TAC Grant for ORNETTE SPEAKS!

So thrilled I just found out the TAC (Toronto Arts Council) has approved a grant for my next book! "Ornette Speaks" is a graphic novel that adapts avantgarde jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman (1930-2015)'s spoken words to comic book form. It will employ both photo-based and free-form spontaneous artwork to reflect Ornette's experimentation and innovation within which he celebrated the joy of musical improvisational art.

"ROTHKO: A Comic Strip Memoir"also on BiblioBoard!

Wow! My recent book, "ROTHKO: A Comic Strip Memoir" is also on BiblioBoard!

https://library.biblioboard.com/content/77a9e3fb-0943-42a9-9a43-9866e5665d26

"WHAT IS MEDITATION?" now on BiblioBoard!

My book (graphic novel), "What is Meditation?" , is now available in Indie Ontario, a collection of books from local indie authors available exclusively on the BiblioBoard Library mobile and web platform. This collection is available to patrons of participating libraries all across your state/region. That’s right, my book is now available with just one click of a button to thousands of new readers in your state/region!

https://library.biblioboard.com/content/d866f018-0987-498b-ae44-c3f74cadb631

ORNETTE SPEAKS - my upcoming graphic novel mentioned by Ted Gioia on Twitter!

So excited! Author Ted Gioia, whose book "How to Listen to Jazz" changed my life, has mentioned my upcoming graphic novel on jazz saxophone giant Ornette Coleman on Twitter! :)

https://twitter.com/tedgioia/status/1153012956919140352?s=20

ROTHKO available!

Inspired by the life of abstract expressionist painter Mark Rotkho—known for his “colour field” paintings—each episode is a four panel gag strip à-la-Peanuts, using the diagrammatic vocabulary of black and white cartoons to explore Rothko’s complex personality and achievements with irony, compassion and wit.

Where else could you find Rothko teaching kids how to make a dog out of clay, hitting on women at parties and drinking, smoking and listening to Mozart?  Tragedy, ecstasy and doom were the ingredients Rothko recommended for every great painting… whether you love his work or hate it, this book presents a light-handed yet heavy-hitting contemplation of the forces that shaped Rothko, the role of art in our lives and the legacy we leave behind.

Matthew Brown’s previous book from Éditions TRIP Comix released at TCAF last year was “WHAT IS MEDITATION? And Why Should I Do It?,” with an introduction by Chester Brown.

Please send a message to get this cute volume (same size as the old "Garfield" comic collections) for the super affordable price of $10 + postage!

ROTHKO launching at TCAF!

ROTHKO--exploring the tragic, ecstatic life of Abstract Expressionist painter Mark Rothko in 4-panel chapters a-la Charles Schulz's Peanuts--is here!  Please drop by the Éditions Trip Comix table at TCAF (Toronto Comic Arts Festival) this weekend at Table 138... I'll be there between about 12:30 and 2pm on Sat. May 11, and all day on Sun. May 12!  Or, shoot me a message if you'd like to order a copy!  Super-excited... the book looks great and will make a nice addition to your collections of Garfield strips or mid-century American abstract art coffee table books!
My email - teacherintherye@hotmail.com

Front cover

Back cover

ROTHKO coming soon!

My next book ROTHKO if off to the printers today! To be released by Editions TRIP at TCAF 2019! (Toronto Comic Arts Festival.) May 11-12. Hope to see you there!

Front cover

Back cover

I'm now on Twitter!

Yes... please visit me on Twitter, if you like.

https://twitter.com/Matthew41657620

Canada Comics Open Library

The brand new Canada Comics Open Library at the Centre for Social Innovation now has a few of my books! ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT, THE CLIFF and WHAT IS MEDITATION? have been donated. Drop by and check out the space! Awesome.

https://www.canadacomicsol.org/?fbclid=IwAR1ut74EwEmzFS7sCPf985AwsuNV_Asz3ViY9cltINbQ4v3QoM2ljs9GnPQ

MEDITATION and ROTHKO live reading at The Dock on Queen - photos and video!

On Feb. 23 we had a great live reading of both graphic novels - WHAT IS MEDITATION? (already published in 2018) and ROTHKO (to be released at TCAF in May!)  Here are some videos and pictures taken by the very helpful Utkarsh Singh featuring musicians Mikhial Gurarie on bass, Paul Ruston on piano and guitar and me, Matthew Brown on hand drum with character voices and narration.

Thanks to all who came!

VIDEO CLIP and some PICS OF "WHAT IS MEDITATION?"

Mikhial Gurarie, Matthew Brown and Paul Ruston

Mikhial Gurarie, Matthew Brown and Paul Ruston

VIDEO CLIP and some PICS OF "ROTHKO"

Mikhial Gurarie, Matthew Brown and Paul Ruston

Mikhial Gurarie

Mikhial Gurarie, Matthew Brown and Paul Ruston

ROTHKO live reading at Tertulia - photos and video!

