Mentor/Mentee Get Together in CBD Sydney

[Soon]

Wow! I didn't think Streetwize was around anymore? Do they have a website or something you could point me to?

http://www.streetwize.com.au/publications.html

[micma]

as god is my witness i am not missing the next one. plus i heard the beer there is good.

[Laocorn]

I'm lazy so sue me...

whens the next one exactly?

[maggie]

April 12th, Royal Exhibition Hotel (just across from Central station, exit down past the platform 25 stairs, Chalmers Street, the hotel/pub is right across the street to the right). Head out to the garden seating in back.

[comixnut]

yesterday i called Jozef to tell him that i was really interested in coming to this get together but that i still work on tuedays until late and there is no way i could make it on time (not unless somebody comes via ryde aquatic center and wants to pick me up at 7:45pm *L*).

Anyway after making some changes in my life when it comes to creating good habits i am now ready (and more or less desperate before it drives me insane) to add comics to those habits. So what i asked Jozef and what i want to know here is: anybody looking to partner up with somebody to make comics?

What i am looking for is looking seriously simple to me these days, and i am hoping to find somebody else along the same lines. I do not want to get published, i do not want to make any money and i definitely don't want to be famous. I could care less if anybody on a large scale will read my stories or not (they will either be good enough to get attention or not). I however have an almost desperate need to tell stories in graphic format. So if anybody wants to get together once every week/fortnight/month (don't really care, as long as it is regular) and actually work on a comic story then would you please let Jozef know (or me of course by replying).

I have stories that whomever wants to get together with me will help me with and i will return the favour in anyway and every way i can. These meetings would in a perfect world be actual working meetings. So we would actually be working on the comic rather than just talking about it.

Sorry to come on so strong with the request, but i need some help and i am eager to give help.

Again sorry if it was too strong. *S*

[Matt Elder]

might be able to make this one. Might be back in Australia in a couple of weeks. Maggie, if you are coming along and I can make it, could you bring some of your inking gear? I'd be interested to see what you use and how you do it?

[Doctor Radium]

What time the meet? I'm (urk) no longer a gentleman of leisure as I have managed to bribe my way into the big bad world of publishing (it's amazing where photos of my... mangina will take me!) and I may have to worketh late...

[maggie]

Dear crazy giant chicken,

People generally start showing up in the 'after work' period, So some time after 5 or 6. They last anywhere from 9 to 10 and I once heard tell of one running til midnight.

It would be srumdillyumptious if you came to this one!

PS - Matt, I'll bring my inking sturf fo shizzle. I was very sade you weren't in the last one.
Maggie to Mattg: Did Matt Elder make it?
Mattg: I don't think he's even in the country!
heh

[maxint]

I've been attending the Mentor/Mentee get together???s and thought I leave my impressions here for anyone who is considering coming along. The project I take along is a 12 page mini comic that I've been working on in stolen moments for over a year now. I have myself pegged as a comic hobbyist and have been sheepish about sharing my sketch book with more established artists but at our meetings I can hand my work around and I get a good idea of which sketches are working and which aren???t. I want most of all for my comic to be understood and I get a good idea of which drawings are confusing and also of which images catch people???s attention and which ones get passed over. Also I am someone who has fifty different interests and the monthly meetings help keep me focused on my comic above all the other hobby interests I have. I then spend more time on comics and my project progresses.

Spending time amongst people who have successfully completed projects exposes me to people's roughs, thumb nails, character development work etc that are all part of the craft of comics. Seeing people???s simple rough thumb nail page layouts makes it easy to see how people use them to quickly nail down stories visually before investing time in more detailed drawings. Last meeting I tuned in on a discussion about inking and learned enough from the pros about brushes, inks and art supplies to know how to set myself up for inking. Also last meeting I went through ???Miss B???s??? sketch book and was surprised to be inspired by a sketch of street sign. It was so neatly and accurately drawn it was fantastic. I???m not drawing street signs but my sketches have been more accurate ever since.

This group meeting so far seems to attracted people who are passionate about their comics and illustrations and also happy to share their experiences and work so when I leave there I???m buzzing. I find it???s a bit like the part of a comic convention where you meet all the Australian comic artists and check out their sketch books and see the ???behind the scenes??? sketches and roughs they used to make their comics. The skill level at our meetings varies widely and so far their seems to be at least someone there each month who???s art is world class. (Particularly at that last one!)

In my experience this group would suit people who are looking for or are working on a specific comic project that they want to advance and complete. In summary my book is on track though I suggest we could turn up the heat even more on all our projects if we spent some meeting time to set up our projects with some basic goals and schedules so we know as a team who???s projects are on track and who could use a boost.
All up it???s been great to be part of such a gung-ho and achieved comic crowd!
Rob

[Jozef]

To the Mentor/Mentee Comic Group:

Thanks to extensive discussions with Robert and Julie, I think the
group is ready to start bringing structure and focus to the evening.

Currently we all get together and start having an informal show and
tell, which in-itself is beneficial and inspiring. With this
inspiration we can go off and hopefully use that inspiration to get
art/story/work done. However this inspiration can flitter away when
there is no outside need to have the work finished.

My intention in running this group is to create a place to combine
inspiration, work sharing, structure and expertise to get our projects
complete. Our experience of comics is then feeling accomplished and
successful and not, 'maybe some day I'll get it done...some how...maybe.'

When we have a job that is paid for by an employer, we finish it,
because we must, because it is our duty, (and to get the money).
Similarly if we are doing an art course, when we have a project given
to us, we need to complete it, otherwise doing the course is wasted.

I'd like to introduce to the group a 3 month schedule (put together by
Robert), so we have structure, and goals for everyone in the group, so
everyone can look back and see that they achieved finished work. So
that the evening is more than just a social event, we need to build a
feeling of duty around our work so that our collective time is not
wasted.

The agenda for the meeting thus far is:

6:30pm Is the starting time for the next meeting.

We will have an hour to "show and tell", and get drinks.

7:30pm We will then look over a 3 month Mentor/Mentee schedule and how
it works.

We will then look at each persons personal project and work with them
on how the schedule can give them a sense of duty and help them achieve
finished work (or pages). Neither of us wants to be wasteful with our
creative energy.

(please bring a work or project that you are either working on or
wanting to commit to work on for this 3 month Mentor/Mentee schedule.
The whole scope of the work needn't be finished in it's entirety over
the 3 months, only the part that is committed to the schedule).

Each month at the meeting, we will follow up on everyones progress.

I hope that this proposed Mentor/Mentee schedule can inspire a creative
group of comic book creators to produce their dream projects.

Best,
Jozef

[Doctor Radium]

Mags - will definitely pluckin be there. Look forward to meeting you all.

Doc

[xaverlex]

Sadly, It doesn't look like I'll be able to go this week on account of having blown way too much money at supanova in brisbane on the weekend.
Hope you all have a good productive time though and hope to make it next month.

[Matt Elder]

back in town and should be along tonight. Look forward to seeing everyone.

[matt g]

Hey Matt,

Good to see you're back, hope the euro-jaunt has proved musefull.

Seeya tonight (hmm I wonder how many the weather will keep home )

Cheers
Matt

[maggie]

I'll be there.

Mattg: Is it raining in yon city? Tis clear here (so far).

*hoppin in the shower*

Maggie