Poopsheet Review

Hey All-

Here's the latest Watermelon review from Poopsheet Foundation :)

http://poopsheetfoundation.com/forums/reviews/1178-watermelon-and-other-things-that-make-me-uncomfortable-as-a-black-person-by-whit-taylor

News

Hey All-

Perhaps the title is deceiving. There isn't really any news, I guess. I haven't been posting lately, mostly because I'm in my last semester of grad school and quite busy. But I promise that I'll start doing more when I can. There's nothing I hate more than not having the time to draw comics!

WT

Xerography Debt Reviews!

Hey all-

The first reviews for Grab Bag and Watermelon are in! Check it out. I will shortly be putting Watermelon on the site for sale.

http://xerographydebt.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-by-anne-another-whit-taylor-two.html

WT

Froyo

MICE

Just found out a few days ago that I'll be exhibiting at MICE (Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo) this Saturday, Sept. 24th. If you're in the area, definitely come check it out!

SPX 2011 Interview

Here's a link to an interview that I did at SPX. Don't know if the interviewer interpreted what I said as I had intended, but what can you do. Wasn't saying that I don't care about comic book artists not getting credit for stuff they post online.

http://comicsforge.com/2011/09/whitney-taylor-small-press-expo-2011-interview/

Reflections on 'Of Boyfriends Past'

So, just wrapped up 'Of Boyfriends Past'. I had originally said that there were 8 but there were actually 6...the other two must have been imaginary. Anyhow, I've gotten a pretty good response from them, probably because many have been there before. We've been jerks, people have been jerks to us, the time and place have been wrong, one person liked the other more than that person liked them, physical chemistry but no friendship, more friendship than chemistry, etc. Since the comics were written from my perspective, they were obviously my interpretation of what happened; I'm sure some of my ex's might have seen them differently. Some of the relationships deserved 8 panels, while others were more complicated and definitely deserved more than that, but I stuck to my initial guidelines. I think that all of my relationships were learning experiences and had to happen to get to where I am today. This project helped me realize that.

Now on to other things...

Of Boyfriends Past #6

SPX 2011 Recap

Selling comics!

Just got back from the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland this weekend, and my head is still spinning. Two hours before I left for the show, I was fretting about not getting my shipment of Watermelon in, which had just been printed. Luckily it arrived just before I left for the airport. Whew.

The show was insanely awesome. The quality of work there was unbelievable and at times intimidating. Here I was, selling my humble minicomics, alongside some of the greatest comic book artists in the business. But I guess you have to start out somehow. As I was saying to a friend, selling your crap at a comicon or any type of festival is the ultimate egotistical act. You're essentially saying "This is ME! MY stuff is different from the others! Buy MY stuff!" At the same time it is ego crushing, as you sit (or stand) there and have people judge you and your most personal stuff and either take it or leave it. Regardless of whether you do well or not though, I think it's a good experience.

Anyhow, back to SPX. I met a host of people and reconnected with others I had met at previous cons, including fellow cartoonists, press, publishers, and of course the public. To name a few, I had the pleasure of meeting the ladies from Pizza Island (if you don't know who they are look them up!), tabled close to Keith Knight, briefly talked to Jessica Abel, and worked up the courage to approach Roz Chast at the bar after a few whiskies. I also traded comics with a lot of other people and definitely spent to much money. Oops.

Tabling is frickin' exhausting, as you're essentially hobnobbing for 8 or so hours at a time. Luckily my boyfriend Tony came to help me out. It was his first time at a comicon, so I think it was a bit of a culturally transformative experience for him. "It's like a gathering of all the people who weren't cool in high school. I bet I'm the only former football player in here," he said. Probably true. I think he got into it though, as he started making some pretty funny comics of his own (see below).

Tony's tribute to 7-11

I think the best part was talking to the public. The crowd was pretty diverse, with people of different ages, races, professions, and localities. It makes me happy for the future of comic book fandom.

Overall this experience makes me want to become a better cartoonist. I'm committed to it.

Dylan Williams

My next post will cover the awesomeness that was SPX, but I want to touch on something else first. This weekend the independent comic book community lost a cherished member. Dylan Williams, founder of Sparkplug Comics, lost his life to cancer at the age of 39. To give you a background on Sparkplug, it is a small publishing and distribution company based in Portland, OR that promotes independent works from various comic book artists. Sparkplug is unique in that it seeks out many underrepresented artists and looks for a diversity of work. Dylan had a unique eye and appreciation for lesser known talents with a different type of story to tell.

