers.

Article 10
Executive Board officers will participate in the management of the organization including, specifically, the dispersion of club funds, within the Executive Board structure. Members are welcome to attend and participate at Executive Board meetings, but should not expect to vote. If, however, certain members of the Executive Board are not in attendance, then any member in good standing who appears at the Executive Board meeting may be appointed to the Executive Board for the duration of that meeting and may then cast a vote at that meeting.

Article 11
In the event of dissolution of the organization, surviving officers shall seek to provide for payment of debts and liabilities of the organization, then donate the balance, if any, to the Cartoon Art Museum, in San Francisco, The International Museum of Cartoon Art, in Boca Raton, or the Museum of Words and Pictures, in Northampton, at their discretion.

Article 12
Recommendations to change or amend the Cartoonists Northwest bylaws may be proposed by any officer or member. Changes to the bylaws must be approved by 75 per cent vote of the participating eligible members.

—approved by a majority of voting members of Cartoonists Northwest on Dec. 19, 1997

Next, here are the bylaws with proposed changes as of May 17, 2008:

PROPOSED Cartoonists Northwest Bylaws (proposed changes are in red)
PO Box 31122, Seattle, WA 98103

Article 1
The name of this organization is Cartoonists Northwest. The organization seeks to promote the art of cartooning and humorous illustration in the Pacific Northwest and provide guidance and education for cartoonists, artists and others who support and assist the organization.

Article 2
Membership is open to anyone. All members, except for regular officers of the Executive Board and Guest Speakers, are required to pay dues annually. The Executive Board may from time-to-time establish additional types of membership and shall determine what the dues for each shall
be, subject to the approval of the membership by majority vote at the next regular meeting. A member shall be considered to be in good standing if any one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
• The member has paid annual dues at any time in the previous calendar year.
• The member is currently a regular officer on the Executive Board.
• The member has been a Guest Speaker at a regular meeting at any time in the
previous calendar year, or a Guest Speaker at the most recent Toonie Awards.
• The member has carried out a recognized contribution to the good and welfare of the organization (such as the donation of artwork to a fundraising event) in lieu of payment of dues at any time in the previous calendar year.
• The member is a Charter Member.

Article 3
Funds from dues and donations will be used to pay the expenses of the organization. No officer of the organization will receive a salary.

Article 4
Meetings of Cartoonists Northwest will be scheduled at monthly intervals. The Executive Board will determine the time, day, and the location. In addition, the Executive Board may propose special meetings as needed. However, any change in the regular meeting time, day, or location must be preceded by an announcement at the previous regular meeting, except in the case of obvious emergency.

Article 5
Business matters and organization affairs will be initiated or reviewed by the Executive Board and presented to the membership for approval. Business matters may be voted upon by voice vote from members in good standing and in attendance. A vote will be conducted by secret ballot at the request of any member present, except for votes on matters of procedure, which shall be by voice vote only.

Article 6
The President is the single elected officer. The President will be elected by a majority of
members in attendance and in good standing at the regular January meeting.
• Any member in good standing may make a nomination.
• Any member in good standing may be nominated.
The election is by secret ballot. The ballots will be counted by two members present who were not nominated themselves. In the event no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, runoff elections will be held until one candidate receives a majority of votes cast.

Article 7
The President will select a Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These four officers will then select, by majority (the President having a tie-breaking vote), three other Executive Board officers. The President will serve as public spokesperson and will preside over regular Cartoonists Northwest membership meetings and Executive Board meetings.
• The President will set an agenda for each meeting and establish committees and
appoint chairman for all committees.
• The Vice President will preside at membership meetings in the President’s absence.
• The Secretary will handle all public correspondence of the organization under the direction of the President, and will also be responsible for recording decisions of meetings of both the organization and the Executive Board.
• The Treasurer will keep an accurate account of all money received and spent, sign checks, be responsible for paying bills, and keep both a record of payment of membership fees by all members and also the mailing address, e-mail, and phone number (where available) for each member. The Treasurer must have a list of all members in good standing at every meeting. Any Executive Board officer has the right to inspect the records kept by the Treasurer at any

reasonable time.

Article 8
The President may be removed from office for malfeasance or nonattendance, by unanimous vote of the six other officers. Such removal must be confirmed by a majority vote of the members in good standing at the next regular meeting of the organization. If the removal is confirmed, then a new election must be held immediately. The newly elected President will serve the remainder of the term of the former President. Other officers may be removed or replaced by other nominees at the initiative of the President and with a majority approval by the other officers.

