Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Kickstarter: Echoes From the Drift 2!

Above: Jenni and Zayf, the stars of the comic series, Echoes From the Drift by Craig Petersen. Copyright Craig Petersen 2017.

Echoes From the Drift, the sci-fi comic series by Craig Petersen, continues with a brand new Kickstarter campaign for issue #2! After the successful funding of Echoes From the Drift #1, the story continues as dimension-jumpers Jenni and Zayf find themselves stranded in a post-apocalyptic city under attack. Some of the city inhabitants look familiar, but will they help of hinder our heroes' chances of survival? The only way to find out is to support this Kickstarter by pre-ordering Echoes From the Drift #2!

If you like sci-fi fantasy movies with an 80's vibe - think The Terminator mixed with Guardians of the Galaxy, then you're love Echoes From the Drift.


Above: Artwork from Echoes From the Drift #1 by Craig Petersen. Copyright Craig Petersen 2017.

With the success of the first Kickstarter for Echoes From the Drift, Craig Petersen has proven he can deliver a top-notch comic book and deliver some great rewards for his backers. If you'd like to pre-order issue #2 and missed issue #1, don't worry - there's a combo pack available in the rewards. You can also upgrade for some awesome rewards like an art print, or an original sketch, or even a page of original artwork from the book!

Check out the full Kickstarter campaign for Echoes From the Drift 2 HERE, and all the great reward options available. I also did a review of Echoes From the Drift #1, that you can read HERE. The printing goal for #2 of $5062 is over the half way point now, with 15 days to go, so make sure you show your support and pre-order Echoes From the Drift 2 today!

- AK!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Nice Art: Our Harbour by Mat Tait

Above: Mural images for Our Harbour, created by Mat Tait.

Mat Tait, the cartoonist behind The Heading Dog Who Split in Half, has spent his winter producing four large murals for the Pātaka Art and Museum in Porirua. They will be unvailed to the public this Saturday, November 18th, as a part of Our Harbour, a new interactive exhibition in the children's gallery. 

The opening will be a family friendly event, with fun, hands-on activities and events between 11am and 3pm. There will also be a Puppet show, Nan and Tuna by String Bean Puppets, which will combine puppets, shadows and water to tell the life story of New Zealand’s native longfin eel (tuna) who make their homes in our rivers. There’ll also be lots of other things to see and do – badge making, crafting a tuna or fish out of a plastic bottle and potting up a riparian plant. Stalls in the atrium will focus on harbour restoration and conservation, including information on what you can do to help.

The Pātaka Art and Museum is located at 17 Parumoana Street, Porirua, with the opening kicking off at 11am. For more information, you can visit the Facebook event page HERE. And for more of Mat Tait's artwork you can visit his website HERE. Also, you can now order The Heading Dog Who Split in Half for only $15 from the Potton & Burton website HERE!

- AK!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Giselle Clarkson's Biscuits and Slices of New Zealand Goes Viral!


Above: 'Common Household Biscuits & Slices of New Zealand' by Giselle Clarkson. Copyright Giselle Clarkson 2017.

Every once and a while, an image or topic strikes a nerve and captures the public imagination and spreads through social media like a firestorm. And that was the case recently with the above illustration by illustrator cartoonist Giselle Clarkson. 'Common Household Biscuits & Slices of New Zealand' was created for Annual 2, the second children's Annual edited by Kare De Goldi & Susan Paris, which you can purchase HERE. Clarkson's illustration captures in loving detail, a selection of NZ's best known biscuits and slices, from Anzac Biscuit to Squiggle. 

On social media the illustration has prompted nostalgic memories of NZ biscuits past and present, heated debates on over-looked slices and under appreciated biscuits as the illustration continues to be shared far and wide. The story was even picked up by TV THREE's 'The Project', who interviewed Clarkson to discuss her favourite biscuits and the public response to her illustration. You can still view the interview on The Project's Facebook page HERE.

Above: 'Common Household Biscuits & Slices of New Zealand' by Giselle Clarkson, as printed in Annual 2. Copyright Giselle Clarkson 2017.

To really appreciate this fine appraisal of NZ biscuits I'd suggest buying a copy of Annual 2 today for $39.99NZ from a bookstore near you or online HERE. And for more of Giselle Clarkson's fine comics and illustrations, you can visit here website HERE.

- AK!