Little Bird House

rising

2012-01-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

lil reds for the upcoming show at Grasshut

***

SHOW! - Grasshut + Floating World Comics

2012-01-14T21:09:00.000-08:00

screenprint with custom drawn little reds

each one is different!

i'm showing art in portland

February 1st - 29th, 2012

Grass Hut Shop / Floating World Comics

400 nw couch Street

portland, ORegon

February 2nd opening 6-9pm

***

lil red

2012-01-04T00:27:00.000-08:00

***

muddlehead

2011-12-28T17:50:00.001-08:00

***

sketchbook

2011-12-26T22:37:00.000-08:00

***

mameshiba shorts

2011-12-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

first color

for VizKids, coming soon

***

2011-12-08T20:45:00.001-08:00

***

twenty something ltk finger puppets

2011-12-08T17:55:00.001-08:00

available at http://hohosnappers.tumblr.com/

***

2011-11-20T16:12:00.001-08:00

***

staying at home

2011-11-06T03:13:00.000-08:00

haven't been able to make it outside lately. forgot to go to life drawing! stuck in doors a few more days....

***

october, hardly sketching

2011-10-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

feeling somewhere between here

and here

***

READING! - Barnes & Noble, October 24th

2011-10-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Reading at Barnes & Noble in Emeryville Monday, October 24th 7pm

with Lark Pien and Gene Luen Yang

an all ages, free event

***

Habibi

2011-10-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

Craig Thompson appears on Thursday, October 6th from 6-10pm for a Habibi book release and exhibit of Habibi inspired artwork by: Mike Allred, Aaron Renier, Carson Ellis, Farel Dalrymple, Kurt Halsey, Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Lark Pien, Theo Ellsworth, Tom Hart.

floating world is here:

http://www.floatingworldcomics.com/main/

craig is here:

http://www.dootdootgarden.com/

2011-10-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

Norway - Sept 15th to Sept 22nd, 2011

***

SHOW! - Zine Fest this weekend

2011-08-30T12:03:00.001-07:00

click on image for larger view

Comics Reading this Thursday, September 1st 7pm
Panel appearance this Sunday, September 4th 2pm

***

tamarind tea

2011-08-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

tazo black tea bag for 10 (pitcher sized)
steep in hot water with tablespoon of tamarind (sticky kind)
and 5 stars of anice
cool and add sugar to taste
pour over ice
add:
lychees
condensed milk
thinly sliced mint leaves

stir together
enjoy

***

lake leonard

2011-08-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

there is the spider i attempted to save,
and who was bit by a bluegill along the way

there is the spider resting on the lily pads
coaxed by the tip of my oar

there is the spider in the middle of the lake

there it is a bright orange speck

there i am about to find it

***

post comic con

2011-07-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

things i got at comic-con

read this on the way down, and then the way back up

bought this at last gasp, late on sunday

got very little schwag, but love my little adventure time jake

a hellen jo wallet, by poketo
xxxooo

the last ltk puppet went home with me

***

read comics

2011-07-19T00:29:00.001-07:00

process

2011-06-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

click to enlarge

abstracts at Baudu - June 27th 7pm
262 Shotwell Street, SF

***

SHOW! - welcome, Baudu

2011-06-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

^

***

thumbnails

2011-06-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

vanessa is in this comic

changes

2011-05-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

friends moving people changing
thanks for fun times

***

rough sketch

2011-05-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

^

when i am done coloring gene's book i will draw this story.

***

for cecil

2011-05-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

^

joined wonderful writer Cecil Castelluci in her Literary Diaspora experiment, see more here:
http://literarydiaspora.wordpress.com/

my 'doorway' drawing was sent to cory doctorow, author of For the Win, and many other stories. a nice treat.

i like experiments

Cecil Castelluci's webpage

Cory Doctorow's wiki page

***

life drawing

2011-05-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

virtual cat

***

good walk

2011-05-10T00:46:00.001-07:00

^

even the weeds looked nice.

***

2011-05-07T18:54:00.000-07:00

^

post-opening day always a bummer, all exhaustion and no energy. made cookies and felt better. brought some to the sushi team down the street. will give some to mom tomorrow.

***

SHOW! - at Seesaw Café

2011-05-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

opening reception - Friday May 6th, 2011
5pm-11pm

***

thumbnails

2011-04-17T20:53:00.001-07:00

^

***

life drawing

2011-04-11T10:57:00.001-07:00

april 9

***

11 march

2011-04-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

^

***

life drawing

2011-03-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

^

more on flickr.
***

d'orsay

2011-03-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

really wanted to go to the d'orsay today, but couldn't. faraway france.

***

sneak peek - Boxers & Saints

2011-03-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

^

Boxers & Saints is an up and coming graphic novel in 2 volumes, written and drawn by Gene Luen Yang, with colors by Lark Pien. Here is a sneak peek.

***

New Mural for the New Sun Street Breads

2011-03-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

^

what other news... yes. this is important. my dear friends Solveig Tofte and Martin Ouimet are opening an eatery specializing in artisan breads and American treats. i flew out to Minneapolis to paint them a mural. pictures are on flickr.

Sun Street Breads opens to the public at 6.30am, March 21st

Linnea & her catepillar bread

here is the link to Sun Street Breads: http://www.sunstreetbreads.com/

***

Interview - Mr. Elephanter

2011-03-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

^

hello.

i just signed two books special for the Lafayette Elementary annual auction, and realized i never posted this early 2011 interview by the wonderfully adept cynthia leitich smith:

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-voice-lark-pien-on-mr-elephanter.html

it explains some of the processes i go through in making comics, and in creating stories. there are other informative and interesting author interviews on this blog, well worth the visit.

while i will continue to post news, i am slowing the frequency of these posts, so that the majority of my time is spent on making stories and art.

***

deconstructing angie wang

2010-11-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

mashup with angie wang. http://www.okchickadee.com/

***

sketches 17.11

2010-11-22T17:35:00.000-08:00

^

*** watching the good the bad the weird

blonde redhead

2010-11-19T14:19:00.001-08:00

iphonto by thien

***

reading

2010-11-12T01:17:00.000-08:00

^
i read a lot when i was younger, but have lost the habit and now manage to read only on occasion.

american pastoral by philip roth
out stealing horses by per petterson
the changeling by kenzaburo oe

i enjoyed these novels considerably.

***

SHOW! - Mr. Elephanter in TINY

2010-11-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

^
Studio Gallery in San Francisco is hosting yet another group show, with original works all priced at $400 and below. they will have framed Mr. Elephanter originals along with a few copies of the book. Please come early if you'd like to get a copy and have it signed. i will be at the opening reception from 2pm to 4pm.

At the Studio Gallery in SF, reception this Sunday, November 14th, 2pm-6pm.
visit www.studiogallerysf.com for more info.

***

for fun

2010-11-08T23:51:00.000-08:00

a friend's scroll of sketches... which i am now destroying.

***

Mr. Elephanter original for sale

2010-10-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

Kearny Street Workshop, a non-profit for Asian American youths in art is putting on an auction in support of their community and programs. I contributed a Mr. Elephanter piece and signed book which you can see on their site. Please visit their site and browse the many art contributions posted there. You might just find a piece that is perfect for you.

Small Destructions Interview

2010-10-20T17:02:00.001-07:00

My Small Destructions video comic will be shown at the Ottawa International Animation Festival this Friday! My friend and avid writer Adam Hartzell, has posted an interview with details about the project. You can find the interview at twichfilm.net, or read it on Adam's blog.