Article 9
Members of the organization may be suspended by the unanimous vote of the Executive Board if they engage in abusive behavior or if their public actions discredit the organization. Such suspension must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members in good standing at the next regular meeting of the organization.

Article 10
Executive Board officers will participate in the management of the organization including, specifically, the dispersion of club funds, within the Executive Board structure. Members are welcome to attend and participate at Executive Board meetings, but do not have the right to vote at these meetings. If, however, there are members of the Executive Board who are not in attendance, then any member in good standing who appears at an Executive Board meeting may be appointed to the Executive Board for the duration of that meeting and may then cast a vote at that meeting. The Executive Board shall decide by majority vote which members may serve as appointees for that meeting. In any event, the number of members who serve as appointees may not exceed the number of absent Executive Board members.

Article 11
Dissolution of the organization must be presented before the entire membership, with the vote to be conducted by mail. A quorum for this vote will consist of at least a 20 per cent return of mailed ballots. Dissolution must be approved by at least 75 per cent of the votes received.

Article 12
In the event of dissolution of the organization, the Executive Board shall seek to provide for payment of debts and liabilities of the organization. The balance, if any, shall be donated to the Cartoon Art Museum, in San Francisco, The International Museum of Cartoon Art, in Boca Raton, or the Museum of Words and Pictures, in Northampton, at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Article 13
Recommendations to change or amend the Cartoonists Northwest bylaws may be proposed by any officer or member in good standing. Changes to the bylaws must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the members in good standing and in attendance in votes taken at two separate, consecutive regular meetings of the organization.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING FOR MAY 2008

Cartoonists Northwest’s May 17th meeting could be called “Takin’ Care of Business” and will feature a stimulating potpourri of viewpoints and agenda items, especially those garnered in the wake of the recent Seattle ComiCon.

The conversation will be more than just a recap of fun and memorable moments from the show. This could be an invaluable how-to guide for those aspiring cartoonists who have yet to present their artwork for sale at a comic book convention. And even longtime conventioneers may pick up an insightful tidbit or two.

Past CNW Presidents Scott Alan and John Lustig, current club President Keith Curtis, and Five-year member Bill Morse will be among those leading the discussion about what it takes to bring images in your head to the “product” stage, and then marketing them at a show.

This confluence of con-goers will bring up war stories and handy tips for any cartoonist interested in exploring the commercial and social aspects of comic book culture. Valuable lessons learned in the study of human nature, what sells and doesn’t sell, and the importance of superhuman stamina for enduring such ware-hawking fatigue and what some conventioneers refer to as “mind-glaze”.

Cartoonists Scott Alan [Oh Brother! “To Boldly Go… (Like it or Not)” ] and Bill Morse [Rhapsodies, Sasha Slower Than Light] have been vendors at all six Emerald City ComiCons, building up their publications and their presentations over that time. Keith Curtis’ Crater on the Moon has developed innovative improvements as well. In addition to having many shows and fairs notched on his belt, John Lustig [Last Kiss] also has intriguing tales to tell from the recent New York Comic Con, a place far from the Emerald City…

So come to Cartoonists Northwest’s May 17 meeting for some hilarious, inspiring and informative conventional wisdom. (ouch!) Besides the passing along of priceless pearls, there’s always the usual CNW fun with voting on the Best of the Northwest cartoons offered by the members each month, discussing new and old club business, and potentially a serious discussion about the club’s bylaws. Bylaws? We have bylaws? You bet your sweet bippy we do! Come see!

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:

+ Cartoonists review each others’ work and vote for ‘Best of the Northwest’. Bring your cartoons and enter the friendly competition!

+ Other news and stuff, guaranteed to be of a cartoonishly edifying nature!

*************************************
What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Sat. May 17, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
Where: The Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.) 2600 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121. Use main entrance at corner of Alaskan Way and Vine St. Street parking is free beginning at 6 PM.

ABOUT CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST: Cartoonists Northwest is an association of professional and amateur cartoonists who meet monthly to network, collaborate, and promote community among local artists. Established in 1981, CNW is one of Seattle’s longest-standing organizations and boasts membership of such artists as: Lynn Johnston (“For Better or For Worse”), David Horsey (Seattle PI), John Lustig (Disney and “Last Kiss”), Brian Basset (“Adam @ Home” and “Red and Rover”), Donna Barr (“The Desert Peach” and “Stinz”) and many more.

