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Mitch Clem versus the Establishment
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[Jun. 15th, 2009|10:27 pm] |
Hey kids! Today, let's talk about some other art I've done besides comics. Let's talk about album art. Specifically, let's talk about the new Evaporators / Andrew WK split 7"!
Front:
Back:
I even got to do the little label things that go in the centers of the actual record itself:
Hooray! This one was fun to do, I love doing anything for Nardwuar. Plus now I have a new press quote: "Mitch Clem [is] a legendary genius with a pen!" - Andrew W.K.
So, if you're interested in purchasing the record (I got mine the other day, they're on beautiful white vinyl), you can get them here. OR, if you happen to live in or near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Nardwuar asked me to turn the album art into a poster for the release party:
And that's that! I have plenty more random freelance stuff to post, but I'll save some for later. I wish I had something interesting to say right now, but I really don't.
(long pause)
Yyyyep. |
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[Jun. 8th, 2009|07:41 am] |
Okay! Only one Monday late this time! Let's be fair, we're dealing with me here, this almost doesn't even count as late:
MY STUPID LIFE
(click for full comic) |
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[May. 28th, 2009|11:26 pm] |
GUESS WHAT SHITBUTTS! I MADE A RECORD!
Well, technically I only HELPED make this record, but it's still exciting! My label, Facepalm Records (which exists in cooperation with Avi's label, Silver Sprocket) finally FINALLY put out its first release!
The record in question is a split 7" between New Mexico's amazingtacular punk rock superheroes Shang-A-Lang and Chicago's own (formerly Fort Worth's own) mid-80s East Bay style pop punkers Brickfight! All album art was done by me, all by my durned self (one front cover for each band and a fun insert), and the records are pressed on glorious clear vinyl and limited to 550! Just like Jesus would have wanted if he'd ever actually have come back like those jerky religious shitfarts said he would!
Look, it really does exist:
So here's the sitch-ee-ation. Go here to order the record:
GO HERE TO ORDER THE RECORD!
And then wait for it to come to your house and then listen to the fuck out of it!
I SWEAR TO GOD FIRST FIFTY ORDERS COME WITH A NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK BACKSTAGE PASS. GET ON IT, JUNIOR!
(P.S. We have a couple Days of Future Past shirts left too, and then they're gone, so you might wanna get on that too if you're the type who enjoys owning awesome things.)
(P.P.S. New comic on Monday.) |
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[May. 4th, 2009|12:44 am] |
Alright, kids, new comic, as promised:
MY STUPID LIFE
(click for full comic)
Now don't say I never did anything for you! |
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[Apr. 28th, 2009|12:21 am] |
First off, I want you to know that I will be updating My Stupid Life either tomorrow or Monday. I promise.
That said, here's a couple reminders to kick off the week:
I'm selling a couple pieces of Original art on eBay, including the original cover art from the NN2S book, and the auctions end THIS AFTERNOON, so heads up if you're interested:
Trying something new with my art auctions this time, too. If you win either of these items, you'll also get a copy of the NN2S book, which I will sign, personalize, and sketch a character in for you. This is something I rarely do, as I don't handle my own mailorder, so normally the only way to get a signed book is to meet me at a comic convention.
If original art isn't your thing, we also have new shirts in the store, since I know you all love wearing clothes so much:
NEW NN2S "FUTURES PAST" SHIRT!
Alright! That's enough whoring for one day. Like I say, new MSL comic very, very soon. It's just about finished. I pinky swear! |
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[Apr. 24th, 2009|10:31 am] |
I suppose we'll start today with a new t-shirt:
NEW NN2S "FUTURES PAST" SHIRT!
Boy oh boy! I'm actually very proud of this design, I'm not usually this stoked on shirts I design, but I think this one came out great. Obviously inspired by the X-Men Days of Futures Past storyline, featuring possibly the best comic book cover of all-time (seriously, look at the art this is a parody of and tell me it doesn't make you want to know what's happening inside the issue). We only made 100, so scoop it up while you can!
By the way, I want you guys to know that we are changing our store operations soon. Merchsquad isn't doing it for us (and I know they haven't been doing it for most of you for a while now), so Avi the Friendly Merch Guy is moving the whole operation into a garage. D.I.Y, baby! Asian Man style. Good times.
Anyway. What else. Oh, hey, how about a new poster:
As I'm sure you've guessed, I drew it, Amanda watercolored it (and, by the way, since you all keep asking, no, neither of us do this on the computer. I draw and ink everything by hand on paper and scan it into the computer, Amanda watercolors everything on the actual page using real-life watercolor paints and brushes. I don't know how that's as cutting-edge as people are want to believe, but we both get a ton of people asking us what program we use to draw and color this stuff. Is physical art really that dead?)
