Ed Firth

Cyborg mascots attack BIG BOSS ROBO!! NO ART WITHOUT WORKERS!! (Note: Jessi added this alternative description for the March newsletter for a bit more clarity: A red, black, and white illustration of the Cartoonist Cooperative's mascots, Inkling (an inkwell) and Nibford (a dip pen), smashing a cyborg boss character. Text above and below reads, "No art without workers!")

The Cartoonist Co-op is no longer affiliated with Affinity due to their recent integration of AI tools.

You can read the Co-op's official statement on AI here: cartoonist.coop/journal/ai/

Art by Cy McQuinn (@cymechdraws.bsky.social)

Speaking of delulu, last year I wrote to one of my comics artist idols, @ralfkoenig.bsky.social and asked if I could visit him in Köln, Germany. He said yes and we spent 3 days hanging out, sketching each other, looking at art. Here's the queer comics legend replying to emails. Make things happen!

And you have to cultivate a degree of delulu to succeed in art. I'm happy to talk art and self-publishing any time; success for me means connection. Making art is about connecting with people, and success in the arts means connection with more people! Decide what success means to you and achieve it.

And reach out to people who have had success, creatively, commercially, and ask them stuff! I have many times. I have the type of delulu where I assume any other artist is my peer, my equal, and I can say hello and they'll reply. Those that don't are missing out.

Or, make something that will sell big, maybe it will. But if you're not living off the proceeds of your art, don't feel you're failing. MOST ARTISTS ARE NOT MAKING A LIVING FROM THEIR ART! Only a tiny percentage do. Make what you love and enjoy the process, don't judge yourself by financial success.

And self publish! Publishers are not looking to make you rich, or even keep a roof over your head, they're hoping for the occasional hit title or author for minimal financial risk, and they focus their resources on their popular creators. You don't need their seal of approval.

Write the thing that is too scary, too big, too much for now, the thing publishers won't touch. Write the thing you can't publish until your parents are dead. The thing that makes your heart pound when you imagine holding it in your hands, finished, irretrievably OUT THERE.

I didn't expect writing graphic novels about intoxicated men spiralling to be popular, but there is a huge demand for adult, challenging comics that reach beyond entertainment. My comics are collected by museums, libraries, universities and galleries. Not because of the art, because of the stories.

So make your comics ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MATTERS! Scream from your core and your tribe will join the cacophony. Whatever you feel inside, whatever you've experienced, whatever frustrates, hurts or humiliates you, is felt by millions of people who are aching for someone to say it.

In the UK, only 7% of artists make over £20k a year. Higher earning artists make work that is participatory, community-based, or socially-engaged, with moving image artists making the least (my previous career 👻). www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/only-th...

Out of This World #4 (1957). On the cover, there is a man who is half in the real world and half in another dimension. On the left side is a city street at night, with a street lamp and buildings in the background. A woman is running towards the man, and the lower half of his body is still in the real world. On the right is the other dimension, which is mostly black except for the white outline of the man's upper body, and another figure who is pulling him inside. We can also see the white line of two other figures running towards them.

Ditko!

Tetanus from that rusty spike, I should think.

Oh I remember this, and the sequel, The Celery Stalks At Midnight.

Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted at all

Not my best work last night at East London Life Drawing, but passable. Next week, another new model! typ0.bigcartel.com/product/east...

Gonna tell my grandkids this was Human Traffic

I've donated a bunch of times, Wikipedia is a really unusual and vital online resource that tech twats can't enshittificate. Donating today!

For sale: joy receptacle, shat in

My drawings from this week's East London Life Drawing with Clay. Next Boo-sday things get a lil SPOOKY with our ghoulish garcon Matt... 🎃🎃🎃 typ0.bigcartel.com/product/east...

IMPORTANT

All freelancers, self-employed, creatives

This is the first I've heard of this, but the Department for Business and Trade is running a consultation on the scourge of late payments, they want to introduce new legislation to tackle poor practices

Deadline to respond is 23 October

1/2

Couple of my sketches from this week's East London Life Drawing. Next week a new model makes his debut... typ0.bigcartel.com/product/east...

It's actually remarkably easy to not ever use ChatGPT.

I just sat down and helped make a huge movement, take a look and see what you think!

Posting to remind myself! We can all be each other's hype man! I know we can! Come on! Yeah! OK this is actually quite draining.

Kickstarter United is on strike! We are not asking for a boycott! Creators & Allies: Please continue to support & use the platform swipe for ways to show your solidarity

Why We're Striking A codified 4-day work week. We simply want to protect the way we've been working for over 3.5 years. The 4dww has proven benefits, such as increased productivity and improved employee satisfaction. It's part of what makes Kickstarter a special, innovative place to work. Fair pay for our lowest-paid workers. We're fighting for livable minimum salaries for roles that are undervalued by the market but crucial to keeping Kickstarter running. We believe none of our workers should struggle to make ends meet.

Creators Show your solidarity by: Continue using the platform like normal When something breaks, complain loudly that it is management's fault for causing the strike Include our logo and strike info on your project Send a letter to KSR leadership urging them to meet our demands & end the strike bit.ly/KSRUletter

Community Allies Show your solidarity by: Support your favorite creators on the platform like normal Send a letter to KSR leadership urging them to meet our demands & end the strike: Creators Show your solidarity by: Continue using the platform like normal When something breaks, complain loudly that it is management's fault for causing the strike Include our logo and strike info on your project Send a letter to KSR leadership urging them to meet our demands & end the strike bit.ly/KSRUletter Donate to our solidarity fund: bit.ly/KSRUdonate Attend a rally or picket either in-person near you (NYC and Seattle) or virtual

‼️🚨KICKSTARTER WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE🚨‼️

As of 8am this morning, the workers of Kickstarter United/OPEIU Local 153 are on strike.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A BOYCOTT! Creators and allies, please continue using and supporting the platform.

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything by AI. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed with AI, or buy anything sold or processed with AI, or process anything sold, bought, or processed by AI, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed by AI.

I've been using this sticker as a bookmark for years! I think i picked it up at London Pride

UK cis ladies, a chance to show your support here: notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...