Become a member! $30 per year to become a member of Cartoonists Northwest ($40 outside the US) – It’s a bargain at twice the price! Plus you get a one-year subscription to the CNW newsletter, PENSTUFF. To heck with your un-read subscription to Newsweek! JOIN CNW TODAY! Contact: cartoonistnw@gmail.com

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Cartoonists Northwest at Emerald City ComiCon '08!

Oh, we're off to see the cartoonists,
The ones from Cartoonists Northwest!
At Emerald City ComicCon they'll be
Showing their skills at their best!
If ever, oh ever, a Con there was
Seattle's is tops because because
Because, because, because, because, because
Cartoonists Northwest is one of the draws!

That’s right! The 6th annual Emerald City ComicCon will be all the more magical this year, with the presence of many members of Cartoonists Northwest (CNW)! The Con happens on May 10-11, 2008, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Look for the following CNW folks and friends to be showing off their wizardry:

- Scott Alan (Cahoots Creations), at Artist Alley booth E04.

- W. P. Morse (Rhapsodies), at Artist Alley booth A26.

- Keith Curtis (Cyclops Unlimited, which publishes the amazing comic series 'Crater On the Moon'), at Exhibitor booth 709 (booth will also feature the fantastic works of Donna Barr, and "many and sundry valuable trinkets" from the wildly funny cartoonist Dan McConnell!).

- John Lustig (Last Kiss Entertainment), at Exhibitor booth 805 (booth will also feature cartoonist and CNW member Kevin Boze, author of the acclaimed book 'The Virgin Project')

- Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum (Creators of the library comic strip Unshelved) They won't be there in person, but don't let that stop you from dropping by Exhibitor booth 305!

- Phil Foglio (Studio Foglio), Exhibitor booth 304

- Peter Bagge, Guest (Hate, Neat Stuff, Apocalypse Nerd, MAD magazine, etc.)

- Mike Grell, Guest (Superboy, Tarzan, Green Arrow, etc., and a member of the Cartoonists Northwest Hall of Fame!)

- Steve Gallacci (Albedo Anthropomorphics, and another stellar member of the Cartoonists Northwest Hall of Fame!)

- Paul Chadwick, Guest (Concrete, Seven Against Chaos)

- Ellen Forney, Guest (I Love Led Zeppelin, Monkey Food, Lust)

If that's not enough to convince you you're not in Kansas anymore, take time on Sunday, May 11, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., to attend a panel discussion on editorial cartoons called "STICKIN' IT TO THE MAN", presented by and featuring members of CNW. Editorial cartooning is a great way for cartoonists to let their voices be heard. Panelists including two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner David Horsey (Seattle Post-Intelligencer), Elizabeth Pankey, Andrew Wahl (http://offthewahl.com/) and Dan McConnell will discuss styles of the genre, zeroing in on your target, how to craft a visual metaphor, and why editorial cartooning is vital to a healthy society. Moderated by Keith Curtis (CNW President, and creator of Crater On the Moon comics). Location: Panel Room A.

For more information, go to http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

APRIL 2008 MEETING

CARTOONISTS NORTHWEST MEETING IN APRIL !
Saturday, April 19, 2008, at 6:00 p.m.

Friends of furry fandom, rejoice, for Steve Gallacci will be decelerating from the Rim of Known Space (where his name is forever etched upon a planet called the CNW Hall of Fame!) and landing at the meeting as guest speaker!

Steve is the progenitor of the awesome Albedo Anthropomorphics comics. He started Albedo under his own Thoughts & Images imprint, first published in 1983. Among some of the story lines in Albedo are Steve's own “Erma Felna: EDF”, a military sci-fi epic featuring elements of political intrigue, and Stan Sakai's “Usagi Yojimbo”, which first appeared in the famously-rare Albedo #2. Also under his Thoughts & Images imprint, the first three issues of Donna Barr's The Desert Peach and a single issue of his own fantasy adventure Zell, Sworddancer with art assistance by Steve Adams, were also published. Thoughts & Images also published the first edition of “Albedo RPG”, written by Craig Hilton and Paul Kidd, and based on the Erma Felna storyline from Albedo. Other cartoon material includes doing art for episodes of Elin Winkler's “Tales of the Fehnnik”, published by Radio Comix, and short bits for Ken Fletcher's “Spontoon” fanzine. He has also done Science Fiction art and illustration since the late 1970s, as well as straight technical/commercial illustration.

Irregularly, he produces silver bullets for his "Argent Small Arms" line of odd bits.
More recently, he has been creating masters for after-market scale model aircraft
detail/correction/conversion sets and is working on acrylic figures of famous comic characters.
Steve Gallaci is truly a seasoned traveler of the tooniverse! What nuggets of wisdom will he bestow upon all those who attend the April meeting?? The rules of engagement are simple: Be there, and find out!

