News archive by author
Posted by Josh on December 20, 2012
Midmococo is making some big changes with our meeting time and place. Our previous time and location wasn’t working for most people and we found that most of us had an easier time making it out to Eastside Tavern’s Monday Geek Night.
New time and place
We now meet every Monday night, 8:30pm at Eastside Tavern, downtown Columbia. This is during Eastside’s Drink and Draw/Geek Night.
Thanks to Skip Harvey for letting us make Eastside or official meeting location. I look forward to seeing you there.
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by Josh on April 9, 2012
Local artists Frank Stack, Jeffrey Moore, Byron Smith and Robert Friedman have opened a private lithography company called Grindstone Lithography Workshop. The group intends to revive the print making artform, attract international artist and share knowledge through workshops.
As quoted from their Facebook event:
While enjoying this spring’s Artrageous Friday join us at the new Grindstone Litho Studio and Workshop as International renown underground cartoonist, University of Missouri professor emeritus Frank Stack and artist/manager Jeffrey Moore join with master printmakers Byron Smith and Robert Friedman to help establish a 21st century artisan printmaking revival.
Opening Reception
Orr Street Studio
April 20th
6–9 p.m.
(in conjunction with Artrageous Friday)
Demonstration
A demonstration of the printing process will be taking place the following Saturday, April 21, from 1–4 p.m.
Visit the Grindstone Lithography Workshop Facebook page for more information.
Posted in: Events
Posted by Josh on March 2, 2012
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the creation of Thomas Hart Benton’s Year of Peril series, the controversial paintings from World War II will be exhibited at the State Historical Society of Missouri in its gallery at Ellis Library from March 3 through mid-August.
This priceless collection of eight, large, war propaganda paintings created by Benton at the outset of the U.S. involvement in WWII will be on display as well as editorial cartoons and war posters created by other artists in 1942.
More information and a slide show of the paintings can be found at Mizzou Wire.
Posted in: History
Posted by Josh on April 17, 2011
Hi-Fi Color for Comics instructs you through all the steps needed to color comics in Photoshop. Topics include:
- Scanning comic artwork and combining multiple scans into one large image
- Flats, breaking down images into flat color
- Rendering and painting with light
- Color holds and knockouts
- Color separations with trapping for professional commercial printing and publishing.
It includes step-by-step tutorials on how to do all the topics above as well as a tips and tricks section on how to do common special coloring effects like fire effects, flares, sparkles, glows, muzzle blasts, and more. A DVD is also included that contains all the layered files used so you can work alongside with the book. (The library copy is missing the DVD.)
Some of the information I found useful were the parts on how to set up your digital files. This is great information to know before you even start drawing your comics. It was also the only book I’ve ever agreed with on how to decide whether to set up your documents in RGB or CMYK.
If you are wanting to learn how to digitally color comics, this book is for you. You can find it at the Daniel Boone Regional Library.
Posted in: Reviews
Posted by Josh on March 21, 2011
The classic “How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way” has been updated and expanded into a larger and much improved edition. It now includes information on making comics digitally along with all the other standard comic-making topics.
One of the new, digital tricks I found most interesting was how artists now use Google Sketchup for laying out scenes. With this 3-D tool, you can create, or download, objects to build environments for your characters. Once created, simply place the camera at the angle or perspective you need for your scene and you have the perfect reference photo.
The drawing tips are much better than the old book, but still focus on superheros and costumes. (I’d expect no less from Stan Lee.) If you aren’t doing superhero work, you can skip those parts. The rest will still apply.
I still would not approach this book as a way to learn to draw. It does recommend using real life as reference, but it doesn’t go into much detail on how to render form and light. Anatomy and the human figure aren’t really covered either. If you want to learn to draw, I’d find an art book on the subject, or better yet, take a life drawing class from one of the many colleges in Columbia.
How to Draw Comics is a big improvement over the previous edition and has some great information, but it lacks drawing fundamentals. Maybe if they cut the history of comics section they’d have room for it!
