Crazy Ghosts of Chairs and Tables

I Begin To See The Dawn

graham@grahamkahler.com — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:06:42 GMT

Well Livejournal, ol'buddyoldpal, I think its time you and I parted company. Well, not entirely that is. I still love to check my friends list and comment when the fancy strikes me. But I have started a new blog (my first, if you must know), and I have to say I'm sold. It's ad free, it's drama free. It's a fresh start.

I will more than likely cross post here every once in a while, and I have no desire to lose track of my various livejournal friends. But I do so enjoy the notion of setting things back to zero.

So long grahamtastic. Hello Curiosity Department.

I'm sure you're all terribly tired of hearing this...

graham@grahamkahler.com — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:43:40 GMT

The opening for the Journey Through Bookland show was a lot of fun. Julianna has the scoop on how it all went down.

Which brings me to the show opening this Friday in Honolulu. It is called "Elevenses" and I couldn't be prouder to be a part of it. There are so many talented people involved (well, ten anyway); ladies and gentlemen I've been following for quite some time. It's very inspiring. I am unable to attend, but perhaps you are slightly more capable?

These and two more can be found at my flickr, as per usual.

I've started writing again. Comics and more news should be following shortly. How is everybody doing this week?

Sneaking Peeks

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:33:06 GMT

I'd like to invite all Portland, OR gentlemen and ladies of good candor to this very show opening. All of the artists in attendance are exceptionally skilled (dwarfing the meager talents of your narrator, I must say), and the whole affair promises to be a wonderful time.

Here is a peek at some of the work I'll be showing:

Watch my flickr for more, including a rather large piece (for me anyway), that I haven't as yet been able to scan.

I'm also going to be part of a lovely little show in Honolulu. More on that one shortly.

It is my fervent wish that everyone have a good day.

The Funnies

graham@grahamkahler.com — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:37:38 GMT

Things have been so busy busy busy (busy) around here lately. I guess the first order of business is to point out that the preceding image (as well as the following) are all going to be a part of this exhibit. Portland, Maine friends should probably keep the 6th of February clear if they are interested in going to the opening.

A cleaned up version of an old favorite. I prefer the guy's expression in this one.

Incidentally, this is the first of THREE shows I am working on right now. I am enjoying myself immensely and even experimenting a bit with things (expect some paintings on wood in the not too distant future), but my story ideas for my comics are getting really restless. There's not much space in my head, so I expect they'll come spilling out sooner rather than later.

Bleh, enough of the personal exposition. How is everybody doing?

I've lost track of all the time...

graham@grahamkahler.com — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:15:30 GMT

The above image is a gift to my brother (and his exceptionally large cat, Silver) for Christmas. It, along with some paintings I did for my parents, have been updated to my flickr.

Also of note: there is a new painting for sale on Periodic Tables. It is a bit of a departure from my recent coloring endeavors and looks a bit like this:

In other Graham related news, I've been keeping myself busy with a few commissions, and have developed a taste for it. If anyone were interested in pitching $20 or $30 my way (that's black and white and color pricing for 8"x10"s, respectively), I most certainly wouldn't say no. Those of you I may have mentioned with regards to art trades should throw work at me in lieu of the monies.

More news of an artistic bent soon. A small number of generous people have been asking some delightful questions of me lately. I promise to strip the coat of vague off of that statement as soon as I can.

Hope everyone's New Year is off to a rollicking start.

graham@grahamkahler.com — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:51:35 GMT

Ladies and gentlemen, do not be alarmed. The following announcements are purely for your enjoyment. Any resulting edification or sexual pleasure is entirely coincidental.

So a couple of weeks ago I got it into my head to redesign the cover of Blunderbuss. My first two print runs were all traded away or on consignment, and I was looking for a cheaper way to make more (the trimming to bleed, though nice, was an unnecessary addition of time and money). Well, lo and behold, I have gone and done it:

Same old content, slightly modified packaging. There are changes made to the back as well, but I am too lazy to upload it. Those of you who already own a copy can beam with that special, shimmering pride that comes with being an early adopter.

I scraped together enough money, and have produced some of these new/old comics. Now I just need to sell them. Which brings me to this:

I have started an etsy store! It is called Periodic Tables, and you will be able to find all of my comics (Blunderbuss, as well as several forthcoming ones) and some of my paintings there. I realize it's fairly short notice for the holiday season, but trust me, I'll still be here after the last candle is lit and the last fat man descends from a chimney. Or something.

The ghost of an image is just fleeting glimpses

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:16:02 GMT

I was tagged by Julianna to post six random things about myself, so here goes:

1.) I first learned how to ride my bike in a cemetery.
2.) As long as I've been alive, my family has never had less than two cats in the house.
3.) I'm an obsessive whistler. Seriously, sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it.
4.) I started making really bad puns at the age of three, and haven't stopped since.
5.) My brother routinely sends ninja death squads to hasten my demise.
6.) I made myself a flickr account today.

