[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-4-may-the-phoenix-childrens-comics-festival":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"\u003Cb>I have a dream!\u003C/b> ...A furry, tentacled, twitching dream that one day this nation will rise up and children and grownups will make comics, side by side; people will make books and read books and swap books and love books. We will read each other's stories; we will look up from them, we will connect with each other, and we will make more stories together. ...And hello, what is this?!! It is \u003Cb>already happening! Hurrah!\u003C/b> \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/ComicFestivalKids_1_zps01408471-1365e2c080.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nComics festivals are springing up all over the country, where anyone of any age can sell their own comics! But most of the festivals are aimed at grownups, there aren't dedicated children's comics festivals. But \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/\">The Phoenix Comic\u003C/a> is planning to change this! On \u003Cb>Saturday, May 4th\u003C/b>, they're going to start up \u003Cb>Oxford's first Children's Comic Festival at The Story Museum\u003C/b>. People can meet and draw with comics creators, take part in and lead workshops, buy and sell comics, and get comics signed by The Phoenix Comic team, the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.davidficklingbooks.com/davidficklingbooks_dfclibrary.asp\">DFC Library\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://loafzine.blogspot.co.uk/\">LOAf magazine\u003C/a> and other comics. But \u003Cb>what I'm hoping is that some kids will also take up the opportunity to get their own tables and sell their own comics.\u003C/b> This beats a lemonade stand any day! If you're new to this, here's what you need:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/ComicFestivalKids_2_zpsa90e1b2c-c4ec7e214a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd it's a good idea to have some of these things, too (especially the tablecloth, maybe some cello tape for fixing stuff). \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/ComicFestivalKids_3_zps253bea6c-330f4e171a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nJust imagine having your own pop-up shop for a day! Quick, grab your drawing supplies, get drawing, then find a photocopier or scanner/printer! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/hypercom_wksp8-0c2aa8c46f.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nI'm excited about The Phoenix Children's Comics Festival because it'll have some of the best people in the business there. (Find out more about \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/\">The Phoenix Comic and its creators over on its website\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/phoenix_banner_neill_zps92913fc0-065b381527.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"http://www.neillcameron.com/\">Neill Cameron\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://jamielittler.co.uk/Comics\">Jamie Littler\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"http://www.lauraellenanderson.co.uk/EVIL-EMPEROR-PENGUIN\">Laura Ellen Anderson\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\n\u003C!--more Click here for lots more comics festival tips under the cut!-->\\r\nDo kids do this sort of thing already? You bet! Ace and \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thezoom.co.uk/\">Zoom Rockman\u003C/a> are proof that kids can do it, too; Zoom's been self-publishing comics since he was eight and sort of become comics poster kid for entrepreneurship. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/comiket12_the_zoom-46b064f74e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThink how fun it will be to sign copies of your own self-published comics along with the pros! Don't forget to bring your signing pen! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcm_mobot_signing_zpscedceb1d-73b6c64e5e.jpg\">\\r\n\u003Ci>Oxford's own \u003Ca href=\"http://www.neillcameron.com/\">Neill Cameron\u003C/a> signs copies of the DFC Library's \u003Ca href=\"http://www.neillcameron.com/mobot-high/\">Mo-Bot High\u003C/a>\u003C/i>\\r\n\\r\nYou don't have to go down expensive publishing routes to make your own comics. All you need is a way to make copies (a photocopier, a home printer), a stapler or sewing kit, and a bit of ingenuity. Here are some examples from grownup creators:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcmexpo_loot-87f1d8b048.jpg\"> \\r\n\\r\nAnd you can have loads of fun building a beautiful display! \u003Ca href=\"http://mycardboardlife.com/\">Philippa Rice\u003C/a> comes up with some of my very favourite displays with her cardboard dioramas for her comic \u003Ci>\u003Ca href=\"http://mycardboardlife.com/\">My Cardboard Life\u003C/a>\u003C/i>.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/philippa_rice_mcm_zps9eb92755-24d9d6488a.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd my other favourite is \u003Ca href=\"http://modernmonstrosity.bigcartel.com/\">Oliver Lambden\u003C/a>'s \u003Ci>Curtis & Terrorist\u003C/i> comics display; he actually hand-drew each individual cover! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/oliver_lambden_curtis_zps9531e0e2-30b49e0a9e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://nikki-stu.blogspot.co.uk/\">Nikki Stuart\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"http://chamonkee.livejournal.com/\">Will Kirkby\u003C/a> often go nuts making big cardboard artwork to make their table look eye-catching, then sell it.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcm_oct10b_3-317391192d.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.lizzlizz.com/\">Lizz Lunney\u003C/a> has made toys here to go with her comics:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcm_oct10_28-5d1e521c11.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nAnd she's made badges, too! You can order these fairly cheaply from online sellers, you just need to upload your image and they post you back a bag full of badges. My studio mate has a badge machine and makes them herself.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/comiket12_lizz_badges-2cb029c19e.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://craigscomicland.com/\">Craig Conlan\u003C/a> makes a colourful display with his comics and key chains:\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/comiket12_craig_comics-3ac093a861.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Alfasi\">Asia Alfasi\u003C/a> likes to draw portraits for people on the day of the festival. One time we drew pictures of each other! You can experiment with different prices and see what people will pay to have you draw them.\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/asia_alfasi_zpsd7bedbdd-2b1a2eab11.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.scarygoround.com/\">John Allison\u003C/a> gets his own tea towels printed to sell. And check out this beautiful doll made by \u003Ca href=\"http://declantalbert.com/portfolio.html\">Declan Talbert\u003C/a>!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcmexpo67-21eea1b273.jpg\"> \u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcmexpo23-df163c1ba7.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nSome people tempt potential customers with sweets!\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcm_cakes_zps6f4beabe-88106bf6bc.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nNot everyone dresses up for comics festivals, but it's always fun to see when people come in costume. (If you don't know what '\u003Cb>cosplay\u003C/b>' means, \u003Ca href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay\">click here to look it up on Wikipedia\u003C/a>.)\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcm_oct09_8-291bd5abdd.jpg\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/mcm_oct09_9-96a0bd1798.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nIf you want to get involved in The Phoenix Children's Comics Festival, tables are free (hurrah!), but there's limited space, so you'll need to \u003Cb>book yours\u003C/b>! Send an \u003Cb>e-mail to Caro Fickling at caro at thephoenixcomic.co.uk.\u003C/b>\\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/comiket_26-578d9bed12.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nOh, and I didn't even mention the awesomeness that is Oxford's new \u003Ca href=\"http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/\">Story Museum\u003C/a>. Have you seen the shiny whizz-banging, stop-popping STORYLOOM? No? \u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/510709.html\">Click over here for photos...\u003C/a> \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://jabberworks.livejournal.com/510709.html\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/dewan_storyloom_sarah_mc-a0c52f1e1f.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nI'm seriously excited about the way things are going with comics festivals; I really do believe that kids don't want to sit and passively watch people make stuff, they get inspired by seeing creators at work and straight away want to make it themselves. And when kids make their own books, they start to take more interest in the books that other people have made... this reading scheme isn't rocket science. (But a comic about rocket science would be awesome.)","2013-03-22T10:45:00.000Z","4-may-the-phoenix-childrens-comics-festival",[],"4 may: the phoenix children's comics festival!",1776628724917]