tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80395179541345075232024-03-19T00:40:34.310-07:00American, Eh?Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-66063219135964964202009-07-29T15:38:00.000-07:002009-07-29T15:41:14.724-07:00For anyone who still visits this blog - sorry. I've been caught up in finishing American, Eh and starting a new online comic, Cake Brat. Plus planning for SPX and the launch of my company Acute Studios.<br /><br />Anyways, I'm probably going to shut this blog down for now, and be posting my updates on the Acute Studios blog instead: www.acutestudios.blogspot.com. And eventually putting up Cake Brat comics. Busy busy busy. But it's good! :-)<br /><br />-HeatherHeather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-6988364323034965672009-03-18T09:54:00.000-07:002009-03-18T10:31:46.275-07:00AE Complete (Sorta), The Falls, and Phaira Lore<em>American, Eh</em> #2 is fundamentally finished. Now I have to go back and clean everything up, add extra details, shadows, redo panels that don't work, etc, which adds a bit more time, but it's nice to have all 17 pages + cover basically inked and in sequence. <br /><br />I think <em>AE</em>#2 isn't bad at all. I do wonder, though, if <em>AE</em> is too plot driven. The whole "this happened, then this, then this" without much pause for reflection, or getting to know the characters enough. Sure, it's fun for me and family and friends who know me, or know M, but to the outside eye, I don't know if there's much depth. Or if there should be. <br /><br />I am not thrilled with some of the art, but that's typical artist-angst. I have to keep reminding myself that it's just as important that I'm *doing* these comics, regardless of the outcome, and committing to doing something I've always wanted to. I only started all this in August! I can only get better, right?<br /><br />Or, to quote James Kochalka: "If you don't think you're awesome, then who else will?" I'm working on that, James.<br /><br />While I'm scripting <em>AE3</em> and finishing up <em>AE2</em>, I've been inking a three-page mini-comic, the first of a series of minicomics under the series name <em>Lybarie</em>, which essentially will be a few poems put into comic form as a means to experiment with different styles. A lot of this is going to come from my Master's thesis, but I think, without trying to sound all Master-y, that my poems are very visual, tell some interesting stories, and more importantly they're not vague or sound all academic. So they, so far, are translating alright to comic form. The first is "The Falls" which was the first poem in my thesis. <br /><br />Either way, it's nice to do something short, instead of looking ahead to pages and pages. Just as a break, but a way to keep practicing inking with a brush. And drawing and inking from memory, and not relying entirely on photos. I'm proud that the first page of The Falls, which is all landscape, is drawn and inked from memory, no reference used. And it looks pretty realistic. That's a big deal!<br /><br />I'm still hoping that <em>Juniper Key and the Very Serious Girl</em> might be put together for September's SPX Conference (which Jodi and I are now officially online and registered for under Acute Studios - very sweet), but it's on hold for the moment due to Jodi's wrist. <br /><br />In the midst of all this, I'm looking to put together at least one other book for SPX - something fiction-based and a little different, so there's a variety to display and sell. Still mulling over <em>Cake Brat</em> - I have a lot of scribbled pages and sketches for characters, but it's not ready yet for anything solid. (I kind of have this belief that stories will only emerge when they're ready, so I don't push it if it's not coming to me loud and clear.)<br /><br />Or, I'm actually considering, and I can't believe I am, reanimating an old universe I created from about 2001-2004, and haven't touched in five years. <em>Phaira Lore</em> is a science fiction series I worked on for years. I wrote five screenplays and lots of short stories in this universe. But I stopped in 2004, moved on, and haven't looked them since (there's some drama behind that decision, but I'm not getting into it). For the past two weeks, during downtime at work or at home, I've been reading all these stories and scripts and kind of marvelling at the energy I had to do all of it. It's a bit of a raw read, though - I'm mildly embarassed at some of it, but I'm.... nostalgic? Relieved to reread it? There's a quiet love for these characters that I haven't touched in years, cheesy as it sounds. They were a big part of my life for a while. <br /><br />When I left it, I didn't forget about it - I always thought I would eventually do something with <em>PL</em> - tighten it up, change some details, but use what I created. Because despite some of the stuff I'm embarassed at, the overdramatic nature of some parts, or realizing how parts were directly stolen from other shows like the anime Cowboy Bebop, fundamentally it's a story about a girl and her two brothers, and how in the midst of violence and craziness they struggle to work and live with each other. Which I like, and I see clearly now. I don't need particular characters to spice things up - they can be cut. A lot can be cut, and simplified, and in the end it's still interesting characters, a good story, and a universe to work in. Whether in comic form, or maybe story form with pictures.... I don't know. But that's the news for now.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-65536536868243812862009-03-03T10:31:00.000-08:002009-03-03T11:03:48.180-08:00Page 16, Visible Fuck-ups, and Who is the Cake Brat?I just inked page 16 last night, and have to do a few other bits on it before moving onto penciling and inking page 17, which is the last page. Then figure out the cover, do that, and American, Eh #2 is done. How 'bout that? Not bad at all. I have to go through and make corrections and tighten everything up, but the basics of each page are solid.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I'm pretty stoked, actually. I made a goal a few months back that I had to finish a minimum of two pages every week. Well, with Christmas, then NYC, and just that heavy winter laziness that robs me of any kind of motivation, that goal got pushed back. But for the past month, I've been sticking to it, and making myself work on the comic at least one hour every day. And the 2-pages a week goal hasn't been too difficult at all, it turns out, despite all the mistakes and set-backs. </div><div></div><br /><div>I make lots of mistakes. Lots of mistakes. My white-out pen is always popped out and shaken because I'm still not a confident inker with a brush, particularly now that I'm re-learning to hold it vertically (as you are supposed to do, I learned) instead of angled like a pen. I will never be able to sell original copies of my comic pages for this reason - who wants visible fuck-ups? I can't help but wonder how they *do* that - even the more amateur artists at the SPX who aren't super famous. Am I missing something here? Are they faking me out with their pretty, perfect boards?</div><div></div><br /><div>I'm also debating what to do next, while I'm scripting AE#3, which usually takes a couple of weeks to figure out. I want to keep going with inking and practicing with my new swanky Winsor and Newton Kolinsky sable brushes (which *do* make a difference, holy crow) . One thing I'm turning around in my head is another title, which came from a random reading of a post on Hong Kong food.</div><div></div><br /><div>Cake Brat is actually this:</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309037067334846338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQI-m5GpDdmkEgiqK9sWIcJEhpRcaVxX1M3YkugM2HUGo94B_TTOQtihDHAVWQLAEnLx5ftH6PIISesagZf4Ae7g8j5HUC4h9-ycU_chUUmMCYjNp1US-TvZc9whLpd0k-Q6bprKWKNA/s320/cake+brat.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>But someone in the comments section made mention of what a great name it was, and I agree - it's stuck in my head for weeks now, and I've been turning it over in my head, and letting characters and situations come to me. Everything is scribbled in my little black sketchbook right now, but I'm thinking it might be something new to try, something outside of my personal romantics. Titled Cake Brat, with overdone, overt covers. Sprinkles on red lips that spell out Cake Brat, you know, really over the top, trying-too-hard stylized art. But then inside, it's just someone who is known as "the Cake Brat" from these covers, whether it's a band name or or even as just a nickname.....