Primary Delusionary Experience

A few weeks ago I particpated, from home, in 24 hour comics day. The challenge is to write, draw, ink and finish a 24 page, completed comic in 24 hours. As you can see I didn't quite meet success in this challenge as I only completed 14 pages total, just 10 shy of the goal. I slacked a little and slept more than I should have. Nevertheless I'm satisfied with what I worked up and decided to end the story in just 14 pages, which I think is still just as effective as the original script. The 10 pages I left out weren't really necessary and didn't add much overall to the success of the tale.

As you read this comic it may strike as non-sequitor, however I was working on it with the intention of depicting the dream phenomena known as "Primary Delusionary Experience" or "False Awakening". This phenomenon was made popular as a central theme in the recent Hollywood blockbuster, "Inception", but also it has been used as literary device in various other TV shows and works of printed fiction. "Inception" focused on the dream phenomenon with a twist of science fiction and espionage. What I attempted to show here is a bit more playful and focuses on the meaning of the dream phenomenon itself and also the possibility of the experience revealing to us a past or alternative life we have lived or are currently living.

Click right here to check out the new website for Little Tired Press!
It's totally worth it!

Nate McNasty makes a Comic Book!

Nate McDonough (long-time Andromeda and magnificent comic artist) has wrote and drew a 160 pg graphic novel that is simply astounding. He's trying to get this thing printed so help him out by supporting his Kickstarter. Also you can view it for free here: http://dcbcomic.tumblr.com/

 To check out the cool things you get for supporting his Kickstarter please click here

Not So F*%?@#! Serious

Not So F*%?@#! Serious, an art show this October 21st at Unsmoke Systems in Braddock, PA. It's going to be superbly awesome and thrilling. For more complete information on artists involved and what it's about please check out:


http://notsofingserious.wordpress.com

Hope to see y'all out there, it's gonna be a blast!

A Wild & Surprising Success!

Last night all of us comic makers and zinesters were in attendance for the 1st ever Pittsburgh Zine Fair. The event was surprisingly well attended for it being only the first year and that we only had 2 months in which to organize it. I suppose that just proves the determination of few can generate amazing results. Here's some photos of last night's event taken by the gracious Stephanie Tsong. Thanks Steph!

Now In Colors

I plan to print some of these off and we'll be selling them at the Zine Fair!

The Official flyer/poster for the 1st PGH Zine Fair

 

I hope to color this, I think it'll look 110% better. We'll see if I actually do before the event happens.

Pittsburgh Zine Fair

Well this is coming fast. The first ever Pittsburgh Zine Fair is set to take place on September 1st, 2011 from 5-10pm at AIR (Artist Image Resource) on the North Side. The event will feature zine/comic and independent publishers/retailers from Pittsburgh and beyond, workshops, music, food, acivities and much more fun to be announced. I've been attending all of the organizing meetings at Filmmakers and it has been a hoot. So far I've been responsible for a lot of the illustration needed for print and web promotional materials. I'm working on finishing the poster/flyer tonight and I'll be sure to show off the black and white or if I work hard enough the color version.

For more info and how you can get involved in this new project, please visit the website:

www.pghzinefair.com

Adlib Comic & Polish Hill Arts Festival

So I'm programming a comic and bookmaking workshop during the Polish Hill Arts Festival on July 17th. I've never done something quite like this. What you see above is a 4 page adlib comic that participants can create their own characters/story. I'm not sure how well this is going to work or how interested people will be in completing a partially realized sequence of panels. It's an experiment in that regard. I'm trying to come up with some additional activity ideas to complement this one because undoubtedly there will be some young kids and they'll need a project that's easy to do and more importantly fun. I've been talking with Nate and he's expressed interest in doing some sort of cartooning demo or collaborative activity.

In addition to working an activity table there I'll also be there with selling Andromeda comics, prints, paintings and other crafty junk. Also be on the look out for the poster/flyer for the Arts Festival in your neighborhood/community in the coming weeks. Below is an early concept with no color. Once finished there will be a digitally colored 8.5" x 11" version, a larger screenprinted poster and screenprinted handbills of which the designs are not yet completed. Those handbills will likely be steeped in traditional Polish folk patterning and textile design. Hope that you can all make it for this festival. Last year was my first year and I can say with confidence that it's the coolest arts festival in Pittsburgh. Yes, even cooler than the Three Rivers Arts Festival!

