Comic Debuting at TCAF 2022 - A Girl Walks Into the Woods!

 As mentioned on my previous post, I have been in a marathon race to finish off my new comic in time for TCAF (Toronto Comic Arts Festival) 2022.

I'm happy to say I got everything in just under the wire. All final files are at the printer (big props to fellow cartoonist Jacqueline Demendeev who did all the production for me and has been an my absolute hero)! I'm very happy with the outcome. Here's all of the info!

A Girl Walks Into the Woods

A comic adaptation of poet Cornelia Hoogland's book "Woods Wolf Girl". Little Red Riding Hood like you've never encountered her before. A contemporary re-telling of the age old fairy tale.

26 pages (digest-size - 8.5 x 5.5). Black and white with two tone colours - grey and red. Saddle stitched, cardstock cover. Self-published. 

Limited Prints Available

I'll also have a couple of limited edition prints from pages of the book available.

Apart from that I'll have a few other odds and ends at my table. Be sure to say hi!

Diana Tamblyn
Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2022 (TCAF)
June 18 & 19, 2022
Toronto Reference Library
I'm on the 2nd floor, table #236!

If you won't be able to attend the show, the book will also be available for purchase through the TCAF Digital Marketplace (I'll post the link once it's available).

Moderating a Panel with Seth

On top of this, I'll be moderating a panel on Seth, one of Canada's best cartoonists on Saturday!

Seth Spotlight: The Art of Multimedia
Saturday, July 18, 2022, 10:00 AM
Toronto Reference Library, Learning Center 1 

One of Canada’s preeminent cartoonists, Seth discusses his career trajectory and latest work with fellow cartoonist and curator Diana Tamblyn. 

This panel takes a deep dive into Seth’s work and contributions to the comics medium from his early autobiographical confessional comics, the launch of Palookaville, original graphic novel work (Wimbledon Green, It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken), to his diverse array of design work including model building, anthology and collection designs (Peanuts, Elephant and the Projector), and multiform works (Omnis Temporalis).

Creating Artwork During the Pandemic and the Race to TCAF 2022

Men in Suits

It's been awhile since my last post! I have been working for years on a very large project about Canadian scientist Gerald Bull. I had been on a section of the story that is all men in suits in  the 1950s and 1960s in offices. This is a big challenge to present in a visually interesting way, and I found myself hitting big stumbling blocks here.

To help get me through it and to provide me with some variety, I started another project - a comic adaptation of poet Cornelia Hoogland's stunning book - Woods Wolf Girl. These visuals were organic forest scenes featuring a female protagonist - Little Red Riding Hood. It was a huge artistic release for me.

The Pandemic

Then during the pandemic, I hit a wall. I was unable to do anything creative for at least a year. I know some people were more productive during this time period, but not me. It was just too stressful a time, and I could only put one foot in front of the other.

What ended up to help pull me out of the mire, was a local comics group I'm a part of called "Comic Time". It's a group cartoonists who get together sometimes to talk comics. Over the pandemic we zoomed and drew and it was really great to have this small community. 

TCAF Application

Still work was coming slowly. I find I tend to need a hard deadline to drive myself to complete a project. So when TCAF (the Toronto Comic Arts Festival), announced they would be having an in-person festival in the Summer of 2022, I decided to apply. I've been at the show a number of times, and it's one of my favourite comic shows. If I got in, it would be the kick in the pants I would need to finish "A Girl Walks Into the Woods", my Little Red Riding Hood Adaptation.

Then - in March, 2022 I got the email that I was in for TCAF! That meant I had to have something new on my table for June 18! I had about 3 months to complete my comic, so I ramped up like I haven't in YEARS. It was a TON of work - I'm very slow and comics are SO laborious! But honestly, it's been refreshing and somewhat thrilling to be fully creating again. PLUS I really like the outcome - rare for me. Files are in to the printer, nothing like making it JUST under the wire.

More to come with full info and images on the comic!