Thanks, Adam!

i Luv my friends

2010-10-14T14:23:00.001-07:00

^

oh man my friends are crazy. i love them! visiting new york was fun. i hung out with peeps in the upper east side, upper west, midtown, west village, brooklyn and queens. even stopped by the MET for some art viewing. now i like Repin. asked my pal jerome if i could see his pencilled pages and he said NO! got home and a few days later X-Force #1 came out. guess what bearface drew into the last page?!

***

littlebird newsletter - october

2010-10-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

October Events
xoxo from littlebird

Hi friends,

I hope you’ve been keeping up with the crazy pace of this summer, and have found time to relax and enjoy even the smallest of things in life. Part of my job is to share my explorations with you, and to engage your minds in an entertaining and creative way. So find a moment, and put your work aside. Shake off the sleep, and enjoy these adventures with me.

A. Mr. Elephanter, here + now

B. APE this Saturday + Sunday!

C. Ottowa International Animation Festival

D. Guest Host on the Comix Claptrap

E. Storytime! Family Fun Day
F. Future Quiet Times

A. Mr. Elephanter, here + now

It’s official - Mr. Elephanter is now in bookstores, hooray! Reviews have been steadily coming in, and they’re GOOD. I’m relieved. Many thanks to everyone for making Mr. E’s debut a warm one. I hope that this mild mannered gentleman and his peppy entourage of elephanties will find a happy place on the shelf of each and every young reader.

Kirkus Reviews - Starred review

"There isn't a page here that doesn't melt with charm, from Mr. Elephanter, with his balloon head and small detonation of a mustache, to the tumbling, bumbling elephanties. With a slightly old-fangled atmosphere, expressive line work and balmy watercolors, Pien has created a sense of well being, where all is (mostly) right in the best of worlds."

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books - Starred review

“The text has the delicate effervescence of nonsense, which is, as usual when at its best, rooted in solid and realistic structure... The illustrations employ gentle-toned watercolors and softly detailed pencil lines, with an enchanting toylike miniaturization in the bijou scenes... It's original, it's funny, and it's filled with entrancing tiny elephants-what more could an audience want?”

School Library Journal

"Mr. Elephanter's genuine affection for the youngsters shines through on every page, and the sweet humor will speak to the intended audience."

Disney FamilyFun

"Quirky yet warm, the story celebrates teachers and caretakers and suggests that Mr. E.'s charges will long remember his devotion."

Publishers Weekly – Starred review

“ At day's end he hugs them all goodnight and heads home… Pien's tints are as faint as wisps of mist; her lines say no more than is necessary to convey action and emotion. Despite the unusual circumstances and questions that might arise--who are the elephanties, where are their parents, and how did Mr. Elephanter fall into elephanting?--this vision of quiet love and steady, dependable attention is just the thing for children to fall asleep to.”

For book nerds, I have an official author page, on Amazon and with Candlewick Press.

B. APE – The Alternative Press Expo

APE is once again taking place this very weekend, in the SoMA district of San Francisco. Though once a comics-centric event, it has now grown to embrace all kinds of handmade arts and crafts: prints, paintings, t-shirts and knitwear, toys and sculptures, and even home grown video games!

If you are a comics fan you CAN’T miss this year. The guest line-up is like a punch from Thor: Dan Clowes, Lynda Barry, Renée French, Megan Kelso, Rich Koslowski, Tommy Kovac, and Tony Millionaire. The panels discussions are going to be great.

I will be at table #324, and am listed under P (for Pien) in the convention guide. Stop by for a copy of Mr. Elephanter, or just come and give me a high five. Don’t be shy!

APE in San Francisco
@ the Concourse
635 8th Street (x Brannan)
Saturday October 16^th, 11am - 7pm

Sunday October 17^th, 11am - 6pm
http://comic-con.org/ape

C. Ottowa International Animation Festival

My Small Destructions video project will be screening in Ottowa this month, yikes! It will be in the company of great shorts by animators Pascal Campion, Mark Fiore, Dalton Grant Jr., Michael Langan, Nina Paley and Mier Tang. How did my little scruffy CAM installation fell in with this professional crowd? - you’ll have to ask curator Andrew Farago. For now, I’m happy to play a part in this massive five day Canadian campaign.

for more information, visit the animation festival site here.

"Californimation"

@ the Arts Court at Club SAW
screening 5pm-7pm
reception October 22nd
http://www.animationfestival.ca

D. Comix Claptrap – Interviewing Megan Kelso
You might have heard that Thien Pham will be off air for the next few podcasts. Rina Ayuyang asked that I co-host an episode with her. This is brave of Rina, because I have absolutely no skills in public speaking and know very little about radio etiquette. I apologize in advance to those of you who have radio and podcast skills. This is probably a good opportunity to hear me fumble about, as we interview the stalwart Megan Kelso, cartoonist and creator of Watergate Sue (New York Times) and Artichoke Tales (Fantagraphics Books). Listen in as she shares her experience as an indie artist, award-winner, editor, short-time member of the bourgeoisie, and mother of four-and-a-half year old Vivi.

http://comixclaptrap.podomatic.com/entry/2010-10-14T07_51_38-07_00

E. Storytime! Family Fun Day

Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages: artwork from children’s books and comics are on exhibit at the Cartoon Art Museum until mid-November. But in a few weeks there will be a special Family Fun Day, where kids can come and meet a few of the artists in person, and make their own comics. If you have kids, this is a great way to get them out of the house and interacting with city life. Guest artists include Brian Kolm (Atomic Bear Press), David Roman (Astronaut Academy), and Raina Telgemeier (Smile, The Baby-Sitters Club), and myself. Bring your kids and I’ll show them how to draw Long Tail Kitty.

Storytime! in San Francisco

Family Fun Day October 23^rd

11am – 4pm

@ the Cartoon Art Museum

655 Mission Street (x 2^nd Street)

http://cartoonart.org/2010/10/storytime-family-fun-day/

F. Future Quiet Times

I have several comic projects that will keep me homebound and sitting at the drawing table for the rest of the year. Still, I’m hoping to see most of you before the end of 2010.

Next year I will be taking a break from conventions but will be available for readings and academic visits.

Parents, hang in there. If you have children and want me to come read at their school, just write let me know. This may be one way we can actually get together and socialize a bit. It’s definitely hard to find the time, but please try, and I’ll try too.

big love to y'all,

lark

not much time left in the world

2010-10-04T23:54:00.000-07:00

^

visited family and friends these last few weeks, found everyone very busy and consumed. there's a frantic rush, even when relaxing. couldn't help but think that adult life should not feel this way.

did draw some, but very little from real life.

roadtrip to georgia from new york

met with colleagues, and professionals - architects, cartoonists, editors and literary affiliates. found i was happiest in these moments.

redesigning a character... maybe

though a two week vacation, most of it felt very rushed. saw many things and many people. spent a few hours at the MET, and touring the MAD magazine office - a surprisingly humbling and amazing experience. did not have enough time to really appreciate it all.

***

ps. photos will be posted to the flickr page.

Mr. Elephanter, a star from Publisher's Weekly!

