OAK

A glimpse of OAK, my son Maxfield's first graphic novel, nearly finished.

PROBLEMATIC

A narrated video glimpse of Uncle Jim's collection of sketchbook drawings due out this December HERE.

APE

Your Uncle Jim will be at the Alternative Comics Expo in San Francisco this weekend (Oct 13-14). So will the Hernandez Brothers, all 3! Me, I'm looking forward to it. See you there? Eh?

CLOSE YOUR EYES

Eyvind Kang, Bill Frisell and your Uncle Jim performing at Invisible Dog in Brooklyn Sept 15. This was Bill's idea. He wanted me to draw as if I were part of the band, interactively. Naturally I agreed without thinking. It was really difficult to work out an approach that provided a framework for both improvisation and good results, but eventually one was attained. We rehearsed until it was obvious it would at least sound great and look okay. But at the event it opened up and took on this power to shape itself in the most amazing way. We all did play off what we were each doing and it amplified everything in a way that felt like pure magic to me. Obviously musicians know this feeling but it was new to me.I was ecstatic when it ended and it seemed that the others were too. It can all be laid at Bill's feet. That guy is from another, better world.
The way it unfolded was something. The shapes in the drawings were unrecognizable as anything relating to the natural world until they began to synch up toward the end and form figures. The final image, of two supplicants approaching an exalted personage, worked as a drawing; and the music entered a final ethereal segment as the symbols representing the different orientations of the side figures appeared in the sky; and then it ended just as the last stroke was put down. I realize that sounds like a lot of pretentious hogwash but I swear to God that's exactly what happened. It was flabbergasting to me how it all came about.

Bill Frisell , Eyvind Kang. J.W. in Brooklyn Sept 15

The ever-perfect Bill Frisell is playing a number of venues at Brooklyn's Crossing The Line festival in Brooklyn this week and weekend, only one of which, Close Your Eyes, will be marred by live drawing by myself. The drawing below has nothing to do with this event, the content of which is under tight wraps. PARTICULARS

MARK FRAUENFELDER ON THE FRAN PROJECT

Mark Frauenfelder posted on BOING BOING about the FRAN project... you can read about it HERE

NEW FRANK-THEMED T SHIRTS FOR SPRING

My! Aren't they FANCY! Rich, beautiful color; soft technology. In short, trmdus. Go directly to Americaware.

Pictured above: Frank Tours the Planets, available on black or white shirts.