Ahem. That said, I actually did do some fancy computer tricks this time, as you can probably tell. When I finished the inks, I scanned just those into the computer and got the contrast up just like I do in any black and white drawing or comic, etc. Then I had Amanda paint it and, when I scanned that final product in, I laid out the bare inks on top of the painting so that the black would stand out more and be really bold. Generally, getting something like this to look okay on the computer, you have to mess with the brightness and contrast in PhotoShop to get the black really strong, but then a lot of the subtler colors/shades will be lost. It's ridiculous, too, because the thing looks fine in person, the black is all really strong and easy to see, the colors meld with the inks perfectly, but then you scan it in and the computer fucks it all up. This was an experiment in compromise, and I think it actually worked out alright. I'm gonna try it more in the future and see if I can't perfect the process, pain in the ass though it is.
And that's my story! Sorry to bore you with all this art blather. It's who I am. Boring, I mean.
Interested parties please remember to buy the new shirt! Or, short of that, buy a NN2S book! Do you have one yet? Don't let me be the sad black sheep of the Dark Horse family tree!
Later, skaters. |
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[Apr. 23rd, 2009|01:20 pm] |
I'm selling a couple pieces of Original art on eBay, including the original cover art from the NN2S book:
Trying something new with my art auctions this time, too. If you win either of these items, you'll also get a copy of the NN2S book, which I will sign, personalize, and sketch a character in for you. This is something I rarely do, as I don't handle my own mailorder, so normally the only way to get a signed book is to meet me at a comic convention. Cool? Cool!
Good luck! |
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[Apr. 16th, 2009|12:41 pm] |
Here's one I drew and Amanda watercolored. And helped book the show! Good times, good times... |
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[Apr. 14th, 2009|04:53 pm] |
Okay shitheads. When did everyone stop posting replies to my LiveJournal updates? I used to be able to post nothing but the word "oatmeal" and get two hundred comments. Now I do the cover to Razorcake and barely break twenty? You've all turned on me!
Seriously, is it because I'm not posting comics? I figured as much. As I've said, I'm busy working on my next book, and, between that and my freelance stuff, there's just nothing I can post online right now!
But, fuck it. At least I can announce the book.
AHEM.
Coming this Fall, from New Reliable Press, is MY STUPID LIFE: VOLUME ONE by Mitch Clem!
The book features the entire online archives of My Stupid Life so far, AS WELL AS the entire run of my first autobiographical comic, San Antonio Rock City! Plus about ten or so never-before-seen strips from both series that I drew and never put online for whatever reasons (Mitch Clem: too hot for the internet).
Now, obviously I was dating different people in the time that I did each series, and it would be weird in the book to turn the page and all of a sudden I have a new girlfriend, no explanation (besides the fact that SARC ended in a shroud of mystery to begin with), so I'm also creating a bridge between the two series that will lead from the end of SARC to the beginning of MSL. This will not serve as a tell-all about the end of my relationship with Victoria, by the way. I'm not interested in shit-talking an ex to people who don't even know her. The bridge focuses more on the beginning of my relationship with Amanda, and a fun transition period between the two relationships where I slept on my friend Bryan's couch for a while, and we got drunk and watched the same episode of the Office every night. Fun! This section will be lavishly illustrated by yours truly, and will most likely feature a few more brand new comic strips where I deem appropriate.
Also, th ebook will measure 7"x7" square, the same size as the NN2S book, so they'll look nice on the shelf together.
And that's that! So that's what I'm working on right now, and obviously I can't show you all the original content here in the blog or that would defeat the purpose of it being book-exclusive, but I'll share some bits and pieces here and there, deal? |
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[Apr. 13th, 2009|11:12 am] |
Nardwuar the Human Serviette is, for those of you unaware, the one true pride of Canada, a celebrity interviewer so meticulous in his research that he often surprises interviewees with things he couldn't possibly know. Add in an enthusiasm unmatched anywhere outside a comic book convention and a life-long love of rocks both punk and otherwise, and you have the most entertaining celebrity interviews ever made.
I've been a fan since high school, and it was with no small amount of glee that I accepted the position to illustrate Nardwuar's regular column in Razorcake Magazine some three or four years ago.
So anyhow, what follows is a few of the more recent illustrations I've done for Nardwuar's Razorcake column, which I feel like I forgot to post as they came out, so I thought I'd put them all up here today. Some of 'em are pretty fun. Let's go!
Here is Nardwuar interviewing the famous San Diego Chicken:
(one of very few instances in which the subject being interviewed is as manic and enthusiastic as Nardwuar himself [the others, of course, being Gwar and Andrew WK])
Here's Nardwuar interviewing the hip hop group N*E*R*D:
(I always get a kick out of when the interview subject finds Nardwuar as entertaining as his fans do, and such was the case with N*E*R*D. Bonus points to Nardwuar for spelling out their band name every time he said it.)
Here is Nardwuar on the swing set with the beautiful Irish songstress Kate Nash:
(my first foray into using greyscale on these instead of my usual cross-hatching)
Nardwuar versus European club/techno/dance/whatever group Justice:
(Do they have Lady Justice in Europe? Will this even make sense over there?)
