Tight Pencils
76 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 6 years ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsTight Pencils is a podcast about the creative process. Host Kevin Budnik sits down with a friends, strangers, creators established and aspiring to talk about how they got where they are and where they want to go. We are all artists, storytellers, makers in our own right.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Goombo HAS Been Found (with Sara Goetter)
September 25, 2018 00:05 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBSara Goetter is the author of the webcomic Boozle and co-author of Dungeon Critters (coming in 2020 from First Second). Sara joins Kevin to talk about frogs, Goombas, and Bowsette. Sara's website: http://sgoetter.com/about/ Hell Yell Comics on itch.io https://hellyellcomics.itch.io/ Bowsette: An Introduction - Petrana Radulovic (Polygon.com) https://www.deviantart.com/allthestuffilike94/art/Princess-Peach-Goomba-203588159
"Fiaca" (with Paloma Hernando)
August 25, 2018 22:36 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBPaloma Hernando is half of the Dandelion Wine Collective. Kevin and Paloma talk about children's movies, staying connected online, discord, AIM, and FlameCon Paloma's website https://www.palomahernando.com/ Dandelion Wine Collective on Twitter @soolagna_ebooks Marge Simpson Anime
Episode Seventy-Nine: Leigh Luna
June 13, 2018 20:57 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBLeigh Luna is a cartoonist, colorist, writer, background painter, and product designer living in Los Angeles Leigh's website: http://leighlunacomics.com/ Read Cursed Forever, Leigh's weekly diary comic: https://www.gocomics.com/cursed-forever
Episode Seventy-Eight: Sunmi
May 23, 2018 23:00 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBSunmi is a cartoonist living in Baltimore, currently visiting Chicago for the TRANSIT artist residency program. Kevin and Sunmi talk about community-building and comics culture. http://sunmiflowers.com/
Episode Seventy-Seven: Nick Drnaso
April 19, 2018 01:11 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBNick Drnaso joins Kevin to talk about his new book Sabrina, and his relationship with the inward and outward facing aspects of being a working cartoonist If you're in Chicago on May 24th, come to the book release event and pick up a copy of Sabrina at Quimby's Bookstore, 1854 W North Ave. 7pm
Episode Seventy-Six: Kate Sheridan
March 31, 2018 21:10 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBKate Sheridan joins Kevin to talk about the intersecting worlds of comics and roleplaying games Kate's website: http://katesheridanart.com/
Episode Seventy-Five: Rayne Klar
February 25, 2018 20:18 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBRayne Klar joins Kevin for a conversation about setting deadlines and queer/non-binary representation Rayne's website: http://rayne-klar.squarespace.com/
Episode Seventy-Four: Liz Bolduc
February 09, 2018 01:25 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBLiz Bolduc joins Kevin to talk about the therapeutic nature of journal comics Liz's website
Episode Seventy-Two: Vreni Stollberger
January 07, 2018 21:18 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBVreni Stollberger joins Kevin to talk about online argument anxiety and friendship Vreni's website What does your favorite Sailor Moon Character Say About Your Romantic Inner Life - POMEmag The Nib
Episode Seventy-One: Iasmin Omar Ata
December 21, 2017 18:50 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBIasmin Omar Ata joins Kevin to talk about Mis(h)adra, the dystopian world of the trivia app HQ, and fandoms Isamin's website Iasmin Omar Ata is a Middle Eastern / Muslim / epileptic comics artist, game designer, and illustrator who creates art about coping with illness, understanding identity, dismantling oppressive structures, and Arab-Islamic futurism. best of 2017s So Pretty Very Rotten - An Nguyen and Jane Mai Pashmina - Nidi Chanani La Raza - edited by Fat Fajardo and Pab...
