Congratulations Colleen Frakes ’07 and Emma Hunsigner ’20! Knots and How It All Ends are featured in the School Library Journal’s (SLJ) Best Books of 2024 list. The SLJ list of 25 books showcases comics that push storytelling to new heights.
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Tags: CCS Alum, Colleen Frakes, Emma Hunsinger, Graphic Novel, Greenwillow, Harper Alley, School Library Journal
Short Run is coming on November 9 in Seattle, WA, and despite being on the opposite coast from The Center for Cartoon Studies, you can find some CCS grads with their comics. With a focus on comics, Short Run includes all sorts of self-publishers and small press. Free to the public!
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Tags: Alec Longstreth, Angela Boyle, awesome 'possum, Basewood, Ben Horak, Charlotte Bronte before Jane Eyre, Colleen Frakes, Convention, Glynnis Fawkes, Graphic Novels, Grump Toast, Iron Scars, Isle of Elsi, Prison Island, Short Run
If you are going to be in the Seattle area, Short Run is coming up on November 3, and CCS has a table with Alec Longstreth, creator of Phase 7. From 1–3, he will be doing portfolio reviews. And all day someone will be there to answer questions you might have about attending the school. No need to RSVP, just swing by with your stuff.
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Tags: Alec Longstreth, Angela Boyle, awesome 'possum, Ben Horak, cartoonstudies, Colleen Frakes, DW, Fantagraphics, Flying Dodo Publications, Grump Toast, Her Blood and Bone, Montebank, Phase 7, portfolio review, Prison Island, Retrofit, ShortRun, Sophie Yanow, What Is a Glacier?, Zest Books
It’s that time of year when the ink and sweaters come out. Inktober! When artists take the month of October to create an ink drawing every day. There is an official prompt list from the instigator of this hallowed tradition, Jake Parker (Little Bot and Sparrow), but plenty of people make it their own. It is one of the best months for finding new artists to follow on Instagram.
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Tags: Alex Karr, Andi Santagata, Andy Christensen, Angela Boyle, Ben Wright-Heuman, Bonesteel, Bridget Comeau, Bryn Adams, cartoonstudies, Colleen Frakes, Dan Archer, Dan Rinylo, Erienne McCray, Holly Foltz, ian richardson, Inktober, Jake Parker, Jason Week, Jen Vaughn, Jesse Durona, John Carvajal, Jonathan Rotsztain, Josh Lees, JP Coovert, Kate Larson, Laura Terry, Lena Chandhok, Max Riffner, Moss Bastille, Rainer Kannenstine, Reilly Hadden, Sam Carbaugh, Sandy Bartholomew, Shashwat Mishra, Steve Thueson, Whiteley Foster
The DINKys are the awards at the Denver Independent Comics and Art Expo and are in their second year. This weekend is DINK, and the awards are announced Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Center for Cartoon Studies family has some wonderful representatives! Good luck to you all!
Librarian Santiago Naranjo (′09) reading Something New by Lucy Knisley
Best-Work Self Published
Scraps by John Carvajal (’15)
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Tags: A City Insid, awards, Cartoon Studies, Colleen Frakes, DINKy, John Carvajal, Lucy Knisley, Luke Howard, Noah Van Sciver, Something New, Tillie Walden
Guest curator and Professor of English, Craig Fischer as assembled an impressive The Center for Cartoon Studies ten year exhibit currently on exhibit at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University in North Carolina.
Presentation by James Sturm
January 27, 2016, 7pm
At the Junction of Words & Pictures: The Tenth Anniversary of The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) exhibit will feature work by CCS faculty and co-founder James Sturm, Stephen R. Bissette and Jason Lutes as well as by CCS Fellows Chris Wright (2008-09), Julie Delporte (2011-12), Connor Willumsen (2012-13) and Sophie Yanow (2014-15). Also included are examples of art by CCS graduates Dan Archer ′08, Charles Forsman ’08, Colleen Frakes ’07, Sophie Goldstein ’13, Luke Howard ’13, Joseph Lambert ’08, Melissa Mendes ’10 and cartoonists who have collaborated with the school on various book projects.