Consider yourself tagged for this meme, if you're feeling sociable.

The flickr doesn't really have anything new as yet, but I've managed to addict myself in very short order, so expect a bevy of images soon. And by all means, add me as a contact. I will endeavor to do the same.

Honesty's an actor's worst mistake.

graham@grahamkahler.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:23:59 GMT

For those of you who maybe wanted to use a plane ticket for visiting your family instead of going to a gallery opening, here are the paintings I made for the Family Quilt show at Together:

The opening was smashing, by the way. So many talented people in one location I couldn't believe it. The always camera-handy Ms. Julianna Swaney has documented the event in her usual inimitable style. Window painting and snow field by the transcendentally cute Rebecca Artemisa Urias.

News! Proclamations! Strange Growths!

graham@grahamkahler.com — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:31:57 GMT

Greetings Portlanders and Portlandettes. This is a gentle reminder that those of you in the area should attend the Together Gallery's Quilt Show Opening tomorrow. I will have two paintings in attendance, as will a good number of talented friends, more-than-friends, and acquaintances. Those of you in other states should probably purchase plane tickets.

It's two weeks old as of yesterday. I keep stroking it like a professor...like a professor strokes his beard I mean.

Hubris

graham@grahamkahler.com — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:23:48 GMT

Rules:
Take a picture of yourself right now.
Don't change your clothes, don't fix your hair...just take a picture.
Post that picture with NO editing.
Post these instructions with your picture.

If, like me (see above), you happen to have been out-of-doors all afternoon, you probably missed an opportunity to hear the You Ain't No Dancer vol. 3 edition of Inkstuds while it broadcast live. Luckily, they archive everything (I frequently take advantage of this fact while drawing), and you can listen to it at your leisure. Which leads me to a final point:

Things that rhyme with "Kahler":
Tailor
Sailor
Impaler
Norman Mailer

I should have done this awhile ago

graham@grahamkahler.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:22:55 GMT

From the New Reliable Press website:

New format! The third volume of You Ain’t No Dancer anthology goes themeless. I’m sure that I’m biased, but I really feel that this is probably the strongest of the 3 YAND books. Really solid contributions from a lot of great folks.

Now listing in Previews. Please spread the word around. Be sure to ask your comic shop to order it in.

This book will be debuting at SPX, where a bunch of the contributors will be in attendance. I will be posting more info, including previews from the book over the next couple of weeks.

Contributors include:

•Kazimir Strzepek (also cover)
•Becky Dreistadt & Frank Gibson
•Blaise Larmee
•Catia Chien
•Coleman Engle
•Colleen MacIsaac
•Dalton Sharp
•Dalton Webb
•Dorothy Gambrell
•Graham Kahler
•Grant Reynolds
•Ira Marcks
•Jason Turner
•Jeff Bent
•Jeremy Sorese
•Jon Sukarangsan
•Jordyn Bochon
•Kate Beaton
•KC Green
•Ken Dahl
•Kim Hoang
•Lars Brown
•Lucy Knisley
•Mike Laughead
•Mitch Clem & Jason Oberbichler
•Patrick Murphy
•Phil Barrett
•Phil McAndrew
•Steve Rolston & Sabina

Retail Price: $11.99
Format: 8in x 8in, 176 pages, B&W, Soft Cover
Diamond Order Code: JUL084163
ISBN: 978-0-9738079-3-6

Cooler folk than I have already posted about this; but let it stand as a reminder to those who know, and an introduction to those who don't. You Ain't No Dancer is a consistently wonderful anthology, and I feel supremely privileged to be a contributing member for the third time in a row. I would agree with Mr. Ed Brisson's assessment above: this one looks like it's going to blow the doors off of the previous ones, just based on the creator list alone. Give my story a passing salute when you skip over it for the better stuff.

There will also be an exhibit of YAND contributors' work at Lucky's Comic Shop in Vancouver (BC), on September 26. Unfortunately, I will not be able to go (my passport is on an altogether different coast), but two of my pages will be in attendance, and they're much better conversationalists than I.

Three months without posting, and suddenly the floodgates are open. Just call me Mr. Consistency.

If you feel like dancin', dance with me.

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:51:15 GMT

This seems like as good a time as any: Hello, and apologies to everyone. Let the long silence be broken. I have quite officially moved myself bodily to Portland, Oregon. Reconnected with old friends. Made myself some new ones. And generally neglected this journal. I have found myself a wonderful house, a couple of swell roommates, and no job.

More details (and a possible hangover), come the morrow.

The screw turns! Someone calls!