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:
*Recap of LEFT, RIGHT, & WRONG, the political cartoon show currently at the Burnley Gallery at The Art Institute of Seattle (ran Feb. 25 – Apr. 15).
*Recap of the TOONIES AWARDS annual banquet (Mar. 1).
*Recap of the CNW-CWAC “R. Crumb Underground” tour at the Frye Museum.
*Updates on the Emerald City ComiCon.
*Cartoonists review each others’ work and vote for ‘Best of the Northwest’. Bring your cartoons and enter the friendly competition!
*Other news and stuff, guaranteed to be of a cartoonishly edifying nature!

What: Cartoonists Northwest meeting. (Monthly meetings happen on the third Saturday of every month.)
When: Sat. April 19, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $1.00 each for CNW members; $3.00 for non-members.
Where: Art Institute of Seattle, North Campus, Room 503 (Real Networks Bldg.), 2600 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 98121
Use main entrance, corner of Alaskan & Vine. Street parking is free after 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

"Left, Right, & Wrong" Political Cartoon Exhibit EXTENDED, due to popular demand!! - 3/08

CNW and the Art Institute of Seattle proudly present, "Left, Right, & Wrong: Celebrating the Art of Editorial Cartooning" at the Art Institute's, Burnley Gallery. This show opened February 29 and has now been extended to April 15 due to popular demand!

This exhibition celebrates the artistry of political and editorial cartooning, and features some of the Northwest’s most notable cartoonists, including David Horsey, Pat Moriarity, Andy Wahl, Peter Bagge, Donna Barr, Lew Andrus, Dan McConnell, and George Jartos. Additionally, the exhibit will feature the work of CNW members, as well as faculty and alumni of The Art Institute.

The gallery is located in the South Campus building at 2323 Elliott Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121. Gallery hours are Mon. through Thurs. 7 AM – 10 PM; Fri. 7 AM – 5 PM; and Sat. 9 AM – 2 PM. Closed Sundays.

The show is presented by Cartoonists Northwest (CNW) and The Art Institute of Seattle.

For more information, or to schedule an interview with one of the artists or Art Institute staff, please contact the Department of Communications at mlivingston@aii.edu, or call (206) 239.2562.

Doing Dilbert - from Doodle to Domination - 2/08

Dilbert cartoons reside on every cubical wall in every office in the country, if not the world, and Jeanette Smith is the one responsible for putting them there!

This February Jeanette, formerly of United Media/United Feature Syndicate, will be at CNW to discuss how she took Dilbert out from under the radar and transformed the strip into a global mega brand. Jeanette now runs a consulting firm in Seattle which specializes in licensing for creative cartoonists and artists, with clients such as John McPherson creator of Close to Home and Tom Wilson, Ziggy cartoonist.

Jeanette will also discuss how to think beyond the box of traditional cartoon venues and explore new avenues for your work. She will explore the principles of branding, marketing, and licensing, as they apply to cartoons. You can take these proven techniques and leveraging tactics and apply then to your own projects. Jeanette is animated, engaging, knowledgeable and chock-full of exactly the kind of experience (and unquie stories) that makes this meeting THE one that you won't want to miss!

The meeting will be at the Art Institute of Seattle's north campus, in room 503. Be sure to enter through the doors at main entrance, on the corner of Alaskan Way and Vine. Things will get started at 6PM and street parking is free at that time. See you there and bring something to jot down some notes, it's going to be GOOD!

Field Trip to the Art Institute - 9/07

SEPTEMBER MEETING - FIELD TRIP!!!

CNW member, Roby Gilbert is the Director of Animation at the Art Institute of Seattle. Recently, Roby approached me about exploring opportunities for CNW and the AI Animation department to work together. As a first step, Roby has offered to give CNW a tour of the AI facility downtown. The place is fully loaded with 2D and 3D animation studios, figure drawing sessions, as well as a myriad of other amenities for teaching and practicing artistic talent.

After the tour we’ll settle into one of the classrooms onsite, where Roby will tell us a bit about his background as the animator who, among other things, brought the beloved children’s character, “Ranger Rick” to life. He will also discuss the AI Animation program, at present, and the direction that he intends for it to grow in the future. We’ll throw around some ideas for collaboration and have a great time in the process.

