The upshot for the comic is that the real world will still take priority and updates will continue to be very sporadic. However, my resolution is to make more time for the comic. I find I am more energized when I am being creative, and I lost my zest in 2011, the whole time I wasn’t doing the comic or at least drawing *something* every day.

It is so rewarding to make comics for you. I enjoy writing and drawing, but my enjoyment grows when I can share the comics with you.  Talking with you in the comments and on facebook and twitter adds to the whole experience.  That’s why when I’m counting my blessings this year, I include those of you who read and enjoy Life’s a Witch.

Ready to Comic!

STRIP this past Saturday was a blast! I had SO MUCH fun. Husband Michael was there to help me with the table while I flitted around the floor visiting old and new friends. Touching base with the comics community is so wonderful.

I got to see the best uber fans EVAR: Adminderella and Mr. Posslq! (Links to their own write-ups on the con.) They buttered me up by bringing liquid refreshments. *wink wink* Unfortunately, I didn’t get their pics to show you, but I did get these to share! Check them out, posted in no order of particularness:

Due to some fortunate (for me!) fluke, my table was right next to Joel Watson of Hijinks Ensue. His comic is incredibly popular and it’s terrific that he comes to STRIP. His publicist wasn’t there to stop me from getting a picture with him. I hope it doesn’t hurt his reputation!

Samantha and Joel Watson

The lovely Hector Cantu, the writer behind the syndicated strip “BALDO,” was also arm-wrestled into a picture with me. His wit is as natural in person as you would think if you’re a Baldo reader (and you should be).

Samantha and Hector

I don’t go to any conventions where I don’t see Rebecca Hicks and James Hicks of Little Vampires. That’s because any conventions which they don’t attend aren’t worth attending! After a ferocious battle of epic proportions, they reluctantly agreed to take this photo with me.

James Hicks, Samantha, Rebecca Hicks

Another highlight of the convention for me was a chance to see Barry Buchanan of Don’t Feed the Geek! fame. I hunted him down and forced him to pose for this picture. Fortunately, his wife and daughters were on MY side so I had help. You see that look of terror in his face, don’t you? That’s what happens to a guy when the girls gang up on him.

Samantha and Barry

Then there’s Mark Largent, creator of the wonderfully cute The Wannabe Pirates. It’s like he thought he could escape me!! I finally tackled him and forced him to pose for this picture with me.

Mark Largent and Samantha

David Wilborn’s Urban Jungle comic consistently gets a laugh from me. Maybe it’s the office humor or the funny way he draws critters. Either way, he’s been a victim of my stalking for a while. I pounced from behind his banner there and the paparazzi caught me trying to lift his wallet.

Samantha and David Wilborn

I also saw Chris Jeffrey and his wife. My son is a fan of Chris’s Cartridge webcomic which is full of gamey boy humor. I am a huge fan of Chris, so I didn’t want to ruin his reputation by being captured in a pic with him. You’re welcome, Chris!

The Jeffreys!

I also attended some panels! This was the first time I really took advantage of the panels provided by STRIP and I’m glad I did. Here are some photos of some of the remarkable folk who are helping this little convention grow:

Industry Illustrators

Terry Parr, Michael Champion, Kit Lively, and James O’Barr

Gary Kent, Stuntman,writer, director, actor, special effects expert and do-gooder!

Gary Kent, Magic Man

Creating Comics (these guys know their stuff)

Drew Edwards, Rob DenBleyker, Dave Barrack, Joel Watson, Thomas Overbeck

Women of Webcomics (Yes, that’s ME there!)

Rebecca Hicks, Samantha Wikan, Emily Karnes, Eliamaria Madrid, Halo Seraphim

I have been drawing whenever I can, as well as experimenting with new media. I thought you might like to see excerpts from my sketchbooks. My sketchbooks are mainly “brain dumps” which range from aimless doodling, experiments for new comic things and sometimes quick sketches from scenes from tv or real life.

Don’t laugh.

Bunny Pez

Sometimes I draw things that are on my desk or in my field of view just to warm up.  The bunny pez dispenser that is currently next to my monitor has been drawn more than once, usually in pencil or ball point pen.  This picture of Bunny Pez was done to try out a new set of colored pencils. (Derwent’s Inktense pencils with a light wash.) Hmm… I need to get a sketchbook specifically for watercolor pencils if I’m going to do this regularly.

Doodle Page

Yes, I’m saying I need another sketchbook even though I already have several. I like keeping them handy and, well, I just like them. My current favorite is a giant hardback one that I keep next to the couch. I doodle in it with a ball point pen (Pilot G-2…I do not recommend for final art as it smudges, but it has a great ink flow.  Excellent for writing, though.)  I love opening up the big book and just doodling while watching TV or sitting outside or while chatting on the phone. On the right side of the page, I had made a series of squiggles and forced myself to make a picture out of them, something I’ve been doing since elementary school. (In school, I’d do this with a friend: One person would make a squiggle and challenge another person to make a pic out of it, then that person would make a squiggle in return.)

You won’t see too many images from the big doodle book because it’s too big for my scanner. I had to scan the Doodle Page image twice and merge the images together in Photoshop. Even so, the left side of the page was cut off a bit.

Here are some experiments with Zelda’s younger look. Many readers have said they’d like to know more about the adventures of Zelda and Bill when they were a bit younger and there are some stories I would like to tell.  There are also sketches of  “fantasy” Zelda, for stories which take place in a fantasy version of the comic, which will also crop up from time to time.

Finally, if you aren’t a reader on our facebook page, the below image of Zelda as “Sleeping Beauty” will be new to you:

This was done completely with ball point pen (that smudgy Pilot G-2). I had so much fun with this one, I intend to redo it along with a series of our regular Zelda as famous fantasy princesses. All of which will be as unflattering as this one, of course!

I hope you enjoyed these glimpses into my sketchbooks.  You and your comments are always welcome.

Thank you all for reading along with Life’s a Witch! I’m going to make a few changes for New Year… hopefully to step up my game a bit. While I have some ideas of my own, I sure would like to know what you would like to see. So:

Is there anything you’d like to see different in the comic?

A story you’d like to explore?

More gags? More Stories?

A facebook friend suggested doing the adventures of the gang in the early days, like in school or when they all first met… What do you think of that?

Bring more magic into the strip? Learn more about the magic of the world of Life’s a Witch?

What are your ideas?

This is one of those characters that surprised me by becoming a fan favorite. The entire strip was done the current standard way: sketched and inked in Manga Studio, colored in Photoshop.