2010-09-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mr. Elephanter
Lark Pien, Candlewick, $14.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4409-3
Mr. Elephanter goes to work at the Elephantery every morning--it appears to be an orphanage, but looks more like a grand hotel--and spends the day with three diminutive elephanties. ("Fwee!" they snort, cavorting happily around the mustachioed man.) He makes them banana pancakes; he takes them to the zoo; they dance together. At day's end he hugs them all goodnight and heads home. There's only the gentlest hint of conflict; after naptime the three elephanties biff each other up a bit and a vase is broken. Three small rear ends are perched on time-out stools as Mr. Elephanter tidies up the pieces. Pien's (Long Tail Kitty) tints are as faint as wisps of mist; her lines say no more than is necessary to convey action and emotion. Despite the unusual circumstances and questions that might arise--who are the elephanties, where are their parents, and how did Mr. Elephanter fall into elephanting?--this vision of quiet love and steady, dependable attention is just the thing for children to fall asleep to. Ages 5–up. (Sept.)

click here to go to Publisher's Weekly Book Reviews page

september events

2010-09-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

August-September Events
xoxo from littlebird

A. Storytime! show at the Cartoon Art Museum

B. India Celebration at the Asian Art Museum

C. Zinefest in Golden Gate Park - Sept 4th-5th!

D. Peanuts 60th Anniversary at the Schulz Museum - Sept 11th!

E. Korea Cultural Day at the Asian Art Museum

F. Mr. Elephanter , Comic-Con report + other goodies

A. Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages
Come see original pages and works showing the creative processes used by the individual artists. Visitors are invited to peek over the shoulders of the creators and follow along from the first sketchbook doodles all the way to the printed page.

Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages, features the work of ten influential cartoonists whose work has broken new ground in the literary world: Mo Willems, Irving Tripp and Virginia Hubbell, Larry Marder, Stan Sakai, Raina Telgemeier, Lark Pien, Dave Roman, Hope Larson, and Jeff Smith.

Cartoon Art Museum
655 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA
Reception: Tuesday August 24th, 7pm-9pm, with guests Larry Marder + Lark Pien
Exhibit Dates: June 26 – November 14
www.cartoonart.org

B. Celebration of India at the Asian Art Museum
I’ve contributed illustrations to a basic Yoga Guide for the AAM! You can pick up a copy starting Saturday, but more importantly, go for a fun-filled day of traditional Indian dance performances, and get a full gallery yoga tour led by a real yogini. Special guest Sanjay Patel will present his new book, Ramayana: Divine Loophole. Kids can make art to take home.

preview yoga drawings here.

Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA
Event: Saturday August 28th , 12noon - 4pm
http://www.asianart.org/family.htm#community

C. Zinefest, September 4th-5th
Being a free admission event, this is a nice laid back way to spend a part of your San Francisco weekend. Stop into Golden Gate Park and check out the local DIY offerings. I’ll be sharing a table with Mark Miyake + Thien Pham, and will bring a preview copy of Mr. Elephanter, for those who’d like to see the book before it comes out.

Zinefest @ the County Fair Building
Adjacent the Botanical Gardens entrance, and near 9th and Lincoln streets
San Francisco, CA Show Dates: September 4th + 5th
http://blog.sfzinefest.com/

D. Peanuts 60th Anniversary
Charlie Brown and the gang are turning 60! If you grew up loving Snoopy and his human cohorts as I have, please come out and show your support. The weather is bound to be perfect for celebration. Guests catoonists include:

At 3:30pm, Dan Piraro will give a presentation and speak about his work. Piraro recently won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.

Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies Lane
Santa Rosa, CA
Anniversary: September 11th ,10am – 5pm
http://www.schulzmuseum.org/

E. Korea Cultural Day at the Asian Art Museum
Celebrate the Korean harvest festival of Chuseok and welcome the fall season with the whole family. Taste traditional food, learn Korean dance moves, watch a demonstration on traditional Korean embroidery techniques. Join us for a fun art making activity, docent guided tours in Korea Gallery or family storytelling tours with folktales from Korea. Kids can lead their grown-ups through the gallery with the aid of a new interactive guide, drawn by yours truly.

Asian Art Museum
200 Larkin
San Francisco, CA Event: Sunday September 19th , 12noon – 4pm
http://www.asianart.org/family.htm#community

F. Mr. Elephanter and other goodies
Mr. Elephanter arrives in bookstores, September 28th! The early reviews for this fuzzy mustached caretaker have been great (Mr. E received a starred review in Kirkus, hooray!).
If you know a special teacher, babysitter, parent, sibling, or even just a wee tot who loves reading, please treat them to a copy of Mr. Elephanter. It's affordable ($15), and makes for a caring gift.

In preparation for the book's release, I’ve been slowly learning how to build a website, and have added on new, updated pages to browse. when you have a moment please visit www.larkpien.com and send your feedback (i need it). Goodies like wallpapers for your desktop coming soon.

Lastly, i'll leave you with a few Comic-Con related articles. Long Tail Kitty gets a write up on Wired's Geekdad here. And watch me get the sweatles in this clip taken on the convention floor here. Special thanks to Eva V for posting to the School Library Journal, and to Jonathan L for the review on LTK!

***

sutro tower

2010-08-24T00:40:00.000-07:00

commissioned by marc w.

***

yoga drawings

2010-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

some yoga drawings, for the San Francisco Asian Art Museum's India collection

for brochure printing, starting September 2010

shiva in mountain pose

these poses are modelled after statues in the galleries at the AAM. Shiva in this case is based on a southern Indian sculpture.

i drew a couple of extra appendages, just in case Shiva's design had to be reconsidered. While the ax usually appears in southern etiquettes, the trident and drum is more befitting to northern Indian iconography. or so i have been told!

buddha in lotus pose

i was asked to draw images in an accurate yet personable way. so while i don't actually draw figures like this normally, the body shapes are fairly representative of what can be found in the museum. the faces i took some liberty with, especially when it came to the yoga model.

warrior pose, downward dog, cobra and tree poses

buddhist, hindu and jain

***

Mr. Elephanter, a star from Kirkus!

2010-08-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

MR. ELEPHANTER Author: Pien, Lark
Illustrator: Pien, Lark
Review Date: August 1, 2010 Publisher:Candlewick
Pages: 32
Price ( Hardback ): $14.99
Publication Date: September 1, 2010 ISBN ( Hardback ): 978-0-7636-4409-3
Category: Picture Books A star is assigned to books of unusual merit, determined by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.

A day in the life of Mr. Elephanter is a slice from the bygone, when the scale and pace of life didn’t require medication. Mr. Elephanter, clearly a mild and loving soul, works at the elephantery, tending a small tribe of elephanties. He whips up some breakfast, brings his charges to the pool, town and park, tucks them in for their naps. He gets a moment to himself: “It’s enough time to catch up on small things.” In the afternoon, the elephanties get into a minor fracas, but soon they are playing and dancing; Mr. Elephanter, normally serene, looks like he’s just been goosed. Time comes for Mr. Elephanter to head home (multi-paneled endpapers bracket Mr. Elephanter’s day at the elephantery): hugs, goodbyes, see-you-tomorrows. There isn’t a page here that doesn’t melt with charm, from Mr. Elephanter, with his balloon head and small detonation of a mustache, to the tumbling, bumbling elephanties. With a slightly old-fangled atmosphere, expressive line work and balmy watercolors, Pien has created a sense of well being, where all is (mostly) right in the best of worlds. (Picture book. 4-8)

also recommended by Disney's Family Fun Magazine:

***

abstracts

2010-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

^

***

post comic-con

2010-07-27T23:49:00.000-07:00

^
just returned from comic-con. thien is sick, and there's a ton of work to do. today i cleaned up put all the boxes back, and got groceries, caught up with the neighbors and handed out presents. tomorrow i'll return the stands to studio, stop by the bank, pick up some packaging and fill orders. at night i'll work on the asian art museum projects. play with the cat and stretch on the wii fit in interim.

my favorite gift from comic-con this year was this little figurine, smaller than a kinder egg capsule. by KaToPe of Gargamel. so awesome, this little guy. thanks, mark!!!

several years back another comic artist (i think she did a book with SLG) gave me this charm - i absolutely love it. it was one of two that she gave me - the other was a green fimo charm even smaller than this shrinky dink one. i accidentally chipped the fimo one :(.

here are some photos from comic-con. thien took some of them; i don't know who took the jackies photo.