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:29:18 GMT

And so we emerge: bleary-eyed, tousle-haired, a little sadder and a little wiser. Yes, that's right, MoCCA is over and done with for another year. This was my first time in attendance and I must say that future conventions have a lot to live up to. I met many wonderful and inspiring individuals, cementing my belief that comics people are the nicest people in the world. Thank you everyone for the kind words and the trades. I've got a lot of reading ahead of me.

Despite the heat, I was reluctant to leave New York. It may have been my crippling hangover. It may have been all the running around with Roger, Amy, and their friends. It may even have been some strange form of heat prostration. Who can tell? Eventually, I will be able to parse this five day extravaganza out, and then I will let you know.

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:02:21 GMT

Hello, all. I just returned from seeing Efterklang in Philly (which I would recommend to anyone with ears on their head), and felt it was high time for some updating. Bullet points, away!:

-I no longer have a job. I gave my two weeks notice on the first, setting Phase One of my masterly masterful plan into motion.
-Said masterly masterful plan includes attending MoCCA, visiting friends up and down the east coast, and then moving to Portland, Oregon. I've heard tales of cartoonists roaming wild like wildebeests in that great state, and have felt a passionate burning sensation behind the eyelids to join them in their revels.
-The mini comic I have spent the better part of the month working on will probably not be done in time for MoCCA (unless I learn how to bend space and time within the week). I will still have copies of Blunderbuss with me though, so find me in my wanderings and buy, trade, or steal a copy at your leisure.

I will be finishing the mini at some point in the near future, most likely in spite of myself. So in the meantime, here's a small vignette to whet what little appetite you may have for my work.

Any criticisms or praises are welcome.

Policemen in parallel lines

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:51:16 GMT

Finishing up my first round of art trading emails. This one is for my friend Ms. Sarah Jane Lomba, crafter of all manner of cuteness. Purchase adorable things from her!

I'm currently trying to put together a mini comic by the end of May to take with me to MoCCA. If things all go smoothly with that (which would be a first), I'll probably start contacting some people about more art trading. I haven't forgotten your requests, I'm just pitifully slow at everything.

Everyone having a good day? I sure hope so.

And I never missed my water, till my well went dry

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:55:54 GMT

Well, the talk went much better than expected. After about ten minutes my hands stopped shaking and everybody really seemed to get into it. I had brought along a lot of my inspirations (various comics, a couple of old bookplates I've collected, etc.), some of my originals, and my computer to show my digital work. A lot of good questions were asked, and I got to expound upon some pet theories; like the benefits of knowing every stage of production for your work (even the stuff that might be out of your hands), the joys and pitfalls of obsessing over everything, and why it's good to be a snob.

I ended up talking for over an hour without even realizing it. So let that stand as a warning for anyone naive enough to get into a discussion with me about, well, anything.

And, since I'm fed up with constantly working on things and not showing them off for months, here are some sketches for my story idea for Plotz.

Katie Beaton, please find included one (1) image of yours truly getting socked in the face. Since you were curious.

I've figured out the story, it's just the dialogue that's being a pain. Probably because I don't actually talk to anyone anymore. Except, apparently, to classrooms full of design students.

graham@grahamkahler.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:18:15 GMT

My half of an art trade with the criminally talented darkwaterfrey. This is the first painting I've done since November, and now I'm itching for more. Good art is the best payment for anything, provided you don't need money for food, and I'm happy to say that Doug has more than delivered on his side of the bargain. Then again, so did birdpopcicle, who traded her incomparably great finch for my young lady with the feral fashion sense.

If anybody is up for more trading (did you get my e-mail Sarah?), I might be able to squeeze a few more in before things get really frantic with my current comic project.

This Friday I get to haul myself out of bed early (when you don't get to sleep until seven in the morning you are perfectly justified in calling eleven o'clock 'early'), to go give a talk to an Illustration class at the Art Institute of York. I am probably the least qualified person for this job, so it should be interesting.

Well, here we are...

graham@grahamkahler.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:17:33 GMT

Owing to a wonderful fluke of work scheduling (and some judicious use of vacation days), my birthday celebration started this past Friday, and won't really be done until tomorrow night at about 10:00 pm. It's been an interesting five-day weekend of boozing, movie watching, Rocket Slime-ing, and other experiences both friendly and familial.

So what am I doing for today, the official 25th birthday? Drinking McEwan's Scotch Ale, listening to The Clash, and inking comics. In a full suit and tie ensemble. Because who amongst you is strong enough to stop me?!

I hope everybody's birthday this year is as titanically great as mine has been. Goodnight.