Episode Seventy: Eric Kostiuk Williams
November 29, 2017 00:19 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBEric Kostiuk Williams is a cartoonist based in Toronto. His books babybel wax bodysuit and condo heartbreak disco are out now from Retrofit and Koyama Press, respectively Eric joins Kevin to talk a little about working from home, online persona's, the comics, zines, and drag community Eric's Website Buy Eric's comics
Episode Sixty-Nine: Laura Lannes
November 15, 2017 21:11 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBLaura Lannes joins Kevin to talk about art school and autobio comics Follow Laura on Twitter Laura's website 2dcloud
Episode Sixty-Eight: Kat Fajardo
October 30, 2017 01:14 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBKat Fajardo is a grant-winning comic artist and illustrator based in NYC. In this episode, Kat joins Kevin to compare entrances into comics and talk about the importance of community and zines show notes: la raza anthology school of the visual arts columbia college chicago printers resource (chiprc) cartoon crossroads columbus (cxc) bandida the first rule of punk
Episode Sixty-Seven: Annie Mok
October 10, 2017 19:01 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBAnnie Mok joins Kevin to talk a little bit about new york comic com, superhero comics, propaganda, emotion in comics, and movies Annie's Website Annie's Gumroad
Episode Sixty-Six: Sarah Graley
September 26, 2017 19:55 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBSarah Graley (Our Super Adventure, Kim Reaper, Rick and Morty Lil' Poopy Superstar) joins Kevin to talk about convention travel and internet comments Sarah's website
Episode Sixty-Five: Lucie Ebrey
September 12, 2017 21:01 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBLucie and Kevin compare notes on diary comics and learning as you go Lucie's Website Lucie on Patreon
Episode Sixty-Four: Tom and Sara McHenry
September 03, 2017 22:22 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBTom and Sara McHenry join Kevin to talk about Twin Peaks, creating casts of characters, humor, a personal internet histories. Support Tom and Sara on Patreon Find their comics and zines on Etsy and Gumroad Show notes Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me Twin Peaks: The Return Joe McAdam's Analog Twitter The Andy Griffith Show
Episode Sixty-Three: Michael Sweater
August 23, 2017 23:26 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBMicael Sweater joins Kevin to talk about embarking on large projects and the negative influences of social media on art. Michael's Website Show Notes: Benji Nate Silver Sprocket Locust Moon Rob Woods Frank Santoro grid Fundamentals The Oatmeal Adam Ellis - guy who draws the same comics over and over for Buzzfeed Ctrl+Alt+Del
Episode Sixty-Two: John-Charles Holmes
July 26, 2017 01:11 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBJohn-Charles Holmes joins Kevin to talk about writing fun characters and personality driven comics John-Charles' website read Spookydate notes: Oreo Os Waffle Crisp American Elf
Episode Sixty-One: Andrea Bell
July 12, 2017 00:20 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBAndrea Bell talks to Kevin about work habits, social media pros & cons, and processing emotions through vulnerability. Andrea's Website Andrea on Instagram Discussed in this episode: The Pomodoro Technique Scott McCloud Brené Brown TED Talks
Episode Sixty: Bianca Xunise
June 28, 2017 00:42 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBBianca Xunise joins Kevin to talk about listening. Also discussed in the episode - representation for women of color, our relationship with the police, comics as a way to open up conversation between cultures, and Cool Spot. Bianca is on twitter @biancaxunise Find her work, including her pieces for The Nib on her website biancaxunise.com mentioned in this episode: Samurai Champloo Amanda Scurti's piece Disability in the Age of Trump via The Nib Tight Pencils Episode 51 w/ Aman...
Episode Fifty-Nine: Kate Leth
June 15, 2017 00:49 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBKate Leth is a bestselling writing and cartoonist living in LA, by way of Canada, specializing in teen and all-ages stories for both page and screen. You can find her licensed comics work in Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat for Marvel, as well as series such as Vampirella, Girl Over Paris, Edward Scissorhands, Fraggle Rock and three Adventure Time graphic novels. Her creator-owned work includes the all-ages Power Up from Boom Studios, the romantic high school adventure School Spirit, and th...
