Show Notes: Devin Hodges is a member of the MSCA and the creator of the comic book series " The Common Days Of Cade ". He graduated from University of Memphis with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts . Founded in 2016, DIAST Cartoons is a small brand he formed for displaying various animations and comic strips found on this website, social media platforms, etc. " DIAST " is an acronym for " Devin's Improving Art Studio ". Devin will be an artist at the upcoming Memphis Libraries Comic Con on ...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 53
Show Notes: Katie Jones was born in Memphis, TN and studied at the Memphis College of Art for her BFA in Painting and a Masters of Art in Teaching in Art Education . A majority of her time is spent making classroom examples or lesson plans but at the request of her therapist she is allowing herself to be " Katie the Artist " again in her life. Her childhood was spent growing up between Frayser and Raleigh in North Memphis and would often draw to escape the harsh reality of growing up without a f...
Mar 30, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 52
Show Notes: It's been a very busy (and wet) couple of weeks here for us cartoonists but overall it 's been a lot of fun. " Spamalittle; Knights Of The Drawing Table " is the 2nd MSCA art show at Germantown Community Theatre , and we’ll be back again next season. This show featured “ Monty Python and the Holy Grail ” inspired artwork on display (and for sale) by our members. The Spamalittle art show runs in conjunction with their production of “ Spamalot The Musical ” March 3-19 at GCT– 3037 Fore...
Mar 04, 2023•20 min•Season 3Ep. 51
Show notes: For this 50th episode of Drawing Funny I’m joined by MSCA president Kevin L. Williams as we interview his longtime friend Steve Troop . Steve has worked as an animator, cartoonist and graphic designer for around 30 years now. He’s the creator of Mayberry Melonpool , an online comic strip series since 1996. In the late-2000s, Steve’s puppet versions of Melonpool were featured in the online web series Quickcast by Kevin Smith ( Clerks ). He has worked as an illustrator and storyboard a...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Season 3Ep. 50
Show notes: For the first 2023 episode of Drawing Funny I'm joined by MSCA president Kevin L. Williams (aka Soloman Blues). We took the show on the road did some recording over the weekend while in the MSCA's secret mobile recording unit. We were on our way home from seeing the Alabama Blues Brothers perform at the Princess Theatre in Decatur, AL. We discuss some of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association's 35th Anniversary events that happened in 2022, some of the club's history (founded in March...
Jan 02, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 49
Show notes: For this episode of Drawing Funny I take a trip to our couch to have a comics conversation with my wife and live-in I.T. person- Nicki Workman (with special guest appearance by our cat Jarael). This is a follow up to Episode 47 – “Back To Basics" . While on our way home from the MSCA December dinner meet-up this month I told Nicki about a couple recent conversations with some fellow local creators. They had asked for my advice on their art and projects. Well, even though I do a podca...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 48
Show notes: So, just what is the MSCA ..? The Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) is a non-profit organization of professional cartoonists, aspiring cartoonists, and cartooning enthusiasts. In 2022 the MSCA has celebrated 35 years of drawing funny in the Mid-South , and our podcast just entered it's 3rd season. For the MSCA it all started way back in the spring of 1987 when a small group of professional cartoonists came together to form The Memphis Cartoonists Group . The name didn’t stick ...
Nov 21, 2022•10 min
Show notes: Well, I'm back to basics with this episode of Drawing Funny . This is a bit of a follow up for Episode 40 – “Where Do I Begin?” . After a couple conversations with some new comic creators, I wanted to share some more thoughts on creating comics with you. Trust me, they're very basic, but knowing the basics of creating comic books is something I feel can be often overlooked by those new to writing, drawing, printing, and promoting comics (and themselves). I also have some local MSCA n...
Nov 19, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Show notes: This is a bonus episode with a quick message from our illustrated MSCA president, Kevin L. Williams to remind everyone of our November 1st dinner meeting this Tuesday night from 6-8pm at Garibaldi's Pizza (near the UofM). Plus Kev shares some info on our upcoming "Spamalittle: Knights of the Drawing Table" art show at Germantown Community Theatre in March (MSCA member Jim Palmer is starring in GCT's current play " An Inspector Calls "), and some other plans that be a brewing for the ...
Oct 30, 2022•6 min
Show notes: Well, I'm back with more Drawing Funny ...no actual tricks, just hopefully some more pod treats for you. Since my sinuses are killing me and I wanted to get this out before Halloween weekend this is mostly another short local happenings episode featuring news on the upcoming MSCA dinner meet-ups at Garibaldi's Pizza , art show news, the return of the Memphis Comic Expo , MidtownCon , Dyersburg Comic Con , and Monster Market , as well as the Joe Staton comic signing appearance at 901 ...