</div><br /><div></div><div>It probably sounds strange, but I'm not going to get into much more here, because it's all still being figured out in my head, but we'll see where I end up going with it. It's probably going to have something to do with food and music and stuff. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-75805379978137415122009-02-17T11:22:00.000-08:002009-02-19T15:31:31.600-08:00SPX, NYC, 10,000, and JOMHey. So been a while. Yup.<div> </div><br /><div>What's going on. Hey, American Eh #2 is on its way to being done! That's something. It's slow going, but getting there. I'm working on page 12 right now, out of an anticipated 17. I'm going through the predictable "why am I bothering, this sucks" phase now that I'm 2/3 of the way through, but I'm trying not to let that get to me. </div><div> </div><br />Keep going, right? At least I'm drawing and inking and trying to get better.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>American, Eh? #2 details how I ended up leaving after my sophomore year at the University of Windsor, Ontario and moving on a whim to a room in a house in Quincy, Massachusetts, which is just outside of Boston. I did not exactly think this sudden, very dramatic move through, as you'll see. </div><div> </div><div><br />Some panels, though, I do think came out really nice.</div><br /><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KcolSLApSUvIXUvzNVJxPswXQYEGYOuic3m5TIj-jaDJch-hq7TCVCYVT15njmVAFAg9PDRjWqcvvSjgcgHc_vFVAYZ1WYCG3AId_-s6ZXeRyZmF_Kj96_1KgFA3OFB-GstwCXk-AH0/s1600-h/DSCN1851.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KcolSLApSUvIXUvzNVJxPswXQYEGYOuic3m5TIj-jaDJch-hq7TCVCYVT15njmVAFAg9PDRjWqcvvSjgcgHc_vFVAYZ1WYCG3AId_-s6ZXeRyZmF_Kj96_1KgFA3OFB-GstwCXk-AH0/s320/DSCN1851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303951752291457858" border="0" /></a><div> </div><div> </div>I sent off registration and a big hunk of my personal savings to the Small Press Expo last Friday. Jodi (of Rottin Rotti and others) and I are going to come together in October under the umbrella of Acute Studios, our working company name. I hope people buy stuff, because the thought of the printing costs and other big gulps of my savings floating away to prepare for SPX, well, I just hope that at least, I can break even. Making a bit of money would be cool too, but mostly I just want to be a part of the community, even if for a weekend.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>M is also coming to help hawk our shit - he'll be behind the table with us, pointing at AE books and yelling "Hey, I'm in this! Did you see? Get over here!" His dream come true. (Do you know how many years he's been asking me when I draw: "Is that me? Is that me? Why don't you do a comic with me in it?" Well, HERE. It's a whole frickin' series!!)</div><div> </div><br />Besides three planned issues of American, Eh? the plan is to possibly have one or two other mini-comics to sell, possibly poems / images done in ink washes, possibly something else. I'm focusing on AE right now, so I'll decide later. Jodi will have her Rottin Rotti comics, her Julie Light comics, and I don't know, maybe Fighting Divine? And Jodi and I are collaborating on my kid's story, Juniper Key and the Very Serious Girl - I wrote and created, she's gonna illustrate. Hopefully we can get that together because that would be extremely cool to have something by the both of us to display.<div> </div><br /><div>Besides all this preparation, M and I and our friend Net (who is featured in AE #2) went to New York City two weeks ago, my first time, and I completely fell in love with the city, the food, the atmosphere. I am already plotting my return - I think I started plotting on the train back to Providence:</div><br /><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlNO7bGQaS3K6_Ep0y8kxWaOL3pWGD4LuoJHzC2Jk0ksnmPQ-4iE-vy0QX-ZhX7TE5Tast5DRcPHfHxmRT7cPYPpbQ3HTakYWgSUvlDlHoMc80LnkNpT0WA5alkjs1YsjNNzf-52wG1U/s1600-h/DSCN1825.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlNO7bGQaS3K6_Ep0y8kxWaOL3pWGD4LuoJHzC2Jk0ksnmPQ-4iE-vy0QX-ZhX7TE5Tast5DRcPHfHxmRT7cPYPpbQ3HTakYWgSUvlDlHoMc80LnkNpT0WA5alkjs1YsjNNzf-52wG1U/s320/DSCN1825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303952972775674018" border="0" /></a><div> </div><br /><div>And I've dropped some weight, which was a pleasant surprise. It was weird though, to suddenly be a size 8, struggling to keep pants up, after years of struggling at size 10, going vegetarian, working out every day, counting every calorie and nothing ever changing. Then bam! Down 10 pounds? How?? </div><br /><div> </div><div>People have asked, and I've thought about it, and I guess it happened slow over the past six months due to stuff like this:</div><div> </div><br />-stopped eating fast food altogether, except on very rare occasions<br /><div>-have much less soda on a weekly basis. Drink lots of tea instead.</div>-cut down on dairy to just cereal in the morning, yogurt in the afternoon, and a glass with dinner.<br /><div>-started eating a real breakfast, usually fibre-full cereal and juice, instead of Carnation Instant Breakfast</div>-starting making things like cookies and other sweets myself instead of packaged. Also stopped eating things like microwaveable dinners and Hamburger Helper and now make fresh dinners every night.<br /><div>-started listening to my body when I ate, and when I start feeling full, I stop. </div><div> </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Since I realized I lost the weight (which was Christmas, and on Jodi's Wii Fit in Canada. I was "WTF" for the whole day after that - sorry Bean!) I bought a pedometer and I'm trying to walk more - leave my office at the college twice or three times during the workday and just walk around for 10 minutes. I think it helps, though I don't know how the hell you can hit 10,000 steps a day, like they suggest. I hit 6,000 on an active day. 10,000 is balls.<br /><br />And hey, did you hear? I have a new little nephew. Mr. Jack Oliver McCallum.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_olVwUUOjhVOdHC_iYL3YnR5UrfyivuUQ-rN4TjICgB0JljYB-1ftQXsmYipBF3ovRFnv9j33-1V-GzT_yuzMb5LeuJ2mDMeRM-bSWPrhiyQddaf3-7tQIY4yUkKqLqLyrDCHe6vs0Q/s1600-h/baby+jack.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_olVwUUOjhVOdHC_iYL3YnR5UrfyivuUQ-rN4TjICgB0JljYB-1ftQXsmYipBF3ovRFnv9j33-1V-GzT_yuzMb5LeuJ2mDMeRM-bSWPrhiyQddaf3-7tQIY4yUkKqLqLyrDCHe6vs0Q/s320/baby+jack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303953818273200082" border="0" /></a><div> </div><br /><div> </div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-74409831720656763612009-01-08T16:17:00.000-08:002009-01-08T16:45:51.413-08:00Curvy Wisdom Teeth, Uses for Teabags, and Psychic MumSo I had that one random wisdom tooth out today. I was really freaked about it going in, and M had a good explanation for it: "That's the problem when you're never sick - being sick or having something wrong affects you more than it might others." Of course, hearing his horror stories (and the stories of countless others) didn't help with my fear.<br /><br />It wasn't so much the actual tooth removal that scared me, but the drugs. (The tooth was actually kinda neat on the X-ray - the top was normal and straight up, but the bottom long two points were really curved away. It looked like a jellyfish or something. I really wish I could put the X-ray on here, it was funny.) I learned that I was getting three different types of drugs for the surgery - local novocaine on the actual area, an IV of Valium (!) and then the anathestia gas. They told me it would knock me out. And the idea of losing an hour and not remembering anything was really freaky to me. Plus I had some paranoia about experiencing some side affect of being knocked out. It's being a bit wussy, I know, and it could be way worse, but I'm a chicken shit, I guess.<br /><br />Anyways, I go in, and they lay me down and put a heart monitor on my finger. Which doesn't help the nerves (but didmake me think, wow, just like on the medical drama shows). They put the gas mask on, and as I breathe, my whole body becomes more and more numb, which I hate and makes me increasingly nervous. I shut my eyes for a minute, open them, and poof - surgery's done. WEIRD.<br /><br />So it's done, and I was a bit fucked up earlier, but now I feel okay - it's just taking forever for the bleeding to stop entirely. So I've had lumps of gauze in my mouth all day (and now I'm popping frickin' VICODIN post-op, like Dr. House!) and for the past two hours, been following the suggested alternate of taking a tea bag, wetting it, and wadding it against the extraction point. Which is gross, because your spit mingles with the tea leaves, and you've got mouthfuls of light brown goober. I just took the last bag out, put in some fresh gauze, and I'm hoping it's stopped. We'll see.