IMPORTANT: The tour will begin at the AI South Campus at 4:00PM. The campus is 5 minutes from our normal meeting spot, at SVC. If you would like to drive together, I will be at SVC at 3:30PM, leaving at 3:45PM, and can take 4 additional people in my car. If you need a ride PLEASE call me to confirm so I know who and how many to look for.

If you are driving, there is ample parking along Alaskan Way or on the other surrounding streets.

The address and phone number is:


2323 Elliott Avenue Seattle, WA 98121-1642 | 1-206-448-6600 | 1-800-275-2471

(Go to this web address to see complete directions.)

http://www.artinstitutes.edu/seattle/about_directions.asp


Hope to see you there!

Disney revealed! - 8/07

The August meeting was fantastic! John Lustig and Jeff Hamill unloaded a ton of info about writing for Disney comics! They touched on everything from writing for established characters to the processes and intricacies of working for a major corporation/brand.

They took told us about the evolution of the characters over time; when Mickey was a darker mouse and how Scrooge McDuck became one of the most dynamic characters to write for. A highlight was when they took us through one of the touchstone stories where Donald, Daisy, and the boys go through the town of Omlet. Both where able to give unique insights into the story structure, reasons why certain plot points existed; real behind the scenes stuff!

What’s more, John and Jeff complimented each other well as a tag team and together gave a really compelling and interesting presentation. Thanks so much guys, it was great!


Huh? Web Metrics & Cartoons? - 6/07

Well the CNW meeting for June was 1 part school, 1 part business, and all the rest was just fun!

Our own Georgia Ball was good enough to navigate us through Google Analytics. This is a FREE web metrics tool which can report all kinds of information to be used for bragging rights, gauging the success of your online toon, and even qualifying your website to investors or advertisers.

It was a very informative meeting and maybe if we’re lucky, an audio recording of it may magically appear online, for those of you who missed it to enjoy!

Ahhh, the Toonie Awards! - 5/07

May, 2007 -Ahhh, the Toonie Awards!

We had a blast this year! Our distinguished guest speaker, Paul Chadwick graced the podium with highlights from his dazzling career as well as some poignant advice.chadwick

The CNW Quest for Answers was also a hit, as attendees had to draw random lots- some pulled questions, some answers- and they where then forced to mingle in order to be entered into the grand prize drawing! 4 winners were chosen, at random, and each received a fine piece of original, Paul Chadwick artwork and an autographed book from his heralded Concrete series.

We also raffled off tons of swag and enjoyed delicious meals with lake front views. The CNW Charity coloring book was unveiled, many awards were given and much acclaim and ego-stroking ensued. Mark Monlux swept the clay contest…again, and long time member, Sherry Flenniken , was awarded the coveted Golden Toonie.

The night even included a debut appearance by the Amazing Martin Brothers, a group of well groomed young lads whose claim to fame rested entirely on their skewed, 60's folk-rock covers.

All in all a blow out night! Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to produce this truly fantastic event! this truly fantastic event!

CNW booth was a BIG success at Emerald City - 4/1/07

CNW made a HUGE splash at the Emerald City Comic Con !

Our theme was Community of Creativity

To hit home the idea of community we arranged a prize-laden scavenger hunt to seek out the CNW members and affiliates who were dispersed through out the con, lots of Merch and Swag for sale, as well as a place to sit down during the con, grab a drink of water, and catch up on the latest from your favorite group of good looking, talented, CNW cartoonists!

March meeting and leprechauns! - 3/07

March, 2007 - Our March/St Paddy’s day meeting went really well also!

Given that it was St Paddy’s, we had all of the non-green wearing attendees draw lots and Chris Routly emerged as our unlucky leprechaun! Chris was forced to illustrate at our every whim and some “interesting” sketches were the result! This ran rampant while we touched on all the club business and such.

The rest of the meeting was spent in peer review groups critiquing each other’s work. It was the biggest peer review that the club has seen in a while and a major stride towards reinforcing the club’s community and spirit of collaboration!

CNW Booth at Emerald City! - 3/07

March, 2007- CNW will be at the Emerald City Comic Con this weekend. Our theme is Community of Creativity So swing by booth #803 for a place to sit, catch your breath, grab a drink of water, and catch up on the latest from your favorite group of Good looking, talented, CNW cartoonists

07 Toonies to be held at Rocksalt Restaurant! - 3/07

March, 2007- The annual Toonie Awards (April 28) at the Rocksalt Restaurant on lovely Lake Union! www.rocksaltlakeunion.com .

Round Table on Con Prep - 2/07

February, 2007 - February's meeting was great! Our round table on con prep stemmed lots of good discussion and information. See the Forum for notes!

