Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thought Bubble 2010 review

This year's Thought Bubble convention in Leeds was the best yet. I think it was the best run, best attended convention that I have been to in the UK, an event that showcased great artists of every stripe. With each successive year that I have exhibited (this was the third) I have been busier, and this year I was pinned behind the table the whole time, barely able to get out and look at the other other stalls. I really enjoyed doing a show so close to where I grew up, too, hearing the accents of my youth.

While I couldn't get out and meet as many people as I wanted to, I have some links to people's work that I really liked.

The first one is Kristyna Baczynski, I wanted to speak to her, maybe learn the secrets of her amazing work. Alas she was always busy, but it was pretty plain how good it was. Take a look at this!

In a similar vein is young hero of British comics, Luke Pearson. Luke seems a good man, he is a match for any of the top contenders of the US scene. Rumour has it that Ivan Brunetti and Adrian Tomine are looking over their shoulders in fear as Pearson casts his long, slight shadow across the Atlantic.

I submit the very funny comic stylings of Timothy Winchester without comment, as frankly, he never pipes down.

I bought something fantastic from Octavia Raitt but I can't find a link to where you would get it and I can't tell you what it was as it is a present so I guess no one is the wiser and no one ever will be.

It was a real thrill to meet Simon Gane, an incredible comic maker who, to my shame, I hadn't heard of a few months ago. His work is genuinely inspiring.

And finally, I got a copy of Thank Goodness For Herald Owlett, a comic with a great style that promises much more from its creator.


That is all I can remember, as I am very tired, and very old.

10 comments:

Shaun said...

I have a book of Simon Gane's old punk strips. His art style is quite unique! Very pleased to hear he's still drawing as the only person I know who is a fan is the owner of the record shop who sold me the book...

Nicolas said...

Sorry to interrupt, but you know today's comic. You know the panel where Charlotte is throwing the frisbee?

What happened to her right pinky finger? Was it run over by one of those flattener machines?

John A said...

I don't understand

Nicolas said...

In panel 4, when she's throwing the frisbee, one of her fingers is all like... curled up. It pretty weird, and since I noticed it kinda put me off. Maybe I should point it out to you?

John A said...

Oh right. Well the thing is, Nicholas, it's pretend. It's not a photo. I can draw anything I want. Fingers doing mad things, feet on backwards. It's completely allowed.

Nicolas said...

I know it's pretend, otherwise it wouldn't be any fun at all, but I just wanted to point out what I thought was an error in the comic.

John A said...

I don't really know what to say!

Nicolas said...

So... awkward silence time?

Toyin O. said...

Sounds like you met some awesome people at this convention.

David Streever said...

Oh my. I feel like I did that time I stumbled into a conversation where a first year student was telling the professor that she thought she found a typo in one of her books.