And, of course, the legend, the man himself, the original entreprenigga, Mr. Jay-Z:
("I ain't playing Scrabble with Jay-Z any time soon" - Mike Birbiglia)
This last one requires a little bit of explanation. This one's not for Razorcake. Nardwuar contacted me one day saying he was going to interview Lights, who is a Canadian pop singer. Lights also draws comics in her spare time, and has talked about comic books in interviews, at some point saying that Wonder Woman was her favorite superhero. I know this because Nardwuar knows this.
If you know anything about Nardwuar's interviewing techniques, you know it involves copious amounts of research. You may also know it involves gift-giving! In this case, he was going to, over the course of the interview, give Lights a copy of my book (the premise being "Hey, you like comics and you like punk, so here's a comic about punk!"), which is cool for me because A) she seems like a nice girl, and B) that basically amounts to a free plug on MuchMusic/CiTR Radio. Not that I believe anything could generate book sales at this point, much less a plug on Canadian MTV, but it's the thought that counts.
So anyway, so Nardwuar asked if I'd draw a picture for Lights that he could also give to her along with the book during the interview. I gladly obliged. He also asked if I'd personalize it for her, and add a note to her. I mentioned basically the only thing about her I knew:
And there you have it! You can read/see/listen to more of Nardwuar's interviews here, or by picking up a copy of Razorcake Magazine. I recommend either option, they're both good times.
More later this week! |
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[Apr. 9th, 2009|02:34 pm] |
Hey, kids. Just a heads up, I did an interview over at the Graphic Novel Reporter. Check it out if you like reading me ramble incoherently about Nothing Nice to Say.
Still only working on stuff you guys can't see yet. Kind of frustrating to not be able to share all my work, seriously. In the mean time, here's some random stuff from my sketch book:
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[Apr. 1st, 2009|10:19 am] |
Did you guys know Ben Snakepit has his own podcast? I've been on a kick lately where I'm trying to find some cool podcasts that play agreeable punk music, and Ben's is definitely the best I've seen so far.
A very close number two is the Razorcake podcast, which I actually finally checked out recently when Snakepit guest hosted an episode featuring all Texas bands.
Oh! Speaking of Razorcake, the new issue is finally out, and GUESS WHO GOT TO DRAW THE COVER:
BAM. I also, as usual, illustrated Nardwuar's column (this time an interview with the beautiful Kate Nash). No comic this time, though. I either couldn't think of anything to make a comic about, or else I didn't have enough time to make one, I don't recall. But I'm making up for it in issue 50, wherein I've already completed a big, awesome TWO-PAGE LONG comic about how I got started doing comics for Razorcake in the first place. The aforementioned Ben Snakepit makes a guest appearance, as does Amanda, the Arrivals, Paddy from D4, and a house party full of weirdos. Stay tuned!
And, in the mean time, for real, pick up the new Razorcake. It's the best punk magazine there is, and I really mean that. It's why I contribute. Tell 'em I sent you! |
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[Mar. 30th, 2009|09:51 pm] |
Heads up, children: Pads and Panels is giving away some free NN2S books here.
I'll be doing an interview with them later this week, so stay tuned.
Also I have a pretty badass new piece of art to post as soon as it goes online. |
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[Mar. 25th, 2009|01:09 pm] |
I have been working a lot lately, but only on stuff I can't show you until later, so I feel like the internet thinks I'm being lazy, when, in actuality, I'm more than halfway done with my next book and have several album covers in the works. So I made this. Eeeeep. |
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[Mar. 18th, 2009|12:28 pm] |
Hey hey, I did another one of these columns:
PUNK MATTERS
Today's Episode:
"Suggested Listening"
Go ahead and read it if you like the idea of incoherent rambling about punk music masquerading as humor. Or if you're totally out of ideas for new stuff to listen to and are misguided enough to feel I can be trusted on the subject. |
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[Mar. 13th, 2009|02:28 pm] |
The series isn't done yet, but I thought I'd make a mega post here of all the Under the Influence record covers Amanda and I have done so far, as well as the original album art we based them off of:
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[Mar. 12th, 2009|03:19 am] |
I have set a goal for myself to release another book by the end of the year. I can't tell you any details beyond that, except that it is comics but it's not NN2S.
In the mean time, here's some stuff I can tell you all about, by which I mean show you:
These are all, of course, record covers for new installments in the Under the Influence 7" series, and were, as usual, all watercolored by the beautiful and talented Nation of Amanda.
More later! For now, I have a book to work on. |
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[Mar. 8th, 2009|05:35 pm] |
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I wanna draw some new Something Great strips. Tell me what to make a comic about and maybe I'll do it. |
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[Feb. 25th, 2009|04:14 pm] |
Lo, a couple more covers for Vinyl Collective's Under the Influence split 7" series:
Watercolors, as usual, by Nation of Amanda.
This is basically the kind of stuff I've been working on lately, since some of you may be curious. Album art like this that I can't show anyone until it's released, which is why it appears from the outside that I'm not doing anything. And, granted, my newfound addiction to How I Met Your Mother on DVD certainly can't be helping my productivity as much as hindering it, it's not like I'm not doing anything at all. See above. |
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