Crouchfest and confessions

It's been a busy old week or two, starting with CECAF, for which Sean and I spent a Sunday painting backdrops we never used ...

followed by the day itself which was a rip roaring success: a wonderfully lo-fi fest of good vibes and great small press comics in a friendly venue with a BAR. Click for review.

Tuesday evening saw Sally Anne and myself heading to Kennington for a special tour of Sarah Lightman's Graphic Details exhibition of comics by women with some of the artists represented. We got to meet Diane Noomin and Miriam Katin!

Do try and get down there before December 13 – you will be rewarded by some amazing work in a fabulous gallery. And it's FREE.

CECAF is NOW

Tomorrow the very first CECAF will be taking place in Crouch End from 11am to 6pm. The brilliant Sean Azzopardi has assembled a bunch of comic creators to stage an event and cheer us all up in these dark wintry days. Such talents as Gary Northfield, Gareth Brookes, Oliver Lambden, Paul Rainey, Sally Anne Hickman will be joining Sean and myself along with many others. Check out the website or CECAF'S facebook page and find out who else will be there and how to get there. Oh and it's FREE. Do pop down – we'd love to see you.

Regroup Re-energize

Having failed to take any decent pictures at Leeds, I give you a blurry one of the giant who came by our midget table. The weekend went smoothly with my excellent companions Sally Anne and Paul, despite a freezing cold and dimly lit hall. The party took place in a sort of shopping mall and felt oddly soulless— but maybe that was just me.

Sean gave us a pep talk and reorganised our table, alas too late to make much difference but we are determined to be more focused come Angouleme. A midweek walk through the park with Heather Johns to the Dulwich Picture gallery and the Whistler exhibition fired me up to do a spot of lino printing. Saturday saw Sally Anne and I at the lovely Jeffrey Brown's workshop at Orbital. He showed us how to draw Star Wars characters — you never know when that may come in useful.

Pubs, performances and revivals

I have been such a bad blogger. There are mitigating circumstances but I won't bore you.
I missed mentioning last month that the incredible Mr Nick Tesco performed on a stage with the Members for the first time in several years and was fabulous as always. We can but hope that the love he was rewarded with by all and sundry will spur him on to repeat the experience.
Last Sunday was Comiket in Russell Square. A most positive day, though the punters consisted mainly of trainspottery collectors ( "I only buy comics that have cricket or Fred Basset in them" was one riveting exchange). Easy to get to, convivial company, and the drawing performance thingy on the screen was a good initiative.
There have been mutterings of a pubdraw revival, your chance to sit in a pub and draw cocks in other people's sketchbooks. Or even get on with some work – watch this space.

Off to Paris today to pack up Ma's appartment as the move is imminent – should give me a couple of hours drawing time on the train.

No Barcodes announced

Things seem to have got busy again, with regular strips and recurring freelance jobs fitting in and around subbing shifts.
Met up with Oli, Sean and Dan on thursday for a little reconnaissance mission in Portobello for a future convention site.
That one will be taking place later in the year,
but the exciting news is the official announcement of NO BARCODES, the London Underground Comics convention on Saturday May 31 2008 at Camden Lock Market.

Should be a fantastic day with all the jolly crowd from the stall plus all you lovely small press creators out there who want to come along and join in the fun. It will be free to punters and only about £7 to exhibitors – much better value than your average convention!
Check out the fabulous trailer video and further details of how to take part at www.londonundergroundcomics.com