I have the good fortunate of participating in two really cool events this weekend.
I’ll be speaking on a panel at the Drawing Power event in Pittsburgh this Saturday, April 20th.
Drawing Power: Comics Zines and Books in Pittsburgh and Beyond
A one day event celebrating and exploring the small press and self-publishing comics and zine community of Pittsburgh and its connection to the larger world.
Saturday, April 20th
10am-5pm
Carnegie Museum of Art Theater (lower level)
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Moderators will be Bill Boichel from Copacetic Comics and Caitlin McGurk from the Billy Ireland Collection at OSU.
Schedule
Panel 1: The Pittsburgh Scene, Bill Boichel moderator
Andy Scott
Nate McDonough
Lizzee Solomon
Paulette Poullet
Panel 2: Self-Publishing, Caitlin McGurk moderator
Ramsey Beyer
John Porcellino
Bill Boichel
Rachel Masilamani
Panel 3: A Career in Comics, Caitlin McGurk moderator
Jim Rugg
Ed Piskor
Frank Santoro
Dash Shaw
There will be tables packed with locally produced zines and books for both perusal and sale, as well as new releases from our out-of-town artist guests and a selection from around the world.
https://www.facebook.com/events/148157618681607/
Secondly, in Chicago, I’m part of a group art show about self-care and self-publishing!
Long Arm Stapler First-Aid:
Self-Care In Zines and Mini Comics
Curated by Liz Mason and Neil Brideau
Exhibition 4/20/13 – 5/31/13
Opening Reception:
April 20, 2013 6:00 – 9:00pm
The Annex @ Spudnik Press Cooperative
1821 W Hubbard, Suite 303
Chicago, IL 60622
The exhibit “Long-Arm Stapler First Aid” features pieces by a variety of zinesters and comics artists. The pieces discuss and/or illustrate self-care topics that both help themselves and inspire the reader to be their own advocate in self-improvement. In honor of self-publishing as a means to foster well-being, Spudnik Press is proud to host this exhibition featuring dozens of zine makers from across the country, including Edie Fake, Rinko Endo, Kathleen McIntyre, Ramsey Beyer, Liz Prince, Dina Kelberman, Sara McHenry, Maris Wicks, Beth Barnett, Nate Beaty, Raleigh Briggs, Danielle Chenette, Emilja Frances, Turtel Onli, Trubble Club, Caroline Paquita, Sarah McNeil, Milo Miller, Corinne Mucha, Kitari Sporrong, Missy Kulik, Cathy Leamy, Erick Lyle and more.
Long Arm Stapler First Aid will also include a limited edition exhibition zine, compiled by Liz Mason, encompassing relevant self-care themes in zines and mini-comics such as: healing, grief, fitness, and medical issues. The exhibit will also feature a limited edition screenprint by Ramsey Beyer, published by Spudnik Press.
About the curators:
Liz Mason is the manager of Quimby’s Bookstore, known for selling a variety of self-published works, as well as the editor and publisher for the zine Caboose.
Neil Brideau is comics artist and comics sommelier at Quimby’s Bookstore, as well as an organizer of CAKE, Chicago’s Alternative Comics Expo.
*Image Credit to Dina Kelbermann
http://www.spudnikpress.com/long-arm-stapler-first-aid-exhibition/
If you’re in either of those cities, check out these events! They should be really fun. I’ll be in Pittsburgh in person, and in Chicago in spirit.
I’ve been kind of quiet in terms of posting new comics online because I’ve been working on a new book, which I just finished! You can preorder it here (only ten bucks)! This will be a 270 page, hardcover book.
“Told through real-life journals, collages, lists, and drawings, this coming-of-age story illustrates the transformation of an 18-year-old girl from a small-town teenager into an independent city-dwelling college student. Written in an autobiographical style with beautiful artwork, Little Fish shows the challenges of being a young person facing the world on her own for the very first time and the unease—as well as excitement—that comes along with that challenge.”
Coming in September!
Product Details
This is my first time working with a publisher and it’s been a really fun and interesting experience. Also, stressful! I cranked out this 270 page book in under 6 months, which is mind-boggling to me since it took me an entire year to draw Year One.
This book was inspired by my zine, List, which I’ve put out for the last ten years. It’s had 15 issues of its own. This isn’t an anthology, however. A large part of the content is entirely new (probably 85% of it), but I did borrow some lists from the earlier issues of my zine that I actually wrote when I was 18 and 19.
