584: Don’t Shrink

Boot: When you have a marginalized identity
The world wants you to shrink. Physically, psychologically…
 
I was never good at shrinking.
 
Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Lisa Jenkins, Kate Webb, Matthew Noe, Sandra M. Odell and Erik Owomoyela.
 

581: What are you thinking?

Ben Okri is a wonderful Nigerian author and poet. I stumbled across his work in my last year of university and was one of the things that helped a fire stay lit inside me when I was so very tired and grieving the loss of my mother.
Thing 1: Ben Okri said, “Nothing is more difficult that knowing what you think.”
The Things look at each other.
Thing 2: That’s a good one…
Thing 2: I think…
 
Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Lisa Jenkins, Kate Webb, Matthew Noe, Sandra M. Odell and Erik Owomoyela

580: Struggle for Dreams

I was thinking about a conversation I had recently, and other conversations I’ve had where people seem to trend towards futility and corruption as the reasons why we should not try for more.
Sometimes folks tell you something is impossible, because it is hard and unrealisitc. People struggled and even died for the vote hundreds of years before that dream was realized. Thank heavens they did.
Sometimes folks tell you that because the few will use something for corrupt purposes that the many should not benefit. Some people twist and corrupt electoral processes. That does not mean that human beings should lose their votes. That calls for election monitors and enhancing structures where all get a say and have a security of life that makes them less vulnerable to coercion.
 
Boot:
I fight for dreams that will never be realized in my lifetime.
And that makes the struggle all the sweeter.
We stand on the shoulders of giants.
May we broaden our shoulders for the generations to come.
Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Lisa Jenkins, Kate Webb, Matthew Noe, Sandra M. Odell and Erik Owomoyela.

Celebrate Diverse Beauty (Comic #573)

This comic is inspired by Aikido and the desire to celebrate beauty more diversely. I told someone at my dojo how beautiful his sword work was. I think platonic beauty is not a compliment men get often, which is a bit sad. I tried to explain it, I don’t think I did a great job, though I added “it’s so pretty!” to my explanation. There is a beauty in focus, attention and purpose. A beauty being absolutely present to the thingness of things, the strength, wisdom and skill to attend to it. It’s pretty! And exciting! We should celebrate beauty more in all its forms and for all genders.

And so, when it came to embodying that ideal in a comic, who better than Bunson and Boot?

Celebrate Diverse Beauty Comic Transcript

Bunson: I think you’re beautiful
Boot: What? Why would you say that?
Bunson: Because it’s true!
Boot: What does beauty mean to you?
Bunson: I like how you focus on stuff dn do stuff. When you zoom you zoom. When you spend time with me you spend time with me.
Bunson: It’s lovely and pretty.
Bunson: Boop!

Bunson frolics away

Boot: Beautiful… lovely … pretty…

Thanks to all my patrons and special big extra thanks to Kate Webb, Matthew Noe, Sandra M. Odell and Erik Owomoyela.

564: The Stories That Shape Us

Wishing you joyful stories and transformation.

Thing 1: Would you like to hear a story?

Thing 2: Yes.

Thing 1: It’s about transformation.

Thing 1: How what we love and how we love.

Shapes who we are.

 

With love to the books and pets who shape our lives.

 

Thanks to all my patrons and special big extra thanks to Helen, Dennis, and Ralph, Sandra Fowler, Matthew Noe, Sandra M. Odell, Erik Owomoyela, and Stacy & Alma Smyth.

We’ll be at the Rollergirl Art Show in Seattle on December 17

17 December at 11:00–15:00
843 Hiawatha Pl S, Seattle, WA 98144-2823, United States

I’ll be selling cards, calendars, stickers, prints and three comics. You can stock up for Christmas with the All Ages comic collection “Hello World”. You will also be able to get my not quite so all ages collection “Songs Dreams and Nightmares” and the anthology “Dreams of Tomorrow”.

Facebook event link https://www.facebook.com/events/375322279567868/

“The roller derby community is filled with talented artists. This is our first event showcasing the art of our talented skaters, and photographers.

Fans can choose from a wide variety of hand-crafted goods and events including original art, jewelry, and much much more!

Our lineup of artists include:

– A.Cup Killer, mixed media
– Betsy Nails, comics
– Dirty Little Secret, ceramics, soaps and body products
– Jo Jo Stiletto, Jo Jo Stiletto Events
– Killer Bee-otch, Winegirl Wines
– Lydia Brewer, RAW Power
– MoanWrath, crocheted items
– Nerd Rage, mixed media
– Sami Automatic, Automatic Designs
– Sirius Mischief, Kick Glass
– Star Struck, personal stylist and shopper
– Teeny Mussolini, block prints

The show is free and fun for the whole family! We look forward to seeing you!” 

Things Hello World Collection in Australia

Australian fans can purchase Hello World from the fabulous independent comic book store Impact Comics. They have done so much to support Australian comics and local artists that I actually prefer it if you purchase from them instead of me directly!

Thank you all for hanging out with the Things.

“Hello World” now available at Dragon’s Hoard

You can now buy my collection, “Hello World”  Dragon’s Hoard in Silverdale, WA, USA.

Woohoo! They just told me they have sold two copies already ^_^.

Go grab a copy!

 

The Things will be at GeekGirlCon!

We’ll be part of the Horrific Miscue booth at G127. It will be great to see you there and anyone who is a Patron who comes up and says hello gets a Greetings from Seattle poster or a Bunson Hoppydew Sticker!
SEPTEMBER 30 & OCTOBER 1
GeekGirlCon takes place at The Conference Center, located at 8th and Pike in downtown Seattle, WA, right across the street from the Washington State Convention Center.

Throwback Thursday/Friday AND Amazing Tattoo!

Throwback Friday is Throwback Thursday if you feel asleep on the floor of your lounge room (not even the couch) and don’t press post until Friday.

Sometimes I was so tired when I was drawing the things I just couldn’t even color boot! It bugs me and I always want to go back and fix it… but there are many things to do in the NOW.

Comic “462: Boot You” has finally been colored and updated!

And, and! This now exists in the world.

I am without ink and I’m not sure I ever will be. I’m so honored someone would love one of my characters and like my art enough to decide it would be permanent art. Boot will always been in my heart, and now other places too.

Thank you for this honor, Sandra Odell, author of many fine and gritty tales http://writerodell.com/ and half of Dragon’s Hoard https://www.dragonshoardwa.com/