Oct 27, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Show notes: After a hard-drive crash forced hiatus and clearing several sketchcard gigs off my drawing board I'm back with more Drawing Funny ! This is mostly another local happenings episode featuring news on the Mid-South Cartoonists Association's 35th anniversary display at the Hernando Library , MSCA dinner meet-ups at Garibaldi's Pizza , the return of the Memphis Comic Expo , MidtownCon , and Monster Market , as well as the DeSoto Arts Council 's upcoming " Yart Sale ", Joe Staton comic sig...
Sep 19, 2022•22 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Show notes: In the 1st half of this episode I share some podcasting news. My wife Nicki and I were recently on the Supergirl Radio podcast to talk about our day trip up to the Metropolis Superman Celebration , plus I talk about Michael Rosenbaum's upcoming new Talk Ville podcast with SMALLVILLE co-star Tom Welling - who were in Metropolis this year with voice actor George Newbern , artists Rick Burchett , Matthew Clark , and Guy Gilchrist . In the 2nd half of the show I talk with indie comics wr...
Jun 25, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Show notes: In this episode I share some local upcoming event news, plus I sit down to talk toons and discuss some Sour Grapes with cartoonist Tim Jones . Tim is the creator/artist/writer of the widely popular, self-syndicated comic strip, “ SOUR GRAPES ”. He created SOUR GRAPES back in 2013 . It's a weekly strip about “ Aesop ”, a miserable-flying dog; his pet cloud, ‘ Ominous ’ and odd family- all living in a problematic and troubled world. In 2014, the strip found its way into print starting ...
May 30, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Show notes: In this solo episode I discuss the Little House Art Project art classes and Antonio Johnson (ADJ Design) and I teaching there in Southaven recently . Antonio was showing them how to use the art program Clip Studio Paint , and I showed the students how to draw sketchcards. " Little House Art Project began as an idea born of an art program for special needs children- but, why stop with artistically gifted, special needs teen? Many teens yearn for art instruction. Little House Art Proje...
May 23, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Show notes: In this episode Nicki and I hit the road to celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2022 around Memphis. We stop at Comics & Collectibles , The Cellar , and 901 Comics East and get our free comics , pick up our hold box comics, do some additional shopping, and chat with friends. We talk toons with local comic creators Dale Martin , Brad & Skoot Starnes , Matt Bowers , Gabe DeRanzo , and Janet & Martheus Antone Wade about their current and upcoming projects such as The Dragon Templa...
May 15, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Show notes: I'm solo again for this 40th episode . Lately I've seen a lot of comics creators online ask, " Where do I begin ?" Well, " Just start making comics. " seems like the most honest answer, but I know that there's a lot more to that question. I don't have all the answers, but I do share my my comics origin story and thoughts on creating comics . I offer up some advice, resources, cautionary tales, and more about making comics and getting them out there to readers. Lots of ways to make co...
Apr 23, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Show notes: In this solo episode I have some MSCA member/meeting news, more updates on upcoming conventions/events such as Free Comic Book Day and the Memphis Comic Expo(DonnieCon) , as well as some memories of mine and Nicki's Saturday in midtown Memphis visiting The Art Center , attending MidTown Con at Black Lodge , seeing a photo exhibit at Crosstown Arts , discovering the Memphis Listening Lab at Crosstown Concourse , and shopping at The Cellar and Comics & Collectibles . Plus I talk ab...
Apr 16, 2022•1 hr 44 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Show notes: In this solo episode I have some MSCA member news, updates on upcoming conventions and events, as well as info on our president Kevin L. Williams being interviewed recently about the Mid-South Cartoonists Association 's 35th anniversary for WMC TV5's " Bluff City Life ". I also discuss some I CREATE COMIC BOOKS Facebook group threads and share my opinions on impostor syndrome, social/anti-social media, being social in person, making time for positive things, and editing out toxic peo...
Mar 24, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Show notes: In this solo episode I have an update and details on the current MSCA art show at the Germantown Community Theatre . It and the play " The Complete History Of America (abridged) " can be seen February 17-27, 2022 . This is one of our 35th anniversary events, and we're working on a couple more (additional announcements coming soon). BIG NEWS - after meeting virtually on Zoom for the last two years due to the pandemic, we're happy to announce our return to in-person meetings at Garibal...
Feb 16, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Show Notes: In this episode my fellow Mid-South Cartoonists Association members Kevin L. Williams , Greg Cravens and I pay respect and share stories about our friend and cartoonist Sam Ray who passed away in December, 2021. I've been wanting to get together with some of the local cartooning gang to record a tribute to Sam, and in spite of some technical difficulties we were able to record for a bit during the MSCA monthly zoom call this week (thanks to some quick thinking by Kev.) Another left-h...