I also used entries straight out of my livejournal. I wasn’t sure how to tackle writing about my life as an 18 year old and was pretty afraid it wouldn’t feel authentic. My live journal was key in remembering exactly how I felt back then, and using my actual words as an 18 year old was pretty fun and interesting. I’m glad I had a lot to say back then.
If you’re a Year One reader, this is also the story of how I met Daniel.
Other things I learned about that year: the personal as the political, diy/punk ethics, feminism, privilege, discovered diary comics, made my first zine, etc. This was probably my most formative year in terms of who I am now.
Check it out!
You can also preorder it at:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-fish-ramsey-beyer/1114267270?ean=9781936976188
and
Hi! I’ll be participating in two really rad events in the next week.
Locally, I’m part of a group comics show with some of my favorite comic artists. It’s called the Funnies and was curated by Joanna Quigley.
The opening is Friday, March 8th from 7-9PM and the work will be up all month! It’s at Benna’s Cafe at 8th and Wharton in South Philly.
So many rad folks are in it, including my buddies Kett Nerd and Liz Prince!
The opening should be really fun, but unfortunately I won’t be able to make it because I’ll be at the…..
I can’t wait to head back to Chicago to participate in the Chicago Zine Fest! It’s always so much fun, doubly so since it’s my old stomping ground and I get to see so many old friends at once. Fun fact: I was one of the original organizers of CZF! I helped organize it the first two years, so it’s near and dear to my heart. Come visit my table on March 9th! All the event details can be found at http://www.chicagozinefest.org
I’ll have preview zines for my new book, Little Fish (which will be coming out in September. I’ll be making a post about that in the next couple days!)
I just restocked my etsy store with a few items that haven’t been in there in quite a while.
There’s more OK Cupid split zines, List 14, and Everydaypants 1-inch button packs now, as well as Everydaypants #1, Everydaypants #2, and of course, my book, Year One. Check it out!
http://everydaypants.etsy.com if you’re interested.
“Four friends, Ramsey Beyer, Kettner, Leslie Perrine, and Liz Prince all joined Ok Cupid at different times to test the murky water of online dating. After many tiring conversations about how awful dating is, they decided to make this comic zine! ”
“1-inch button packs include four buttons per pack! There are two packs available (See photos). ”
“List #14 is all drawn by me (no submissions section this time). Grey, cardstock cover. This issue is about routine, the mundane, trying to figure out where I want to be and what I want to be doing, and dealing with feeling slightly uninspired. Some list samples are: getting older every day, the best things i’ve done in chicago so far, making friends is hard, things i need to get better at, in defense of fitness, and what i’m looking for in a place to live.”
Hey y’all! If you go to my etsy shop now and enter in coupon code THANKSPAL you can get 20% off your order.
I generally think holiday buying is kinda weird, especially around Thanksgiving, but buying your friends comics and zines for the holidays is always a cool gift! And, selling things for cheaper around now is cool too.
Thanks for your support! Selling my zines and my book, Year One, in my etsy shop now.
Poster by, Your Host, Brian Ralph
see all you cool kids at this event
Hey! I’m presenting at this event. I’ve never ‘presented’ at a comics or zine event before. Yikes. Come watch me fumble around for 5-7 minutes about Year One.
Hey Everyone! I’m packaging up the last of the kickstarter pre-orders tonight which means that I’m now ready to put Year One for sale on-line!
If you’re interested in buying it, it’s $14, plus shipping.
For the U.S, shipping is $4. (so $18 total)
International folks, shipping is $6 (so $20 total)
You can just paypal that to everydaypants@gmail.com and be sure to include your correct address.
or: if you feel better doing it through a website, feel free to order it through my etsy at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/106983228/year-one
I had a great time tabling at Portland Zine Symposium and all the feedback/response I’ve gotten this week from people who have read Year One already has been so thoughtful. Thanks so much if you’ve read this book.
Some incredibly kind responses I’ve received this week:
“I just have to write you to let you know that I received my copy of Year One yesterday and it is so beautiful! I had read all the comics online, but it was such a different experience to hold it in my hands and see all the detail. Year One is an amazing, touching, funny, heartfelt book. Congratulations on a job well done! It is so inspiring to see folks my age getting it done!”
“I must say, It’s a refreshing book……it’s quite a simple story, yet I think it really reveals a lot about our generation….or maybe being in our mid - late 20s….or maybe I’m just going through some of the same situations. Either way, I was eager to read the whole comic in one sitting.”