PIX-Finally something really cool and rad happening here in Pittsburgh.

Hello folks, I'm here to tell you about something new and exciting that's rapidly approaching the fair city of Pittsburgh. It's PIX, Pittsburgh's first annual Independent Comics Expo presented by Copacetic Comics Company, Toonseum and sponsoring in part from The Sprout Fund. The event is to be held on October 16th and 17th, 10 am - 5pm each day on the top floor of the newly renovated Guardian Storage Facility at 2839 Liberty Avenue (in the Strip District). It's open for free to the general public and vendor/creator tables are only $25. If you'd like a table be sure to do so soon because this event is shaping up to be worthy of notation considering it is only in it's infancy. Special guests confirmed for panels and such include, but are not limited to: Kevin Huizenga, Ed Piskor, Jim Rugg, Frank Santoro, and Tom Scioli.

I will also be there dishing out issues of Andromeda including the release of #6 to the masses. Also in attendance will be Nate McDonough of GRIXLY comics and Stephanie Neary, creator of various minis and gnarly drawings abound (cross your fingers for her attendance). I hope to see all of you there. We really need your support for this one Pittsburgh, I mean why wouldn't you come, IT'S FREE!!

Getting There.

I'm starting to compile everything for #3 and hope to have a bunch of copies sometime before the end of next week. I finally broke down and bought a monochrome laserjet printer after all these months of freeloading printing services. It should be here by the weekend or Monday hopefully. Then I can truly get down to business.

This will be the cover for this issue, I'm also thinking about screenprinting this and making it available as a poster as well. Not sure on the idea yet, more to come....

Andromeda #2

Well here it is folks, the complete first print run of Andromeda #2. I had a ream or two of color card and cover stock left over from a few projects so I made hasty use of them in this issue. I originally printed about 80 copies, but I've dedicated half for contributors and have sold 10 or 15 since then. So there are about 30 or so left available. If you'd like to get your hands on one or two you can pick them up at my etsy:

etsy.com/shop/littletired

or just click the link for my shop on the side ----------------------->



Thanks to all of you folks who came through and made this happen this month. I hope to get an even larger turnout for #3. Here's the crew for number two:

Jes LaVecchia
Nate McDonough
Steph Neary
Tom Dewing
Matt Ketchum
Emily Stilwell
Lorne Zeman
Pat Kain

GReasy

Greasin' up SPACE 2010 in Columbus.

I need your kind.

Andromeda is a new monthly, comic anthology originating in Pittsburgh and edited/produced by Little Tired Press. This new publication seeks to expose and incubate the mass of talent surrounding not just the Pittsburgh region, but also anywhere else in the world where good work may be hiding. The first issue was released prematurely this month for the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo in Columbus, OH last weekend and primarily featured work from myself. As mentioned previously the intent for this publication is to feature an array of artists working in the comic form and this is still the case. Whether one draws, writes or creates on any other variation of the form they are encouraged to make a submission. This project is slowly gaining momentum, but cannot accelerate without the help of all of you passionate folks out there.
Deadline submissions are May 21st, 2010, but I am willing to accept them a little later if needed. Images sent should be .jpg format and no more than 10 Mb each. All submissions should be sent to littletired@gmail.com, by mail to: 4230 Sherrod St. Apt. #2, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 or gimme a call at: 740-610-8836.

Everyone is encouraged to submit and all submissions will be seriously reviewed and considered. Thanks for taking a peek and I look forward to checking out all of your stuff soon.


Note: Andromeda #1 is now on sale at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/littletired along with the whole serialization of Red Lobsters, that's all 4 issues. 

Braddocktacular!

Awesome chalk drawings by Anonymous

Swoon piece out front 

Deteriorated pleasantry

Jordan Bush

Andre Costello

                            

Maura Doern Danko

Nate McDonough

(except for the sign, that's Nick Vincenti craftsmanship)

Nick Jaffen Vincenti

My workings

paint-job by Maya Hayuk

There was a descent turn out this past Sunday out there in Braddock considering the non-stop weathermageddon. We crushed on tons of cheese and red wine, therefore making it an awesome time by default. It was a bunch of fun wandering around the grounds there at Unsmoke and discovering all of the secret places. It was probably the best Sunday afternoon I've had in my life thus far.