Artist Intro: Lee Blauersouth

Name: Lee Blauersouth

Current projects: Godseeker, my ongoing epic stone age fantasy, written by my wife, Lisa Blauersouth. Also, Abby and Nicole Lorenz and I are doing a short story for Smut Peddler.

Past projects: A Day in the Life, with the rest of the older Black Hat Collective members.

Website(s): Godseekercomic.com

Shop: indyplanet book shop

Webcomics I read: Gunnerkrigg Court, Girl Genius, Sinfest, Girls with Slingshots, Wapsi Square, The Not so Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal, La Macchina Bellica, Knights Errant, Stop Paying Attention, Templar Arizona, Skin Deep, comics by the BHC members.

Print comics I read: Fables, Ooku, Sailor Moon, print volumes of those webcomics.

Blogs I read: Apartment Therapy, Indistinguishable from Magic, Design Sponge

My fav stuff to write or draw: Pretty people, emotions, rocks, clouds

What inspires me to make comics: The way comics combines the best of both books and tv and art. Its such an amazing way to tell stories. The reader can add their own take on the work by adding the sound and movement, but have the added visual interest of the pictures. I like the way this combination lets you tell very personal stories, without needing the committee required for TV or even most novels. I can just tell the story and put it where people can see it. I'm also inspired to draw beauty- or at least what I see as beautiful, and I love drawing nature being epic.

Why are you in the BHC: Comics can be a lonely, isolated art form, since you can do it all yourself, but I get to learn a lot more from hanging around other people, and also finding all the cool resources and comics and art they find.

My artistic new years resolution: Improve on my anatomy, and do more drawing from life. Also, draw more dynamic and interesting backgrounds.

Favorite part of the artistic process: I think I like penciling the best. That’s when I get to figure out the emotions I'm drawing and the acting of the characters.

Hogwarts house: Slytherin

Blood Type: A+

Thanks, All!

Lee

MN Opera 2011-2012 Season

Its that exciting time of year again, time to sign up the second round of the Comic Artists Night at the Opera, in their 2011/2012 season. Big thanks to all who made last year such a success. It was, in fact, such a success, that they have invited us back for double the number of shows this year! We have an exiting lineup this year, have a look:

Silent Night, Nov 10th, 2011 a brand new production, commissioned by the MN Opera company and never before seen.

Werther, Jan 26th, 2011 a classic tale of a poet in love.

Lucia del Lammamore, March 1st, 2012 a tragic tale of star crossed lovers.

Madame Butterfly April 12th, 2012 the well known classic.

Now, there is a little change to this year's process, which I think you will all enjoy. This year, you can register for multiple shows at the same time. You will receive a confirmation email closer to the date. Other than that, the process is the same: email me with:

Your name
the address of your webpage
your email address
and a list of which shows you would like to attend

There has been another change. The reception we attend is going to be with the bloggers, which will hopefully be a great networking opportunity for all of us. Details about the when/where of the pre-show reception will, like before, be available closer to the date. Also, backstage tours may be available during intermission, as well as access to the conductor.

As before, bring your booklight, your art supplies, and yourself. Send your sketches and your experience to the opera liaison. Post the same to your webpage.


Please, let your friends know about this opportunity!


Questions or registration, just email me! Lets fill these seats!

Thanks, all!

Lee Blauersouth
tblauer@gmail.com
godseekercomic.com

BHC meeting set for Nov. 12

Hey guys! Come to this meeting! We'll draw robots. Why? Because I said so, and no one is around to disagree!

Saturday, Nov. 12, 1-5 pm in the Waterbury building. That address again:

1121 Jackson St. NE Suite 106A

Minneapolis, MN 55413

Character Design tutorial book is on track!

Neat mesquite! As October draws to a close, so does the first half of the Black Hat Collective's character design tutorial. Oh, you haven't heard about our character design tutorial? Well.

