Here’s the next episode of the collaborative web comic detailing my time as an intern in the DCCS, produced by DCCS artist Rebecca Horner!
Tag: comics
Introducing the Artists: Catriona Laird
Here is the second instalment of our artist profiles project, with interview by Caitlin Mitchell!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Catriona Laird, I’m 24 and I’m from Newport just across the water – I’ve lived there my entire life.
What made you want to become an artist?
I’ve always wanted to be an artist since I was little, but then I actually failed art in secondary school. I had a teacher dragging me round the school, interrogating me about picking a new life choice since it was “a bit late for that” in regards to my artistic dreams. So I turned to science because it was the only other thing I was actually good at. I studied forensic science at Abertay for 2 years but didn’t stop drawing in my notes. It was my grandad who then gave me art lessons, and so I went to the Gardyne campus at Dundee College to create an art portfolio which got me into Duncan of Jordanstone, and now here I am.
Do you have a preferred style of art?
I do a lot of digital stuff – I kind of like blending both traditional and digital art. But since teachers never taught me any digital art I basically taught myself how to do it, so I mainly stick with that since I managed by myself.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I play a lot of piano – I try and find theme songs for games and cartoons and try to learn them, because they’re so easily accessible and I also watch so many cartoons myself! I play for me rather than anyone else so it’s nice to just sit and learn something. I also play a lot of games – probably too many games.
What is your favourite comic of all time?
At the minute I’m really enjoying Saga – I recently started collecting it. Otherwise I have a lot of favourite Mangas, which is what I liked drawing myself. I’ll always have a soft spot for Cardcaptor Sakura.
What is the best thing about working in DCCS?
Having your own space away from home where you can just completely focus on doing the work without the distractions – also being around like minded people. I’ve only just started here but its nice to have this kind of base as it’s sometimes hard to find information, but here you’re in a space just focused on comics which is great if you want any information or advice.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the minute I’m working on some picture books to help my mum’s charity – she helps a school in Uganda called Uphill Primary School. They’re needing books at the moment on very specific topics; I’m doing one on a girl who has to walk all these miles to get to school and her experience of being there, also on things like the importance of glasses and getting your eyes tested – things that they don’t know about.
How can we follow you on social media?
Twitter – @tsundernova
Instagram – @tsundernova
Introducing the Artists: Norrie Millar
Over the next couple of weeks we will be creating short profiles on the artists that work in our studio, with interviews by Caitlin Mitchell. Here’s the first; introducing Norrie Millar!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Norrie Millar, I’m 30, and I’m from Dundee.
What made you want to become an artist?
I come from a family of artists so it was sort of expected that I would go the same way – my brother was the same, he’s a musician. I eventually went into art school and studied at Duncan of Jordanstone up the road, and I studied fine art.
Do you have a preferred style of art?
My art style is quite traditional, with ink, paper, pencil and eraser. That’s how I like to work. Also messily – I’m very messy.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like playing music, I play guitar – mostly rock and roll and heavy metal. I try to read a lot – my favourite book is Frankenstein.
What is your favourite comic of all time?
Tough question, I’ll give you a few:
Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo, which is one of the first comics I can remember reading as an 8-10 year old, so it has a lot of childhood memories for me.
Day Tripper by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá is a comic that I read when I was in my mid-twenties, trying to get back into comics. It’s a story about life and death, it’s quite an intimate book, and I got really invested in it.
Batman Year One, because it is the best Batman book. (And you can quote me on that.)
What is the best thing about working in DCCS?
Just having the space – it’s quite incredible, not something that a lot of people have. Having the studio is a very rare occurrence as lots of people have to work at home because they can’t afford one. Having the workshops is great as well.
What are you working on just now?
I’m part of an anthology Comic Haus, and I’m also working on a couple of personal projects.
How can we follow you on social media?
Twitter – @prehistoricfrog
Instagram – @norriemillar
www.norriemillar.wordpress.com
Cycling the Bucket Trail
Dundee Comics Creative Space coordinator Damon Herd is cycling the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail to help raise money for the ARCHIE Foundation, the charity behind the sculptures.
On Tuesday 19th July DCCS coordinator Damon Herd will be cycling the whole Oor Wullie Bucket Trail around Dundee. DCCS were one of the many schools and educational establishments to take part in the trail by designing one of the wee Wullie sculptures. We held a competition amongst our Comics Club attendees, and then let them chose the final design. The winner was Cole Lawson, who designed ‘Oor Elvis’. The sculpture was then painted by Damon and is on display in Central Library over the duration of the trail – although sometimes he takes a trip on the mobile library!
Damon thought up the cycle as a great way to help promote the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail and raise money for the ARCHIE Foundation. Although the public already appear to have taken the trail to heart, as can be seen by all the folks wandering around Dundee with Bucket Trail maps! He will be setting off from ‘Oor Golfer’ at Carnoustie Golf Links around 9.20am on Tuesday 19th July and will cycle to all sculptures taking #oorselfies, with a plan to finish at the ‘Dr Manhattan’ sculpture (designed by comics artist, and patron of DCCS, Dave Gibbons and based on a character from Watchmen, the book he created with Alan Moore) at Dundee University on Perth Road around 4-5 hours later.
