A rising tide lifts all boats. I love that saying, partly because it’s such a visual image. And it’s true. And it’s also true metaphorically. In comics – or I guess, any art practice – it’s a reminder that the success of one is good for us all. Take, for example, the reception to KateContinue reading “A rising tide”
Author Archives: Myfanwy Tristram
Pen & Ink
Convention report: what happened in Newton Abbot.
Coming to Devon soon
I’ve been putting together my presentation for Pen & Ink, the new comics/book art convention in Newton Abbot on the 24th and 25th of this month.
Visual stimuli
I’ve put my Arts Council funding in! Done. Even if it’s unsuccessful, that feels like an achievement. (And even if it is unsuccessful, Karrie‘s been telling me that it’s imperative to take on board their feedback, tweak and try again). I thought I’d start a list of all the cultural input I’m getting this yearContinue reading “Visual stimuli”
What I’m learning about Arts Council England grant funding
Until you get your head round this, it’s quite hard for a comic artist to approach the application form. You’re coming at it as someone who wants money to fund the time it takes to sit at your desk for weeks or months on end, and as far as you’re concerned, the end product is the comic.
New year’s resolutions
Many years ago I resolved to do something toward my comics practice every day: if not drawing, that might be something as simple as reading or rereading a graphic novel, or joining in a comics discussion online.
2022 in review: rise of the Mastodon
Posts are longer, and so far people seem kinder, more engaged. What has really blown my mind is that every time I make a post (using hashtags) I get a flurry of new followers, ‘boosts’ (like a retweet) and comments. It feels like, because the community is new, everyone’s actively looking for quality content and people to follow.
2022 in review: the protest book
This time last year, I was using my Christmas holiday to frantically draw some of the most complex crowd scenes I’ve ever depicted, true to my absolutely typical habit of thinking ‘Oh, this single picture won’t take long’ – before finding I’m chained to my desk for two days straight.
2022 in review: something to worry about
At work, colleagues were having fun with the new AI chatbot chat GPT . They fed it little tasks related to what we do, like “write an explanation of how Freedom of Information works in the UK” or “create a strapline for our new website where people can look up councils’ climate action plans”. AsContinue reading “2022 in review: something to worry about”
2022 in review: the Workers
While I’m writing these 2022 roundup posts, there’s one topic that can’t be ignored, The year brought something really special: it introduced me to the Workers Gallery and the people behind it, Chris and Gayle. When I first read the email asking if I’d be interested in exhibiting, I had no idea that it wouldContinue reading “2022 in review: the Workers”
You guys
I guess I’m writing some end of year roundup posts, loosely speaking. In this one there are a lot of thankyous to the people I care about in comics. Happy Christmas y’all.
Book of the year
This is the year I discovered Swedish comic maker Anneli Furmark. I picked up ‘Red Winter’ in January, attracted by the loose style. Now and again I just fall for a book, and this was this year’s grand passion. It’s difficult to say exactly what hit me so hard – certainly not a satisfyingly wrappedContinue reading “Book of the year”
Publishers/agents: come and talk to me about the Noisy Valley
It’s been an amazing year. As the tweet above says, my 2021 Inktober project – where I drew a different protester ever day of the month – led to me putting out my self-published book Sorry For The Inconvenience We Are Trying To Save The World. This sold faster than any comic I’ve ever madeContinue reading “Publishers/agents: come and talk to me about the Noisy Valley”
Buy a protest print and help support the Workers Gallery
Treat yourself The four most popular images from my exhibition at the Workers Gallery are currently for sale as prints. They’re just £14.50 each, or two for £25.00. Bargs! Buy one, and not only will you have an inspiring furious woman on your wall – you’ll also be helping the gallery. A sustainable gallery onContinue reading “Buy a protest print and help support the Workers Gallery”
A comic of Rhondda protest memories: coming soon
This time last week, the long-anticipated trip was in progress and I was sitting in the Workers Gallery in Ynyshir, Rhondda, setting up for my zine workshops! I had such an unforgettable time visiting my exhibition Word on the Street (which still runs until Sept 11) and seeing the gallery for myself. No small partContinue reading “A comic of Rhondda protest memories: coming soon”
Workers here we come!
After months of emails going back and forth, poster designing, conversations about printing, plotting and planning the accompanying activities… Word on the Street opens at the Workers Gallery next week. And here’s the poster translated into Welsh. As the events are part funded by the local council (for which I am very grateful), the WelshContinue reading “Workers here we come!”
Zines and Bungaroosh
I’ve been trying out making zines, and helping form a local comics collective.
Word on the Street
I’ve been meaning to blog about this for ages – but fortunately the Queen of England realised how behind with blogging all her subjects were, and decreed that we should all have a four day weekend to catch up. Here’s the exciting news: my first ever solo exhibition, and it’s at a remarkable place calledContinue reading “Word on the Street”
How much do you really see when you read a comic?
Not a way I’ve ever spent a day before and possibly not a way I’ll spend a day again.
Slump times
It’s two months since I posted anything, and I’m feeling a bit like I’ve lost my thread. It’s been a funny old time. I wouldn’t say that motivation has entirely left me, just that I haven’t had the energy to keep up with my art practice on top of everything else. For ages there, IContinue reading “Slump times”
Myfanwy Tristram 