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:01:00 GMT

So now I have a website. It's a bit rough around the edges, and it's been in progress so long that I already want to change it, but on the whole I'm quite pleased. A special thank you to Mr. Roger Cosseboom (currently wandering around an endless parking lot in Florida, I think), for taking all my disparate junk and turning it into something navigable.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to offer up those paintings mentioned here before. I was thinking of selling each one for between $75 and $100, but I don't know if that's too much or too little for a bunch of framed 8x10 watercolors. I'm open to some good natured haggling amongst friends, but anything that doesn't sell soonish will end up on the etsy store I'm building, where I'll feel less queasy charging more for complete strangers. As for copies of Blunderbuss, they'll also be going up there (for $3 each). Anyone interested in financing my madness should drop me a line: graham@grahamkahler.com. Paypal info and other pleasantries of the digital age can be discussed there.

For those of you in the Baltimore area, Atomic Books has a number of copies to do with as you please.

Well, back to sweating it out over my next anthology story. Thanks everybody.

With my head out on the ledge

graham@grahamkahler.com — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:50:51 GMT

The okay has been given, so here's my teaser story for Plotz #0 in its entirety. I already have a number of ideas cooking in the ol' brain kitchen, but I can't say which one will make it into the first proper issue of Plotz. It'll all depend on which idea requires the most leg room to stretch out with. Are my metaphors as tired as I feel right now? Enjoy:

Haven't forgotten about posting things for purchasing, if any of you are chomping at the bit (hahahahaha, right) to get your hands on some minis and paintings. I've been a little the worse for wear health-wise lately, so bear with me as I pull myself together.

A retraction!

graham@grahamkahler.com — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 01:31:28 GMT

You know, I'm not big on being wrong, but it's an occasionally satisfying thing when it comes out in your favor. Contrary to what I told some of you, I WILL be going to SPX. I have borrowed a car, and will be down to hang out on Saturday. It's not the whole weekend, but it is the best I can do.

But I won't be traveling alone, oh no. I'll have these with me:

The contents shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been hanging around here for a while (it's the four stories I've done this year collected together), but now you won't have to sift through a menagerie of LOL-animals to get to them. Unless, you know, that's your thing.

So stop me in my travels around the convention floor to say hi, trade minis, or rub small bills all over my person. I will look like a slightly more harried version of the following:

The picture won't be totally accurate (I have a tendency to age at a regular clip), but I promise I've had all of my shots.

For those of you not in attendance, I'll be selling these puppies online (and the paintings from the show that are still lying around) when I return. Hi-ho!

1000 wasted Brooklyners are depressed

graham@grahamkahler.com — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:27:38 GMT

Just a little peek at something I'm working on for this awesome anthology you may or may not have heard something about. I'm extra fond of this panel in particular, despite its being something of a throw-away one in relation to the story.

Also, my favorite British folk/electronica band (ok, so they're the only one that I know of), has a new album and video out. So things are pretty damn good right now.

Tunng-Bullets

And in a dream I'm trying to forget...

graham@grahamkahler.com — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:13:46 GMT

Anyone wondering just what I've been up to these last few weeks need look no further. I wasn't sure if would make the deadline at the time; but now I'm happy to annouce that I will be part of a group show starting tomorrow. And since 98% of you will be unable to attend (owing to geographical differences well outside our collective control), I figured I'd give a little mini-show right here. Including the painting shown previously, I'll have five pieces on display. Are they any good? Will any of them sell? Who knows?! Onward!

Obviously, my scanner decided to have a little fun with the colors, but you get the idea.

Lots and lots of secret projects to keep me busy for the rest of the year. And all of them comics related, which is even better. I expect a few of you know what I'm talking about. Back to work!

Don't give up on my bad luck it's all I've got with me

graham@grahamkahler.com — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:54:15 GMT

A couple weeks ago I started painting again for the first time in probably a year. The gentleman above was an attempt at a portrait of one of my heroes, but the fact that it doesn't really look like him doesn't bother me. It probably doesn't bother him either, seeing as how he's dead...

On the opposite end of the artistic spectrum, I've submitted another shirt to Threadless.

I don't know what I was thinking, as history has proven that they don't really like my work. But if you find yourself so inclined, head on over there and vote on it. Because if it loses, my tears will flood the countryside and ruin your lives. Or something.

Hoo boy...

graham@grahamkahler.com — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:46:53 GMT

Not much to say about this one. I've been really inspired by poster designs, screen prints, and flat t-shirt graphics lately, and I wanted see if I could infuse the B&W stuff I've been doing with that sort of aesthetic. This is all just noodling on my part, and I can't say I'm wholly satisfied with the result just yet. But I think it's a step in the right direction.

I think I've fallen in love with Sammy Harkham's Poor Sailor. I bought it on Friday, and have read it four times since it fell into my hot little hands. It amazes me that something so simple could be so effective (and affecting).

Also (with glee!):
Múm-Dancing Behind My Eyelids

I was initially disappointed that Kristín Valtysdottir wasn't in the band anymore, but damn if I'm not really enjoying the direction they're headed in.

So much to do and to read and to hear and to see. What's everyone else inspired by these days?