If you really want to know how to draw comics, I’d check out “Making Comics” by Scott McCloud. It’s more comprehensive and covers topics that apply to any comic genera and not just super heroes. Plus, it’s written by a guy who, you know, actually draws comics.
You can check out “Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics” at the Daniel Boone Regional Library.
Posted in: Reviews
Posted by Josh on November 5, 2010
The 24 hour comic event in October was a chance for J.B. Winter to try a unique form of comic creation by light painting. He created 24 panels using a unique process involving a digital camera, plexiglass, and hand held lasers. You can read about the process of creating the comic on his blog. He was also interviewed for the Missourian story about the 24 hour comic event.
Posted in: 24 Hour Comics Day
Posted by Josh on October 7, 2010
Now there are more ways to get your grubby, little mits on the Mid-Missouri Comics anthology Vol. 1.
For $6 you can purchase a copy of your very own at Rock Bottom Comics. Look for it on the local creators rack.
If you are budget challenged, you can also find a couple of copies at the Daniel Boone Regional Library for check out.
As before, you can also snag a discounted copy at one of our monthly Midmococo meetings or by contacting us.
Posted in: Local comics
Posted by Josh on September 23, 2010
After a year in the making, the Mid-Missouri Comics Vol. 1 is in print! The 54-page, perfect bound, anthology features some great work by local artists:
The book looks awesome and the comics in it look even better. Thanks to all the creators who submitted work and thanks to Mizzou Media for doing a great job with the printing.
Copies will be for sale at the 24 Hour Comics Day event for $5 each, so stop by Artlandish anytime between 12 p.m. Oct. 2 and 12 p.m. Oct. 3 and pick up a copy. If you can’t make it to the event, you can snag a copy at a Midmococo meeting or by contacting us.
Posted in: Local comics
Posted by Josh on November 13, 2009
Several people have been working hard on their comics for the anthology, so I’ve got a quick update on the Mid-Missouri Comics Anthology and info about a work night.
Updated deadline
Due to holidays and people wanting to work over the break, the deadline for submissions is Jan. 15, 2010. You can find more info on rules and production in our previous post.
Work night
Want see what everyone else is doing or just show off your awesome work? Then join us at the Mid-Missouri Comics Anthology work night.
Where
Café Berlin
220 N. 10th
Columbia, MO
When
Sat., Nov. 20
7p.m. till late.
Posted in: Events
Posted by Josh on November 9, 2009
When he’s not busy being a graphic designer/illustrator, Gary Lister is churning out the panels for his Web comic Morganna of the Borgs. We got a chance to interview Gary to find out what it’s been like starting a new Web comic.
What are you working on now comics-wise?
I am working on my own webcomic — Morganna of the Borgs Its a story of a young woman who finds herself suddenly and very unexpectedly the only person capable of saving Earth from an alien invasion.
How’s your comic output been the last year? What’s helped or hindered your output?
Being the first year, its still kind of in development — trying to get a stable schedule going. I’ve had a couple of format changes from single panel black & white posts to full page, full color posts. I’m in need of a new computer/design setup so this past month MOTB has been on hold while I knock out some pay illustration work. MOTB will be back on track the first week of November as I make the transition from pencil/ink/scan to 100% digitally created comics. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Featured creators
Posted by Josh on November 3, 2009
For 24 Hour Comics Day, J.B. Winter had a unique spin on the event. Instead of creating a 24-page comic, he created a huge, 24-panel sidewalk chalk strip. How he came up with the idea:
I got the idea for sidewalk comics one day when I was, of course, walking on a sidewalk. Sidewalks are already broken up into panels, so it seemed to me like an intuitive place to make comics. I also liked the idea that it can thrust a comic artist out into public view for immediate feedback and visibility.
Winter outlines his process on his blog, so go see how it was done.
