Let Some Word That Is Heard Be Yours debuts at CAKE, June 10 +11

Hi everyone!

'Let Some Word That Is Heard Be Yours' is at the printers! Here is the cover.

The book ended up being a nice 84 pages (20 pages more than I originally intended!) and comes with a works referenced section as well as a cover gallery featuring many incredible portraits of Fred Rogers in a variety of artistic styles and mediums by artist friends near and far. The book should arrive in mid-May, early June, just in time for the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) where I will be tabling on June 10 and 11. More info here: http://www.cakechicago.com

This book took roughly a year of work including research, writing, drawing, painting, editing, and fundraising. I have to thank some specific people for their help. Mike Freiheit provided countless hours of assistance, both technical and editorial to this project. He provided the attention and detailed eye that every writer/artist hopes to have with an editor. His book design, editing, and not to mention the beautiful portrait of Rogers and his ape-friend, Koko is a credit to his talent and friendship. I'm happy to be working with Print Ninja again (who printed my last book 'Teaching Comics') and more specifically Jeff Zwierk who also helped with the layout and editing process. Matt Davis and Bred Rohloff encouraged this project by allowing me to read at their exciting comics reading series 'Zine Not Dead' last year. I had a lot of fun sharing some pages from an early draft of the book, dressing up as Rogers, and even singing the opening theme song! (Perhaps it's best that no video exists of this performance...) 

Finally, one last BIG thank you to all of you have donated, shared, or in your own way, encouraged this project. I'm grateful for your support and look forward to sending out these books!

Let Some Word That Is Heard Be Yours- IndieGoGo Campaign!

I'm raising funds via IndieGoGo to print 'Let Some Word That Is Heard Be Yours', the Mister Rogers comic I've been working on for past few months. 

$25 gets you a copy of the 50 page comic, your name on a contributor's page, as well as other perks. 

I've been having a lot of fun researching and creating this project. I hope to be able to have the book ready by mid-April/May and any donation or shared link on social media would help tremendously. Thanks!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-some-word-that-is-heard-be-yours-by-alex-nall-comics/x/12772965#/

Who was Mr. Rogers?

Mr. Rogers

I'm revising a Teaching Comics story that features the life and influence of Fred Rogers. Last year when I started working at the elementary school after summer break, I felt incredibly anxious and had a lot of trouble falling asleep. Watching episodes Mr. Rogers and learning about how he came to create the television program millions of fans adore still to this day helped me cope with some of the stressful situations I was dealing with at school.  I made this illustration of him to get me back into the swing of revising the story.

Teaching Comics- Santa

Teaching Comics- Holiday Card

New original watercolors for sale!

I've added more small (5 x 3.5) watercolor illustrations to my Sanctuary series on the BUY ORIGINAL ART link. If you're interested in purchasing one you can e-mail me at alexnall0@gmail.com

I'm starting to include illustrations referenced from photos of a trip I took to Europe nearly six years ago. I studied in Florence and London on a study abroad program while in school, and took many photos during my time there. I got to looking at the photos the other night and figured I might as well put them to some use and reference them for some drawings. I've been having a lot of fun revisiting this time in my life and remembering all the places I went all those years ago.

I moved to Chicago the year after this time in Europe and my habit of exploring followed me there. I still enjoy finding places that have some certain charm or character to them. The Sanctuary series has its roots in the activity of exploring the city you live in or a new place you're visiting and finding somewhere you feel like you might belong or just feel comforted by.

Taqueria Moran in Logan Square. (I defy you to find me a place that serves a better burrito under two minutes.)

The corner of my living room. Lots of board games and books (Chris Ware's Building Stories is there next to Settlers of Catan), art work and prints hanging on the wall, and this weird pseudo-couch from Ikea that no one ever sits on.

The vineyards outside Villa Medicea di Artimino. I remember this small province outside Prato to be a great trip mostly because our study group got to tour a winery and have a free wine tasting at the end. 

I lived in Florence for three months in 2011 and crossed through this archway on my way back to the home I was staying at. There was usually a bustle of activity here including protests, carnival rides, and merchants selling to tourists. 

A cemetery in Stratford-upon-Avon. During the London-portion of my study abroad experience we spent two days in Shakespeare's birthplace. Walking through the graveyard near the church of his burial site was a highlight for some reason. There was a tombstone here that read R.I.P. Samuel L. Jackson, which among all the old-English jargon and medieval history was a source of idiotic delight for me and my friends.