“Today I came home to my copy of Year One leaning against my door. I got inside, opened the package, sat down on my couch with my shoes and bag still on, and read the whole thing. I just wanted to send a huge congratulations to you. I think the book is a great success”
Hey Y’all! I’ll be tabling a couple events this month if you want to come say hello, get coffee, buy Year One, etc!
This weekend, I’ll be at the Portland Zine Symposium. This is the first place EVER that I’ll be selling Year One! I’ll also have issues of List, my zine, as well as my comic zine, Everydaypants, and a few screenprinted posters as well!
Come say hi! We’ll be tabling Saturday and Sunday. PZS is a really fun and welcoming event.
I’ll also be running a workshop at PZS with my buddy Derek Neuland about raising funds online through Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and the pros and cons of using an internet fundraiser to fund a big project. Our workshop is on Sunday, in the afternoon. I can’t remember what time! Derek and Alex Wrekk used Indiegogo to raise money for the upfront costs of opening their store front for Portland Button Works. I used Kickstarter to fund the printing of Year One. Both of us learned a lot from these experiences, and wanted to lead a discussion on the topic. It ain’t always pretty, folks, but for me at least, it was definitely worth it. Thank you again, so much, if you donated to my kickstarter!
Later this month, I’ll also be tabling at the first ever Philly Feminist Zine Fest!
I’m really excited to table this event. PFZF is posting interviews with tablers on their website. They just posted my interview here: http://phillyfeministzinefest.weebly.com/1/post/2012/08/ramsey-beyer-answers-our-same-damn-questions.html
See you this month?
Hey! Now that things are totally wrapped up with the book, I’m excited to be able to focus on other projects. I’ve had a fair amount of commissions in the past few months which is always fun! Here’s a selection of a things I’ve done over the past month or two, from logos to posters to album art to custom drawings as gifts. Being an illustrator means I get to draw fun things! If you’re interested in a commission, get in touch! I generally start at $50 and level off at around $100 unless it’s a larger drawing or one that includes several people in it. I’m also always willing to work with punk budgets, payment plans, and am totally flexible about how long it might take you to pay for something. Also, trades are cool sometimes too! everydaypants@gmail.com
Hello readers of my website! As you can see, the website had an overhaul (done by one ms. karen martinez of karen-martinez.com). Though slight in variation, I think it massively improves the function of this website and the readability of the comics section, especially the Year One section.
So I went ahead and did a kickstarter for Year One. It was a decision I grappled with for a few months but ultimately decided on because it’s an organized and efficient way to raise money, while still making sure that everyone who donates is getting something in return. Simply view it as a pre-order for the book or an art sale, if you will! I know Kickstarter is not everyones favorite thing but I’ve decided it is pretty appropriate for this sort of usage. With that said, I can’t believe it, but I’ve already raised half my goal in only 12 hours. Thank you, thank you thank you, for the outpouring of support. It is really unreal.
If you would like to and haven’t pre-ordered the book, check that out here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/433544158/year-one
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/433544158/year-one
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/433544158/year-one
If you’re new to my website:
As some of you might know, I’ve been working on my first novel-length comic book for the duration of the past year. My book is called Year One, and through weekly vignettes, illustrates my entire first year living in Philadelphia, after a significant move from Chicago. In some pages, my weekly activities are illustrated. In others, just a pertinent conversation. Year One was drawn in real time, finishing 2-3 pages as every week went by. I’ve spent hundreds of hours working on this project over the last year and am very excited to get it out into the world in the form of my very first book! Prior to this project, the longest comic i had ever drawn was 6 pages long. Year One is 136 pages and will be offset printed and perfect bound at 8x10 inches. It is 100% complete from front cover to back cover (and scanned, cleaned up, edited, edited again, and sized for printing. I literally just need to hit send and fork over a deposit to the printer).
Year One uses a variety of storytelling formats to give an overall glimpse into a year in the life of a late twenty-something year old, trying to figure out her place as a young artist outside of the post-college years. It is lighthearted, somber, lonely, funny, and quiet. It shows the number of people who come and go throughout a year, new love, old romance, loss and grief, and more generally, the search for a sense of self.
You can read it for free on this website at http://www.everydaypants.com/yearone but it would be way more fun for you to read it in print.
Thanks!
(Source: everydaypants)