As you may have noticed, we are a, ahem, widely diverse group with widely diverse styles of art. But in diversity, strength! Many of our members, working from the same character specs, have designed characters in their own style and aesthetic. The resulting mass of drawings is a surprising look into the range and variety of characters that can be derived from one idea, and how the design of a character can give visual information about the character, the environment, the narrative.

BHC's character design smorgasbord is expected by the end of the year. Updates as they occur!

Black Hat Collective's 24 Hour Comic Day Make-up!

Every year on Oct. 1, cartoonists around the world work feverishly to complete a 24 page comic in 24 hours. Well, Oct. 1 wasn't good for us. We had things that day. Things we wanted to do. So join us on Oct. 22 and make a comic of your own, or collaborate on our group comic. Making a full comic in 24 hours is hard, but potluck meals and moral support make it easier! Members of the Black Hat Collective will be there working, and the event is open to the public, the private, and the just shy. Join us at the Geek Partnership Society from Oct. 22 10 am to Oct. 23 10am, and show the world how tough you really are.

GPS is located at the Waterbury Building, 1121 Jackson St. NE Suite 106, Minneapolis, MN 55413. See their website for more info: http://www.geekpartnership.org/

For more information about 24 Hour Comic Day, visit http://www.24hourcomicsday.com/

New Opera Season!

Attention all Black Hatters & Friends!

Due to stupidity on my part an evening of Comic Artists Night at the Opera has snuck up on me! I misread the schedule and failed to put an opening night NEXT THURSDAY down in my planner. Which means I have not had time yet to properly get the word out! Which means you all get first, and possibly only, dibbs. We have 14 slots to fill by next Tuesday evening.

What you need:
       An email to me by Tuesday afternoon detailing ALL of the following:
              * your name
              * your currently updating website
              * your desire to attend a FREE opera full dress rehearsal Thursday September 22nd, 2011.

By emailing me this information you are agreeing to the following:
              *you will be on-time to the opera
              *you will sketch during the opera (email me if you can't get your hands on a booklight, we may be able to provide one.
              * you will email a scan of at least one of your pieces, along with 1-5 sentences about your experience to an email I will forward you as part of your confirmation within ONE WEEK of the event itself
              * you will post at least 1 sketch and some sort of write-up to your own webpage/webcomic/blog within 1 week of the event.
              *you will allow MN opera to use this sketch for promotional purposes without further compensation (you will retain the copyright, however, as well as the use of the rest of the sketches)

And that's about it! Please get the word out and tell as many online local comicers as you can. Since this is so last minute participation in this event will NOT effect your eligibility for other shows this season.

Now the important parts:
             *information about the show http://www.mnopera.org/season/2011-2012-season?module=performances&showid=1950
             * By participating you are also eligible to come to their blogger preview meet n greet, which can be a fun, low-stress networking opportunity. This is held for about an hour before the show, just like last year, at a nearby restaurant
             *transportation assistance may be available by request

Questions/Comments welcome!

Meeting time!

Helloooooo comic-ers!
Hiya! It's Meeting time again! Woo!

Meeting time is 1-5 on Feb. 12th. It is a Saturday. We'll be in 106A. Which just means that you'll go to 106, enter and then go into the room that is in the room. Less complicated then it sounds, I assure you. I'm working on getting the space 2nd Sat of every month, but we have to talk about alternate dates on a couple of months.

The Geek Partnership Society is our meeting space. You can find them at 1121 Jackson St NE, Suite 106 Minneapolis, MN 55413. Park in the big lot in the back, follow the signs for Xelias, and come in door C. Yes, we're in the big red building across from the metalworking shed-what-looks-about-ready- to-fall-down. If you need more info, shoot me an email at blackhatcollective@gmail.com.

We should have our large format scanner by then! Our resident Gerbil, Jonathan, has donated a computer to hook up to said scanner! The world is coming up roses, and fun scanning times. Hopefully our Foreign Correspondent can Skype in and jam with us--Maria, you still wanna try that?

If you have a buddy that wants to come along--bring'em! We're an open club of GPS and the only thing we ask is that you love makin' comics in some way.

See Ya There!
Lisa Blauersouth
El Presidente