Bear Pit

[bearpitzines]

DISBANDED

Bear Pit Zines has now DISBANDED.

THANK YOU everyone who has supported the project over the years. BPZ achieved what it set out to do as an open forum for comic and zine artists in the Bristol area aimed at encouraging collaborative projects and strengthening Bristol’s DIY arts/comix/zine culture.

Collectively we've put together 12 issues of a fantastic zine, put on 5 brilliantly successful zine fairs, and met so many amazing people. BPZ might be disbanding, but we're definitely still making!In different forms, and in different guises.

Zine ya' 'round!

[bearpitzines]

BEAR PIT ZINE #12 - CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

**CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS** BEAR PIT #12 Just a quick one to get it all official- most of this was covered in the email last month, but here we go: Bigger and better is the plan for this one. Theme: “REFORM” Deadline: 6PM, FRIDAY 21st AUGUST 2015 Zine Format: The zine content is in black and white, but greys print out well. As we’re going for perfect binding, we need more pages! As such we’d ask that, if possible, if the minimum page count is about 4, and the maximum is 12. Only one submission per contributor please. Paper size: The zine will be printed on A5 with full bleed. Your artwork should fit within these dimensions (148 x 210mm), plus a 4mm bleed around your image (making it 156x218mm). If you’ve any questions regarding ‘full bleed’, and/or need a template, please email. Submission Format: Please send your files as .psd, .png or .tiff, and at no less than 300 dpi. One file per page. Contents: All contributions take the theme of ‘Reform’ - you’re free to interpret this as you will. Although we do emphasize the comic/sequential-art nature of Bear Pit Zines, any combination of words and pictures will be considered. Finally, we are open to submissions from any and all, but we do ask that the contributor and/or their work retain some kind of connection to the city/area of Bristol. Printing & Distribution: When all submissions are in, as per usual we will ask contributors to place and pay for pre-orders (at cost-price). Cost price per unit will be approximately £2.00. Issue #12 will be launched at the 2015 Bristol Comic and Zine Fair (October 3rd). Cover: We need someone to do the cover: It can be full colour, black and white or anywhere in between. It's really up to you. If you have any ideas, get in touch, but do remember there can only be one! Apologies if you don't get picked this time. It'll be A5 format again, but as we're hoping to have a spine again, we'll let you know the exact size nearer the print time if you're picked. Please send your submissions to [email protected] And please distribute this far and wide!

[bearpitzines]

New Zine! New Meeting! New things!

Hello zinesters,

Two bits of news!

BEAR PIT 12

Here at BPZ HQ we've been having a bit of a chat about the future of the zine. We've been going nearly FIVE YEARS, and we want to shake things up! We want to return to the bigger, longer format of Bear Pit 10 As such, Bear Pit Zine 12 is going to have a theme of Reform. Something to reflect the changes we're starting. We're looking for some longer stories this time, 4-12 pages.  We'll have it out in time for the Bristol Comic and Zine fair on October 3rd, so you can have until August 21st to submit your entry, just to allow for all potential situations when we come to print!

A proper call for submissions will follow - for now, get thinking!

THE NEXT MEET-UP

We're also changing the meetings a bit. We're pulling them out of the pub and making them more regular. We want to bring everyone together to talk zines, comics, drawing, whatever they want - not just Bear Pit. We want to hold a regular space for people to come up with ideas, new projects, or just to meet like-minded people. So come join us on Wednesday 8th July at 7pm at Roll For the Soul (http://www.rollforthesoul.org/) for the next meet-up! Bring pens and pencils if you want to draw, or just come and talk zines and comics. It's a perfect time to get to work on your entry for issue 12 or chat about the zine you're thinking of making.

Come say hi, we're friendly! Bear Pit Zines 

[bczfair]

We’re delighted to reveal our poster for this year’s BCZF! Designed and drawn by the very talented Mike Driver. Check out his work here!

Don’t forget, you can apply for a table at the zine fair until Tuesday 19th May at 6pm. Full details here.

[bczfair2]

SAVE THE DATE!

Bristol Comic and Zine Fair will return to The Station in 2015.