<br /><br />Otherwise, I've kept a steady icepack against my cheek in the hopes of staving off any future swelling. M was so nice to me, particularly when I came home and I was on the verge of fainting and really confused about all the instructions. He's always physically warm, and has big warm hands, and when you're upset, it's such a comfort to cuddle up. He even got lecture-y like my mum when it came to keeping to the schedule and eating, which was funny.<br /><br />Speaking of mum, again, funny, but earlier today M asked if I wanted to call her. I did, but 1) I had a big wad of gauze in my mouth and 2) I didn't figure she'd be home (she's the Exec. Director of a Community Foundation and works more regular hours now). I also feel a bit silly that I want to talk to my mum when I don't feel well when I'm pushing 30, but hey, I do.<br /><br />So who calls at 6:30pm? :-)<br /><br />Even if it was just for a few minutes, it was really good to hear her voice.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-51873807247915725632008-12-17T07:56:00.001-08:002008-12-17T14:05:23.985-08:00Polar Opposite CatsI realize a big blog post about your pets is kinda silly, and thus lands me in that self-indulgent, no one really gives a shit column, but eh. I was thinking about them last night, about how weird and opposite they are. And I need to post more on this blog anyways. <img src="file:///C:/Users/Heather%20Bryant/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK8FC1/2cats2.jpg" alt="" /><div> </div><div><br />So. These are my girls.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsKqDPmIliEIt7lbuIgTXsXjqYE37f-XFGfQHb88iJGvYK4Z_pphbM74o7v20_5R1uAMC_F0R1MDbM8XP_flU8EzUe6GzeUUYJFixq__3BqIojK0DynNGWd0n-ykE3vWNady1u75989E/s1600-h/2cats2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsKqDPmIliEIt7lbuIgTXsXjqYE37f-XFGfQHb88iJGvYK4Z_pphbM74o7v20_5R1uAMC_F0R1MDbM8XP_flU8EzUe6GzeUUYJFixq__3BqIojK0DynNGWd0n-ykE3vWNady1u75989E/s320/2cats2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280882021548299874" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div> </div><div>Kiko was born on Hallowe'en, and looked like an albino bat when we first got her. Skinny, ears full of mites, a little puffball that I put in my coat when we got her in February. I chose Kiko through the word kiku, which means "chrysanthemum" in Japanese.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN8rcK2TYyFZJSovaeLKZA8BSCEK9XcacvEe_z3bboGMXubvOKtZvaZNYWBfA9_spB_nvAe22e1d-PKU6jPRrua_SkEu7eF92QvqnuHh_3a8Met3jHShnChEJUHdPJAHcZm_aGoxET98/s1600-h/DCP_0316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN8rcK2TYyFZJSovaeLKZA8BSCEK9XcacvEe_z3bboGMXubvOKtZvaZNYWBfA9_spB_nvAe22e1d-PKU6jPRrua_SkEu7eF92QvqnuHh_3a8Met3jHShnChEJUHdPJAHcZm_aGoxET98/s320/DCP_0316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280878687035351602" border="0" /></a><div> </div><br /><div>She got prettier, though, thanks to some good care from yours truly. And even more so that she doesn't have that squished cat face of some white cats. Regular cat face, but bunny-soft long white fur. And she knows she's pretty- when you come into our house, she will daintily walk up to you, swishing her tail and her head high. One of her common nicknames is "pretty" and she responds to it. She also responds to "coochie" because she has the unpretty habit of laying on her back with her legs out on either side. </div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZooicnTgxiv3p3LjaPMVy9zBzsdLhC6ZrYGvzF6mAs6NN1EmePOAP0t7ejbV_hmCPas6M_SXRn8Xa1VQYYz14JXEwlAo_hOcZwWfNMtUYQkW6-xPlkJhZetOEtPICxmVaZ4GmrH9a-0/s1600-h/newkiko.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZooicnTgxiv3p3LjaPMVy9zBzsdLhC6ZrYGvzF6mAs6NN1EmePOAP0t7ejbV_hmCPas6M_SXRn8Xa1VQYYz14JXEwlAo_hOcZwWfNMtUYQkW6-xPlkJhZetOEtPICxmVaZ4GmrH9a-0/s320/newkiko.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280878912948358242" border="0" /></a><div>Kiko is the cat you admire for her prettiness, and you play with at close range because she doesn't use her claws. She and I have a lot of fun chasing each other through the house. She gets all hyper and bug eyed and darts around like a maniac. Trills and meows loudly if she thinks she's alone in the house, and when you call her, she'll come running for attention. </div><div> </div><br />Is the first to try and get into forbidden places, like the basement or outside, so you have to be careful with doors. Recently, I opened the back door with groceries and she slipped through the crack. Luckily it was raining so she stopped dead in her tracks and I was able to push her back inside. <div> </div><br /><div>Kiko is not the cat you can give a hard scratch to, or pick up (without her getting really annoyed), or snuggle all that often. She likes to be pet gently, and to settle next to you on the couch and occasionally on our lap. But she startles easily and you have to be all cool about it, or she'll leave. <br /><br />There are a lot of rules when dealing with this cat. </div><div> </div><div><br />Now, Tora. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBzLlKFDi9oSF1JW_MqXQkuYMU0PS65xT-cDYeYWqgVb0kTmJsK8PwGyWZFNLQ6eZRKtSzgH7br2JT4vVgvlPLBMHD9FUzY1GDdU8DZ7_uHCwld159M6TwIXEDJE_nReUL3VMSLGkMTc/s1600-h/tora.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBzLlKFDi9oSF1JW_MqXQkuYMU0PS65xT-cDYeYWqgVb0kTmJsK8PwGyWZFNLQ6eZRKtSzgH7br2JT4vVgvlPLBMHD9FUzY1GDdU8DZ7_uHCwld159M6TwIXEDJE_nReUL3VMSLGkMTc/s320/tora.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280879005834379442" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><br />Tora is six months younger than Kiko. We got her from a shelter because I was worried that Kiko would be lonely. Tora announced her existence by mewing at me from her cage and purring like crazy. When I picked her up, she scrambled up to my shoulder and snuggled into my neck, continuing to purr. We chose the name Tora because it means "tiger" in Japanese (notice a trend?). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3eFMqksNeJDGIso7bNtZNlQszgdRhxvPBEHG8WiPWqMre0mZkK53IUYy5d8byloRBJ__OJ2SbLpWva98ZKWkbfZcBmCz0DQD5NnjD6zuUEi3PQ-ap7jgUqhadIneP4mCt3KXNKOk1VY/s1600-h/9-22+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3eFMqksNeJDGIso7bNtZNlQszgdRhxvPBEHG8WiPWqMre0mZkK53IUYy5d8byloRBJ__OJ2SbLpWva98ZKWkbfZcBmCz0DQD5NnjD6zuUEi3PQ-ap7jgUqhadIneP4mCt3KXNKOk1VY/s320/9-22+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280882366072360018" border="0" /></a><div> </div><br /><div>Tora's purring is a wonder. When we took her to the vet for the first time, she wouldn't stop purring. The vet had to put rubbing alcohol under her nose to get her to stop so she could hear her heartbeat. She purrs with her entire body and all breath in her lungs, so it sounds like a jackhammer sometimes (PURR PURR PURR). Tora isn't as obviously pretty as Kiko, but she has cool markings and colors, and a kitten face that's very cute. She also has a scratchy kind of meow, or sometimes no sound comes out at all.<br /></div><div> </div><br />Tora is always happy, and always wants to be pet, touched, snuggled, etc. ALWAYS. This cat follows me around all day, and sleeps with me all night. She is a cat who aactually wants to be picked up, who will sleep on my head, who always wants to be on my lap. Her happiness comes through in purring, and also licking. Yes, I have a cat who licks like a dog. She will purr and lick my hand or face obsessively until I push her away.<br /><div> </div><br /><div>Tora is the cat you give lots of petting to, and the one you do long-distance playing with, because she will get excited and use her claws if you're not careful. Tora plays fetch with little sponge balls, and brings it back in her mouth. She also loves playing with a string, or with her "crunchy mouse" which is a hard yarn covered thing. Though we call her "pea-head" sometimes, she is a smart-ass cat. These are the words she knows: ball-y, string, crunchy mouse, bored, hungry, soft food, treats, the dot (and spelling out D-O-T), and there's probably others I can't remember. </div><div> </div><br />Tora is a chewer,though, and is currently eating my plants. She will chew through any kind of string, including blind strings unless we keep them up. She is also usually the instigator of very rough fights with Kiko, that we usually have to break up. She does scratch when she gets excited, and deeply at times - I have a scratch scar on my thigh that has yet to fade away. And she is a shameless beggar for people food, whining and crying for it and generally being a nuisance. