Dylan Meconis's Blog, page 4

Family Man: Page 239

Page 239 now online!

I'm just going to keep going back to that well. One of the things I like best about working on this story is getting to weave in a lot of variations on theme and therefore bring things full circle in unexpected ways. We are now launching off into the whole second leg of the story, and it feels like a breath of fresh, cold air.

I'm working on some early spring cleaning for the Family Man website – making it easier for readers to donate to the comic, comment on it (maybe!), follow me more easily through my many social networking thingies, and adding some new prints to the store. If there are any features you'd really like to see, please send me a line – via Twitter, Facebook, LJ, e-mail…you name it!

What is the sound of one shoe dropping

Page 238 now online!

Aaaaaand there we are. Don't recognize her? That's okay. She looked pretty different the last time.

Readers! Lovers of good stuff! This is the week where you buy Shaenon Garrity's Narbonic collection and then you buy Jenn Manley Lee's Dicebox collection, and you buy them in large quantities for everybody you love! I've seen both publications in person and lost hours to their delights.

These comics were some of the first I ever followed online, and both had a major influence on the way I think about story. Shaenon and Jenn are also incredibly thoughtful creators and great human beings. Support some independent geniuses and order today.

In other news, I'm back in the saddle, drawing goddesses of the world. More art on Flickr/Tumblr! Click on Oya of the Yoruba below to see her at full size.

Family Man update!

Page 237 now online!

It sure is a good thing that it turns out I like drawing wolves! I was actually nervous that I might not, but then my inner wolf-obsessed ten year-old kicked in and reminded me that wolves are awesome, and drawing them is even more awesome. Thanks for that, li'l Dylan. You're the best kid.

In other wolf-related news, a savvy reader pointed me towards this article shortly before New Year's. However you feel about the reintroduction of gray wolves in North America, it's a remarkable event. We're all witnesses to a huge ecological (and social) experiment.

Now, I'm not going to pressure you all, but: next week's page? I have been waiting to draw it for years. Put your crazy hats on and tell your friends.

Happy new year!

Page 236 of Family Man now online!

Happy 2012, all! I am kicking off the new year with this scene, which is going to be A Thing. Oh yes; it is going to be A Thing. I apologize to those of you who track updates by way of Wordpress/Livejournal; last week's post got eaten, so if you missed it, you'll want to backtrack and read the last page of 2011.

Thank you to everybody who bought stuff from my Etsy store this past week – the cash infusion was welcome, and I've been having a lot of fun sending out art both long-finished and brand-new to good homes. Everything should be in the mail by Monday! Depending on my workload I might put up some more items in the store this week, so keep your eyes peeled.

Here are a few of the tiny paintings I've been making for folks – you can see the rest by visiting me on Flickr. I'll be posting the rest later today!

Family Man Update!

Page 234 now online!

Gosh, I do love drawing anticipatory pauses. Who's howling back? Is she relieved, or concerned? Well, you'll find out very soon. Man I'm looking forward to drawing it.

Happy Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and all the rest, readers. I won't be taking any time off of the comic this year, so enjoy a steady stream of new pages as my seasonal gift to you. Thank you to everybody who bought gifts through the store! It's a rough time for independent artists, and your support means the world to me.

Family Man update!

Page 233 now online!

Well, this is a first, isn't it? And here you thought nobody'd ever start howling in this comic. I'm looking forward greatly to drawing some Very Different Things in the next run of pages. It's been yonks since I've gotten to just hunker down and do a bunch of designs and development doodles and such. Normally it's so fun that I avoid doing it, lest I enjoy myself too thoroughly and get sucked into a deadly FunSpiral.

We are approaching Holiday Event Horizon! If you live in the US, there is still time for some last minute orders over at the store; domestic orders get a free upgrade to priority shipping this week.

Until next week! I'll see you all on the other side of the solstice.

Reverberation

Page 232 now online!

And, just like that: here we are.

Today (Friday, December 9th) is your last day to take advantage of the SPINOZA discount code at the store – 20% off your order! That includes special-order prints – if you've been dying for a specific page, the discount: APPLIES! You could also order a personalized book with an original sketch in it – for the price you'd normally pay for a blank copy. Diggity.

But this magic will only last until Friday is finished here on the West coast of America. Move quickly, my chickens!

Family Man: Page 231

Page 231, now online!

All sorts of familiar things making (re)appearances! It's fun to draw circles.

Holiday shoppers! This is your last week to use the code SPINOZA in the store to get 20% of your order. If you've already got the delightfulness on offer there, keep on eye on my Etsy store today. Starting at 12pm Pacific, I'll be posting over a dozen itty-bitty, one-of-a-kind watercolor paintings, most 2.5×3.5 inches, for sale throughout the day! I don't sell art very often, and these paintings are fun because they're way more affordable than bigger pieces.

Also! Last weekend I appeared on the 3rd annual Freelancer Roundtable, hosted by Katie Lane of Work Made For Hire and featuring fellow knuckleheads Bill Mudron and Erika Moen. We answered audience questions and said inappropriate things and just generally had a delightful time. You can listen to it in audio form or watch our antics on camera at the bottom of the Podcast page.

Lastly, there's a new set of Notes up, for pages 210-219! Possibly the sauciest set of notes I've written yet.

Family Man Page 230

Page 230 now online!

Dramatic ankles! And so much wolf fur. Oh lord so much. Man, if you knew the anxiety and anticipation I had coming up to this page! But in the end it all comes down to poinking in individual strands of fur.

Happy Thanksgiving, my fellow Americans (and the American-resident). I would hardly be patriotic if I did not provide an economic stimulus for the holiday season, so if you make your way to the Store and enter discount code "Spinoza" at checkout, you will get 20% off your entire order! (Note: Bite Me! is still between printings, but there is plenty of other fun to be had.)

Thank you for ordering – and happy incipient holidays, y'all.

Family Man: Page 229

Page 229 now online!

Just when you think you're going to spend a nice evening devouring a rabbit in the peace and quiet of your own snow-filled valley… Last week will be the end of this little sequence, and then, friends, we will officially be Getting Places.

Thank you to everybody who came out for Comics Underground last night! Portlanders, it is a genuinely delightful event – consider attending in January.

American Thanksgiving looms before us this coming week. I'll be spending the holiday weekend updating the Notes section (hurray!) and then on Thanksgiving Sunday I'll be appearing in another annual Freelancer Roundtable podcast, facilitated by Katie Lane and featuring Bill and Erika. Stay tuned!