FML Comic + Zinefest report!

In case you missed the announcements on various networks, my comic for Fmylife.com went live this weekend!

As a born (sort of) and raised Frenchperson, I've laughed hysterically at many of the stories on the original French site Viedemerde.fr for years and co-opted the acronym VDM for my own personal use. It was therefore a special honor to participate in making a funny for these fine people. After being asked to illustrate a story of my choosing, I perused the site for hours before picking this one, took a few hours during a weekend excursion to thumbnail it and proceeded to pencil and ink it in a total of a week (spread out over other endeavours). 

The site also features an interview in which I confess my longstanding fixation on the Portland comics scene, my preference for cats and my favorite Berlin monument to cycle around.

Trivia time: though the cigarette situation actually happened to an FML contributor, the hug with the hobo was directly inspired by one of Max Dubinsky's blog posts (collected in An Anthology of Madness). Also, the girlfriend in the comic bears a close resemblance to my friend Anne-So of Clairikine Hits Paris fame (but her husband doesn't smoke).

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I'm pleased to report that Zinefest Berlin was a smashin' good time. I tabled next to wonderful people (see Heimat Zine and Pink Mince for more), made connections and got (among many fascinating objects) the artbook for Tinet Elmgren's comic Driftwood, which makes the WIP junkie in me just squee forever.

I've been busy with freelance comic and not-comic work of late, but I have a couple new (gut-spilling) comics in the pipeline that I drew and inked over the weekend between visitors and that you will get to see once I force them past my conscience. I'm also working on feeding my neglected twins MOS and Noémie. A cartoonist's work is never done, amirite?

[ JD Samson & Men - Making Art ]

[UPDATED] Commission Slot Openings!

I currently have 3 commission slots open on a first-come, first-serve basis! EDIT: Commissions close August 1!

Prices:

• A5 / 5.8"x8.5" black and white (max. one character): 20€/$26 USD + shipping
• A4 / 8.3"x11.7" black and white (max. two characters): 40€/$52 USD + shipping

Everything is done on German 250g Zeichenkarton (aka the thick stuff).

You can make any requests you want (within reason) by shooting me an e-mail at clairykin at gmail youknowtherest. Requests can also include fandom characters (comprehensive, non-exclusive list here). Or even my own characters Noémie, Anaé, Sasha and Félix.

If you need inspiration, you can also check out my Behance portfolio or my Tumblr art tag (or this very blog!).

Let's art.

Paris Fundraiser II: Le Retour!

It's postcard time again! As mentioned here, I am returning to Paris next weekend, this time with Sarah Ehrenholz, to present our comic-and-music collaboration, Noémie hin und zurück/aller-retour. Once again, I am offering you a way to get a piece of the action!

The postcards this time around are extra special, as we just got a ton of them printed with the Noémie logo on the back and a blank side for people to draw their own postcard. Needless to say, if you buy one of these postcards, the drawing will be by ME! (Sarah will also say hello on the back!)

Oh iPhone, my iPhone...

Postcards are 3€, payable via PayPal donation (button on the right), and will be mailed to you from Paris. If you want one but really hate PayPal, e-mail me at clairykin at gmail and we can work something out.

I am also offering three A5, black-and-white commissions, 10€ each + 1,45€ shipping. Also payable via donation on the sidebar (letting me know what you want me to draw - there can be maximum of two characters and a simple background.)

Also, I am bringing my minis to sell at the Franco-German Village Place de la République on July 6. Stocks of Cardialement Vol 1 are currently low, so if you want a piece of that, now may be a good time to grab a copy.

Offer on postcards and commissions expires Thursday, July 4 at 11:30PM!

Wednesday Workpost: Staffellauf!

In order to raise funds for social projects, my church participated in last week's Berliner Wasserbetriebe relay race in Tiergarten. I was asked to draw a few cartoons to use in the thank-you cards sent to donors. Even though it poured rain the day of the race, it was a success and much money was raised. Hooray!

One of the supported projects is a new church project in Friedrichshain (accordingly called Projekt:Kirche).

[ Arcade Fire - Ready To Start ]

Commissions!

Hey guys! The end of the year draws close, and on my end that represents a certain need for money. So I'm going to announce a first of mine: commissions - or as I like to call it, The Help Claire Pay For Things Drive.

I'm currently offering three things: small sketches,  black and white illustrations and minicomics. Handily, if you place an order now, you will be sure to get it in time for Christmas!

For 10€ (plus shipping), you can get a custom sketch of anything you want: fandoms, my own characters, a crazy scene from the subway, etc.
The sketch is done in black PITT pen or brushpen on an A5 sheet of sketchbook paper, and it comes with a little thank-you note. Good if you like Rails programming jokes and Doctor Who. (I can do both.)*

For 25€ (plus shipping), you get a black-and-white pen-and-ink A4 drawing of anything that tickles your fancy, while remaining within the realm of the doable: i.e., no distorted-perspective shots of Jeremy Renner scaling Half-Dome with a scuba tank.
The drawing is penciled on an A4 sheet of Bristol board and inked with PITT artist pens, and also comes with a note. Good if you like Millennium fanart.

For both types of commissions, shoot me an e-mail at clairykin-at-gmail-dot-com and we'll go from there.

Also, my minicomics are still for sale here. This time it's 3€ + shipping for one mini. I have about 50 in stock currently; they make great stocking stuffers for trilingual Berlin/comic lovers. If their stockings are A5-sized and rectangular, that is.

Plus! For any art commissioned by Berlin-dwellers, there is a sweet deal on shipping, as there will be no shipping. I will deliver it to you in person, with my delicate hands.  Because Berlin. (Does not apply to minicomics).

So I hope to be able to do business with some of y'all in the coming weeks and draw some wacky fanart! Please take a moment to consider a black-and-white rendition of Ten, Loki and Katniss drinking lattes under the Fernsehturm. I thank you. And so does my snazzy drawing table.

*I once drew Sherlock and John bickering about Ruby programming. I have no fear.