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Tags: Charles Forsman, Colleen Frakes, Connor Willumsen, Craig Fischer, Dan Archer, James Sturm, Jason Lutes, Joseph Lambert, Julie Delporte, Luke Howard, Melissa Mendes, Michelle Ollie, Sophie Goldstein, Sophie Yanow, Stephen R. Bissette, Steve Bissette, Tenth Celebration, Torching Center
The Center for Cartoon Studies alum Colleen Frakes ′07 Prison Island released September 1. Frakes graphic memoir Prison Island, tells her story of growing up on the McNeil Island, living in a company town near the prison, and the remote island life challenges to Colleen and her sister.
Order a copy online now!
Tags: Cartoon Studies, cartoonist, CCS, Colleen Frakes, Comics, Graphic Memoir, Graphic Novel, Prison Island
Chicago Alternative Comics Expo [CAKE]
June 16 & 17
CAKE Special Guest, CCS alum Lucy Knisley! Visit Lucy’s site to read her webcomic, Stop Paying Attention, and to buy comics: LucyKnisley.com
Also, debuting at CAKE: Island Brat 2, by CCS Alum Colleen Frakes. Island Brat is about living on McNeil Island, home to America’s last island prison, accessible only by air or sea. Visit Colleen’s site: tragicrelief.com
CCS students and alum exhibiting, include: Sophie Goldstein, Sasha Steinberg, Sean Ford, Chuck Forsman, Colleen Frakes, Penina Gal, Beth Hetland, Lucy Knisley, Josh Kramer, Melissa Mendes, Annie Murphy, Betsey Swardlick.
CCS fellows Blaise Larmee and Gabby Schulz will also be exhibiting!
Tags: Annie Murphy, Beth Hetland, Betsey Swardlick, Blaise Larmee, CAKE, Cartoon Studies, Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, Chuck Forsman, Colleen Frakes, Gabby Schulz, Island Brats, Josh Kramer, Lucy Knisley, Melissa Mendes, Penina Gal, Sasha Steinberg, Sean Ford, Sophie Goldstein
Retrofit is a new publisher with an old idea: to bring single issue “floppy” comics to the world of alternative comics. Retrofit will publish one issue per month. Their catalog includes indy favorites and newcomers alike. It also includes two CCS alumni, Colleen Frakes (CCS ′07) and Chuck Forsman (CCS ′08). Chuck also designed Retrofit’s logo. Do you want to help fund this ambitious project? Visit the Retrofit Kickstarter page.
Tags: Chuck Forsman, Colleen Frakes, Retrofit
Alumni Colleen Frakes’ Xeric-winning Tragic Relief stages a four-act fusion of mythic characters and psychological case study. As foreshadowed by the title’s twist of cliché, three parallel sections set up the predicament with an epilogue driving home the message to full effect.
Tags: Colleen Frakes, Comics Journal, Tragic Relief
A free self-directed eCourse to improve your cartooning skills. Online, Start Anytime!
Click here to learn more and make an online donation now.
CCS wants your old comics! These comics and many more were donated to support CCS's BIPOC Cartoonist Fund. If you're interested in making a comic book or cash donation drop us a line.
Cartooning In An Anxious Age (pdf) is a free comic by Cara Bean on the act of drawing, which focuses your attention and intimately connects you with the generative act of creation. It’s an inspiring read.
Created for middle and high school students, Let’s Talk About It: A Graphic Guide To Mental Health is a lively and educational comic book that destigmatizes the conversation around mental health.
Using the power of comics to teach teens about the way our government works This Is What Democracy Looks Like, A Graphic Guide To Governance is a 32-page comic book created by The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS). This short comic guide helps to bring democracy back to the hands of the people by explaining what democracy actually means and how the whole thing works. This guide will be a great jumping-off point to learn about our government.
Download a free copy of The World is Made of Cheese, The Applied Cartooning Manifesto.
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