The intention of the trail, and the later auction of the sculptures, is to raise money for the ARCHIE Foundation, which is the official charity of Tayside Children’s Hospital in Dundee. The charity also supports some other children’s hospitals in Scotland and has a long history of making big differences for local children. Everything raised in and for Tayside will stay in Tayside – so you know your donations will help sick children from your local community! More information is available on the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail website.
Damon hopes to help raise awareness for the charity as well as add to the money raised through sponsorship. If you would like to help raise money for the Tayside Children’s Hospital then there are a couple of ways to sponsor Damon on his cycle. You can donate online through the ARCHIE Foundation JustGiving page or through the donation text service. Text TCHA15 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 to The ARCHIE Foundation Tayside Children’s Hospital Appeal. £5 can be changed to whatever you wish to donate.
Funny Pages
Last week we were working on newspaper-style gag strips. Click on the link below for a selection of the comics, hopefully the first in a series of Comics Club Funny Pages!
Next Comics Club is Tuesday 7th June
We are on a short break here at DCCS and will be back on Tuesday 7th June at 4.30pm for the first of our regular 2-hour Comics Clubs for 10-13 year olds. Wednesday 8th at 4.30pm will be for 14-17 year olds, and Thursday 9th at 4.30pm for 10-17 year olds.
During the break we will hosting a workshop at Dundee Design Festival on Saturday 28th May at 10 am, click the link for details.
We are currently putting together a digital comic of the strips created in the last sessions but in the meantime here is a ‘comics mash-up’ taster from all the comics.
After-school Comics Clubs launching Tuesday 1st March
Are you an aspiring artist or writer who dreams of creating the next Desperate Dan, Ms Marvel, or Jake and Finn from Adventure Time? Then come along to Dundee Comics Creative Space next week for the launch of our after-school Comic Clubs!
The first Comic Club will take place at the DCCS workshop studio in the Vision Building, Greenmarket, from 4.30-6.30pm on Tuesday, 1st March. The Club will take place each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The workshops are free and open to all, whether you are an artist, writer or simply interested in learning about comics, and regardless of previous experience. All materials will be provided. Tuesday’s club is aimed at 10-13-year-olds, and Wednesday’s is for 14-17-year-olds, while each Thursday will be a book club night where all participants are invited to bring along comics to discuss.
Comics Club participants can work on projects with the in-house comics experts or on their own creations with help from the team. The first 10-week block of workshops will see the youngsters work towards a publication and exhibition of the comics created in the space.
DCCS Coordinator Damon Herd said, “Comics can be about anything – space battles, superheroes, fantasy, even journalism and true life stories. We welcome all styles of comics here at DCCS.”
Watchmen co-creator, and DCCS patron, Dave Gibbons said at a preview event “From the time I was seven years old I just wanted to do comics. If I’d had access to people who knew how to do comics, and were happy to share the knowledge with me, I think I would have got into the business a lot quicker!” That’s what we are trying to create at DCCS – somewhere that young people can be inspired and helped to follow their passion and realise their talent.
Art Director Phillip Vaughan added, “We have a really exciting team of facilitators working in the space and they are keen to start working with young comics creators in the community, and to welcome anyone with an interest in comics.”
Contact Damon Herd at d.herd@dundee.ac.uk for more information.
DCCS OPEN DAY
Friday 12th February
12-4pm
Are you aged between 10 and 17 years old?*
Then come down to Dundee Comics Creative Space this Friday (or ask a parent or guardian to bring you!) for a chance to find out what we are planning here at DCCS!
The first 10 young people through the door on Friday will receive a free copy of the first issue of How to Draw the Marvel Way.
*Our project is aimed at 10-17 year olds but everyone is welcome to attend the open day.
Ahead of our launch in a couple of weeks this is a chance to visit Dundee Comics Creative Space and see what we are up to!
Drop in to see the space and meet the comics creators who are usually hard at work making comics in our studio.
You can also sign up for our three workshops. They are FREE but booking is required at the links below.
Create a Comics Character Workshop
Please note that DCCS has no allocated parking at the Vision Building. There is public parking available on Greenmarket and Perth Road. The most convenient access point for DCCS is the entrance on Seabraes Lane off Perth Road.
Futureshock! The Story of 2000AD
On Saturday 16th January at 9.15pm Dundee Contemporary Arts are showing British comics documentary Futureshock! The Story of 2000AD. The film will be introduced by Dr Chris Murray, Operations Director of DCCS and head of Comics Studies at the University of Dundee. To mark this event DCA have posted a short interview with Chris celebrating comics and Dundee.
Comics Studies job vacancy
Full time position for Lecturer in Comics Studies at the University of Dundee – School of Humanities
“We wish to appoint a full-time lecturer with a specialism in comics and graphic novels to our English and Film Studies Programme. Over the last five years the University of Dundee has taken a leading position in the development of Comics Studies, with several courses at undergraduate level and an innovative postgraduate Masters programme in Comic Studies. We also attract a large number of PhD students doing work on comics and graphic novels. We have achieved this through a great deal of work and commitment, and we expect the successful applicant to match our ambitions.”
“We are also home to the Scottish Centre for Comics Studies and The Dundee Comics Creative Space, which you will contribute to and will be expected to help run.”
See the University of Dundee job advert for details.
Dundee Comics Creative Space 