***

COMIC CON - new paintings

2010-07-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

^
comic con is here again!

this show has evolved over the years, humbly originating from our unique american underground, and rapidly growing so large that it now embraces all entertainment media, pop culture, and persuasions from europe and japan. from a historic and anthropological point of view, i am pleased and excited to be a part of this grand adventure.

Comic Con
111 West Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 94608
Preview Night, Wednesday July 21st
Convention Days, Thursday July 22nd – Sunday July 25th
Table P1 on the corner of Small Press near aisles 1700-1900
www.comic-con.org

i don't have many paintings this year. it's a quiet farewell to the 4x4 critter series, which started in 2003 and now must come to an end. i'll still be accepting bi-annual commissions in this format, but future projects will focus on larger formats.

me + you

various buddies needing homes

kung-fu cat
(there is also a yoga rabbit, but it's not dry yet so i can't scan...)

ghost gerbil, ghost bun

working on a few other series, which overlapped my san diego plans. that said, i ended up painting them:

miss u

this belongs to the planetaries series that is actually up at the Studio Gallery in SF at the moment. the opening for this show (Mischief) will be on sunday. read the previous blog entry for reception info. i will probably give this to bwana spoons, for our joint project launch.

cyclopean kids sometimes they are small, sometimes they are huge

for more ckids, visit my flickr site. more pictures there!

*

also, the final bit of exciting news, i received an advanced copy of Mr. Elephanter in hardback just last week. looking good! kirkus review to come at the beginning of next month...!

cheers
littlebird

littlebird newsletter - JULY

2010-06-29T21:32:00.001-07:00

^
June-July Events
xoxo from littlebird

Hello, Little Birds!

Are you getting out and worshipping the sun? Or staying indoors with eyes glued on the World Cup!?! I can barely get any work done - the games have been so exciting!

There are a few cool things coming up that I have been lazy to announce. really i shouldn't be, but... it's summer! anyway excuses aside, they are fun things to see; i hope you can make some time for them.

A. Storytime!, at the Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco
B. Comic-Con, San Diego
C. Mischief at Studio Gallery, San Francisco
D. Up Coming Shows and Events

A. Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages
Over the past decade, graphic novels have exploded in popularity with children and teenagers. The Cartoon Art Museum’s latest exhibition, Storytime! Graphic Novels for Kids of All Ages, features the work of ten influential cartoonists whose work broke new ground in bookstores and libraries, with special emphasis on the creative processes used by the individual artists. Visitors are invited to peek over the shoulders of the creators and follow along from the first sketchbook doodles all the way to the printed page.

Highlights of Storytime! include:

A behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of acclaimed children’s book creator Mo Willems as he shares production art from his book Elephants Cannot Dance!
Classic tales from Little Lulu, drawn by Irving Tripp and written by Virginia Hubbell, including never-before-seen thumbnail sketches and typewritten scripts
Larry Marder's Beanworld, a compelling fantasy with profound insights into themes of ecology, culture, and art; a most peculiar comic book experience
Stan Sakai's Eisner-winning samurai epic Usagi Yojimbo
Smile (A Dental Drama), the new autobiographical graphic novel set in San Francisco, by Raina Telgemeier, artist of the Baby-sitters Club graphic novels
Harvey Award-winning cartoonist Lark Pien's children's books Mr. Elephanter and Long Tail Kitty
A sneak peek at Dave Roman's upcoming comedic sci-fi graphic novel Astronaut Academy
Eisner-winning creator Hope Larson's newest graphic novel, Mercury, an engaging combination of history, romance and magical realism
Jeff Smith’s epic cartoon/fantasy BONE, which redefined the world of graphic novels. Smith’s contribution to Storytime! appears in the latest BONE graphic novel, Tall Tales, published by Scholastic

Cartoon Art Museum
655 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA
exhibiting June 26 – November 14, 2010
415-CAR-TOON - www.cartoonart.org
Hours: Tues. - Sun. 11:00 - 5:00, Closed Monday

morning warm up sketches

B. Comic Con
Summer brings a mad heap of work to my desk, a good chunk of it usually owed to Comic Con. Along with comics and Long Tail Kitty plethora, I will be hosting a new entourage at booth P1:

Cyclopean Kids – striped jersey’d giants who love sports, cake and giraffes
Planetaries – little guys who like to investigate weird stuff, but are otherwise bored with life and each other
Mr. Elephanter – a mustached man who takes care of baby elephants at an orphanage

I will also have 4x4 critter paintings. I have enjoyed painting these small oil portraits (for seven (7!) years now, but will be ending the series soon in order to pursue a new direction in art. If you are a collector of these paintings, definitely stop by to see this series as it rounds to a close.

Comic Con
111 West Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 94608
Preview Night, Wednesday July 21st
Convention Days, Thursday July 22nd – Sunday July 25th
Table P1 in Small Press
www.comic-con.org

night shift assignments

C. Mischief
It’s rare to see work by Thien Pham and I in the same gallery, but now you’ve got your chance! Thien will have lots of gun (bang! bang!) art on display, and I’ll have my Planetaries. If I can convince him we might even submit a joint piece to the show.

This is a large group show consisting of 2-D and 3-D work, all sympathetically priced at $400 and below.

Mischief at Studio Gallery
Characters, Critters and Cartoons
July 21st - August 15th, 2010
Reception Sunday, July 25th, 2-6 pm
1815 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
www.studiogallerysf.com

actual size
(see my flickr page for more of these guys)

D. Upcoming Events and Projects
I’ll be taking a break in August but will be back again in September for the SF Zine Fest (September 4th + 5th), for Korean Culture Day (September 19th) at the Asian Art Museum SF, and for the release of my new children’s book Mr. Elephanter (September 28th). Will keep you posted!

Until then,

Three cheers for summer!

xo

lark

zzzz

***

new work

2010-06-22T01:31:00.000-07:00

The Mischief Show
July 21st - August 15th, 2010
reception - Sunday July 25th, 2pm-6pm

at Studio Gallery, San Francisco
www.studiogallerysf.com

slumberparty

no fun w/o u

***

abstracts

2010-06-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

^

***

Interview - Commonwealth Club podcast is up!

2010-05-25T10:09:00.001-07:00

^

the podcast for the recent discussion on Graphic Novels is now online and available for free download-and-listen!

Rise fo the Graphic Novel
GENE YANG, ANDY HARTZELL, LARK PIEN, DASH SHAW
Moderated by Summerlea Kashar, Director for the SF Cartoon Art Museum
panel discussion recorded on April 26, 2010
http://www.commonwealthclub.org/archive/

***

READING! - At Pegasus Bookstore

2010-05-25T09:45:00.001-07:00

^

Kick off the Memorial Day weekend plans with a reading and slide show presentation of comics, comics, comics! Join six Bay Area cartoonists, Trevor Alixopulos, Rina Ayuyang, Ben Catmull, Josh Frankel, Renee French and Lark Pien as they showcase their comics endeavors!!