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCRrShL011h70b4O5Lz8DQhUQzn1L19Akaw5UrUcgUBZYigyGyrSYLwpjmYiFN7gxttZP74SP8_cjCYDfZ09ygiKKml19RarDdUgHSoa5948_NfrOGAT2xo0llHl_4KR1EKGGtRNlxGs/s1600-h/Picture+068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCRrShL011h70b4O5Lz8DQhUQzn1L19Akaw5UrUcgUBZYigyGyrSYLwpjmYiFN7gxttZP74SP8_cjCYDfZ09ygiKKml19RarDdUgHSoa5948_NfrOGAT2xo0llHl_4KR1EKGGtRNlxGs/s320/Picture+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280882692259688994" border="0" /></a><br />But I love'em.<br /><br /><br /><div> </div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-76484368336782917922008-12-12T08:42:00.000-08:002008-12-12T08:53:05.470-08:00Weird Moments in TeachingA quick post before I go and start vacuuming up my flooded basement:<br /><br />Teaching college creative writing has been a frustrating experience for a variety of reasons, but we'll focus on one now, since there was just an interesting moment that happened.<br /><br />One thing I find frustrating is students who fuck around and, as cheesy at it sounds, don't live up to their potential. I had a student this semester who did that. And he is a great writer. For his young age (these are sophomores, mostly), he's got major potential. His writing is always interesting, always well done and complex and researched.<br /><br />But he barely participated, just doodled in his journal. Sometimes didn't hand in stuff. And when he did participate, it was often with a quiet, but challenging tone. I quickly got the impression that he wasn't impressed with the class, or me for that matter, that he might have felt "above" the introductory subject matter.<br /><br />Now I told these kids from the start: being a good writer does not mean an automatic A. I'm more interested in the effort put into it, the genuine effort to try and get better. You can be a great writer, I told them, but if you don't put in the work, you're not going to get a good grade.<br /><br />So today. The kids came in to hand in their final portfolios, no actual class. I said I would be in the classroom from 10:45 - 11:15 to receive portfolios, and if they were late, it was their own fault, and I wouldn't accept it after that time. They trickle in slowly, unless it's down to one last student to come in, our buddy here.<br /><br />11:10 - nothing.<br /><br />11:15 - nothing.<br /><br />I'm having this internal monologue at this point - I'm asking why do you do this? You're so talented, but you keep fucking around, and now I'm going to have to drop your grade by 15% because you're not here on time to hand in your portfolio, blah, blah.<br /><br />11:16 - pack up my stuff.<br /><br />11:17 - he walks in.<br /><br />I say "oh, you are lucky! I was just about to leave!" He says "yeah, I guess I am" with this offbeat, kind of light tone (very ususual).<br /><br />He hands in his portfolio, then sticks out his hand.<br /><br />"Good class," he says pleasantly.<br /><br />Shakes my hand. Then leaves.<br /><br />WTF.<br /><br />But weirdly enough, I find that one sentence to be a big compliment.<br /><br /><br />I might post more later, after this flooding thing is dealt with.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-48221247203681134282008-12-10T08:35:00.000-08:002008-12-10T08:53:48.996-08:00Moving Sloowww.....Finishing up page 5 of AE#2, did a thumbnail sketch of page 6 and will probably pencil it tonight. It's kinda slow going, but it's happening. Don't know if I can get it all done by January like I hoped- will have to see if I can get some extra work done when I go home to Canada for Christmas.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Am thinking that I need to step up with a strip or regular short comic on this blog, rather than just lame-duck entries updating on the second mini-comic. Maybe take the focus off of my life and get creative again. I have a bunch of stories I've put aside in the past few months - maybe I should do something with them. Or do something completely different.</div><div></div><br /><div>It's hard - I think the winter is slowing down both my brain. I don't want to do fucking anything when I get home from work. </div><br /><div></div><div>Too bad, because I like winter, and when we got a dusting of snow last weekend, it not only made me happy, but also homesick. Isn't that weird - the most stereotypical aspect of Canadian life is the thing that makes me all gushy? But for whatever reason, that cold, crisp smell does take me right back to Ontario, to Sauble, and the way the beach is in the dead of winter.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278204658210580082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45fC6B_B00Wxhr7G9a36kFAbalm3qUQZxf6aN8kCU6nRSRR6HJdQwZFOUBNZJzGVndGdWNEdLMpg90eYTlfiaqUWEviRDxa2zslsgXclR9NFQxW2wB7VawHnrP7OpkZDL0fFpGzzbYHY/s320/sauble.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>I actually love going back to Sauble in the winter. Sure, it's known as the ultimate summer beach location, but I love how much it's like a ghost town in the winter: pillars of snow, trees covered in white, and the sound of the water rolling in slowly. It's really beautiful. But an acquired taste, I think. Not for most people. Probably because you need to wear layers upon layers to do anything. But I like layers. So there you go. </div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-74369611425001933142008-12-03T19:32:00.000-08:002008-12-03T19:48:45.622-08:00Huzzah! Success!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ez1c1ub1vlsNix3ykQgcN1fnf8xcHhEUd2FNVreIpQgf5bOTjDU0DXxyo8ecxXNbhg0llEH_28uMbzzPO3adaPtP-Qlkue211n3Ox8oaZihfum7Y4OMlzT6QmpTb9gJLmUdEwju4D7I/s1600-h/success.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275776832833908978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ez1c1ub1vlsNix3ykQgcN1fnf8xcHhEUd2FNVreIpQgf5bOTjDU0DXxyo8ecxXNbhg0llEH_28uMbzzPO3adaPtP-Qlkue211n3Ox8oaZihfum7Y4OMlzT6QmpTb9gJLmUdEwju4D7I/s320/success.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>*dance*<br /><br />Am thrilled to death with the progress on page 4 - just had a *very* satisfying inking session, where everything was just working out perfect. After the struggle with 2 and 3, it's a welcome change, and actually boosts my confidence. Now to figure out what to put on all the bare walls of the scenes. Pictures? Plants? Graffiti?<br /><br />I also moved my drafting desk further away from my work desk, and feel like I got a bunch of new space to breathe. Why didn't I do this earlier? Dumb dumb.<br /><br />M and I just got our Christmas tree, and it's all fat and falling slowly and filling the house with piney smell - we'll decorate tomorrow, I hope. I have some ornaments from when I was a kid that my mum gave me, and also a silver bell from my Gram's tree from when she and my dad-dad (granddad) first were married. It's signed: "A & W, 1948." I love it.<br /><br />I'm surprisingly in the spirit this year, and I'm a notorious Scrooge - I'm the one who usually refuses to let M listen to any Christmas music until about two weeks before the holiday because it's just wrong. But now I'm the one humming. I like all the old versions of Christmas songs best - Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole. Probably because my parents played them, they just sound familiar. But these days, I'm mostly humming one of my favorite Christmas songs:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRm5qofw5vs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRm5qofw5vs</a></div><div> </div><div> </div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-75572528510042356362008-12-01T16:07:00.000-08:002008-12-01T16:35:16.775-08:00Pages, Inking Gods, and Waiting for my Turn to Kill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSEJrx82ED65hlLYNcMRrC0esSRzLiYJSkL5XVAFR8NhJn_0dSsrGlUCQRrVMrOJkUGNju7lNK9ELoFs3naqRDFH5LG8iFRjAOgxH985kI7S9UP3CdoZL6MW5ih0zpb7fNjEZR9rgbqo/s1600-h/DSCN1731.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274977880675052626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSEJrx82ED65hlLYNcMRrC0esSRzLiYJSkL5XVAFR8NhJn_0dSsrGlUCQRrVMrOJkUGNju7lNK9ELoFs3naqRDFH5LG8iFRjAOgxH985kI7S9UP3CdoZL6MW5ih0zpb7fNjEZR9rgbqo/s320/DSCN1731.JPG" border="0" /></a> The much-cursed Page 2 and 3 of AE #2. Yes, it's taken me a long time to get this done. Bad, bad Canook. Back to the grind. Trying to average 1 finished page every 2-3 days. Trying to juggle the jobs and errands.<br /><br /><br />Something I notice as I look at the above picture (again, no scanner, so digital photo it is) is that my bodies are stilted. That is, there's a stiffness I know I have to work on. I know it'll come with more practice - I should probably go back to AS220 for more figure drawing classes. And take some time and just go sketch people in a public place. I think it'll also come with the increased comfort I get with inking with a brush.