We concocted mad libs - CNW style! The "Fairly Fantastic Four" emerged as the victors; elegantly recounting the story of the Sasquatch engineer who saved a box of puppies from a falling planet, using his trusty shrink ray and Hummer!

We also talked about the upcoming Emerald City Comic Con and CNW's fantastic booth there! The whole thing was followed up by the traditional Hurricane run. All in all, a great meeting! Hope to see you at the next March meeting.

Tacoma's First and Only Holistic Cartoonist For Hire! - 8/8/06

Tacoma's First and Only Holistic Cartoonist For Hire!
by Dick Rogers
August 8, 2006

Richard Ryan Anderson gave a presentation to those attending the July 15th meeting of Cartoonists Northwest which will not be soon forgotten.

Ryan brought his laptop and ran an entertaining PowerPoint presentation of his life story, tips about website construction and marketing yourself. Richie Bush

Young aspiring artist Anderson's first break came when his Mom sent a strip he'd created to Odyssey magazine. They were impressed with then-thirteen-year-old Ryan's work and asked him to produce a feature for their back page. It was a thrill, at first, then Ryan came to find it "a major drag" staying inside to produce the cartoon while his friends were playing outside.

Later came animation classes in college. These were hand-drawn, frame-by-frame projects. Ryan ran a few slideshows of the work.

Soon the fascination with the internet became a major outlet for his work.

"I like websites," says Ryan, "because you can do anything, and it's seen all around the world."

And so it was on the web that his concept of a fictitious company and its equally fabricated founder & owner were born: www.holisticforgeworks.com.

"An interesting website has consistent branding," Ryan notes. "It has rich and interesting content. It has good functionality, too."

A good website self-promotes, this can be helped along by making it easy for search spiders to go through your code.

"Validate your code," advises Ryan. "Avoid JavaScript and tables which confuse some spiders, use html tags instead. Create back-links, build rich and interesting content."

"Using 'plosives'," he suggests, "Words that begin with BL or PL —is subliminal and exciting, and visitors will remember it. Using meta keywords is the old way to attract browsers, instead use meta description for better results. Have a blog to inform visitors of updates. Get your site listed everywhere you can: Google pages, Stranger web classifieds (they're free), The Comics Journal Forum, Flickr, CNW.net, our friend's website can link to you and vice versa."

Don't know how to do any of this? Newbies can find everything to teach themselves on the internet easily, and Ryan is a prime example. Maxdesign.com and oswd.org are open sources for web design. John (Ren & Stimpy) Krikfalusi's drawn.ca is one another.

You can make a great website from as simple a program as NotePad, BBEdit lite which are both free, or you can buy something like DreamWeaver which has powerful creative tools.

Ryan is currently doing some cartoons, banners and logos for Alaska Brewing. His cartooning has become more than a hobby—now it's a career.

Contact: Dick Rogers

Show Your Moxie: Fine Comix Delights Members with a Live Reading - 7/2/06

Show Your Moxie: Fine Comix Delights Members with a Live Reading
by Georgia Ball
July 2, 2006

CNW members who attended the June 17 meeting got a special treat from our presenters: a live performance. The group of artists who make up Fine Comix set their comics to music and read their various onscreen parts with gusto, bringing to life two of the stories from their recent publication, Moxie, My Sweet. Live performances are a quirky method the group uses to promote their work, and just as in their appearances at local coffee shops, the audience laughed along with the over-the-top vocalizations and gestures of the actors as each panel was projected. Members first followed the story of a girl daydreaming of a medieval fantasy world and a handsome suitor to the tune of Led Zeppelin, drawn by CNW regular and indie comics mainstay David Lasky. Even more color and sound effects accompanied the next story, "The Crow Passes," a Pogo-inspired Southern funeral for a jazz-playing crow done in by drink. Both stories were written by Mark Campos, the talent behind all of the stories in their first publication illustrated by various artists.

Fine Comix began as a Yahoo Group in 2001, a place where Seattle creators could come together and enjoy each others' work called "Comics as Fine Art." It was eventually reorganized as Fine Comix, and became a collaborative way the artists could publish. As an anthology, their work faces special challenges finding a market. Speaker Scott Faulkner described their various efforts to get their book in the hands of the public, including distribution through Last Gasp in San Francisco, Amazon and Diamond. Their next book, tentatively set for release in 2007, will be entitled Paperback Moxie, a compilation of stories in the sci-fi and horror genre.