Comics Over the Edge
A Six-Cartoonist Reading Event
Thursday, May 27, 7:30pm

Pegasus Books
2349 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA
www.pegasusbookstore.com

Trevor Alixopulos - Author of The Hot Breath of War
http://hautejunk.blogspot.com

Rina Ayuyang - Author of Namby Pamby, Whirlwind Wonderland
http://rinaayuyang.com

Ben Catmull - Author of Monster Parade
http://bencatmull.blogspot.com

Josh Frankel - Author of Water Column and other silent sealife stories
http://hungryforbrains.com

Renee French - Author of Soap Lady, Tinka, The Ticking
http://reneefrench.blogspot.com

Lark Pien - Author of Long Tail Kitty, Mr. Elephanter
http://larkpien.blogspot.com

Mr. Elephanter, Picture Book
7 1/2 x 7 7/8 32 pages, Ages 5 and up
Watercolor
ISBN: 978-0-76364409-3

the mini comic

the children's book
click here to reserve a copy

***

fun

2010-05-21T14:03:00.002-07:00

dad captured this moment at the zoo

just got a wii fit and it's awesome! i love doing reps with my mii after being cooped up at the computer all the morn'.

been busy as all heck, but there are some fun things to look forward to: 1988 gallery show with lou romano's artwork, the maker faire, and a tour of pixar all in the next week!

mom found a comprehensive copy of Chiesa dell'Autostrada which i'm all in a tizzy for. i'm ready to go back to Italy just to see this church again.

a few more pictures of my mom's garden this spring. lots of birds have decided to nest at the house this year.

***

oort

2010-05-04T09:47:00.001-07:00

short stories i have yet to complete -
Oort
Accidental
Elevator
Succubus

current projects -
ETs dreams
SFTW
custom presents (+3)
commissions (+3)
lollygag
storytime exhibition
boxer rebellion

things i've gone to this year that i liked
canvas underground dinner
the museum of jurassic technology
los angeles cemeteries

***

such is life, long tail kitty

2010-04-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

^

i don't really know what happens to LTK once he's released into the world, but friend and fan pam noles kindly linked me to her blog, with a report of her LTK's whereabouts. read more about it here!

***

SHOWS! - Stumptown etc!

2010-04-21T15:38:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY and SUNDAY April 24th/25th - STUMPTOWN!

click and make bigger

new stuff here! meaty meat charts! 3-color silkscreens, your choice of lamb, beef or pork.
also, long tail kitty puppets and totes, along with the blue storytime books.

here's a map

MONDAY April 26th - INFORUM!
Rise of the Graphic Novel - a panel discussion
at the Commonwealth Club, in San Francisco.
Guest authors Dash Shaw, Gene Yang, Andy Hartzell, and Lark Pien
595 Market Street, 2nd floor
Monday April 26th, 6pm
http://www.commonwealthclub.org/INFORUM/about.html

WEDNESDAY April 28th - ARTSHOW!!
Art Opening at
Periscope Cellars Urban Winery in Emeryville, CA
1410 62nd Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
Opening Reception April 28th, 6pm-9pm
Monthly Art Reception May 14th
http://periscopecellars.com/

***

and... done!

2010-04-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

^

wondercon finished in a torrent of rain, and though the traffic was bad, the drive back was still fun. the tunnel near angel island was totally flooded and made for a surreal experience. it felt like we were on a water ride in Great America or Disneyland; our stomachs a little tight, and giggling a little each time our car hit a waterfall (runoff from the road stacked above us). i worried a little that we'd be crushed in a sudden collapse of concrete.

during the show debbie gave me a kinder toy that she didn't want (too creepy) and it's now my most favorite toy (it's perfect!). i am wondering what to name it. i LOVE it.

another highlight was meeting geoff darrow who was very kind and nice to speak with - he recommended stephen chow movies to watch and i wrote them down on the back of my badge. i just realize now that i have mispelled his name, that there is only one 'f'. geof darrow.

shaolin cowboy drawn by geof darrow
hard boiled was one of my favorites in college

i can't think of anything else to write except that the weekend was rather run, but that maybe this will be my last year in the convention circuit. about time to become a nomad again.

***

Show! - Wondercon, Stumptown, Balls Out!

2010-04-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

here is the little bird newsletter for April.

April Events
xoxo from littlebird

Happy Spring everyone! Trees are blossoming, birds are chirping, sun and rain are sharin’ the sky… hope you are finally waking from the long winter slumber just like I am! April is a super busy month, so let’s get to the nitty grittys straight away!

A. Wondercon, San Francisco

B. Periscope Wine & Art Show, Emeryville

C. Stumptown, Portland – Balls Out bonus!

D. INFORUM at Commonwealth Club, San Francisco

E. Long Tail Kitty wins 1st Place!

F. Up Coming Shows and Events

A. Wondercon in San Francisco

What kind of show is this? People like Judd Winick, Darywn Cooke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicholas Cage and Jerry Bruckheimer will be there. if you like special movie previews and Hollywood fluff, this is a show for you! visit the website for more details on schedules and signings.

I will be tabling at artist alley with original art pages, LTK mélange, and more. A special Naruto one-two punch by friend Mark Miyake and me will be making its debut! (see flyer)

Wondercon, Moscone Center South Hall

find me in Artist Alley, under my Little Bird Books banner, in aisle AA047

747 Howard Street, San Francisco

on April 2^nd, 3^rd, & 4^th

This Friday 12noon – 7pm

Saturday 10am – 7pm

Sunday 11am – 5pm
http://www.comic-con.org/wc/

A note on additional art - LTK art will continue to be shown at the Studio Gallery in San Francisco. http://studiogallerysf.com/About_STUDIO_Gallery.html You can ask Jennifer the shop’s owner, any questions you have about acquiring LTK art, Lark art, et al.

Or just write me an email if you’re interested in setting up an appointment for art sales or commissions.

B. Periscope Cellars in Emeryville

Periscope Cellars, winner of one Gold and three Silver medals in the SF Chronicle Wine Competition are hosting a gallery show! Come for the wine and the weird, creative arts of the East Bay. This show features science fiction and fantasy themes so you will see more of my creepy work here….

Periscope Cellars
1410 62nd Street
Emeryville, CA 94608

Show opens April 15^th – May 30^th

reception date TBA

http://periscopecellars.com/

C. Stumptown, Portland – Balls Out bonus!

I’ll be tabling with Rina Ayuyang at Stumptown! Both of us will have our books and spanking brand new minis, and I’ll be moderating special guest Craig Thompson’s panel. DIY lovers should come to this show.

As a bonus, one of my abstracts will be in Bwana Spoons’ massive BALLS OUT gallery extravagana. There are too many cool artists to list here, and Amanda Visell, Jill Bliss, Farel Darymple and Tim Biskup are but a sampling. If you are in Portland, definitely stop by to see all the awesome art at the Grass Hut gallery.

STUMPTOWN at Lloydcenter Doubletree Exhibit Hall

April 24^th and 25^th

10am to 6pm

1000 NE Multnomah Street

Portland, OR 97232

http://www.stumptowncomics.com/home

BALLS OUT! at the Grass Hut gallery

April 2^nd – 30^th

reception April 2^nd, 6pm - 9pm

811 East Burnside

Portland, OR 97214

http://grasshutcorp.com

D. INFORUM at Commonwealth Club, San Francisco

I get nervous when it comes to public speaking, but love the fact that we have public forums, like the ones hosted by the Commonwealth Club. INFORUM has featured a slew of interesting speakers (Spike Lee, Malcom Gladwell, Chuck D, to name a few).

If you’re curious to know more about the Phenomenon that is comics in the literary market these days, please come to hear our discussion on writing, drawing and the graphic novel. Panelists include Dash Shaw (Bottomless Bellybutton), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), Andy Hartzell (Fox Funny Bunny) and myself.

As I get older these kinds of public contributions grow in their significance and meaning to me, as I hope they do for you too.