After another great year for the fair, we’re delighted to announce that BCZF 2015 will be held on Saturday 3rd October at the Station, our home since 2013. Expect the usual mix of artists, makers, writers and publishers from the UK’s vibrant DIY scene. We’ll be opening applications for tables in the Spring, so watch this space for news.  It’s also our FIFTH BIRTHDAY and we’re hoping to do a few exciting things so watch this space for news about fundraisers, parties and more. As well as this tumblr, you can keep up-do-date with all our news on…

Our website

On Twitter

On Ello

Our newsletter

[bearpitzines]

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS - BPZ ISSUE #11!

Theme: “LINE” Deadline: 6PM, SUNDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2015 Zine Format: The zine content is in black and white, but greys print out well. If we’re going for perfect binding again, we need plenty pages! We won't force you though, so how about a 2 page minimum, and a maximum of 8. Only one submission per contributor please. Paper size: The zine will be printed on A5 with full bleed. Your artwork should fit within these dimensions (148 x 210mm), plus a 4mm bleed around your image (making it 156x218mm). If you’ve any questions regarding ‘full bleed’, and/or need a template, please email. Submission Format: Please send your files as .psd, .png or .tiff, and at no less than 300 dpi. One file per page. Contents: All contributions take the theme of ‘Line’ - you’re free to interpret this as you will. Although we do emphasize the comic/sequential-art nature of Bear Pit Zines, any combination of words and pictures will be considered. Finally, we are open to submissions from any and all, but we do ask that the contributor and/or their work retain some kind of connection to the city/area of Bristol. Printing & Distribution: When all submissions are in, as per usual we will ask contributors to place and pay for pre-orders (at cost-price). Cost price per unit will be approximately £2.00, judging by issue 10 Please send your submissions to [email protected]

[bearpitzines]

Bear Pit Meeting - theme discussion for 11

Hey all, Its been a little while, but its time again for a BPZ meet-up! When: 7:30pm, Wednesday the 3rd of December. Where: King William Ale House, 20 King St,l BS1 4EF We're going to start  full steam ahead on the next issue, but for that we need a theme! If you have any ideas but can't make the meet, let us know and they'll go in the hat for discussion. It'll also be the first meeting with Graham Johnson as editor so come and say hi and get to know him. Do ask if you've any questions, Hope you can make it! Bear hugs, BPZ

[bearpitzines]

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS - BEAR PIT #10

It’s been about 3 and a half years since the debut of Bear Pit Zine, and we’re thrilled to be announcing the call for submissions for issue #10! As usual, all comics, illustration and other forms of sequential art are welcome! Because it’s a special occasion, we’ve been digging around trying to work out a way that we can produce something that looks a bit special but at about the same price. And guess what, we’ve come up with something we think you’ll all love... Issue #10 is going to be a perfect bound book! Theme: “PLACE” Deadline: 6PM, SUNDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2014 Zine Format: The zine content is in black and white, but greys print out well. As we’re going for perfect binding, we need more pages! As such we’d ask that, if possible, if the minimum page count is about 4, and the maximum is 8. Only one submission per contributor please. Paper size: The zine will be printed on A5 with full bleed. Your artwork should fit within these dimensions (148 x 210mm), plus a 4mm bleed around your image (making it 156x218mm). If you’ve any questions regarding ‘full bleed’, and/or need a template, please email. Submission Format: Please send your files as .psd, .png or .tiff, and at no less than 300 dpi. One file per page. Contents: All contributions take the theme of ‘Place’ - you’re free to interpret this as you will. Although we do emphasize the comic/sequential-art nature of Bear Pit Zines, any combination of words and pictures will be considered. Finally, we are open to submissions from any and all, but we do ask that the contributor and/or their work retain some kind of connection to the city/area of Bristol. Printing & Distribution: When all submissions are in, as per usual we will ask contributors to place and pay for pre-orders (at cost-price). Cost price per unit will be approximately £2.00. Issue #10 will be launched at the 2014 Bristol Comic and Zine Fair (October 4th). Please send your submissions to [email protected]

[bearpitzines]

Bear Pit Zine #9 Is Now Available From the Online Shop

Ahead of its official launch on Friday the 18th of July at the Illustration Pizza Party at the Crofters Rights in Bristol, BPZ#9: Compulsion is now available via the Bear Pit website: bearpitzines.tumblr.com/zine

[bearpitzines]

We're having a party to launch Bear Pit #9 and raise funds for the Bristol Comic and Zine Fair!

