How do you write comics? (Part One - PLOT) + AMBIENT ZERO NOW ON YOUTUBE!

 

Comic books are a form of literature, as every five-year-old knows.  Yet most people forget, so comix creator Matthew Brown engages William Shakespeare, Archie, Betty, Veronica, Frank Miller, Will Eisner, Charles Schulz and Milo Manara in a very fruitful, inspiring discussion on the serious literary artform that comics is... and how to plot one, in just over 1 minute.  Next instalment will explain how to write dialogue.

Music by The Cliff--Adam Reich (percussion,) Alex Cheung (violin), Bora Tekogul (guitar,) Mikhial Gurarie (bass,) Matthew Brown (drums.)

PLUS!  AMBIENT ZERO IS NOW ON YOUTUBE!  CHECK OUT THIS ONLY MILDLY OFFENSIVE COLLECTION OF EXCITING INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS CELEBRATING AND ANALYZING THE GREAT MEDIUM OF "GRAPHIC SEQUENTIAL NARRATIVE," A.K.A. COMIC BOOKS!

https://www.youtube.com/ambientzerovideoblog

 

 

 

 

How do you draw?

Comix creator Matthew Brown on how to draw superheroes, sexy women and penguins. 

Guest-starring Leonardo da Vinci, Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster (creators of Superman,) Christopher Reeve, Spiderman, Wolverine, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Google Image goddesses and Poopsie the Penguin's family.

Music by THE CLIFF - Alex Cheung (violin,) Mikhial Gurarie (bass and stick,) Matthew Brown (drums.)

Where do you get your ideas?

 



Pondering the uplifting beauty of the creative process and shining inspiration that comes from small yet significant everyday miracles, Creator Matthew Brown dialogues with Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, Vince Colletta, Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Moebius, Charles Burns, Chester Brown, Vincent Van Gogh and Poopsie the Penguin.

Work in Progress

Page 22 of THE CLIFF - Book 3: Murder in Varanasi (in progress, part I)

Page 22 of THE CLIFF - Book 3: Murder in Varanasi (in progress, part II)

Page 23 of THE CLIFF - Book 3: Murder in Varanasin (in progress, part I)

Page 23 of THE CLIFF - Book 3: Murder in Varanasi (in progress, part II)

The above pages will both go through more work... and I am excited about the storyline.  Below are a few more photos from my world... hope you enjoy!

The accidentally assembled gods of my workspace...
Poopsie the Penguin, Mark Rothko,
the sage Robert Adams and the Buddha!

Portrait of the Artist as a Young @#$%!!

Anonymous letter to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
(currently embroiled in forced resignation
scandal) posted in a public

bus shelter.  Very pre-Internet!



Damnit Jim, I'm a Cartoonist Not a Painter

The above painting which I did for my mother proves that no matter how tenuous a claim I can make to being a cartoonist, I am definitely more of a cartoonist than a painter.

But either way that encouragement came from both of my parents at a young age, so... thanks Mom!   Thanks Dad!  And an annoyingly early Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah to you all.

How did you do the shading in Pamalarmasnoono?

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO:
How did you do the shading in
Pamalarmasnoono?

Creator Matthew Brown in dialogue with Rembrandt, Frank Miller, Will Eisner, Poopsie the Penguin and Pablo Picasso.

How to Pronounce "Pamalarmasnoono!"

 

 

 

 

 

How to Pronounce Pamalarmasnoono!

 

(An instructional video featuring Poopsie the Penguin

and Creator Matthew Brown)

 

 

This is what the characters of Pamalarmasnoono! might look like if they lived on a planet where they were more slowly drawn.

And now--by lack of any demand, popular or otherwise--those loveable characters--in a world all their own--not of their making, but one we can relate to--at least from certain angles, on certain days, in certain atmospheric conditions--

 

"Right up in Her"

"More Beautiful"

"Texting"

"Just Like They Would"

"Oh Captain, My Captain"

"Straight in the Eye"

"Maximum 40"

"Factoring"

Sketchbook Archives: Part IV (2002) - France and Toronto

These drawings from a 2002 sketchbook capture everything from story ideas to spiritual imagery to cartoons to documentary to portraiture.  Including some drawings of horses guaranteed to leave animal lovers disappointed.

A story idea (I think) - "Penguin in the tree

with the washing machine."

 

"Forgiveness."

 

New heroes?

 

I drew this sitting in a classroom where I was teaching, looking out the basement window.  Now, ten years later, the school building has been turned into condos and I still pass it every day.

 



"The experimental dipping of the chair legs has inspired scientists the world over."

 

This is an early character design for Partridge Bark, who appears in my graphic novel "THE CLIFF-Books 1&2"

 

Heart Center

 

Wild haired chick.

 

Story idea and an autobiographical sketch of Poopsie the Penguin in communion with a tree from which Honky the Pig enigmatically appears. 

I'm not sure if the two were originally meant to be related.

On the GO Train to Oakville, Ont.

 

?

 



Finished tiramisu.

 

My friend Giang in the Paris metro.  This and the next few drawings are from a visit to Giang and his family in Albi, France in 2002.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike in Adam's studio.

Pamalarmasnoono!

I have started a new strip for syndication, "PAMALARMASNOONO!"--for reasons unbeknownst to myself.  Please find the first few strips, introducing an amusing crew as they sit around drinking while engaging in witty repartee, reproduced below...

PAMALARMASNOONO! - "No Such Place."

PAMALARMASNOONO! - "The Trees."

PAMALARMASNOONO! - "Chicken Leg."

PAMALARMASNOONO! - "The Wealthy."

PAMALARMASNOONO! - "Momma."

More of these may come... I'm not sure.

Things to Come

Here is a preview of the upcoming Editions TRIP calendar illustration for February, 2013... with Poopsie as guardian Cupid, Honky the Pig as assassin, Partridge Bark as literary provocateur and Mutt Blue as naked guy with his head in the river.  Kind of a sideways and backwards dream hint to themes in the upcoming chapters of THE CLIFF... Book 3, "Murder in Varanasi" and Book 4, "Heart of Brightness!"

And here is a partial cast of characters from the last three books... (from left to right): Fafa Rotinski, Booboo Rotinski, Anita Rotinski, Sheriff Raymont Raymont, Partridge Bark, Torvek Rotinski, Mutt Blue, Honky the Pig, Laxmi Fan Belt Blue, Rebecca Nurse, Ganga Fan Belt Blue, Sgt. Rajesh and Poopsie the Penguin.

Work on Book 3 proceeds on apace...  I have applied to the TCAF (Toronto Comic Arts Festival) in May 2013, and hope I can get a table there and meet you all!

Launched off THE CLIFF! - Not for the Faint of Heart.

Above is one photo documenting the launch of graphic novel "THE CLIFF-Books 1&2" by Matthew Brown in Toronto on October 6, 2012 at the TRANZAC.

Below, not for the faint-of-heart, is a YouTube link to my father Richard Brown's video documentary of the same event, featuring in no particular order: Mikhial Gurarie, Naomi Gurarie, Richard Brown, Annette Brown, Judy Brown, Neil Gislason, Sasha Gislason-Brown, Jane Turrittin, Vince Kil, Dan Oster and family, Shakya Dorje, Gesar Varela-Koblensky, Fred Prack, Jules Koostachin, Jake Chakasim, Ezra Azmon, Morgan Phillips, Lucy Mouse, Sebastiano Bear, Marek Rudzinksi, Matthew Brown and Quyen Tieu.  Thank you so very, very much to all who came, and to all who were unable to attend but sent their well-wishes.  I couldn't have done it without you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr2j7yl_rS8&feature=em-share_video_user