<br /><br /><br />I am in awe of those comic artists who are doing what I do with an inkwell and brush, but are so masterful and smooth and confident with their lines. Again, I'm sure that it comes with years and years of practice, but when you're hunched over your art desk, brush in hand, that inadvertant quiver causing a slightly wiggly line as you stroke down, well, I can't even image inking like Terry Moore of Strangers in Paradise, for example.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274983813657789970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdsGSu8JmyAOXR0wkNxIp8IE2SL7Z2H5XI20qKMclSWPeWGaQNpFbnUEwuIAXtndXV7ukxFwNre6vcSZk_vTSeIj2tAtDH5Rbss6MLYnxBnNET-DgEa2SAB5VXUw4rgsB1AWS39Uo98w/s400/F&K-bed.jpg" border="0" /><br />Now he's a guy that I study as an inker. The way he has extreme detail, varied lines thick and thin to create three-dimensional, realistic characters (realism being the key and drawing real women what he's known for) His use of shadows and full on black to achieve a fully balanced page, the way he illustrates hair and cloth - total inspiration. I doubt I'll ever get to that level, but it's worth trying to learn.<br /><br /><br />Beyond the pages, planning my trip home to Canada to see my family and friends, preparing to sing with my chorus in a Christmas concert (with lots of singing about Jesus - very strange for a non-religious person like me - I just try to enjoy the singing) getting into playing Scrabble and Scramble, and right now, enviously waiting for my turn to play Ninja Gaiden II (so gross, so hard, but so fun) and making a cup of fresh Red Rose black tea, the stuff I grew up on and one thing I am truly thankful for finding here in Rhode Island.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274982863947357234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTbGK1cXcRs0I2int87ZWYObFpAbugrZob1owWCuqzMdJTBy8x1YKc-njrfEgnfFpxJdI6DeuVzOuZ2Xrc45cbqXoMJsIA46a3_ZIgPru8QWkwIB6VYCEFowSnpW-OlvbLk3Q9IvXrFo/s320/red+rose.jpg" border="0" />Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-64429666380666716242008-11-23T16:25:00.000-08:002008-11-24T08:18:18.384-08:00Mistakes and MosquesI've had a ton of trouble with page 2 of AE#2, so much so it's taken me a bloody *week* to finish it. I don't know what happened, but I made so many mistakes half of the page is covered in white-out. You never hear about comic artists making tons of mistakes like this. Makes me feel inadequate, really, even though it's only human. And I'm still learning. I just tossed the page aside for now, and I'll go back to it later. Onto page 3, and hopefully some more steady work so I can finish this in January.<br /><br />Why? Well, Jodi of Julie Light and Rottin Rotti here on Blogspot and I are looking to join forces in 2009. She's still up in Canada, I'm here in the States, and we're going to cross-promote each other under the same business name. There's a con she's going to in February, and I really want to have both American, Eh #1 and #2 done so I can give her both to sell. Plus, it's a good goal to have - have a new book ready for each season.<br /><br />Random stuff. Ever think of how popular culture affects what you say and how you say it? Example: was watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding last night. Realized that not only do I call a bundt cake a "bu-bonk cake", but refer to boring people as "toast people." It's like a code between M and I when we meet someone who's just as dry and crusty as the term suggests.<br /><br />Am currently at work, eating some really delicious rice and wraps and baklava from the Muslim club here at the college. They had a guest speaker, an imam I think (head of mosque), and food for donations. They have brochures and stuff they're trying to get people to read - I don't know how receptive people here will be. I told the girls to put them on the cafeteria tables, that way it's there if people are curious.<br /><br />I know it's a bit of an off topic, but I always thought Islam was a lovely religion. I studied it in college, and went on a class trip to the local mosque. Wore the headscarf, long sleeves, long shirt, and participated in the Friday prayers. I gotta say, I am not a religious person, though I love to study religion, but I can't deny that there wasn't something uplifting to that ceremony. Can't quite describe what. Maybe I'll do a comic about it sometime.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-71063242681012454342008-11-17T18:57:00.000-08:002008-11-17T19:27:46.942-08:00American, Eh #2 In the Works<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiby4X7v2Ix12BpdG-AAAJf8gIA-Z24H4Qy9xZI6ulZmJxp963dqiFuu8WTtj_XajQqSnzOyriBWfHnOIAo316x_YRdPrtYMOBx7Y65LdaifxppeEemnzIyehUpcXMXTs6CXANgnb9zG-w/s1600-h/DSCN1718.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269829915385509858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiby4X7v2Ix12BpdG-AAAJf8gIA-Z24H4Qy9xZI6ulZmJxp963dqiFuu8WTtj_XajQqSnzOyriBWfHnOIAo316x_YRdPrtYMOBx7Y65LdaifxppeEemnzIyehUpcXMXTs6CXANgnb9zG-w/s320/DSCN1718.JPG" border="0" /></a>Decided to finally get going and started the second part of American, Eh? over the weekend. Can't scan the page (too big), so just a photo. <div><br /><div></div><div>Not sure about what the cover is going to be yet - with the first one, I took a real photo from the events that took place in #1 and that was the cover (the balloon-headed shot - yes it exists, and no you can't see it). </div><br /><div></div><div>With #2, which details the move from Windsor, Ontario, to Quincy, Massachusetts, it's a little harder, because I really don't have much from that time period. I'm mostly relying on memory. I'm thinking about asking some friends if they have any pictures from then. I mean, sure, I can make something up, but it'd be cool to have a real photo reference for each cover of this comic. </div><br /><div></div><div>So I inked the first page of #2 tonight and something interesting happened. For #1, I worked with thick, heavy lines, and in keeping with the theme, I started the first page of #2 in the same way. Then I got to the last panel, and as I was inking it with one of my new brushes, it came out differently. Finer, thiner lines, different look. And it looked good.</div><br /><div></div><div>So I'm having a bit of a connundrum. Do I try to keep going with this finer, more detailed approach? Or keep with the look of #1 and the thicker lines? It's not a huge difference, I know.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Beyond the comic, I've been given an interview for a grant writing job for the Newport International Film Festival..... which is very ironic, because four years ago, I was running the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Newport was the big rival. We shall see. </div></div><p></p>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-39617742831923804772008-11-09T18:07:00.001-08:002008-11-09T18:11:17.757-08:00Six Pack - "Infamous Ouches"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil_5gV6-cQrlaLjHzQiLLDYNZbi2RZMmTWjl51H3d5qRplr3Cr_bc7nqwC3YClxQ9Jh-MO_py44dpTFoYxr5M6-EJHu2lkibMaE3eKTIGGOhh4i4olHA8qmRYFhJmoKnzZd8mrKKMu3w/s1600-h/sixpack+-+injuries"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266845291311553330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 337px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil_5gV6-cQrlaLjHzQiLLDYNZbi2RZMmTWjl51H3d5qRplr3Cr_bc7nqwC3YClxQ9Jh-MO_py44dpTFoYxr5M6-EJHu2lkibMaE3eKTIGGOhh4i4olHA8qmRYFhJmoKnzZd8mrKKMu3w/s400/sixpack+-+injuries" border="0" /></a> <div>Yes, renaming this series "Six-Pack". Will maybe go into detail with one or more at a later date. </div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-76176560530194087532008-11-03T18:26:00.000-08:002008-11-09T18:11:43.471-08:00Six Pack- "Hypercolor" - Page 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCOAiSzSINKRUS0UwPclT3K64RpynyG2q3P9213VJZTtKLfCCDydT5YyFe2ByYbxV2GxM53XwSU4qeSbthZNOFjS72hVZ2oyHUobvT7F79URq0E0nW24EnmOW6KoLz-nGVtLeK6z2oMY/s1600-h/page3bigkids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264627132177843010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCOAiSzSINKRUS0UwPclT3K64RpynyG2q3P9213VJZTtKLfCCDydT5YyFe2ByYbxV2GxM53XwSU4qeSbthZNOFjS72hVZ2oyHUobvT7F79URq0E0nW24EnmOW6KoLz-nGVtLeK6z2oMY/s400/page3bigkids.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last page was a little delayed due to going back to Canada for my big brother's wedding, but first Big Kids story: done!<br /><br />A note: Kraft Dinner is Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. In Canada, it reads Kraft Dinner first on the box, so lots of people call it that, including my family. I still call it Kraft Dinner here in the States.