Feb 04, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Show Notes: " RELEASE THE DRAGON! " MSCA member Dale Martin has released a new ongoing comic series with local writer Brad Starnes: THE DRAGON TEMPLAR ! Set in the depths of the Middle Ages, during the era of the Crusades, this medieval adventure comic follows a band of Knights Templar , Rome's agents on the ground as the Universal Church tries to lay claim to the Holy Land. The band of knights deploy their talents for war protecting Rome's interests and traveling pilgrims alike … all the while ...
Feb 01, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Show notes: "The Show Must Go On...Later" In this solo episode we have an update and details on the upcoming MSCA art show at the Germantown Community Theatre . Bad news , it and the play " The Complete History Of America (abridged) " have been pushed back until February due to COVID. Good news - that means any interested Mid-South Cartoonists Association members still have a couple extra weeks to get their art in. The show will be hung the first week of next month and available for viewing Febr...
Jan 21, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Show notes: " How much is that art in the window? " In this solo episode I discuss pricing and selling - or not selling my art, and what some folks have thought about the prices I charge and if my work is worth the cost. I've talked before about how I got into drawing funny for a living and how I've set up at conventions and art shows, but really haven't mentioned why I charge what I do for my sketchcards, sketchcovers, paintings, prints, tees and more. I also talk a bit more on how I create my ...
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Show notes: Hey, Dudes and Dudettes . In this episode I discuss my opinions on using photo reference , taking or giving advice , and more discussion on not feeling like a tool for using tools like lightboxes and projectors to get the job done Also share some MSCA news, info on some upcoming DeSoto Arts Council 's kids / teen art classes , and some sad news about legendary comics creator George Pérez and his cancer diagnosis. My best to " Uncle George " and his family, friends, and fans. LINKS: M...
Dec 10, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Show Notes: If you're wondering about the title for this episode, the Memphis and Southaven area near me are getting some new Whataburger locations, so I thought I'd play off that and discuss what tools and materials I use for producing my art. I'll be discussing my early days of airbrushing in malls in the '80s, literally cutting and pasting art, starting off on working digital, creating early webcomics in the '90s, my sculpting experiences, how I got into using markers, and some other ways I l...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Show Notes: I started off working on one episode, but once I added the MSCA news elements it became a bit longer than I wanted, so I decided to do a shorter one just focusing on current and upcoming events here. In this episode I've got info on murals, meetings, plays, art shows, appearances, anniversaries, and more happening around the M-town...as well as Nicki and me playing tourists close to home for my birthday. (BTW- I share a birthday with Cookie Monster - happy birthday, Cookie!) For more...
Nov 08, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Show Notes: This episode is our 1 year anniversary show , and man what a strange trip and unusual year the first season has been- pandemic, snowpocalypse, layoffs, new job, new equipment, learning curves, and lots of comic conversations! For the first episode of our second season I share some MSCA member news, what art projects I've been working on recently, some of the podcasts I listen to, and my thoughts on self-publishing and some of the comics industry publisher news I've heard about on the...
Oct 18, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Show Notes: This episode is about " paying it forward " and some of the posts I recently ran across in the "I CREATE COMIC BOOKS" Facebook group and my responses to them. I've gotten a lot of help from others over the years, and I hope that this podcast helps anyone wanting to learn more about creating comics, and the business of promoting them. I also talk a bit about what I've been up to art-wise (mostly drawing sketchcards), and touch on some of my art-anxiety, drawing-depression, professiona...
Sep 19, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Show Notes: Lots of MSCA news like Greg Cravens ' " Hubris " Patreon , Kevin “Nuggethead” Thorn 's new political hat in Hernando, MS, upcoming MSCA monthly meet-ups , the updated MSCA links page , MSCA's 35th anniversary - plus local events like Free Comic Book Day , The Covington Comic Con , Disney exhibit at Graceland , & Artists’ Link art show at the Memphis Botanic Garden . A bit of discussion of the Superman Celebration & Supergirl Radio podcast interview , & my recent sketchcar...
Aug 11, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Show Notes: This episode Nicki and I catch up with one of our favorite writers, and humans- John Ostrander . We met " Uncle John " several years back at MidSouthCon and immediately became friends. He's a legendary comics creator who's worked for Marvel , DC Comics , Dark Horse , Image , Valiant , as well as First Comics - which was his first comics gig . He's been a playwright, director, actor - and almost a priest..! Just before Covid struck he filmed a cameo scene as Dr. Fitzgibbon for the upc...
Jul 10, 2021•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 26
