This week I’ve been working on a lot of behind the scenes stuff having to do with Summerween which is hitting this space in June! See further down in this newsletter to find out more about Summerween if the concept is new to you. For you vets out there, I’ve not only been working on the new illustrations that I debut during the month, but also designs for the physical CD and cover. I wrote up and scheduled some preliminary posts that’ll go live on my Patreon in the next week or so and really have just been doing a lot of prep work so I’m not caught with my pants down once June gets here.
This year I’ll be mailing out a Summerween goodie bag to paying members of my Patreon so if you want to be in on that be sure to become a Patreon Member anytime during the month of June and I’ll be happy to get some fun stuff in the mail to you. That’s about it for now, so let’s read some...
The After Death
This page officially begins the next story arc (chapter 10) of The After Death. We’re finally leaving Louisiana behind and getting close to the Texas border. Which means Spencer and Reggie will need to take their shots at Texas while they’re ahead. Let the roasting begin.
Graphic Novel Roll Call
I’ve got two more great recommended reads this week. The first is The Pale Queen about Agatha, a young woman that yearns to leave her small town behind and see the world. She meets the mysterious Lady of the Hills who shows her a magical realm that exists right in her home town, but not everything is as it seems. This book is actually a little predictable, but that doesn’t make it any less enchanting. Filled with really lush watercolor art and illustrations; Agatha is a character who you immediately root for to the point I was saying out loud while reading, “Don’t do it!”
This is my second book by Abby Howard who is queen of the crosshatch and the macabre. The Last Halloween is well plotted, well paced, well thought out. Mona is the main character, a 10 year old basically forced to try and save the world that’s suddenly and violently been taken over by literal monsters. Both hilarious and gruesome this story has real stakes and real deaths. I loved the world building and the lore on display here. A lot of Howard’s ideas and concepts are things I’ve never seen or read before and that’s truly an accomplishment. I absolutely loved this book though it is not for the faint of heart. Definitely read this.
Earning my Badges
Fellow creative and ex-Artstew co-hort (or is it once an Arstew member-always an Arstew member? anyways...) Arielle Jimerson has launched The Curiosity Club over on her Substack. I’ll let her explain a bit about what it is.
This summer, join me in this Girl-Scouts-Reimagined-Adventure to exercise our hearts and minds and bring them back to a space where we find ourselves more easily captivated by the beauty to be found in every moment. Each week, we’ll have a little activity and an opportunity to earn a badge to celebrate!
This week, you’ll be working to earn your Fresh Eyes badge. In order to procure it, you must go somewhere familiar and document 10 things you’ve never noticed before.
This week Rhea and I went to the only place we actually haunt regularly and that’s Rusty Taco-our favorite Taco chain where we often eat tacos, drink delicious margaritas, and solve the world’s problems. We’re here on a monthly basis at least so we thought it the best place to be for this exercise. I took along my sketchbook and drew a rough pen sketch of the inside taking notes of anything new I hadn’t noticed before.
Here’s the ten new things I noticed in case you’re like me and can’t read my handwriting.
What’s this yellow thing? (hanging from the crossbeam)
They have ketchup!?
This is a monitor-but it’s never on.
Somebody hung something using fishing string and never took it down.
They have toothpicks on the counter ( I never knew that).
That’s their fire alarm.
There’s a wooden sign behind this cooler that they never put out (that I’ve seen).
Since our friend moved and stopped working here our margs are a little weaker :(
Also of note: Every customer currently dining has a marg on their table :)
Not pictured: Their original menus had custom frames made in Terlingua, TX (one of my favorite places on Earth).
This was a fun exercise and a nice way to spend a couple hours.
Not to take anything away from the Curiosity Club, but to add to-Jedidiah Jenkins has been posting tips on his Insta for getting away from your phone and has a similar exercise called a “block walk” also “land scuba diving.” Check out his reel about it and maybe pair the two together for a week of re-discovery.
Summerween is on it’s way!
I’m ramping things up for Summerween 3, coming to you June 1st! Before we kick things off I want to make sure you’re clear on what it is, what it’s all about, and what’s in it for you! Click on the links below to find out more!
What’s Making Me Happy This Week?
This weekend I got to spend a couple hours with my two favorite people in the galaxy, well one of them is a person: Din Djarin and Grogu of course. Heck yes! I went and saw The Mandalorian and Grogu and I freaking loved it. Here are some things to keep in mind about me: A) The Mandalorian is my favorite of all the Star Wars TV shows to come out ever. B) I think the TV show faltered when it brought in Luke Skywalker. I’m pretty much over the entire Skywalker saga, so done with them. The movie did the two things I wanted it to: it left any overt ties to any previous storyline out of it-no mention of Vader or Obi Wan or Luke or whatever. Jabba the Hutt is brought up but that dude’s dead so all’s well. And it felt like an extended episode of the TV show. I got to spend more time with Mando and more time with Grogu and heck I even got a little soft spot for Rotta the Hutt. The Mandalorian is Space John Wick and I’m here for it! All this to say, I thought it was fun and I had a great time. It made me very happy.
As always thanks for reading! I hope you guys have a good week and I’ll see you back here next Sunday. All the best.
~b
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