<br /><br />Another note: I didn't put it in, but I was so squicked out by the barf, that I cleaned it up with a bowl and spoon, sulking the whole time. It started a long tradition of being thrown up on by babies throughout the years, to the point now that I could care less.<br /><br />Next story, I think: how my brother Mac (seen above) caused all of my scars.<br /><br />And actual progress on American, Eh? #2.</div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-45653632778758672182008-10-27T18:28:00.000-07:002008-11-09T18:12:02.634-08:00Six Pack - "Hypercolor" - Page 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIsdAd54LI4NlCKNEnRQWiEuM4iAgkYppTJ82DZQk2w9Z_IiilG6nDyWT5CpcfkxmRDXt10zq1tLfz3L4DAWPYzkBxMi8NAGx03-QG5bALWl0WOh8_F4Ki5UPSDaaxbR2OhuejbWeCuE/s1600-h/page2bigkids2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262013388331374370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIsdAd54LI4NlCKNEnRQWiEuM4iAgkYppTJ82DZQk2w9Z_IiilG6nDyWT5CpcfkxmRDXt10zq1tLfz3L4DAWPYzkBxMi8NAGx03-QG5bALWl0WOh8_F4Ki5UPSDaaxbR2OhuejbWeCuE/s400/page2bigkids2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-0oGwS0Ej8FSJ6K75uH7yOnvkIDnZA5fQyp7MQn087J2-_XJ8inQJwW5g10VCoaTEDdWIsqEUe7HDEdWEBgF0W_v46eGeHY876YEGx907_aZYOrh3EovWNzRB0twDYSp5-4SLnIbmsU/s1600-h/page2bigkids.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-43670914376926305962008-10-24T12:45:00.000-07:002008-11-09T18:12:26.362-08:00Six Pack - "Hypercolor" - Page 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMNyd0E8Xl1qQkaaK8f5STkqluCU4fomlrFbatPNMTiDukrgIf0tAq9UhwAJb5Z9JZ0xoUHVDlZ2YpHXpb6oC7YdIe6JnVc5NfZ-0SpEsU0Sql2gQCOtSztdWQSLIGtnmUDTf7JgvjQo/s1600-h/page1bigkids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260821017092265874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMNyd0E8Xl1qQkaaK8f5STkqluCU4fomlrFbatPNMTiDukrgIf0tAq9UhwAJb5Z9JZ0xoUHVDlZ2YpHXpb6oC7YdIe6JnVc5NfZ-0SpEsU0Sql2gQCOtSztdWQSLIGtnmUDTf7JgvjQo/s400/page1bigkids.jpg" border="0" /></a> Page 1 of the first tentatively titled "Big Kids" story (other suggestions welcome - I'm not totally sold on the title.) Basically, the first of a couple of mini-stories, where I tell some infamous stories from my family history, and from growing up with my five siblings.<br /><br />Trying to let go of control here. So no rulers, even though it was assaulting my perfectionism that the lines got wavy in places. And just trying to use the brush and ink and go slow, and trust that I know my anatomy. And have a little fun with it.<br /><br />Next page will be finished over the weekend - I try to work at least one hour a day, so it takes a while. I think just keeping at it is a good start, though. <div></div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-35338007556096758452008-10-20T07:44:00.000-07:002008-11-09T18:13:06.448-08:00SPX and Big KidsIt's been a few weeks now since SPX, and I didn't write about it like I said I would, so I'm doing that now whilst I'm sleepy and alone in my coffin-office.<br /><br />I don't know if I can emphasize enough how much that convention changed my opinions, inspired me, and really made me feel like I found a community I fit into. Artistic, slightly-to-full nerdy, some shy, some friendly, most with a weird sense of humor, just trying to get their stuff out and make some contacts - how is that not me? I wish I could hang out with those people all the time.<br />Those conversations I had with certain artists (as listed in a below blog entry) really made me come out of my shell and try and present myself and my stuff with a bit more confidence. It was rad.<br /><br />I'd never actually been to a comic convention before, so to have two full days of slowly persuing the tables, the artwork, and going to panels that focused specifically on art and the independant comic scene was awesome. I have to say that the panels weren't as good as I was hoping - the topics were kick-ass, like a panel on Small Press Publishing, a Center for Cartoon Studies workshop, and Q&As with people like Bryan Lee O'Malley of Scott Pilgrim. But I found that despite the topics, most of the people on the panel, regardless of their great qualifications to be on said panel, really had trouble speaking. That is, they were quiet, vague, didn't really answer the questions all the time, and generally gave off the impression that they'd rather be somewhere else. Which was disappointing, for the most part - I was hungry for information and it came in small moments. Though I did get some good advice here and there.<br /><br />Like on the Small Press panel: if I'm going to do this, I have to get more web-savvy. Put up sample pages and free previews. Cross-promote on other sites. Maintain the blog and have the ability for people to order things online. And promote the shit out of my stuff. I need more output, so I have a variety of things to show people (and publishers) rather than just one dinky book. There was some talk on how to sell on Amazon, how much ISBN numbers were, and how getting reviews from people in the community for back-cover quotes are key (must look into that). Going to lots of shows, trying to sell in lots of shops, just getting it out there is key. One guy said it took five years for his small press to accumulate enough of a backlist to really make a profit in selling.<br /><br />I learned a lot from just going around the tables too. Everyone, it seemed, in addition to their books, had some kind of other promotional material that was really cheap. Buttons, stickers, T-shirts, original art. One girl had scones for sale with her books. There was one guy selling teeny comics for a penny (and they were actually some of the best comics I'd read!).<br /><br />And probably the comic guy who had the most influence on my attitude was James Kochalka of American Elf (<a href="http://www.americanelf.com/">http://www.americanelf.com/</a>). Now James is a guy who M and I have been reading online for years and years, and so we were a little star-struck when we first went into the convention, and there in a hot pink T-shirt is James to the right. I was still wicked shy, so I didn't say anything when we both the newest book from him. But I went back later and looked at his mini-art, and had a bit of a conversation (slightly surreal to talk to someone that you feel like you know, but clearly you don't). He was very nice, if a little shy seeming (like me, I guess).<br /><br />In his Q&A panel, James said something that made everyone around, both Pas and Bean, give me elbows in the side. He said: "The best thing is to not care if your art is good or bad. You have to get to the level of confidence where it doesn't matter to you, you're just doing it." He also said "People come up and give me their mini-comics all shy and saying it sucks - but if you don't think that you're awesome, who will?"<br /><br />Point taken, James.<br /><br />So while working out American, Eh? #2 in my head, I've taken on another little project.<br /><br />I thought, for a change, it'd be cool to do some really mini comics - 4 pages or so. As you can tell, I was really inspired by SPX, and got all these ideas of mini-comics I could do, and to do some really small stories while I'm plotting out and drawing AE #2 would be fun.<br /><br />So I've sketched out a four page comic, and it might be the first of several stories about growing up with my brothers and sister (6 of us in total); I'm tentatively calling it "Big Kids."<br /><br />More cartoony, less detail than AE, and hopefully funny. This first one is about an infamously gross event between my brother Jon and I. I will post it when it's done.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-25674273950549282242008-10-13T16:11:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:18:28.804-07:00In Between ProjectsI haven't done much of anything in about a week and a half, between this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and my family swooping in to stay at my little house, and preparing and attending SPX (which, now that the family is gone, I'll actually write about in more detail this week).<br /><br />I got good responses on American, Eh? #1 at the SPX, as well as from family and friends, which is cool. Seems that most people want to know what happens next. So I guess I'd better figure out #2. I'll also be putting up scans of the first few pages of #1, I think, for people who are curious as to what the hell I'm talking about.<br /><br />In the meantime, a bit of art. This was for my mum and her belated birthday - we went to Japan about four years ago together. In preparing this, I had a thought for AE #2 and keeping it affordable.