Lucy Knisley

Lucy Knisley

Lucy Knisley

Today I’m a little distracted by the comics of Lucy Knisley – published intermittently every two weeks or so, they chronicle the life and thoughts of Chicago-based Lucy who is an illustrator, comic artist and author.

Now I count my Calvin and Hobbes book collection as one of my most treasured possessions, and I warmed up to her style immediately. There’s something about how she articulates her thought processes through panels that makes me identify with her. Also, she has mad skills — look at all those drawing of people!

I almost shed a tear when I read about her break up and here’s a personal favorite, It gets better. Also, pick up one of her books over at her shop!

Karolin Felix

Hello there everyone! You have to forgive me for my abrupt absence last week — I had to go out of town for some personal matters and didn’t quite have the time to prepare something to tide you all over the weekend.

So let’s start off the week with more illustration loveliness shall we? Today I’m enamored by the transformation of one Bearded Lady character from Karolin Felix’s arsenal of beauties into a 3D toy. Behold: The Bearded Lady giclee print, and now, a collectible folk art doll! And of course, no folk art doll is complete without friends — some of which you can win by finding out how over here.

Visual Journaling + Alumni course!

Visual Journaling Class!

Both Jamie and I are currently busy teaching at the second installment of the bootcamp that focuses on bringing your work to market, and we thought of sharing a little sneak peek into what our third installment of the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp will look like — below is a snippet of what you’ll be getting yourself into when you join in our next class which begins on 16th May 2011!

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Often one on the largest obstacles to overcome when creating a story or plot or new work of art is the need to pre-think the story rather than letting it have an organic origin. Sometimes this puts the brakes on it completely. Nothing happens because you put too much pressure on the work looking completely as you see it in your minds eye, you intimidate yourself with your left brain way of thinking!

It’s as if you’re seeing Mt. Everest as a 29,000 ft tall mountain instead of a series of single steps that happen in an instant and organically. A mountain is intimidating, the steps aren’t! First graders don’t have this mountain view, children very rarely experience the un-doable (unless an adult instills it in them!). Children attempt things, they learn, they fall down and stand up. For this first week’s assignment we will silence the fearful adult and invite the adventurous child! Discovering new ways of operating and finding out what might be hidden within your left brain adult self!”

~ Excerpt from Week 1, Assignment 1: Breaking Barriers of Pika Artist Bootcamp 3: Visual Journaling

Through your moleskine we’ll unravel and discover your own unique voice! From the grocery store to the cafe to your desk and a friends hand, you’ll tote your journal with you wherever you go,gathering source materials, inspirations, new ideas— pasting, cutting, spilling, inking, stamping, photographing, creating along the way!

jazz legend moleskine

What personality will your moleskine take on?

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What stories will you have to share?

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What exciting new characters will you create?

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There’s so much more to uncover, so won’t you join us? 😉

Alumni Class!
For those who’ve taken the first installment of the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp: Making Your Mark, you’ll be thrilled to know that we’ve planned a continuation of it just for past participants in the first ever Alumni Class: Making Your Mark #2! You can expect the same frank advice, constructive criticism and lots of banter and fun from both me and Jamie!

See more over at the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp page, where you’ll find links to student reviews, FAQs and course listings!