INFORUM at The Commonwealth Club

April 26th, 6 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program, 7:30 p.m. book signing/reception

595 Market Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

http://tickets.commonwealthclub.org/auto_choose_ga.asp?area=1&shcode=1727

E. Long Tail Kitty – First Place!

On March 9^th, the Bookbinders Guild of New York awarded Long Tail Kitty First Place at the New York Book Show in the Juvenile Graphic Novel category, hooray!

Now go and get yourself a copy of this blue ribbon winner :) !

F. Upcoming Events and Projects

Thien Pham and I are participating in Delicious, Studio Gallery’s annual group show on food. Thien’s planning a meaty surprise. And I’ll be silkscreening butchery charts, so if you like food and like to cook, keep a look out for this one. Coming in May…!

Gene Yang and I are now officially on schedule to complete the first volume of his book, The Boxer Rebellion. Go time!

I’m working on a small assignment with the SF Asian Art Museum’s Korean Wing. Look forward to more stuff for kids later this year.

Happy Spring!

***

week in LA

2010-03-17T01:42:00.000-07:00

visiting jen

spent a week in LA visiting a few friends and doing art research. the Korean exhibits at the LACMA helped improve my understanding for Korean culture, which i really need for an upcoming project with the SF Asian Art Museum. tried my hand at life drawing again but felt more creative than disciplined and drew cartoon versions of the model instead, drawing her with clothes on rather than naked....

model

lacma

seeing paintings up close was a good kick in the pants. i dug the dutch still lifes and hunted down a georges de la tour (found it down a long corridor in the very last wing). also seeing some popular pieces by klee, kandinsky, twombly up close really made a difference in my perception of painting. went to studio today feeling confident again - something that had been absent all winter long.

enjoyed the spontaneity of joseph beuys - wish i knew this guy when he was alive. in contrast also loved the work of ernst barlach which was grounded in traditional illustration and narrative media. saw some pretty bad art as well, but woke up each morning with a slew of ideas.

learned how to play bananagrams and set (awesome game, why was it not invented sooner?), made jen do online crossword puzzles with me. read anais nin, henry miller, indy japanese comics, Ice Haven by clowes. met a lot of animals and babies, never concurrently, however.

girlfriends and dogs

back at home, a nice email from my publisher* was waiting for me, and a few neat packages too. now time to catch up with, well... everything! a lot on my plate and looking to stack on even more.

*Long Tail Kitty wins first place!

***

more sketches

2010-02-28T16:53:00.001-08:00

^

***

good, despite the rain.

2010-02-27T01:01:00.000-08:00

^

today was extra fun because i got to hang out with the very engaging Nick Abadzis. we went to the california academy of sciences, then hopped over to tartine for a break, made a slight detour to retrieve an impounded vehicle (mine, of course), and in record time made it to japan town and went bananas in the Kinokuniya pen shop*.

for more Nick, click!

for those of you who don't know, Mr. Abadzis is the cartoonist author of Laika, and also many children's books in Britain. this is shorthand, really, the tip of the iceberg. you will have to visit his website for a more complete list of this man's accomplishments. it's been great to hear his recent adventures (he's been on a lecturing tour), his work (a new graphic novel), & his thoughts on people, art and the semi-nomadic lifestyle.

nick under a catfish

*Kinokuniya stationary store, where there are so very many pens and brushes to choose from.

***

where's the art?

2010-02-24T07:36:00.001-08:00

my desktop - i'm doing color tests for gene yang's next book

i don't usually surf popular channels on the net but recently decided to give hulu a try. i watched some cartoons, and thought 'oh, it's okay, i can deal with commercials i guess. the pictures are nice.' but when i searched the hulu catalog it was startling to see only one show appear under the 'arts and culture' catagory. i repeated my search several times just to make sure i wasn't mistaken. it's bad enough that it's a single episode on style (hot fashion, to be exact), but that its all by its lonesome just makes me think the worst. maybe there isn't any public interest in 'arts and culture'. maybe it's not entertaining enough a topic to be on hulu. maybe hulu can't make enough money off of it to be worth its while. i don't know. i've decided to return to my old ways - sans commercials, art everywhere. see you around, hulu.

in the studio

thien is working on a comic proposal (left) in our studio. i'm working on a commission (right) for a neuroscience researcher. i love this brainscience podcast series by Ginger Campbell MD, it's hawt. i listen to it while i'm working, in studio, in the car, at home. thien gave it a try but it's not doing it for him.

here are a few other places online i've recently visited and liked, i hope you like them too.

the music band Fridge (one member is also Four Tet)
you are going to die - a reading by vito acconci, text by timothy furstnau
the cat maru blog (the first time i've ever looked at a cat site, scouts honor!!)
the commonwealth club, a non-profit national public affairs forum
and
cut out artist mikito ozeki

Mikito Ozeki / Cut Out from mikitoozeki on Vimeo.

littlebird news - february post!

2010-02-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

^

i've decided to post my littlebird news fliers on the blog when the newsletters go out. if you'd like to be on my mailing list please write to me at larks.hrududu@gmail.com and request to be added, thanks!

***

podcast interview with the Comix Claptrap

2010-02-10T00:57:00.000-08:00

(The Comix Claptrap - Rina Ayuyang and Thien Pham)

here i am, sounding like a muppet.

if you want to know a little more about how i make comics click here!
http://comixclaptrap.blogspot.com/2010/02/lark-pien-season-2-episode-3.html

thank you rina and thien for the interview!

***

newsarama interview!

2010-01-25T20:53:00.000-08:00

http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/01/25/interview-lark-pien/

a brief interview with newsarama was posted today on their blog, yay! for the full read, visit here.

thank you Mr. Henry Chamberlain for the interview. thank you julian and miles for the long tail kitty drawings!!

***

sketches from the Asian Art Museum, SF

2010-01-12T15:52:00.001-08:00

^

thank you for the invitation, jennifer. we loved the visit!

***

2009-12-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

forgot to put our holiday card up on the blog this year!
happy 2010, everyone!
*coke = coca cola, in ref to TP

did some fun stuff in december, made an extensive german dinner for the parents, rendered some tasty pork fat from the schweinshaxe after poaching. made a chocolate mousse + ganache cake for the inlaws and some t-shirts for the sushi guys down the street. the mailbox was flooded with holiday cards a la babies. a few dared to send pictures of their cats.

schweinshaxe with bone in and crispy skins

went to see up in the air with thien. read the Road in a sitting and then went to see the movie. both were good. Fantastic Mr. Fox i went to see earlier, would see that one again. got hooked on reading vagabond by Takehiko Inoue and when i ran out of chapters i started up One Piece. Eiichiro Oda is a mad creative genius. his characters have me giggling at every turn of the page. started playing the Zelda Spirit Tracks but had to stop because of work and deadlines.

saw some family and saw some friends. spent one day eating every 1.5 hours in san francisco. by 9pm i was clearly defeated.

have about a week to finish a new BAB project (another children's comic reader!) and a few more weeks than that to finish the mr. elephanter cover for Candlewick. all other artwork is done and delivered, yay! did a lot of thinking for SFTW and think i'm just going to have to simplify. what i want to do is too big for a first GN project. if it was an art installation i'd say sure, make it giant, but it's got to fit in a book format, right? um... i don't want to be practical.

BAB brainstorm

spicecake thumbs

lastly, i like grizzly bear. thank you thien for all the cool musical presents. happy 2010.

***

late fall

2009-12-01T21:02:00.000-08:00

around my neighborhood

around yosemite around thanksgiving

around tokyo around thanksgiving around four years ago

***

SHOWS! - LTK at STUDIO, Booksigning at Comic Relief

2009-11-05T11:22:00.001-08:00

^

just a few quick announcement for shows and signings coming up!

