Here’s the latest news from the president of the MSCA- Kevin L. Williams:
What a fantastic year we’ve had!!
Special thanks to editor Dale Martin and all those who submitted to and worked on our The Good, The Bad, and the Sketchy zines.
Number 8 was our Fairy Tales issue, number 9 was themed for Robots, and soon numbers 10 and 11 are our “kitchen sink” issues themed around, well, CARTOONS!
Interested in playing along or getting more information? Email: MSCApub@gmail.com
We’ve had two great art shows!! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped set up the shows. These were Glass Slippers show at Theatre Memphis in the spring, and currently The Funny Pages at Germantown Community Theater through January 2025.
In March, some of us attended the meeting for the Southeast Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA. You can hear about our road trip on Episode 59 – “SEC NCS @ ATL” of the Drawing Funny podcast.
In May, many of us attended the Memphis Library Comic Con, among more.
In July the MSCA was featured on SRP Studios’ “The Real Hernando” podcast . Lin Workman and I were invited on to talk toons with host Derrick Michaud and share some info on the MSCA, and our history and involvement with the group over the years. You can listen to the audio version of the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or most podcasting platforms, and watch the video version on Facebook, YouTube, and on “The Real Hernando” website . Thanks to Derrick for shining a spotlight on the MSCA!
And throughout the year, Lin Workman has hosted the www.drawingfunny.com podcast, arranged Drink-N-Draw nights and Sat-Art-Day drawing afternoons, and with 901 ComicsEast let us set up at Free Comic Book Day.
As well, we’ve met monthly at Garibaldi’s Pizza to celebrate each other and the world of cartoon art.
I want to share that I’m proud of the work we’ve done together as an association, but also the individual work each of you have done on your own with events, publications, promotions, art shows, and more. Great job! Let’s make 2025 another great year of CARTOON!!
Be sure to follow up-to-date news on our Facebook page and website at www.midsouthcartoonists.org.
MEMBER NEWS
Please get me your news by the last Monday of the month to share in the newsletter. Anything afterwards will get shared to the MSCA Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/midsouthcartoonists/
DINNER GATHERING & ART SWAP
Our next dinner gathering will be at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, from 6 – 8 pm on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Bring art to show, share, ideas to discuss, and talk tools and the trade. And don’t forget money for the delicious foods!
ART SWAP: Each piece of art brought will be numbered, and a corresponding number dropped in a box. At 7:30pm we’ll draw numbers and the number you draw corresponds to the art piece you win!
The submitted art should be yours and can be original art, print, publication, or product. It does not have to be framed. You do need to bring something to participate so there are enough pieces to go around.
If you haven’t already given Dale your Zine money yet, be sure to bring that, too.
Annie, Jr. and The Funny Pages Art Show
Tell all your family and friends that The Funny Pages is in the gallery of Germantown Community Theater through January 2025. Our friend at GCT, Annie Freres, is offering 2 complimentary tickets to art show artists for opening night! She is also offering up to 4 $10 tickets (so families can come)!! What a great deal!!
MSCA ToonFest 2024
Please let me know promptly if you’d like to set up your free table (bring your own table). December 14, 2024, from 10am – 2pm, in the rehearsal hall and hallways of Germantown Community Theatre. This is first-come-first-serve for art show artists (but I will keep a list of folks who would like to set up) so please let me know if you’d like to participate. Space is FREE to set up, so please give a donation to GCT from your sales or from the generosity of your heart.
This is when you can sell your books, art, collectibles, and anything you usually have at conventions. Being just before gift-giving holidays, this is a great time to tell everyone to come buy your art. (Set-up time will start at 9am.) (If a matinee show happens, we’ll clear out the halls by 1:30pm; but, if not, we can run longer!)
Attached is your email/social media sign and COPY AND PASTE text below:
Meet cartoonists and get your holiday shopping complete with real art from in-person artists at the Mid-South Cartoonists Association ToonFest 2024, coming up December 14, 2024, from 10am – 2pm! Wear your costumes, bring your friends and family, and come to Germantown Community Theatre, 3037 Forest Hill Irene Road, Germantown, TN, in the Rehearsal Hall.
