Thoughtbubble Festival

Yesterday I attended Thoughtbubble for the first time. It was way more varied than I thought it would be. Although it was a lot of people selling items (not that that's a bad thing), it was a good way to see how broad illustration and similar disciplines can be, and what shapes it can take on.

It made me think about what I'm interested in too. I was weirdly inspired by all of the people sharing and appreciating illustration and graphic art. All of those people putting their work on display for the public to see. Well done everyone.

I saw a lot of interesting things, including illustrators and visual artists that I was a fan of, as well as small press companies and independent publishers. Here are some of the things I spotted or picked up.

1. Josh Shepherd - I liked this funny little comic because of its weird sense of humour. I enjoy things that are made because the person wanted to say something or share a joke.

2. Wai Wai Pang - A postcard and a small book of drawings. Her work is very fun and loose, and doesn't take itself too seriously. A world of tiny people and clouds where you are welcomed with open arms.

3. Maria Stoian - 'The Figure in Art (School)'. A short zine based on art theory to do with the female nude in art. Also has an autobiographical feel? I found it quite emotive, and the mix of theory (big world problems or ideas) with personal (memories, anecdotes, confessions) is really interesting. I think this could be about her own experiences in the arts perhaps.

4. Lorenzo Fruzza / Jinku Comics - Sketchbook and postcard. The book is a collection of character development sketches and concepts, as well as some pages that look like they could be finished designs for posters and such. A nice collection of images that show ideas and how an idea has became fleshed out.

5. Isaac Lenkiewicz - A comic fold-out poster that tells a short story of a group of lichens. I found this really charming and cute, and it a nice way of presenting a comic narrative in a format which has limited space/pages. In some ways the poster is like one big panel of the story.

6. Rosie Barratt / Hot Parsnip - Postcard. This illustrator had some really nice prints, and a mix of digital and traditional/hands-on work. There was a bizarre and funny tone to her work, as well as some observational stuff involving pubs and bingo halls and the atmosphere within these places.

7. kuš! - The name of a Latvian comics anthology and comics publisher, each book hosts the work of both Latvian and international artists and illustrators in attempts to promote the medium in Latvia and sharing the work of its native artists around the world. Really lovely publications that had such a variation of work inside. A more left-field approach to comics, open to experimental work it seems.