Ainsley Olsen Comics @ainsleyolsen - Tumblr Blog

As I'm currently quite engaged with Stefan G. Bucher's book 344 Questions (which is basically a book of self-actualizing lists), I'm excited to discover this site. Lists of Note (related to Letters of Note, which has enthralled me for some time) has plenty of interesting reads, but this one really thrilled this expat. Personally, I can't wait to get home to my Smoothie King.

#Lists #Lists of Note #Letters of Note #Mark Twain #344 Questions #Smoothie King #Stefan G. Bucher

Thanks of course to Fantagraphics, I think I just discovered something fabulous.

#comics #cartooning #fantagraphics #Abstract Comics #David Greenberger

I'm basically enthralled with reading about other cartoonists' processes. Actually, I've been hiding in my studio for over two weeks (this time...), studying Dustin Harbin's process and learning as much as I can. I'm finally up to his posts on coloring and I can't wait to post my most recent efforts soon. I was already obsessed with Ryan Andrews's work when I discovered this post on his blog. I can't wait until I have a few hours (or days... or weeks...) to study this with the intensity it deserves. In my experience, there's no better way to improve my work than by learning from those who create the comics I wish I could make myself.

#comics #cartooning #Dustin Harbin #Ryan Andrews #process #inspiration

For this cartoonist, once a disc jock on a classic hits station, this might just be the best way to honor Davy Jones's life.

#Ward Sutton #Monkees #Davy Jones #Obit #In Memoriam #comic #cartooning

drawnblog

Manga Artist Yusuke Murata Creates the Most Innovative Comic You’ll See This Week

Right now: click the link and view the whole thing. Two minutes of your life, and you won’t be sorry! This isn’t some fancy digital touchscreen iPad app thinga-ma-jiggie. This is pencil and paper, light and shadow, and pure inventiveness. Bravo!

ainsleyolsen

Blown away. Can't even begin to express my awe. If you looked up the definition of "inspiration" in the dictionary, this would be the engraved illustration in the margin.

#inspiration #comics #cartooning #Drawn Blog #Manga #Yusuke Murata

As I put the finishing touches on my next submission, I can't help but celebrate this opportunity one more time.

#cartooning #carte blanche #comics #Ainsley Olsen

So until I can post some more 70s Sitcom Portraits, I think it only fair to tide you over with some examples of life drawing from my sketchbook. Don't remember what spurred me to start this late last year, but for a while there I had a goal to draw from life everyday. Then deadlines overtook my studio practice and poor artisthood overtook my cafe budget, so now I have new daily drawing goals. Still, I love drawing in cafes and go as often as I can. Headed to my favorite spot last week to air out and try something a little different. Got the idea to try drawing with cheap, felt-tip pens instead of pencil from Paul Hornschemeier's portraits (that I happen to be in love with, by the way) and these are my first attempts.

#Ainsley Olsen #Portraits #cartooning #comics #felt-tip pen #life drawing #Paul Hornschemeier #Cafe Kadosh

Another great lesson from David Hockney: If you decided to make it, at least don't feel the need to apologize for it.

#David Hockney #Painting #Art #inspiration #Apologies #NYTimes

artistspaces

Late AND Repetitive? All in ONE post??

Website

ainsleyolsen

Ok so this was posted over two months ago AND I've already mentioned this blog before, but John Martz is a favorite of mine (see very first post on this site) and this Tumblr feed is fantastic, so I just can't help it.

#Artistspaces #John Martz #Late #Repetitive #art spaces #cartooning #comics #inspiration #Where They Draw

I guess I can just thank Dustin Harbin for yet another contribution to my career. For the first time in about 7 years of owning the damned thing, I finally successfully used an Ames guide! The only downside was that I also discovered that none of my friends know what an Ames guide is, so I didn't have anyone with whom to celebrate.

#Dustin Harbin #process #Ames Guide #comics #cartooning #lettering

Ok, so it's probably a little early on in my Tumblr career to start repeating myself, but in James Jean's case I just can't help myself. So kill me. This stuff's awesome.

#James Jean #comics #cartooning #illustration #drawing #Mole E

Just read it. Once you've started, you'll feel compelled to read it all the way through though. Consider this a warning.

#What Things Do #Jordan Crane #Keeping Two #comics #cartooning #Just read it.

I can't help but remember the episode of Seinfeld where Elaine and Jerry debate how far into the year it is appropriate to wish someone Happy New Year. If I recall correctly, They decided Feb. 1 was the limit.

Completely ignoring the wisdom of Seinfeld, I am still posting this "Best of 2011" list (to which I incidentally contributed...). It sure does feel like "Best of Last Year" lists should probably fall under the Feb. 1 rule, but what the heck...

I had the privilege of publishing with Carte Blanche last November (http://carte-blanche.org/pieces-obsessions/) and was given the opportunity to contribute my favorite comics of 2011 for their "Best of" list. Many different types of writers/ artists contributed their favorites of the year from their genre as well, so there's something for everyone.

#Best of 2011 #Carte Blanche #Seinfeld #comics #cartooning

For whatever reason, most of the cartoonists with whom I've held a lengthy (but engaging!) conversation on the subject say that they feel that the writing is more important in their comics than the drawing. I try to treat them both evenly. I feel like that's the whole strength of the medium. (And I'm not saying it's easy. Especially since I don't really feel evenly about creating them both...) That said, I am very excited to hear about this book. I study artists in relation to their drawing far more than writers in relation to their writing, when I should really be concentrating on treating my studies of both just as evenly as my creation of both.

#writing #writers #Brain Pickings #Maria Popova #comics #cartooning

The Dilemma of Being a Cyborg happened to be a very interesting NYTimes article (written by Carina Chocano), but I never would have read it had it not been for the Tom Gauld illustration that adorned the link in the NYTimes app. Tom Gauld is one of my comics heroes and the illustration associated with this article shows the true brilliance of his work.

(In case I didn't make it clear, the article is worth a read as well.)

#NYTimes #Tom Gauld #Carina Chocano #The Dilemma of Being a Cyborg