We had a great live reading of ROTHKO on Feb. 21 at the fabulous Tertulia Espresso Cafe in Toronto, with musicians Mikhial Gurarie (bass), Adam Reich (atmospheres and textures) and Paul Ruston (guitar), with yours truly playing drum and reading character voices. 

The actual book will be launched by Éditions TRIP Comix at the TCAF (Toronto Comic Arts Festival) on May 11-12, 2019!

Thanks to all who came!  And we had another reading of ROTHKO two days later, along with WHAT IS MEDITATION? I'll post video of that soon!  Meanwhile,

Here's a short Instagram video:

And some photos!

THE CREW: Mikhial Gurarie (bass), Thomas Turrittin (inspiration), Paul Ruston (guitar), Adam Reich (atmospheres & textures), Chester Brown (great cartoonist), Me (Matthew Brown)

The musicians at work.

Matthew Brown, acting the character voices and playing the drum.

ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT and THE CLIFF now available on Amazon-Comixology!

Happy to say the THE CLIFF, 10-year science fiction spiritual absurdist epic and its prologue, my Master's of Architecture thesis graphic novel ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT are both now available as e-books on Amazon-Comixology!  Very affordable price.  Check 'em out!

ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT on Amazon-Comixology: http://bit.ly/2HF7SGl

Architecture Department: The Waters

Depicts the horrors of Architecture School, the end of the world, the origin of the bagel and the city of Varanasi's role as cosmic axis. Readers learn where the world of THE CLIFF comes from and briefly meet Poopsie the Penguin's parents, as well as Mutt Blue's grandfather. Explores themes in Buddhism and Tantra.
This architecture master's thesis graphic novel is a prologue to THE CLIFF.

THE CLIFF on Amazon-Comixology: http://bit.ly/2HEOV6r

The Cliff: Collected Final Edition

THE CLIFF
(2017)
Details exile Mutt Blue's odyssey through various worlds in search of real love, his true Self and samosas. Elaborates the agony of unrequited lust, lost friends and war between talking animals--co-starring grizzled private eye Poopsie the Penguin, lovely bitter novelist Partridge Bark and the King--a mysterious bearded bureaucrat who runs the universe. Continues the exploration of Buddhist, Advaita and Tantric themes found in FEAR ITSELF and ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT.

FEAR ITSELF: Matthew Brown's Comix from 1988-2008 now available on Amazon-Comixology!

My collection of comics stories from high school to architecture school FEAR ITSELF, handsomely collected by Editions TRIP is now available on Amazon-Comixology as an ebook!

http://bit.ly/2RKItzz

"FEAR ITSELF: Collected Strips from 1988-2008

(2012)
Early stories and illustrations featuring Poopsie the Penguin, Honky the Pig, Rebecca Nurse, the King and other characters from THE CLIFF universe--as well as the cast of "Peanuts" spouting Buddhist sutras, plus high school musings on sex and death. Explores themes in Buddhism."

WHAT IS MEDITATION? now available in Indie Ontario

Exciting news! My graphic novel, WHAT IS MEDITATION?, is now available in Indie Ontario, a collection of books from local indie authors available exclusively on the BiblioBoard Library mobile and web platform. This collection is available to patrons of participating libraries all across our region. That’s right, MEDITATION is now available with just one click of a button to thousands of new readers in our region!

Link to the Book

http://library.biblioboard.com/content/99584dcc-98cf-4d5f-ac4f-ba584878d856

ROTHKO and PENGUIN DETECTIVE Live Reading Preview!

Matthew Brown reads from two graphic novels with improvised music by Mikhial Gurarie, Adam Reich and Paul Swoger-Ruston! ROTHKO (due to be published by Editions TRIP of Montreal in May) details the life of abstract painter Mark Rothko in 4-panel chapters a-la-"Peanuts" while PENGUIN DETECTIVE, Book One: "The Case of No Case" explains how Poopsie the Penguin first washed up on the shores of Moronto and eventually became a private detective.

Two very different books, but both share a keen eye for life's profligate irony, beauty and humour in lush black and white with atmospheric music. Thrills guaranteed for all! Plus great coffee and baked goods.

WHAT IS MEDITATION? Live reading!

Please join us for a live reading of my graphic novel "WHAT IS MEDITATION? And Why Should I Do It?" accompanied by musicians Mikhial Gurarie (bass), Adam Reich (percussion/atmospheres) and Paul Swoger-Ruston (guitar) at beautiful intimate venue The Dock On Queen, (932 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1J5) at 8pm-10pm on Sat. Feb. 23!  Super excited.

Includes why I started meditation, interviews with masters Ed Muzika and Fred Prack, helpful pointers, plus dramatic avantgarde and funny artwork!  There is no other event or comic book like this.  A good time is guaranteed for all!