Don’t forget to see Annie, Jr., Dec. 7 – 22nd!
www.midsouthcartoonists.org
www.gctcomeplay.org
ANNIE & CHRISTINA’S “NOT SO LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE’S HOLIDAY HANGOVER”
This special show will happen December 28 and 29, so after the close of the Annie, Jr., show on 12/22, feel free to bring any other on-theme art to hang on the walls for sale. This art doesn’t have to be kid-oriented as you can tell by the title of the show. Tickets are available at www.gctcomeplay.org
MSCA Zine “Robots” – The Good, The Bad, and the Sketchy
Watch a review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnfFyz4aHBo&t=534s
* GB&S #10 update: with an extended deadline plus time for editing & production, our latest issue is running a little behind schedule. It should be ready for release early in December, well in time for our 12/14 Toon Fest!
DALE MARTIN SHARES
…he’s a part of the Arrows Holiday Bazarr until December 22.
https://www.arrowcreative.org/holidaybazaar?mc_cid=bb5ac3c3f2&mc_eid=be94ba70a2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgZzKbKIo9M
Dale’s full November newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/7cb465afb712/ssnews1124
>BRICKS AND MINIFIGS
MSCA-ian Kevin Thorn and his wife Tammy are opening a Bricks and MiniFigs store in Hernando, MS, for all your LEGO needs! Check them out at bricksandminifigs.com/hernandoms 210 E Commerce St Ste 7, Hernando, MS. You can hear them on Episode 69 of the Drawing Funny podcast (click HERE to listen).
MAW PRODUCTIONS NEWS
www.toshigawauniverse.com and www.patreon.com/MAWProductions and a new episode of Wades World is online: https://youtu.be/9a0O7pSO_5w?si=9tP2eRMPZikbGbio
Martheus Wade illustrated the “Park Pals and the Grand Opening of Starry Nights” book for Shelby Farms Park, available at the park visitor center gift shop! You can see photos of the book signing at the patreon link above.
Shianndrea: Tales of the Toshigawa is available in digital form online now, too:
https://www.drivethrucomics.com/product/501945/Shianndrea-Tales-of-the-Toshigawa-book-01?src=DTCFB
SOUTH MAIN NIGHT MARKET
FREE table spaces were available for the final time this year at South Main and G.E. Patterson this Friday night- November 29th. Artists keep all the money at the event. The night market will start again in March 2025.
To let them know you’ll make it there, contact: stephen@historicalhauntsmemphis.com
2025 DINNER GATHERING CALENDAR
Attaching a printable calendar for dinner meetings in 2025, 6-8 pm. You can also set your cellphone calendars to repeat the first Tuesday of each month at 6-8pm.
January 7
February 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3
July 1
August 5
September 2
October 7
November 4
December 2
SAT-ART-DAY 2025
Also, mark your calendar for January 25, 10am – 2pm at 901 Comics East, 8551 Macon Road, Cordova, TN. It’s a chance to work on your art projects, discuss projects, sketch, share techniques, or just talk toons.
The event is free and open to the public. To find out more info <click HERE>.
MAD magazine’s Tom Richmond Teaching cartooning in Memphis?
Once in a lifetime class!! MAD magazine’s Tom Richmond is considering teaching a cartooning/caricature class in Olive Branch (just outside Memphis) the first weekend of March next year. I’m gauging interest to see if it’s viable. It’s two days, Saturday and Sunday, from 10-6 both days. Total cost is $550 per person. He’s looking for 12 students, give or take. If you’re interested, please let Greg Cravens know gregcartoon@gmail.com
The latest episode of the Drawing Funny podcast was recorded recently at the 14th annual Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention at the Holiday Inn on the U of M campus. It features an interview with Greg, as well as Matt Bowers, Allan Gilbreath, Shawn Howe, Devin Hodges, John Martin, Chris “The Jowers” Jowers and James Wheatly with the local Star Trek fan club Station Shelby. Click HERE to listen on Spotify. You can also download it on Apple Podcasts or most podcast platforms.
You can also check out the interviews Lin recorded at last month’s Memphis Comic Expo – AKA “DonnieCon” by listening to Episode 68 – MCX 2024.
Oh, and to end out this year, Katie Jones and Rogues Gallery Geekery Art will host “The Long Winter’s Knight” event coming up on December 21st out in Millington at Centerpoint Toys & Games. Some MSCA members and lots of other local artists will be set up there for some great last minute Christmas shopping. New poster art and logo are on in the works and should be revealed soon!
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. If you’re tired of turkey, then join us Tuesday night at Garibaldi’s Pizza!
Your MSCA Prez,
Kevin
midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com
www.midsouthcartoonists.org