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256781411729607682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBEp0LWmzQwozbUfm5CaKX6QjXGvH94fBcFbFd-12YnumWo2cTzxxGW_55FtPxYbHxOWrqUyliH_XRrnvcPbah7skWKFktdeXlbfxdkkMXlt84TQg4g5EyGjH3ycG8AaLlqBb6dkqPhA/s400/momandgirls.jpg" border="0" /><br />I went to Kinkos with the original art for the picture above - sized 11 x 14. I had the girl at Kinkos do two copies for me and reduce the image to 8 x 11- one on regular laser printer paper, and one on color cover copy paper (thicker and sturdier). On the second, I had her darken the copy, which ended up looking really good (and was the one I gave my mum). Cost of both: $2.<br /><br />It gave me an idea. To scan the 14 pages of part for AE#1, it cost $45, and that was with a discount - should have been $60 or so. And that's without the cost of printing. The next AE will probably be longer, and therefore more expensive.<br /><br />What if I took the AE art (also 11X14) and instead of scanning it, had the Kinkos people merely make sturdy color cover copies, the images reduced to 8 x 11. Then, I scan the reduced images myself on my little scanner at home, to create the JPGs needed to lay out the comic for printing? That would cost me maybe $20, and as long as I could scan them at a high enough resolution..... Hmm.....Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-88953224079464510722008-10-08T17:29:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:18:59.862-07:00I Thought Boys Didn't Like To Talk on the PhoneJust got off the phone with my little brother Jon, who turns 19 today. I'm quite proud of him. He's the fifth of the six kids, has been living on his own for a while with his girlfriend, and is doing really well. Sounding very rational and grown up lately - was excited that he got a new toaster for his birthday!<br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyways, I just got his new number from my mum, and don't you know he just yapped my ear off for 40 minutes. Told me all about work, his apartment, his girlfriend, some family drama, and how he was planning to surprise me for Thanksgiving this weekend, but probably can't do to work (what a sweetie - I would die if he showed up). I didn't say much - I just listened and let him go. Then he asks for my number and says he's going to start calling me every week. </div><br /><div></div><div>Is this normal for a 19-year-old guy, to want to talk to his 29-year-old sister like this?? </div><br /><div></div><div>Funny stuff. I don't necessarily believe he'll actually call weekly, but just the fact that he said that made me a little mushy. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Actually, makes me think about doing a mini-comic with stories about my brothers and sister. I have a good one about Jon as a baby throwing up on me.....</div><br /><div></div><div>So there's Jon. Last time I talked to my youngest brother Tom (17) he kept me on the phone for a good hour, same dynamic - he did most of the talking, I listened. Then a few weeks ago, I talk to my oldest brother Mac (32) and *he* gushes forth for a good hour about his upcoming wedding and job!</div><div></div><br /><div>It's only something I've noticed recently, but what's with the boys lately? Everyone wants to spill their guts, it seems. </div><div></div><div>(All okay by me though. My brothers are cute.)</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254949557887259890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv12Ssq8DqY9x_9soyUq2BbV1zFNKsvwkU-cDQlSx9Dp4W1uYIW11fhyphenhyphenYdMOE5RwLkWihNGkmSH9yl17VXTGGSOCAF9fsnRqOo6cDzi3exneTZHvAoaMFX567bHK8Pi_USxMoaB2tTQE0/s320/boy+phone.jpg" border="0" /></div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-41342332036845572032008-10-07T07:40:00.001-07:002008-10-20T08:19:20.938-07:00SPX - Just a TasteSome pictures to come when I get them from Pas, but in the meantime:<br /><br />Weekend was so good. Very educational too. And the best people I met:<br /><br />Ben Towle (Midnight Sun - <a href="http://www.benzilla.com/">http://www.benzilla.com/</a>) - so nice! And spoke to me for a good ten minutes about art, was very patient when I asked him questions about his tools and scanners.<br /><br />Mike Dawson (Freddie and Me - <a href="http://mikedawsoncomic.livejournal.com/">http://mikedawsoncomic.livejournal.com/</a>) - This was early on Saturday, and I was still stiff with fear at handing out my comic. He was really encouraging and told me to get it out there, and not worry about it.<br /><br />Alex Robinson (Tricked, Box Office Poison, Too Cool to Be Forgotten, etc. - <a href="http://www.comicbookalex.com/">http://www.comicbookalex.com/</a>) Talk about being intimidated! I'm a huge fan - M and I have every one of his books, and he's one of the big guys exhibiting at the SPX. But the nicest guy! Really friendly and unassuming, chatted to M and I as he signed our book. We forgot to ask him what he was working on next.<br /><br />All in all, I handed out about 40 of my comics to various people. And I got really good feedback overall! They seemed psyched to get it, which was cool.<br /><br />It's a good start, and now I know I have to keep at this shit, and get American, Eh? No.2 figured out. Have ideas for other mini comics as well.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-85698919540672657592008-10-02T08:27:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:19:43.336-07:00SPX This Weekend!Not only am I going to my first real comic convention...<br /><br />Not only is it specifically geared towards independant and small press comics, which is unspeakably awesome....<br /><br />Not only do I actually have a mini comic of my own to bring....<br /><br />But it's a road trip with the husband I love, friend that makes me laugh, and best friend from Canada, to a place I've never been before, through states I haven't driven through before.<br /><br />What's better than that??<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252579226905904290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG03G7YHDiN-1i3PBAUaGWueeslD1KxbCcgovTDJH8u7TAOBqWrgC8kGGq_a9huxn5G93FZl8xfM8AQVn2ONrI98wVS8JGmI7kaToB0qbLbQokQAjqD-PcseXsgA5ZaeTYyPak7s8zyA8/s320/woot.jpg" border="0" />Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-62823582588841376702008-09-29T08:14:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:19:57.042-07:00How to Make a ComicWhen you make the decision to do a comic, you don't think much past the actual sitting down and doing the artwork. Sure, that part is tough and taxing, but what about when the art's done? What if you want a little more than just photocopies en masse ? How do you get your baby into some semblance of print form?<br /><br />M, our friend Pas, my best friend Bean and I are going to the Small Press Expo on Friday. A few weeks ago, when I was slogging through the first few pages of the comic, M suggested that I try to have it printed in time to bring it to SPX.<br /><br />Until then, I was just doing it because I always wanted to - I wanted to get better at my art, and fulfil one of my little dreams of actually completing a comic. When M suggested it, I realized that I have an interesting opportunity to get to know the indie industry better, and maybe share a bit of what I've done. Isn't that why I'm going? Because I adore independant comics, and want to see the makers and shakers? Maybe, in a small way, I can be a part of that. And maybe I can go to some of the bookstores that support local work and sell a few..... maybe.<br /><br />So I've been knocking myself out over the past week and a half, burning through page after page, and I managed to get them all done by Friday the 26th - one week before the SPX.<br />First step - go to Kinkos in Providence and scan the pages. I venture out in the rain on Saturday morning, thinking that I'll drop them off, they'll scan them in an hour or so, and it'll cost maybe $15-20.<br /><br />Costs $45 to scan 14 pages and put them on a disc! Are you kidding me? And that was with a $20 discount that the punky cashier girl gave me, I think, because she thought I was a student. Wearing my favorite goofy T-shirt probably encouraged that thought.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251475710517177074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sUUJrzU5cVhe9aSRLpoo7optAsgNq7dmcuFBxY2TcJon0YnRDwga0L7n2HjvzOL_TM9p_FczyzlzUz0NsYhwtmsmUzRyfKgPZDmsTEynrV_3brqXWZrNnt3IQiz_8nZ3IJvZFPVVGgw/s320/illinoise.jpg" border="0" /> And I got to Kinkos at 11am, and they said come back at 4pm. I begged them to get it done earlier, and they said 2pm. So I drive home, slog around for a bit, make a rum cake for my friend Net's birthday, and then drive back to pick them up. Bleah.<br /><br />So they're scanned. But then, M and I open up the images at home, and you can see all the lines from my non-photo blue pencil marks, which I thought weren't supposed to show up. That's why it's non-photo blue, isn't it? But there they are, I can see them, even though M says I'm being crazy. So I spend some hours going through and carefully erasing all the little lines I can find, until my wrist is killing me. Sleep.