Tag Archives: Cloudscape

Monster Alphabet

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Event, Monsters

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I love monsters. I’ve always loved monsters. Whether they’re dinosaurs and sabre-tooth cats from our prehistory, dragons and griffins from myth, or vampires and werewolves from modern horror movies, monsters are so much fun. And one of the best things about these monsters is their bestiaries, the loving encyclopaedias created by medieval monks or modern eccentrics about all the creatures that used to exist or were believed to exist or were imagined to exist. All the beasts of never, creatures of myth, and legends of long ago.

Along with my love of monsters is my love of world-building and of collaborations, and thus we have the Monster Alphabet. Every week, I create a monster name for a particular letter of the alphabet (A, then B, then C….), and then talented comic artists sketch what they think that particular monster should look like, it gets posted on the Cloudscape website, people vote, a picture is chosen, and a write a description of the critter that matches that particular description. It’s a lot of fun.

So far, the monsters have been:

A is for Albora

The most exuberantly friendly animal you could imagine, except during the full moon….
B is for Babithy

Multiple bodies inhabited by a single mind, sent out to feed.
C is for Calillux

A giant gastropod that zealously protects all slugs and snails.
D is for Degyt

A massive territorial beast with a savage temper and hypnotic eyes.

Come and take a look!

“Giants of Main Street” Launch Party

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

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You’re invited to the launch party of Giants of Main Street, the latest graphic novel anthology from Cloudscape Comics. Come and meet the hub of Vancouver’s indy graphic novel artists, including veteran underground cartoonist Colin Upton, VanCAF organizer Shannon Campbell, Xeric grant winners Jonathon Dalton and Steve LeCouilliard, and Toren Atkinson (vocalist and lyricist for horror-themed rock band Darkest of the Hillside Thickets).

And of course, I’ll be there too. I wrote two of the stories in Giants, including “Fallen Star,” the story of the Minotaur, a tale I’m especially proud of. I also collected and wrote the book’s bestiary, which was a lot of fun. I’ve always loved playing around with fabulous beasts and impossible creatures. And I was the copyeditor. So definitely a project I’ve been heavily involved with.

When: Wednesday, August 1, from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Where: The Cultch, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, 1895 Venables, downtown.

Cost: Free! All are welcome to attend!

We’ll be selling signed copies of Giants of Main Street and our other books, and there’ll be a gallery showing of our members’ art.

Come take a look!

Interview with Jeff Ellis, part 2

29 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by in Interview

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by Bevan Thomas

(originally appeared on the Cloudscape website)

For the first half of the interview with Jeff Ellis, see part 1

“Who would you call your biggest artistic influences?” I asked Jeff Ellis.

“I used to be totally obsessed with Mark Bagley and John Romita Jr., really impressed by their work ethic,” Jeff replied. “I’m probably the most stylistically influenced by Steve Rolston. I was actually in the comic store when Steve got his acceptance letter from Oni; me and Steve both used to buy our comics from ABC Book & Comic Emporium.”

“It must have been a real coup then, for Steve Rolston to illustrate the cover of Cloudscape’s fifth anthology, 21 Journeys.”

“Yeah, that was awesome.” Jeff grinned.

“Frequently your art reminds me of Phillip Bond, similar energy, visual clarity, and round, expressive figures,” I said. “You know his work? He’s done a lot of stuff with Grant Morrison, such as Kill Your Boyfriend and Invisibles.”

“I know of him, yeah. I think Steve was influenced by Phillip Bond, and I was influenced by Steve. Craig Thompson and Chris Ware are also big influences for my art.” Continue reading »

Interview with Jeff Ellis, part 1

26 Thursday Jan 2012

Posted by in Interview

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by Bevan Thomas

(originally appeared on the Cloudscape website)

At one of Cloudscape Comics’ Wednesday meetings, I sat down to chat with Jeff Ellis, the organization’s founder, as around us numerous fellow cartoonists worked on their own projects.

Jeff Ellis

In many ways, Jeff’s appearance captures the archetype of the “geek” in the best possible way; a slim, bespectacled bright-eyed man with a mouth rarely far from a gentle smile. He is approachable and unassuming, even shy, and yet when he speaks, his words are confident, thoughtful, and earnest. Dedicated to his own projects, but always interested in the works of others, welcoming to new associates but always loyal to old ones; perhaps he above anyone else embodies the creativity and openness of Cloudscape.

“You’ve spent most of your life in Vancouver?” I asked.

“Yeah. I grew-up here. Though I did live for two and a half years in Japan, from 2004 to 2007.”

“What made you decide to go to Japan?”

At this question, Jeff dropped his gaze in slight embarrassment. “I wanted a fresh start.”

“A fresh start?”

“I’d graduated from college,” Jeff began, “a three-year program in graphic design, and couldn’t find a job. Any art job, I mean. I was working retail and was sick of it; I wanted a change. A friend of mine had gone to Japan before and had found it easy to get a teaching job; so she suggested I give it a shot.”

Continue reading »

Hanging-Out with Artists

21 Thursday Jul 2011

Posted by in Self-Reflection

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Every Wednesday, I hang-out at the local coffee shop with the rest of Cloudscape, a collective of BC comic book creators. These regular meetings are to announce particular Cloudscape events, as well as to work on artwork and chat with other artists. Unlike most of the other members, I’m mainly a writer, and so I don’t spend my time sketching and generally have a hard time focusing on my writing during group meeting. Because of that, I spend most of my time circulating, talking to various members and taking a look at their work.

It’s fascinating to watch art be produced by a variety of artists, to see each one ponder their creations, choose an image, cross that image out, find a new one, move on to part 2 they’re satisfied with part 1. Each artist has his or her own particular style: there’s the Canadian manga artists, the more realistic ones, the graduates of animation school with their simple vibrant designs, the underground artist, the guy who’s style was influenced by Mayan art…. So many styles, so many creations.

I’ve worked with many of them myself, collaborating on various projects. There’s a joy in seeing one’s ideas given form and body thanks to the work of another. Something magical happens, a transmutation, an alchemical marriage, where the combined result is better than the some of its parts.