Wild West Showdown

There were many more highlights, but I think it would be unwise, from a legal standpoint, to discuss them. Let's just say that a "silent worm-off competition" in your hotel hallway is very rarely silent; headboards that are bolted into the wall DO come off; and Apples to Apples can become very, very rowdy in the hands of some rollergirls.

National Pig Day!

My most trusted news source (Facebook) told me that today is National Pig Day! More specifically, illustrator Lauren Castillo posted the breaking news. Thanks, Lauren, I can always count on you!

After heartily celebrating Leap Day yesterday, I have to admit I was unprepared for National Pig Day. It's like first you have Thanksgiving, and then before you know it... Anyway, according to my second most trusted news source (Wikipedia), National Pig Day "includes events at zoos, schools, nursing homes, and sporting events around the United States. It is also recognized at 'pig parties' where pink pig punch and pork delicacies are served, and pink ribbon pigtails tied around trees in the pigs' honor."

Well, I don't have any pink pig punch on hand (like I said, I partied pretty hard yesterday)- and I don't know how I feel about serving pork delicacies to celebrate Pig Day. Truth be told, I have a hard time eating pork products these days. So I thought I'd celebrate the day in my own way, and talk about the very beginnings of OLYMPIG!

Are you ready to see the first known image of Boomer? Are you?

Voila! I first imagined Boomer while designing a snowflake for the online auction Robert's Snow, created by author Grace Lin. It's based on her beautiful book of the same name. This was back in...

2007?!? What the... really?? Wow, time sure flies- and five years later, OLYMPIG is still 4 months from publication. Anyway, at the time I was heavily into ice skating, especially since there were so many great outdoor rinks around NYC. I remember jogging around Prospect Park one cold winter morning, thinking about what to paint on my snowflake... and the thought of a very serious, not-so-graceful pig skater popped into my head. I liked the idea of this pig thinking he was really, really awesome at something and taking it VERY seriously... while not actually being all that great.

Long after I submitted my snowflake to the auction, the character of Boomer (he was first named Jerry!) lived on. I started drawing him all the time and inventing new events for him to participate in, and the rest... is a history for another blog post!

Oh, and here's the back cover, which I'm kind of in love with! My art director, Nancy, at Dial Books for Young Readers is the best!

Bout #2

I'll have ample material for new comics after this weekend- 'cause I'm heading to Wild West Showdown! It's a... well, not really a tournament... "convention" is probably the wrong word... Let's just say it's a weekend full of derby! Yee haw.

Ahhh, Fresh Meat tryouts...

That's right, TO BE CONTINUED... but not next week. Do you know why? Because I have a bout this weekend. AWWWW YEAH!!! Go to rosecityrollers.com to buy tickets! Or if you don't live in Portland or it's too late to buy plane tickets, check the site later this week for a link to the live stream!

Derby comic #11!

That's right, I just mooned the internet.

Dear Diary

This is what I wrote in my diary on April 10, 1989...

For the record, I think what Kevin & Winnie (umgh) DID in the summer was... kiss. SHOCKING!

Also, I guess this was the beginning of my Liz Lemon-like tendency to brutally make fun of the boys I liked. No, I DIDN'T have a date to my high school prom, why do you ask?

Another slightly embarrassing recap!

The 2012 Season Begins!

Tonight's the night! Saturday, January 21st, 5:45 pm PST! Check this link for more information if you're in Portland. And if you DON'T live in Portland, fear not- you can watch the action online here!

NOT a roller derby post!

As you may have noticed, I've been posting a lot of derby comics recently but I haven't really been talking about my current picture book project. I've struggled over the past few years with trying to update my illustration blog on a regular basis, while not sharing too much about projects that haven't been published yet. One side of my split personality thinks that sharing works in progress will help create interest in the books once they're finally published. The other side of me wonders how wise it is to overshare. For my current project, I've gone the route of undersharing... but rest assured, I've been working! And on Monday, the art goes off to my publisher!

Another reason I've been posting so many comics is that I am going through my normal, "OH MY GOSH THIS PROJECT IS ALMOST DONE WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NEXT I'M FREAKING OUT" stage. It is a time of great creativity and sleeplessness. While it's not always pleasant, I greatly prefer it to the stage directly after the project is entirely done and sent off, which involves mild postpartum depression and naps. Any other illustrators go through these stages? Anybody? Anybodeeeee?

Anyway, the weekly comics have been a great way to keep my blog updated, to practice a new art form, to generate new ideas, and to insure that I'll keep myself busy once my lil' bugs are on their way to New York (*sniff*).

It's about to begin!

If you live in Portland and want to witness history in the making, c'mon down to our season opener on January 21st! I can even hook you up with some tickets! More information can be found here.