<br /><br />Next day: Sunday. We go to our friends Net and Fonz's house with the scrubbed files, ready for layout. They're awesome graphic designers, and they very, very kindly offered to lay the comic out for printing on their weekend. I humbly give them rum cake and my babysitting services as payment, because lord knows I couldn't afford them. (Their kid is adorable and the easiest kid I've ever babysit in my sea of previous childcare, so it's more than a pleasure).<br /><br />So Fonz (nicknamed so as he does look like Henry Winkler) opens the files I've edited, and I can see all these little stupid lines that I missed in my fatigue. But at this point, I just push it down and let it go (and once again, M gets annoyed with me because I'm acting crazy).<br /><br />Fonz and Net spend 2-3 hours laying out everything, making dummy copies, and talking to the third member of this team effort: my father-in-law. Father-in-law is a print broker, meaning he arranges for businesses to have their documents/reports/etc. printed. So while my friends lay it out, M's dad gives them specifics of what he needs, and arranges to have it printed on the press and ready by Thursday. At the moment, I haven't been quoted a cost, so although I'm not counting on it, I may not have to pay for the printing.<br /><br />(Makes you wonder, doesn't it - I'm awfully lucky to have these people around that just happen to be able to help with this project of mine)<br /><br />Everything gets done, laid out beautiful in a mini-comic layout. Which I wasn't necessarily thinking of during the art process. I was thinking of a full-size comic. But then it was suggested that a small comic would be cool too. And when it was laid out, and sample copies were printed, I liked it. The text is small, but still legible. So we're doing that.<br /><br />M is nice enough to drive to his father's house to drop off the disk with the completed comic on it. And now it's just a matter of waiting. We're leaving Friday at around 3pm, so we're crossing our fingers it can be done in time.<br /><br />And last night, I just vegged out and watched a chick flick, then read my book in bed. Awesome to just do nothing. It won't last though; I'm thinking of waiting a week to start American, Eh? No.2, and this week doing some ink and brush illustrations of some of my Japan pictures.<br /><br /><br />And I think some strategy is in order when I start No. 2:<br /><br />-Barely press down on the blue non-photo pencil, because scanners pick up everything<br />-make sure I have a spare $50 so I can scan my pages<br />-leave some good time to go through and edit every page, and indulge my perfectionism to its fullest<br />-kiss my friends' asses so they'll help me with layout next time, along with my father-in-law ( :-).Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-68100129196119803282008-09-26T15:45:00.000-07:002008-09-26T15:46:09.099-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BdpQ_vgIj-eXeaavV0mO3gZnQVS3sWl-oAs_iGKmn3lcr7n6LgYPiEpL741eFRVhFF_Enj6I29ZkUDid1A3bhBi_XpKpbdjIs1cgkdEU4i345C_uW6pF5yjy9pEc5FkhVJDymds2yvk/s1600-h/DSCN1581.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250465067493182210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BdpQ_vgIj-eXeaavV0mO3gZnQVS3sWl-oAs_iGKmn3lcr7n6LgYPiEpL741eFRVhFF_Enj6I29ZkUDid1A3bhBi_XpKpbdjIs1cgkdEU4i345C_uW6pF5yjy9pEc5FkhVJDymds2yvk/s400/DSCN1581.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-41850366868134042372008-09-17T15:14:00.001-07:002008-09-17T15:16:44.153-07:00Pink MoonListening to the song, thought of one of my all-time favorite commercials.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOW9fLT9eY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOW9fLT9eY</a><br /><br />It's one of my favorite things to do with M.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8039517954134507523.post-43906036428856235722008-09-16T06:40:00.000-07:002008-09-16T07:36:39.128-07:00Singin' Once AgainBecause I'm not busy enough already with three jobs, swimming and working out, and working on the comic book, I joined a community chorus last week.<br /><br /><div><div></div><div></div><div>I love to sing. I sing a lot: in the car, doing chores, etc. Yes, I am one of those people belting out songs from musicals while swishing around a broom. My house has nice acoustics.</div><br /><div></div><div>My family is very musical. One of my fondest memories of my gram is sitting on her lap in her creaky rocking chair, as she sang church hymns in her high soprano voice in time to the squeaks. At my wedding, my mum and six aunts got up and sang "Mary Mac" by Great Big Sea. My uncle and cousins sang and played a traditional Scottish song too. My cousin Jessie is in school to be an opera singer (and she's amazing!). Other cousin was in a rock band for years. Sister is also in choirs and musicals. A bunch of family members play musical instruments... you get the picture. </div><br /><div></div><div>I was in the church choir when I was a kid, and the school choir. Always in the Christmas pageants as an angel (very true to life).</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246625820828342402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUKQXTC0S0OQ6Xk6F-6DePl6ordm-yBGbvdPchLes3j-6PbINEIozo_s0nyTm_5XIjwzXKOLjJRjqrlKU-kuoYMtghl5j_CTIFCFuEqMnN93FIzMGFQgFENI21WvU_x5OgGsyy1Yvk6M/s320/KidsChoir.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>When I was in high school, I started trying out for the musicals they held. Almost every year, the high school production was a musical, and pretty detailed at that. So I tried out for Wizard of Oz, but wasn't taken in, probably because I was shaking like a leaf during auditions (I was only in grade 9).</div><br /><div></div><div>But then I was in this (not lead, supporting):<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246618039045017986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GjY7Dgvl0vtL-wZiC-lz278lVFtJ1LcXATH0J0DFx_5UDSE38gxJDhIubOMpPC3XP6O_UqO1maiSWvh1rRosI_23oTyaAjsUbtg9wUym_Uw9J7-Q3gXL3ElE5m4upq_V4i2CcR00mLk/s320/gypsyVhs.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><p></p><p>And next year, I went old and evil in this:</p><div><br /></div><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246618537033491538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgpfurRzNhtKHo9yzd6FQoMciaqbRZ5eHHrDttUsDRyFFybZ-RJH84Pik6mWwXTEI-vXbjAUqL24tYPnDt-nBPQo17edQep7-XEzgu2rsuuV3Pk0ss-l04j_fn3rXXClIqy1uY46f8xg/s320/dear+world.jpg" border="0" />Really, two of the best times I had in my life was being involved in these two plays from start to finish. I loved to sing, but also to sing with everyone else, and be involved with the stage design, costumes, etc.<br /><br /><p>I also got involved in the high school choir, and joined a four-person acapella group. We sang jazz and barbershop songs in the school hallways at the end of the day. I sang lead on "The Java Jive":</p><p>"Slip me a slug from that wonderful mug</p><p>and I'll cut a rug that's snug in a jug</p><p>Drop your nickel in my pot, Joe</p><p>Taking it slow</p><p>Waiter, water, perculator...."</p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p>Who sings that in high school?? Loved it.<br /></p><br /><p></p><p>Anyways, cut to now. I joined the Cumberland Lincoln Community Chorus last week. It's a very church community-feeling place, which is kind of comfortable. It's not religious, but it's just that sense of community, that friendliness. If I miss any thing about church, it is that atmosphere.</p><p>The director of the chorus is this fabulous instructor who's so engaging and knows exactly how to guide each group and how to fix problems. Sitting for two hours singing under his direction isn't boring in the least. It's mostly older people, there's a few around my age, but mostly middle aged and older. But I'm okay with that, if anything, more comfortable with that population than my own.</p><p>It's September and we're learning about 12 Christmas songs, to perform over the season! Including one of my favorites: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246625356713441570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2RnPrJelj_vhO8vwSAWUYBUCM7ysLln4HU86jG_F-S4fpoVI3sLz3rcuNroo09bBYbS8r55vr5TWWnsUYNdgrJTppZSLaqscui1zN6fwYarshGp-dMcr8jjG6ATDgsWcYm3wBALYszE/s320/white+christmas.jpg" border="0" /></p>So come and see me be one of many open-mouthed people in choir white and black when the holiday starts. I'll be having a good time.Heather Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12967286848889788250noreply@blogger.com4