Contact: Georgia Ball

Georgia Ball is a freelance Flash designer and the script writer for the cartoon strip Scooter and Ferret

Emerald City ComiCon Report - 4/4/06

Emerald City ComiCon Report
by Scott Alan
April 4, 2006

Emerald City ComiCon 4 has now been and gone. Once again CNW had a presence at the show and it was a good one. In fact, the good people running the show (Jim Demonakos and crew) were very accommodating to us as always and set the official CNW table alongside many of the members tables. We really had the run of one row at artists alley and that was way cool! Think of that. One entire row of artists alley filled up with CNW members. It was so much fun to be there next to all our members having fun and sharing the convention experience together as a group. A special shout of gratitude must go out to Luke Martin and Stephen Prescott who helped CNW greatly by manning the official club table all weekend and also to our own Elizabeth Pankey who once again graciously provided the trappings and trimmings for the club table making it a truly impressive and professional looking display indeed. You're all great and we greatly appreciate your help!

Many of our members were there representing themselves as well as CNW. John Aquino and Scott Alan were set up with their new collaborative effort Cahoots Comics and new booth bunny display which got some fine attention. Next to them were Bill Morse with his popular Rhapsodies series. Georgia & Scott Ball were on hand promoting Scooter & Ferret with books, buttons, and great new shirts which seemed to get a lot of attention (as well it should). Liriel McMahon brought Bad Blood back to the show for all to admire or run in terror of depending on who was at the table. Outside of artists alley you'd find some rather impressive booth displays from our members including Dawn Kravanga and her very decorative Cattle Capers display. Kieth Curtis was on hand with his great Crater on the Moon comics and dressed for show as his space marine character which was a great site to see. Rounding the bend you saw the ever popular Last Kiss booth run by the one and only John Lustig who seemed to be very happy to be there. You go John. Joining John at the booth was the ever lovin' Kevin Boze who spent time entertaining the crowd with personal experiences written into Comics Biography Theatre. I'm sure there's a lot of great stuff to see there.

Some of the show highlights were the attendees in costume who had some great designs to show. Friends of CNW were at the show in all of their glory including Randy Emberland, James Dean Smith, our new friends Jonah and Jeremy Gregory with Random Pirate Comics, and the ever popular Phil Foglio. The convention boasted many great guest stars including Tim Sale who was at the end of the CNW row gathering a lot of attention from the very excited crowd and Tycho & Gabe from Penny Arcade who gave a very entertaining panel about web comics and their own experiences with them. I can say it was a real pleasure meeting them both and that meeting MAY lead to an exciting event for CNW... but more on that later.

As for the show itself it was grand as always. There was plenty of space for us all and accommodations were well provided. This year the only complaint I heard as I had time to wander around was that there wasn't a lot of traffic at the show this year and things seemed a little slow. I don't know about that as far as actual numbers go, but I know it did seem light. That didn't stop the crowd that was there from having a good time though and the atmosphere of the attendees was fun and jovial so it all seems to have worked out well in the end.

It was a fine time for us all and I had a lot of fun. With Emerald 5 already slated for next April it's a good guess that we'll be planning for the next show as well. For now it's time for sleep and post con recoup. Too much excitement pocky and pixy sticks can really spaz you out and you just need that middle of the day nap time to recover from the grand weekend. That's what I'm gonna do now.

Contact: Scott Alan, President

Not just toons, ScotttoonS! Visit ScotttoonS.com to see the work of Scott Alan, performer and freelance cartoonist.

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund - 3/1/06

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
by Dick Rogers
March 1, 2006

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics community. Founded in 1986 by legendary underground cartoonist and publisher, Denis Kitchen, the CBLDF's guiding principle is that comics deserve the same Comic Book Legal Defense Fundfreedom of expression accorded film, literature, and other media. Thanks to generous support from comics fans and professionals alike, the CBLDF has coordinated and funded the legal defense of more than a dozen First Amendment cases.

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund volunteer Ray Feighery talked to CNW about censorship and the legal battles over mature-themed comics. The packed meeting room learned how the Fund has assisted comic store owners and employees as well as publishers and distributors.

"Comics are an easy target for overzealous District Attorneys building up their careers," said Ray. "They are not always able to put together a strong case, so they prolong the legal process in an attempt to force defendants to buckle under the growing legal fees. People have lost their homes and businesses in some instances."