I first wrote to Sparkplug in 2008, when I sent them my first minicomic Reality Televisionary. I wasn't expecting to hear anything back, but received a lovely note from intern Austin English who told me that I didn't know how good my figure drawing was, but that I needed to "complete my work". At first I didn't know what this meant, but learned that I needed to do more shading and coloring to polish the look. Some of the best advice I received.

Since then, I've sent Sparkplug my comics regularly and had the pleasure of meeting Dylan a few times. Last year at MOCCA Fest in NYC, I visited the Sparkplug table with the hope of buying some comics and giving them a copy of my latest minicomic. When I went to hand Dylan my comic, he said "You don't have to buy stuff anymore. Let's trade. I'm a fan of your work". That must have made my comicon. It felt great to be appreciated by someone who I respected so much.

Dylan had been battling cancer for a few years and seemed to be OK, but announced to his Facebook friends about a month and a half ago that he was battling cancer again. I sent my condolences and rallied with the indie comic book community to support him and help him pay his medical bills by buying from Sparkplug. The amount of solidarity in the community was heartwarming. I went to SPX this weekend and felt sad that he wasn't behind the Sparkplug booth as usual. When I got home at midnight last night and checked my Facebook, I noticed from Austin English's post that something was wrong. I later found out that Dylan had passed.

I never knew you that well Dylan, but I want to thank you for all the work you have done for the comic book community. I'm sad that you won't be around to do more and keep building a body of comics for your company. And personally, I'm honored to have met you and received your support. My condolences for your family.

I urge you to continue to support Sparkplug: http://www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com/

Thanks again.

Whit

SPX

I'll be selling my comics at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland this weekend. I'm expecting to get in fresh new copies of Watermelon today and will be selling them for the first time at the show! So excited. If you happen to be in the area come visit. I'll be at table F12.

Also, pretty cool poster right? Designed by Craig Thompson.

Of Boyfriends Past #5

Jerry

Grab Bag!

Here's a pic of the new minicomic, Grab Bag. It's up in the store and will be available at SPX in two weeks!

Of Boyfriends Past #4

Irene

Store!

Hey All-

Just added an online store, so all of my comics are for purchase. Support is always appreciated :)

WT

The Oversharer

Of Boyfriends Past #3

Sasquatch

Recommended Graphic Novel Reading!

Yesterday a co-worker who's into anime asked me to make a reading list of some of my favorite indie/alternative graphic novels/comics. I listed everything I could think of, but for the purposes of this post, I will post my current top 15 of these (in no particular order). Here goes:

1) Blankets- Craig Thompson
2) La Perdida- Jessica Abel
3) Asterios Polyp- David Mazzucchelli
4) Wilson- Daniel Clowes
5) Black Hole- Charles Burns
6) "The Relationship Trilogy" (Clumsy, Unlikely, AEIOU)- Jeffrey Brown
7) Hate Comics- Peter Bagge
8) Night Fisher- R. Kikou Johnson
9) Aya- Abouet & Oubrerie
10) Tricked- Alex Robinson
11) Cakewalk (written by Rachel Bormann)- Nate Powell
12) Persepolis- Marjane Satrapi
13) Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic - Alison Blechdel
14) Goodbye- Yoshihiro Tatsumi
15) Later works (Apollo's Song, Ode to Kirohito, MW)- Osamu Tezuka

Probably missing a lot here, but that was my best early morning effort!

Of Boyfriends Past #2

'Crocus' Review: Rob Clough

A review by well-known comics critic, Rob Clough, from High-Low. Mixed review of Crocus, but hey, enjoy the good and learn from the bad!

http://highlowcomics.blogspot.com/2011/08/diary-and-autobio-comics-harbin.html

Friends with Benefits

Of Boyfriends Past #1

Of Boyfriends Past

Hey All-

I'll be posting a one page comic each week  for the next 6 weeks about a different relationship (or quasi-relationship) I've had since high school. Why the hell would you wanna do that, you say? Well here are my reasons:
-I wanna pay tribute to one of my comic book heroes, Jeffrey Brown. Each of his early comics, such as Clumsy, deal with a different relationship of his, and it's interesting to see the progression of them as well as the patterns when comparing books.
- I thought it would be a fun challenge to try to sum up a relationship in 8 panels. Of course they are more complicated than 8 panels, but I chose important chronological events or random things that stuck out to me from the specific relationship.
-It is interesting for me to learn more about the patterns that I've had throughout my "dating career". Drawing and writing these I've learned a lot of new things about myself.

