Raina's Thing

Art from my seventh grade yearbook! I drew this 23 years ago, and I don’t think very much has changed since then.

steveshirt:

Smile is an excellent young adult graphic novel by my friend @goraina, and it also makes a great shirt. I love the color.

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Here is my friend Steve wearing a SMILE shirt.

Chickens Dressed like Napoleon, Einstein, and Other Historical Figures—apologies to vegetarians.

Ridiculous. via SmithsonianMag.com

spx:

#4 - Dean Haspiel Mini-Comic Donation to The SPX Collection at the Library of Congress

Wow, here are two real early mini comics by the amazing Raina Telgemeier. No question, Dean had a great collection!!!

Here are a couple of covers from my old mini-comic series, Take-Out! The minis are out of print, but you can read some of the short stories that were collected in them on my website.

unypl:

on the left he’s reading “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw,” by Jeff Kinney. on the right he’s reading “Warriors,” by Erin Hunter.

Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid I Read Warriors

I was delighted by these two the moment I saw them. I wished very much to bring them to the library. Candidly photographing children is an even trickier area of street photography, so I was glad that their parents (pictured at left) were present. I approached them and asked if I could photograph their kids as they were reading. They were so enthusiastic about the underground library when I told them about it! They said “yes! sure!”, both of them in sync with their agreement. What was even more marvelous was the way these kids quietly observed our exchange, looking at their parents the entire time. When their parents expressed their agreement to me, they went back to reading and allowed me to photograph them, all without saying a word. 

carolynbelefski:

Wednesday Rewind #31

Today we spotlight Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman’s appearance at One More Page Books last year (same location where Team Cul de Sac will be having a book release on June 10). Take a read through my recap and view the photos here: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2011/08/raina-telgemeier-dave-roman.html

This Sunday is the Maine Comics Arts Festival, and I will be there with Smile stuff! Books and T-shirts and more! The poster above was created by my talented pals Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb. Here are the event details:

MAINE COMICS ARTS FESTIVAL
Sunday, May 20
10am – 5pm
Admission: $5;
Kids 12 and under are FREE!

Location: Ocean Gateway
Fore Street
Portland, ME

MeCAF Website
Driving Directions

I’m doing one panel Sunday, which is open to all festival-goers:

12 Noon: Join Raina Telgemeier, winner of the Maine Student Book Award, for a fun visual talk about her book, SMILE, and what exactly it means to be a graphic novelist! Raina will do some live drawing and give away some prizes, too, including a preview copy of her yet-to-be-released graphic novel, DRAMA!

yaytime:

ain’t no party like a boat party!

teen-boat:

The Teen Boat! book launch will be held on the Waterfront Barge Museum, a 100-year-old, flat-bottomed wooden boat that will be docked at Pier 25 at Hudson River Park, surrounded by historic tugboats.

The celebration will include books available from Mobile Libris, a live reading with visual presentation, and signings by the authors! Nautical themed snacks and refreshments! Live performances of original songs about Teen Boat! by Abby Denson and Jordan Cooper! Plus, several door prizes and other activities!

This all-ages event will be open to the public. Costumes and nautical attire are encouraged! Spread the word!

DRAMA galleys have arrived…!

This coming weekend I’m heading up to Toronto for one of my very favorite comic events, the Toronto Comics Art Festival! (Or TCAF, for short.) TCAF is FREE to attend, and draws one of the best crowds (of both cartoonists and attendees) in all of North America.

I’ll be at TABLE 265 with Dave Roman and John Green, who are debuting their graphic novel TEEN BOAT! at TCAF! Table 265 is on the second floor of the library, in the OwlKids Exhibitor Area–we’ll be near Jenni and Matt Holm (Babymouse), Andy Runton (Owly), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), and Kean Soo (Jellaby), which is awesome. We’re right by the upstairs bathroom, and on the way into the OwlKids panel space. We’re at the end of the row, but you should be able to find us! Look for the TEEN BOAT! banner! I’ll have some copies of Smile, as well as Smile T-shirts and some art for sale! And, I’ll have Drama bookmarks!!

If you’re looking for me, I will be at the table signing and sketching for most of the show, with the exception of the following fine programs!

Saturday, May 5

1:00pm-1:45pm: Kids Comics Quickfire!
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 2nd Floor:
Appel Salon, Novella Room
Part drawing jam, part fast-paced game show! Volunteers from the audience are paired off with (or against) professional cartoonists in a series of fun-filled drawing challenges! Featuring Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy),Raina Telgemeier (SMILE), John Green (Teen Boat) and Bob Flynn (Heeby Jeeby Comix).

1:45 – 3:00 – Comics Childhoods
Location: The Pilot Tavern, 22 Cumberland Street
What was your childhood like? Four cartoonists discuss their depictions of their own childhoods in comics. Why does childhood have strong pull on cartoonists’ stories? And what’s involved with visually recreating youth? With Alison Bechdel, Jenni Holm, Michel Rabagliati, and Raina Telgemeier. Moderator: Robin Brenner

Sunday, May 6
12:45 – 1:30 – Turn Your Life Into A Comic!
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 2nd Floor:
Appel Salon, Novella Room
The inspiration for Raina Telgemeier’s book, Smile, comes from her own life as an eleven-year old girl who injures her two front teeth. Are you ready to tell your life story in comics? Get tips on how to pick ideas from your own life to create your own autobiographical comics.

2:45pm-3:30pm: Spotlight: Explorer The Mystery Boxes
Location: Toronto Reference Library, 2nd Floor:
Appel Salon, Novella Room
Join the creators of Explorer: The Mystery Boxes: Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), Jason Caffoe (Flight), Stuart Livingston, Raina Telgemeier (Smile), and Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), as they read their stories live on stage, with a little help from the audience!

yaytime:

ALA GraphicCon logo. Color & B&W versions.

I was asked to design a logo for the “con within a con” graphic novel programming at the American Library Association conference  in Anaheim, California this year. The image appears on T-shirts and other merchandise in which all funds go toward library programs. So a great way to support literacy and comics in the library!

http://www.cafepress.com/comicsinlibrariesgroupala

Dave made this sweet logo for ALA’s 2012 graphic novel pavilion. I love it.

Today is Take Your Kids to Work Day! In honor of that, here’s an oldie but a goodie.

Back in the ancient days (2005), Dave and I collaborated on a 4-page short for DC Comics’ anthology, BIZARRO WORLD. He wrote, I drew. We chose to do a story about the Justice League, having their own version of Take Your Kids to Work Day. Hijinx ensue! 

Bizarro World is still available for purchase, although I believe it is out of print.

I created an original poster for this year’s KIDS READ COMICS festival, a free event held every summer in Michigan! This year’s event will take place July 7-8 in Ann Arbor, and all enthusiasts of kid- and teen-friendly comics are welcome. I’ll have a table there and will be leading some workshops!

You can download a printable version of the poster at the link: http://mlatcomics.com/krc/2012poster

My life is good.  :)

Unused concept sketch for a magazine illustration.