Original Long Tail Kitty watercolors (excerpts from the book!) available at:

Studios Gallery
1815 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA
415.931.3130
www.studiogallerysf.com

LTK activity panels come individually framed in 3x3 shadowboxes. They'll be available from November 4th to December 23rd at the gallery. Not all of the panels are on display however, so if you don't see the one you want please just contact me.

***

Book Release Party at Comic Relief!

2026 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA
510 543 5002

Booksigning on Saturday
November 21st
4 pm - 7 pm
with Rina Ayuyang - author of Whirlwind Wonderland
and Lark Pien - author of Long Tail Kitty

For non-east bay dwellers, Comic Relief bookshop is very close to the Berkeley BART station. Bring your kids, your family, friends, cats etc. and come join the fun. Special guest DJ : Trevor Alixopulos!

***

october was o.k.

2009-11-03T03:24:00.001-08:00

^
October was a month of solid work, and i find myself wondering when exactly was it that i started viewing anything related to comics as work. November isn't any less busy, but at least now i've acclimated and am going at a good clip. On the front of the stove now: painting commissions and candlewick.

My sister visited mid-month and made some super neat things. she has an arbeit apron which has one of the coolest kermit buttons of all time.

above: jane prepping long tail kitty totebag lining, silkscreened by thien
below: jane sewing with cherry dr.P and roll of sewn tote handles in foreground

janes totes on display at APE
my nice neighbors were (at left) Batton and Jackie of Supernatural Law
and (at right) Rich Koslowski of many comic titles!
photos by rina ayuyang

i didn't walk around APE this year (though i wanted to) but instead spent most of the weekend with family and and the GEEGAR gang. love those guys! highlight was seeing one of my favorite ex-bands, the jesus lizard, at the Fillmore on saturday night. i think thien was slightly traumatized by the experience.

photo by Peebot

this month has also been thoroughly entrenched in marathon eating. Thien cheffed stuffin' sized portions of meat: sweet pepper and pork shoulder stew and slaughter fresh ("please lisa, i thought you loved me!") lamb chops. i've baked a bunch of goodies: choco chip and cocoa nib sour cherry cookies, german apple cake, strawberry poptarts all from scratch.

pop tarts before baking

after APE andrice arp and i went to seasalt and stuffed ourselves to the hilt with raw oysters, lobster rolls, sauteed sturgeon (gee i can't remember what else but the table was stacked), and then followed up out of the pouring rain with bakesale betty's shortbread cookies and strawberry shortcake. on the vegetable front, we're now getting a box from full belly farm once a week. the fresh daikon has been a life changing experience. Click the oodles of links here to get the full run down of what these culinary custodians have to offer

***

one of the few homemade costumes
we saw in the parade this year

Halloween coincided with great weather - dragged my husband to the top of the cemetary after the town's parade, had him huffing and puffing the whole way up. view was a little hazy, but still amazing - the bridge was closed at the time, and i wished i brought my binoculars to check out the progress in repairs. Said hello to a few friends before heading back to quarters in the shade. Went for another brief round of fun later that night at the MoLo but came back early to meet my deadlines and snuggle with this furry thing.

*

October Occupation

2009-10-02T11:36:00.001-07:00

panel from the apartment
(personal work)

lots of things going on right now, all very different from one another. it has been a real challenge to juggle and balance each project so that nothing gets left behind, but having to do the work has been a pleasure. when i think of the freedom i have to create whatever it is i'd like, i feel really lucky.

i have a slew of stories that i've been working on, but they probably won't be done in time for APE. in reaction to long tail kitty - the book release, i have turned inward and looked for solace in more personal, unpublished stories. not that i don't like long tail kitty, or that it is now a book-book. but for myself i acknowledged the character and his stories a long time ago and that was enough. in an official hardbound, published format he's now turned over to the greater public, a cumulative figment of opinions, perceptions and reactions. while this itself is an exciting-to-observe phenomenon - the conjuring of spontaneous change of the work through the consumption of the masses, (and to be fair it's even a good way to test my mettle) - i feel a distinct disconnect to the occurence itself. this is procured from self-will, i know; i am merely disinterested. being alone and simply working is tremulously addicting, insatiably gratifying.

cityscape sketches for Mr. Elephanter children's book ( my work - publishers' work)

thumbnails for Stories from the Ward (my work for the publishers)

illustration for APE
participation for community and comics
(shared work)

a page from Monster Box #3 mini-comic (joint work with thien pham)
comics... what a way to light that fire

in between the working hours i've tried to branch out some. Kid Koala's been touring and his live performance with the Slew is great energetic sound spectacular. Allison Bechdel's Fun Home elicited a trip to the comic store in search of a hardback copy. i cannot express in words how deeply this story and its execution resonated for me. i joined Facebook, albeit barely. a neighbor has invited me to take weekly walks and get some sun and exercise. our first venture was to the top of Mountain View Cemetery, where we watched the entire bay sparkle and wave.

all the while, i make many mundane discoveries. like this one: i've got Naruto hands. the likeness is uncanny! i don't usually see hands like this in cartoons - cartoon hands usually end in beautifully spatulated fingers, being long and expressive, if not exaggerated. i wonder if masashi kishimoto are like mine or if this is from some other reference. anyway, i like how Naruto is drawn. the bodies, hands and feet are realistically proportioned and the lines are very clean.

now that i've written about all i can about work, i really ought to get back to doing it. meetings and commissions this afternoon, deliveries if the day lasts long enough. pick up some neutral gray paint for the spot on the wall.

***

Long Tail Kitty! et al.

2009-09-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

published by Blue Apple Books
distributed by Chronicle Books
available in bookstores and comic shops

Long Tail Kitty, the full color book is available in stores now. pre-orders through Amazon should be delivered already, or are well on their way to their set destinations. thank you Blue Apple Books for making this project with me, and taking the risk to produce a comic book! you are the bee's knees.

***

upcoming signings and shows

The NCIBA - Northern California Independent Booksellers Association trade show

Oakland Convention Center

1001 Broadway

Oakland CA 94607

Friday, Oct 9th i will be signing at the Chronicle Booth @ 1pm
Chronicle Booth, #117
Entry fee required, but books and signings are gratis

poster illo by y.t.
design by gary sassaman
click for a larger version

The APE - Alternative Press Expo
the Concourse Exhibiton Center, San Francisco
620 7th Street
San Francisco CA 94103

Saturday, Oct. 17 11am - 7pm
Sunday, Oct. 18 11am - 6pm

i am a guest at APE this year, ramifications being a panel interview and a few other things that make my shy self very nervous. come for new special Long Tail Kitty goodies made by my sister Jane, and zines made by pals Mark Miyake and Zuniga. i'll have some new minis and prints too, some real exciting unexpected doozies, that's a promise. we'll be on the main floor, on the left hand side.

a print for APE, if i can get my act together

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2009-09-03T19:36:00.001-07:00

small meadow

swallow sorrow

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redhead, etc.

2009-08-25T19:59:00.001-07:00

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bzzt-burt

2009-08-10T02:57:00.001-07:00

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Show! - Mischief + Comic Con

2009-07-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

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Comic-Con is here again, and i'll be at the show with bats, Wednesday through Sunday, tabling at P1. see www.comic-con.org for the bona.

ALSO

MISCHIEF - local group show
of creatures, critters and characters

July 15th through August 9th, 2009
Reception Sunday, July 19th, from 2pm to 6pm

at Studio Gallery
1815 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
415.931.3130

wood, gouache, chipboard etc.

gouache pencil and ink

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mr. elephanter studies

2009-06-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

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this week

2009-06-23T00:51:00.000-07:00

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drawing bats, elephants, fishie dispensers, teen titans, apes. all for different projects. this is about half the actual list. too much going on right now. gah.