Drink, dance, eat, draw, be drawn! Pizza! Beer! Special deals!

Friday 18th July at Crofter's Rights in Bristol. 7pm - 2am.

[smoo-deactivated20210215]

BRISTOL COMIC AND ZINE FAIR 2014: Table Applications Open

Table applications are now open for BCZF 2014. Apply here!

[bearpitzines]

**CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS** BEAR PIT #9

We would love to have your submission to Bear Pit Zine #9. As usual, all comics, illustration and other forms of sequential art are welcome! Theme: “Compulsion” Deadline: Sunday 4th May 2014 Zine Format: The zine is in black and white, but greys print out well. Due to increasing demand for space, max pages per submission is now 4; minimum is still 1. (Within these limitations, we have no bias regarding length). Only one submission per contributor please. Paper size: The zine will be printed on A5. Your artwork should fit within these dimensions (148 x 210mm), HOWEVER, this issue will be printed with FULL BLEED, so if you are planning to draw to the edge, you can provide a 4mm bleed around your image (making it 156x218mm), and either mark in the file or let us know you've included bleed. If you've any questions regarding 'bleed', and/or need a template, please email. Submission Format: Please send your files as .psd, .png or .tiff, and at no less than 300 dpi. One file per page. Contents: All contributions take the theme of 'Compulsion' - you're free to interpret this as you will. Although we do emphasize the comic/sequential-art nature of Bear Pit Zines, any combination of words and pictures will be considered. Finally, we are open to submissions from any and all, but we do ask that the contributor and/or their work retain some kind of connection to the city/area of Bristol. Printing & Distribution: When all submissions are in, as per usual we will ask contributors to place and pay for pre-orders (at cost-price). Cost price per unit will be approximately £1.60 (this includes the colour cover). For this issue there will also be additional distribution at the Bear Pit Zines fundraiser event (in late May) for our 2014 Comic and Zine Fair (October 4th). Please send your submissions to [email protected]

[bark-cc]

Call For Submissions

Hi. My name is Max, I’m a 9 year old boy. Me and my friend Reuben really want to riase £100 so we can buy a acre of rain forest. We thought of lots of different ways to raise money like a cake sale or washing cars but we thought making a comic would be way cooler.

We would love people to send in possible contributions to our comic for cool kids who love the planet. The theme should be the rain forest and the comic should ideally be two sides of A5 but no more than 4. We are just sorting out printing but Reuben’s dad is hoping that we can do the whole thing in colour (he’s a graphic designer so knows lots of people who print things). We are hoping to agree the content during the Easter holidays so if you could send your submissions by the beginning of April that would be epic. We are open to all suggestions including short stories, poems, colouring in pages but no spelling tests.

Submissions can be sent to my Dads email address jimlad at brianrecords dot co dot uk.

Depending on how many submission we get we cannot guarantee all submissions will be included in the comic but we will post any unprinted submissions on this website.

Finally to raise even more money we would love to auction off your original artwork, we hope that’s OK.

Do not forget to check for updates, online comics ,pictures and maybe even videos.

[bearpitzines]

Bear Pit contributor JimLad has an awesome son who has an awesome friend and together they're making a zine of comics to raise money to buy an acre of rainforest. They're looking for contributors, so read on for more info...

[smoo-deactivated20210215]

THIS IS THE NEWS: THOUGHT BUBBLE THIS WEEKEND

I’ll be at Thought Bubble this weekend. I’ll be in New Dock Hall at table 170 with Nick Soucek (we’re listed as Things in Panels) and Ian Williams.

I’ll be selling…

Grand Gestures. Published in May 2013 by Retrofit Comics, this is a 44 page silent story about falling apart and putting yourself back together. Review here. £4

Holiday. April 2013. A 32 page zine about a holiday to Spain. Mountains, rivers, beaches. Happy. Review here. £2

Blinking/Twitching a new split zine drawn with US artist Warren Craghead. I wrote him a poem and he drew me a picture and we each made a comic from it. UK debut, originally launched at SPX September 2013. £2

SMOO 5: May 2012. Stories about the sea, stories about being sad, stories about fishing and stories about coping. A memoir of being 21. Features in Andy Oliver’s 'Ten UK Small Press Comics You Should Own 2012'. £3