Posted in: 24 Hour Comics Day
Posted by Josh on October 6, 2009
In his attempt to woo the new girl, Opey ends up making her dislike him even more. On top of that he gets some jail-time. What’s a pre-pubesent, antisocial, nuclear warhead, in a post-apocalyptic world to do? Find out in issue 4 of Opey the Warhead.
Miss the first three issues? Look ‘em up in the Opey the Warhead Collection Volume 1.
Posted in: Local comics
Posted by Josh on October 5, 2009
Midmococo’s 24 Hour Comics Day event was a huge success this year thanks to the hard work of Scott. I don’t think it could have gone any better and the space at Artlandish was perfect. Thanks to everyone who participated and thanks to Artlandish for providing the space.
In case you missed out on the event, you can read about it in the story the Missourian wrote: A drawn-out, comical day.
If you did participate, don’t forget to scan your work and publish it on the Web so we can link to it in a future post.
Update: The Missourian also had a photo gallery from the event. The Tribune also gave us some press before the event too.
Posted in: 24 Hour Comics Day, Events, Publicity
Posted by Josh on August 6, 2009
This month’s issue of Vox Magazine features a story about our own inline skating, local super hero, Keeley, created by Keith Chan. In the article, our past featured creator gives insight on how he creates his comic and why he uses Columbia as inspiration.
Fighting crime, CoMo style: Local artist gives Columbia a female superhero
Go read the whole story here.
Posted in: Local comics, Publicity
Posted by Josh on July 5, 2009
Are you a comic creator in the Mid-Missouri area? Want to be published in an anthology? Then this call for entries is for you! We are putting together an anthology of Mid-Mo. comics that will be published via a print-on-demand.
If you’re interested in participating contact us through the Midmococo contact form and get those artistic juices flowing. Read on for more details.
Purpose
To showcase and archive the 2009 work of comics creators in the Mid-Missouri area.
Deadline
Extended t0 Jan. 15, 2010.
Rules
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by Josh on May 11, 2009
Dan Magee is the creator of Bad Guy High, which is featured on the Drunk Duck webcomics website. He’s also done quite a few illustrations for the Maneater during his college years. We decided to throw some questions his way before he graduates from MU this month
1. What are you working on now comics-wise?
For the past five years I’ve been working on my webcomic Bad Guy High. It’s a project that I keep very close to my heart and I want to see it through to the end. Unlike most web and print comics I don’t plan on doing it indefinitely. I have a very specific course of events and ending all planned out, and I won’t give up on Bad Guy High till I reach it. After college I eventually plan on doing a semi autobiographical graphic novel based around the rocky love life I’ve had here at school. I’m just narcissistic enough to believe it might actually be interesting. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Featured creators
Posted by Josh on May 8, 2009
The last comic jam produced robot bump and robot nipples. It was almost too much to handle.
Posted in: Comic jams
Posted by Josh on April 22, 2009
Mizzou Wire has a new feature up about Assistant Professor Tim J. Evans, a veterinary medicine professor for the University of Missouri, who uses an alter ego, The Antidote, to teach toxicology.
“But his over-the-top teaching technique involves a cape, mask and transformation into his alter ego — The Antidote — who appears on slides and in person to promote the study of toxic-plant principles.”
You can read the whole story on Mizzou Wire and find more stories about Mizzou’s brightest and geekiest faculty.
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by Josh on April 5, 2009
Today’s meeting produced a jam that asks the question: How do post modern super heroes and villains fight?
Posted in: Comic jams
Posted by Josh on March 22, 2009
Local comic creator Zac Crockett has just released a collection of the first three issues of everyone’s favorite pre-pubescent nuclear missile, Opey the Warhead.
From the description:
The collection features three issues and a bonus short story, detailing Opey’s various travails, including going to school for the first time, making friends despite his appearance and his first ever crush.
Opey the Warhead is the heartwarming story of a living nuclear warhead and his adventures at an elementary school set in the post-apocalypse.
It’s defiantly a unique and entertaining read and worth checking out. You can get your very own copy on demand from Indy Planet.
Posted in: Local comics
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