To date, the Fund has spent over $220,000 fighting the Gordon Lee case. Lee was working in a comic book store on Halloween, giving away comic books to costumed youngsters in Rome, Georgia. Erroneously packed in the "freebie bin" was a copy of Alternative Comics #2 (a leftover from that year's Free Comic Book Day) which Lee handed to a nine-year-old boy. The comic contained, among others, a story by Nick Bertozzi about Pablo Picasso in which the painter is portrayed in the nude—not in a sexual manner—in his studio.

Lee was charged with "distributing material depicting nudity [and] distributing obscene material to a minor." The Fund felt he had simply made a mistake as a retailer, and was able to Comic Book Legal Defense Fundget the felonies dismissed and the prosecution settled for a single misdemeanor charge.

Ray explained the facts of the Jesus Castillo case as another example. Castillo, a comic shop employee, was arrested and charged with two counts of obscenity for selling adult-themed comic books to adults.

The Fund fought the charges with lawyers and expert testimony. The State Prosecutor did not offer any contradictory evidence... however, his closing argument included the statement, "I don't care what type of evidence or what type of testimony is out there, use your rationality; use your common sense. Comic books, traditionally what we think of, are for kids. We're here to get this off the shelf." Castillo was found guilty, sentenced to 180 days in jail, a year probation and a $4,000 fine. The verdict was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, which denied his petition.

"Unfortunately, fighting the right battles is not a guarantee of winning," Fund Director Charles Brownstein said.

Recently the Fund won a victory against US Customs when Top Shelf Comics had a pallet of comics from Europe detained. After a three week delay, Top Shelf received a formal letter accusing two comic books in the lot of being "piratical works."

The accused stories were Richie Bush, a parody of Richie Richie Bush Rich which satirizes the Bush administration and another parody featuring Snoopy and Woodstock. But they are obviously instances of parody and fair use, which are protected by the First Amendment. So the Fund hired a local attorney and in the end Customs released the books and refunded the $250 fee Top Shelf paid to Customs to challenge the seizure.

Ray was a great speaker who inspired a number of CNW members to join CBLDF on the spot.

Contact: Dick Rogers

Elections and Events for a New Year - 1/31/06

Elections and Events for a New Year
by Georgia Ball
January 31, 2005

The first order of business was the annual Cartoonists Northwest elections. Scott Alan was re-elected president, and he retained his former officers Scott Ball as vice-president and Liriel McMahon as Treasurer.

Upcoming club events began with an announcement of the summer camping trip. A date has been finalized for September 8-10 at Sequim Bay. To hold the site we need at least 20 commitments, but as many as 60 campers can be accommodated. If you would like to bring an RV, please contact Scott Ball.

Submissions are being taken for King Country Library System display cases. Space is offered to members first come-first served to promote the club. We're calling now for volunteers to set up displays at their local library. Contact Luke Martin for more information.

The 25th Annual Toonies Awards Banquet is almost here! Submissions for the Art Auction are being taken now and are due February 18th. Contact Scott Ball for details.

Emerald City Con is coming up fast! There will be a CNW Members table as there was last year and volunteers are needed to man the booth. To sell your items at the table contact Scott Alan - a %15 commission of all sales will go to CNW.

Contact: Georgia Ball

Georgia Ball is a freelance Flash designer and the script writer for the cartoon strip Scooter and Ferret.

Show and Tell in September - 10/2/05

Show and Tell in September
by Scott Alan
October 2, 2005

Show and tell time at CNW is always a treat. It's nice to get together with your fellow cartoonists and share where you've been and what's new. We had a good turn out and some great stuff was shown. Here's a summary:

Liriel announced some new merchandise for Bad Blood which can be found at http://badbloodcomic.com/shop.

John Lustig had some great merchandise to show off as well all
gloriously featured at his site www.lastkisscomics.com.

Scott Alan was there to share his latest successes including the start of an all new online comic called "Oh Brother!" which can be seen at www.ScotttoonS.com. He also showed off his latest endeavor called "Frontispace" where he draws cartoons to compliment articles written by a scientist in Greece. These can be found at www.fair-society.org/index.htm.

There were other great art projects passed about by Bill Morse, John Brower, Morgan Sandys, John Aquino and more. We even had some new people show up to the meeting and thank them for being a part of this great evening.

I know that a lot of details and artists were overlooked but I was asked to keep this article brief. Sorry about that. I think all of you did great and was very pleased with the amount of great work shown. It was a great time, a great meeting, and all thanks to the many great artists who came in to strut their stuff!

Contact: Scott Alan, President

Not just toons, ScotttoonS! Visit ScotttoonS.com to see the work of Scott Alan, performer and freelance cartoonist.