The rules:
1) 8 panels. No exceptions.
2) No physical likenesses (other than myself), just symbols. And NO names.
3) Get current boyfriend's approval...Check :)

New Orleans

Party Time. Excellent.

iPhone

Small Press Expo

Hey Folks-


I'm happy to announce that I'll be exhibiting at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland this fall! This is the big East Coast con for independent comic book artists and I super excited to be showcasing my work there! I'll keep you updated.


Check out the site:  http://www.spxpo.com/

Update

Hey All-

I've been kind of absent from the site lately because work is consuming me. I will try, however, to start posting more. At the moment I'm toying with the idea of making a pinup book of the 'Extra-terrestrial Hunks'. Not actually toying with the idea in fact...it will happen! Stay tuned :)

Bad Inventions 2

Dreamy!

Watermelon Sneak Peak!

From the TV/Movies Chapter

Done!

Hi All-

I'm excited to say that I just finished Watermelon (...and other things that make me uncomfortable as a black person). Yes, that is the full title. Now I'm sure you have a clue of what it's about. Anyhow, the next part is figuring out what to do with it. I'll keep you updated. I probably won't be posting it online, as I want it to be read as an entire 48 page book.

Now that I'm done with it, expect more one page comics for now. Yay!

-Whit

Domino Books Distributes 'Onesies'

Hey All-

My minicomic Onesies is now available online through Domino Books. Run by comicbooker Austin English, this new comic publishing and distro company offers some very original and innovative work by a variety of artists. Definitely check out the store and the short stories available online. Here's the link:

http://dominobooksnews.com/2011/06/07/a-longbox-full-of-distro-items/

Enjoy!

-WT

P.S. Watermelon is past the 2/3 mark of being done :)

Watermelon

Hi All-

A lot's been going on lately so I haven't had a chance to post, but I am hard at work on my next comic Watermelon. It's a longer form comic that consists of a host of short stories on the topic of race. I'll keep you posted on the progress. I know for sure that it's definitely going to be a commitment. A fun one though!

Bad Inventions 1

Garden State

A pic from the upcoming Destination Anticipation.

Daniel Clowes

Met Daniel Clowes (Ghost World, Art School Confidential, etc.) last night at a signing at the Brookline Booksmith. I asked him the typical question concerning if he had any advice for aspiring comic book artists and he had some great insights. Number one no-no: Don't just send people your website. Send them physical copies of your work!


...and by the way check out his new book Mr. Wonderful. It's a middle-aged romantic comedy of sorts. Great stuff!


http://danielclowes.com/

Britney

Projects

Hi All-

Just wanted to give a brief update on what's going on. Got back from MoCCA a few weeks ago. It was pretty awesome to see so many talented and driven independent comic book artists, publishers, and distributors. It was also illuminating to see the diversity of people who attend conventions like this. My next scheduled comicon is not until the fall, unfortunately. Until then, I have many different projects going on, including:

- Destination Anticipation: This was put on hold for a bit, but I will be completing it during the summer. The story is about of a group of friends who go down the Shore for one night to live the Jersey Dream. Or something like that.

-Regular Comics: I'll be trying to do as many of these as I can, time and ideas pending.

- Two comics in the early stages: Watermelon and Psychotropia. Not going to say what they're about yet!

Till Next Time,

WT

Socks 'n' Such

Creeper

No-no-no

Touche

Comicon Characters

Polygamy

MoCCA Fest!

Hey All-

MoCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art) Fest 2011 will be held this Saturday and Sunday at the Lexington Avenue Armory in NYC from 11am- 6pm. This is a great opportunity to check out indie comic artwork. I'll be selling my comics (Including my new minicomic 'Crocus') and other goodies there. So stop by! Click on the link for more info, including featured artists, vendors, and special guests.

http://www.moccany.org/content/mocca-festival


P.S. Here's the cool new MoCCA Fest poster by Peter Kuper!

Self-Awareness

Meticulous

Boyz Edition

Always and Forever

Done and Done

Wedding Party

Green Apple

Xerography Debt Reviews

Here's a generous review for Official Guide to State Haircuts and Attic. Thanks guys!

http://xerographydebt.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-whit-taylor-two-fer.html

Funeral Box

Risotto

New England Comics

Hi All-

Just wanted to let you know that two of my titles, Onesies and the Guide to Official State Haircuts, are now available at New England Comics in Brookline, MA. Pick one up if you're in the Boston area!

-Whit