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6x6, 5x7 paintings in progress

2009-06-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

got back on the bat paintings, the finish line now in view

also a few more robots and animals

will be ready and for sale at san diego comic-con
if you want, holler before then

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long story, a few more sketches

2009-06-13T10:05:00.001-07:00

thien thought i was drawing Panthro

cool vessel heads at the MET

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East Coast trip

2009-06-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

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planes cabs friends kids and baby wine and beer
MoCCA business parties Mazzuchelli old friends posers offal fireball icecream
hotter buying college buds birthday books pico pico baseball product launch and logos
family rental cars new england chowder old lyme jamestown newport mystic marblehead newburyport sleepy after sundown burger the 9A vs the 9
coffee MET unlimited ride plane forever traveling
cat meowed many times

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Show! - MoCCA, nyc

2009-05-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

click and make bigger!

June 6th and 7th at the Lexington Avenue Armory
one of the best indy comics festivals ever
i'll be there, eating truffled eggs and sellin' comics

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Karapo!

2009-05-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

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brain is tired

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TCAF was fun!

2009-05-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

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* didn't bring a camera so i have to borrow other people's photos. i've posted links to their blogs/websites/flickr pages, so please visit them when you've finished reading here.

jason shiga and derek kirk kim
(photo from derek kirk kim, link here)

i went to toronto to spend time with friends in comics, many who i only see because of comics. though i continue to miss being in the architectural practice, i am convinced that cartooning is now my work and life.

the toronto reference library
(photo from derek kirk kim, link here)

kept expecting a Truffaut moment to unfold but it never came. it was so frantic inside that i forgot to draw a picture of it. this is a reference photo derek took for me at the very end, once the tables and exhibits were all put away.

saturday evening was spent with a few first second guests, at sassafraz in townsville. later that evening a pianist wearing a t-shirt with screenprinted tux stepped up and played some incredibly bad music. if he was rolf the dog from the muppets i would have loved it, but he was not. over drinks artists doodled in one another's sketchbooks. i drew on emmanuel guibert's blotting paper, but got so into it i forgot about socializing. after a while he told me to keep the paper. i think i will send it back to him, now that i'm done. maybe he will draw something on top of it.

here is a well-known video featuring the chicanery of emmanuel guibert, but if you haven't seen it, you should:

sunday breakfast
(photo from derek kirk kim, link here)

took it a bit easy on sunday, went for a swim before returning to the library. gina gagliano looks very good in this photo. the fellow with the voluptuous beard is alec longstreth - i didn't recognise him practically the whole weekend. the beard confused me. the fellow in red is emmanuel guibert. the gal at the end of the table is writer cecil castellucci. she and i had an interesting conversation about candlewick and children's books.

sunday evening cohorts
(from the photos of joe lambert, link here)

was very happy to meet this group of people. we had dinner at a café together and had a grand time. (left to right: alexis frederick-frost, scott c., chuck, dustin, melissa, kristin). not in photo but at the dinner table: joe lambert, shiga, derek kk, graham annable)

an excerpt:
if the green goblin dropped my favorite van gogh painting and a baby from the brooklyn bridge
which one would i save? i said the painting and got a real bashing from my friends. ccs-lass suggested i use the painting to save the baby. i said if the baby went through the canvas it would be all for naught. the risk would be just too high.

not shown above is joe lambert, who was busy taking the photo. he wrote/drew a terrific story that featured cavemen and caveman lifestyle.

visit joe's website

the after party was fun too, filled with foosball and all other kinds of nonsense.

Magic did not interest many at TCAF, at least not my magic

doodles at the ROM gallery

inked them later during KidKoala's music jam monday night

spent a good portion of the following day in the company of kean soo and jason shiga, we ate some good quick and dirty chinese food. hadn't had that in a long while. there was enough time for me to stop by the Central for a Kid Koala jam in the evening. (it was a real pleasure to meet him. at the library we traded all our books and cds with one other.) he had four tet ready to play but i had to leave before then, alas. he did play fridge just as i walked in, a real treat. i look forward to when he tours here again on the west coast.

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Little Bird News - May June July

2009-05-05T15:10:00.001-07:00

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A. and C. - TCAF and comics

walk with me in the early spring rain

my new mini comic - you are i am magic is debuting at the Toronto Cartoon Arts Festival this weekend. if you want one, give me a holler! the first 50 are printed in color.

^

i'm excited about this!

totally into drawing at a live kid koala night, can't wait!!!!

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B. Lingering LTK

what happened to long tail kitty? the publisher changed their printer which pushed the release date back. i am hoping to see a copy of the book by june. let's hope hope hope. Amazon preorders are still available. for those of you who have ordered a copy thanks so much for your patience, and i'm sorry that the book is late in coming.

LONG TAIL KITTY
Reading level: Ages 4-8 (but really, any age i think)
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Blue Apple Books
Library Binding edition
ISBN-10: 1934706442
ISBN-13: 978-1934706442

what we look like while waiting
for the LTK book to come out

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D. moahhhh stuff!

there are more shows in june and july! which i will be at!
MoCCA, nyc is June 6th/7th this year.
SDCC - san diego comic con is July 22nd to July 27th.
i'll also be showing work again at the Studios gallery for their summer Mischief show, July 15th to August 9th.

if anyone is wondering what happened to san francisco's APE show, it has moved from the spring season to the fall. this year it will be held in october.

visit my flickr pages for less writing, more pictures!

thanks for visiting!
xo
littlebird

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long story, a few more sketches

2009-04-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

there are several storylines running through this graphic novel. here are a few sneak peeks.

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miscellanies

2009-04-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

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juggling a lot of things at once, wishing i was back on that island. i can see why so many people run away there. didn't do many good drawings while on vacation, just noodled about. this was the only one i liked, mostly drawn on the planeride back home. couldn't sleep even though it was the middle of the night. of course.

a cardinal under an australian pine

a drunken sketch of a camel's head while
watching Planet Earth the first night.
on a side note, the chapter on caves is amazing.

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doodles for a three investigators fan in germany
it's been fun (and hard) writing in german!

this person wanted a comic or an illustration. when i first started the ideas i had were really dark - people getting murdered in all sorts of creative agatha christie kinds of ways. the ideas eventually lightened up, became more playful.

the three ??? eventually find an exotic vial
that causes them to grow some robust beards.

left to right: bob, jupiter, pete
beloved characters by Robert Arthur

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other projects include the FS graphic novel

the children's book with Candlewick:

another proposal for a giangantor book company

a new minicomic for TCAF:

and who knows when long tail kitty, the book will be out. i am going to stop guessing....

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long story finally

2009-04-06T01:43:00.000-07:00

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working on the long story, while still on the children's book. size of this project is daunting, but i'm really starting to get into it now. still pretty difficult to draw thumbnails without drawing completely, but will probably start making sense to the editor soon, thank her for being patient. LTK release date is set back again to June, due to a change in printer. in the hands of the publisher now, i don't get all this scheduling stuff.

some thumbnails

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SHOW! - Custom Vinyl Pushers at Munkey King, LA

2009-03-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

visit munkey king for the real thing

lil bat body, lil crow face

they're also carrying puppile posters so if you want one, here's where you can get it!

18x22, 5-color silkscreen

xo
lp

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new start

2009-03-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

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got a new sketchbook and am so, so happy about it. writing a new story but it gets pushed to the side for other umpteen million things. looking forward to showing it to everyone when it finally comes together.

the story of my best friend

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6x6 bats

2009-02-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

underpaintings

sketches

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