Ideas!

I always get lots of ideas after comic conventions and festivals; my recent visit to Angouleme is no exception!

I've been brainstorming how to finish BABY MAKES THREE and researching historic settings for some pitch art. Also in my brain is how to reprint some good older work that is either out of print (YBIL) or soon to be out of print (CAVALCADE).

And of course, the thing I want to do most, a compilation of my travel sketches. I've gone through all my old sketchbooks, finding some old gems, and last night I drafted this cover. I would like to print this the same height as all my other TPBs, but slightly narrower—which happens to be the dimensions of my little pretentious Moleskin sketchbooks.

Let's not jump to conclusions—first, I've not actually asked Xavier to translate my annotations. Nor have I actually selected sketches or annotated them (ok, sure, maybe I have some drafted from the sketchblog, but far from all).

And, of course, I have yet to go to Brazil and Argentina, which I would really like to do for this book. Research trip and all... So, lots to do before this project becomes a reality.

What do you think I should pursue? Baby Makes Three, reprinting older work (perhaps with some new material), pitches to publishers, or travel sketchbook?

Fini

My last day took many unexpected turns. I was drenched while doing some light shopping, spoke French to some clerks, then cleared out my work email.

After the weather cleared, Xavier and I hiked up one Lyon's steep hills looking at the stunning views, in search of the jazz bar I had been to before. That evening's program called for "electric jazz" so it was on the "maybe" list as electric isn't my fav.

We ended up at this lesbian lounge, where shoes-off is the requirement. The place is filled with slouchy pillow-y seats and a very funny and nice lesbian owner. By the time we left, she had dressed herself up as Elvis. It would be a great space for a presentation. They served outrageously huge (non-alcoholic) drinks.

We next met some of X's friends at a geek game cafe, where we played Dutch board game "Finster Fleure" (I think). Each player gets 4 tokens; each token has a different character set on them. My character set was the dog, the scared boy, the fat kid, and the skinny Asian boy.

Later, dinner at a fancy pizzeria and then drinks at a gay bar. A patron was obsessed with Xavier's jacket (he was pretty wasted).

Oh—the cougar pictured here I saw the next day at the airport. Au revoir, Lyon.

Lazy Lyon

After my signing on 2/3, I definitely slipped into full relax mode. I slept in late, and then took a walk along the Quay, enjoying the sunshine and the views.

Usually comic conventions inspire me to think of ideas for new projects, or how to ramp up things as a business, etc. This was no exception, and on this day, my mind was scrolling through many ideas for next steps.

In the afternoon, Xavier and I grabbed a hot cocoa from his favorite cafe where his friend Charlie was hanging out. Charlie lives in London and was very happy to practice English but his real love is actual English accents.

That night, was an early night in for us, and we talked about comics, looked at comics, and then talked about comics some more.

It was a very good feeling this day, to be so lazy.

Tourism with a capital T

After an amazing 4 days of the festival, Abby and I spent an exhausting day doing the tourism highlights, as she had never been to Paris before. The path was determined by the pastry shops she wanted to check out and not the monuments.

Not sure why I didn't draw this bit: That evening, we met up with Jeff for dinner and ate in the Japanese section of Paris. We tried to get into a Karaoke bar, but were denied. We think it was a front for a brothel for Japanese business men. It was fun listening to Abby talk in Japanese and awkward as the madam at the door scowled at us and funny again when we were denied entrance.

The next day Abby left for NYC and I left for Lyon where I discovered I had lost my drivers license and had more than 700 work emails to wade through. That night, Xavier and I ate a gay owned cafe, where the owner warned me I wasn't allowed to leave until I eaten my entire plate. It was a charming chastisement.

Les Gens d'Angoulême

Not all, actually.

Let's see...clockwise from left is a Brazilian reporter (cuter in real, not as wide-eyed); woman carrying around her dead-looking baby; androgenous...boy? dunno; shaggy, scruffy, freckly guy Abby liked; skinny waiter from Lyon; cute Bastille waiter who gave me and Abby fresh-squeezed OJ gratuis; very tall guy at the festival with a very pronounced mono-brow.

Brrrr—!

Admittedly, I was not prepared for the severity of the weather in France—yet I opted for a day excursion to Versailles. I loved all the portraits and statuary Louis XIV commissioned of himself. The crazy hairdo and the leg-stance were just priceless. The opulence of the palace was a bit overwhelming, and not surprising that there was a revolution against the excess. Despite the lack of flowers (or sun) I walked through the gardens and along the grand canal growing increasingly cold.

I was wrong in yesterdays post: my dinner with Jeff was later this evening. But when I did, Xavier informed us of cancellations to our party to Angoulême. Since our accommodations are all in private homes (the village doesn't have enough hotel space for all), it was important that we find replacements or pay the bill ourselves. Jeff suggested I pump out drawings from the start of the convention to help pay the bill. I did, and because we partially filled the space, everything turned out alright. It was only a mild kerfuffle.

But, in preparation for the festival, I had to do laundry and buy some paper and pens (a bit of an adventure to find shops at addresses that didn't quite exist—or at least, not where I looked...). My errands took much less time than I'd expected (thanks to Jeff!) so I had about an hour to kill, so I walked to the islands and into Notre Dame. I knew up front the cathedral is a tourist trap, but it was 1000x worse than I'd anticipated. At least it was warm.

I grabbed my bags from the hotel and met up with my party for lunch before heading out to Angoulême!

Obrigado Lisboa—Bienvenue a Paris

I awoke early on the 24th to enjoy a harrowing cab-ride to the Lisbon airport. I meandered through the maze-like terminal, checking in, passing through security, and arriving at my first—first one there! Lisbon is very hilly and there was a solid 10 minute drive from the gate to the plane on a little transport bus, up and down the uneven landscape. Must have been a feat to build the airport there.

I arrived in Paris, and lugged my bags up to the 6th floor—will save my hotel commentary for later—and ultimately arrived at Paige Braddock's signing at Les Mots a la Bouche. Paige gets oddly stressed out about signings and boothings, but she did great and had a nice turnout! The next day, I bummed around town, did some light shopping, hit the Pompideu Centre and people-watched. I had dinner with Jeff, too, but that sketch is on the next spread. Until tomorrow!