SMOO 6: Nov 2012. Life in change, reflecting on new routines, old memories, new houses, holidays and swimming late at night in the rain. Smoo #6 featured in Richard Bruton’s Top Ten Comics of 2012. Review on The Comics Journal here. £3

SMOO 7: July 2013. Bumper issue! Childhood, fields, forests, empty mansions, looking back, trying to move forwards. Comes in a package of 3 zines, a map and a letter.Review here. £4

Assorted badges, featuring geese, cars and my head. £1 or maybe free with a purchase. We’ll just have to see…

Also, making its UK debut…

Driftwood City by Jason Martin

This is a new collection (review here) of early and recent comics by California-based zine maker Jason Martin. Jason has been publishing deceptively disarming autobiographical comics of simple potency for a number of years. He wrote the entire final issue of Papercutter and won an Ignatz nomination for his efforts. He’s a great artist and this is a wonderful way to be introduced to his work: £8

See you there!

[bluephoria]

Hey you guys! This is where you can find me and my coursemates at Thought Bubble in Leeds this weekend! We will be there under the name ‘Break a Lead' and we've got two tables. I will have zines and prints and postcards with me. Also, this is my first ever convention - I am so STOKED! Please come say hi!

[bmure]

Dudes! Me and my course mates are going to be at this convention selling good stuff (including the twin peaks fanzine). I ain’t got much printed but I’ll be there drawing and selling sketches both days, so come say hellooooo!

[uweillustration-blog]

Hello you fans of Break a Lead. A few of us will be at Thought Bubble this weekend, selling zines, comics and prints. Linnea Holmstrung Ljung made this handy guide of where to find us. We’re really excited to see you, come and find us in both halls!

[bearpitzines]

Issue #8 - Call for Contributions

We would love to have your submission to Bear Pit Zine #8.  As usual, all comics, illustration and other forms of sequential art are welcome! Theme: “Attachment” Deadline: Sunday 19th January 2014 Zine Format: The zine is in black and white, but greys print out well. Max pages per submission is 6; minimum is 1. Only one submission per contributor please. Paper size: The zine will be printed on A5, and your artwork should fit within these dimensions (148 x 210mm).  We would recommend drawing bigger and then scaling down to these dimensions if you can. Submission Format: Please send your files as .psd, .png  or .tiff, and at no less than 300 dpi. One file per page. Contents: All contributions take the theme of 'Attachment' - you're free to interpret this as you will. Although we do emphasize the comic/ sequential-art nature of Bear Pit Zines, any combination of words and pictures will be considered. Finally, we are open to submissions from any and all, but we do ask that the contributor and/or their work retain some kind of connection to the city of Bristol. Printing & Distribution: When all submissions are in, as per usual we will ask contributors to place pre-orders. This will give us the total number that will be printed. These are then distributed to contributors at cost-price (to then do with as they please). As we're going with a colour cover, cost price per unit will be approximately £1.35-£1.50 . Please send your submissions to bearpitzines(@)gmail(.)com.

[bearpitzines]

Cartoonists: GET INVOLVED with the pre-zine fair party!

On Friday 4th October, Comic Book Slumber Party are organising an amazing pre-Bear Pit Zine fair shindig at the Crofter’s Rights in Stokes Croft. There will be pizza, there will be beer, there will be drawing!

There’s also going to be some live comics reading and performance and we’re looking for people to get involved. Here’s the call for info from co-organiser Andrew Godfrey:

“Calling all comic creators! As part of this years Bristol Comics and Zine Fair I {Andrew Godfrey} will be hosting (alongside Comic Book Slumber Party and OFF LIFE magazine) a short comics and performance slot at the pre-party at The Crofters Rights on Friday the 4th. I am looking for about five performers (you can do it as a pair or group if you like) to perform a five minute comic or sections of comic/s leading up to 5 minutes. This will involve powerpoint although if you feel like being more creative let me know and we’ll see what can be done. Previous comic performances done in Dundee have involved musical instruments, singing, audience participation, costumes, and running around. For more information on what this event entails check out this article by the guy I stole the idea of stealing the idea off, Damon Herd.

If you think you’d be interested contact me at [email protected] outlining your idea (specifically your technical requirements) and some images from your comic. Also feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.

http://comicsforum.org/2013/08/21/comics-and-performance-from-chalk-talks-to-carousel-by-damon-herd/

Let Andrew know if you’d like to get involved!