Episode Fifty-Eight: Shivana Sookdeo
May 24, 2017 00:16 - 44 minutes - 41 MBShivana Sookdeo joins Kevin to talk about generation resentment between artists, creating while living with depression, and a background in psychology that she utilizes to cope with her depression Shivana's Website
Episode Fifty-Seven: Shan Murphy
May 17, 2017 00:45 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBShan Murphy is an illustrator, cartoonist, and recent graduate from the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Shan makes poignant comics about loneliness and personal growth. In this episode, Shan and Kevin talk about the universal feelings of insecurity and trying to find a place in comics. Shan's Website
Episode Fifty-Six: Sara Lautman
April 29, 2017 19:13 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBSara Lautman sits down to talk about how she started drawing cartoons Sara Lautman is an artist living in Baltimore. Her cartoons are published with The New Yorker, Mad, Playboy, Jezebel and on her own blog. Her most recent collection, Black and White Diary Comics, February-December 2017, is available from Birdcage Bottom Books. http://saralautman.com/
Episode Fifty-Five: Eric Kubli
April 09, 2017 23:26 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBEric Kubli is a graphic designer and illustrator from Ohio. Now living in Oakland California, Eric has been working on a comic series called Northlake Magic. Issue three of Northlake was just released digitally, and in this episode Eric talks to us about how he began the series. We also talk about video games and communicating with your friends over the internet, two things that provide inspiration and support for Eric in his work Eric' Website Visit Eric's Gumroad shop to downlo...
Episode Fifty-Four: Hannah Fisher
March 29, 2017 02:20 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBHannah Fisher is a cartoonist based in Seattle. She is the author of the webcomic Cosmoknights and is currently coloring Coady and the Creepies, for Boom! In this episode Hannah joins Kevin to talk about nerdy genre comics and giving agency to female characters. Hannah's Website Read Cosmoknights
Episode Fifty-Three: Kelsey Wroten
March 15, 2017 00:26 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MBKelsey Wroten is a freelance illustrator and comics artist from Kansas City, MO, now living in Brooklyn, NY. We talk about the grand philosophy of storytelling through comics, and a little peek at Kelsey's book with Uncivilized Books slated to come out in 2018 Also, a beer and some cat noises find more of Kelsey's work at kelseywroten.com
Episode Fifty-Two: Mike Budnik, My Dad
February 22, 2017 21:14 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBIn this episode, I talk to my Dad about how it felt raising a child who wants to pursue a career in art
Episode Fifty-One: Amanda Scurti
February 08, 2017 00:47 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBAmanda Scurti is a Queens, NY based illustrator and cartoonist. She has worked as a colorist for Fresh Romance, and We Can Never Go Home. She is currently drawing FABIOLA & YLINI, a YA graphic novel, for Oni Press. In this episode, Amanda tells us about her experience freelancing as well as working on a team. Also, Kevin clumsily editorializes about art school and the future of illustration. Find more of Amanda's work on here website: http://www.amandascurti.com/ Follow Amanda o...
Episode Fifty: Carta Monir
January 24, 2017 18:20 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBCarta Monir makes intimate comics about identity and technology. She self-published "Meet n' Fuck," a comic about sex-sim games, in 2016. Her new work, "Secure Connect" will be available soon from 2d cloud. Carta is also the co-host of We Should Be Friends, a sincere and positive podcast about comics In this episode Carta reflects on her experiences writing about trans identity, sexuality on the internet, and struggling with the question of whether or not her comics could or shou...
Episode Forty-Nine: Meredith Park
January 08, 2017 00:42 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MBMeredith Park is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Hamilton, Ontario. Her diary comics capture dream-like sequences of anxiety, love, and depression. She uses impressionistic color to convey moods and feelings that and depth to her fragile words and lines. In this episode, Kevin and Meredith compare and contrast their philosophies on journal comics Meredith's website
Episode Fourty-Eight: Rob Kirby and the Best of 2016
December 22, 2016 02:19 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBRob Kirby is an accomplished cartoonist, and an editor of several anthologies including QU33R (Ignatz winner 2014, best anthology), What's Your Sign, Girl?, and The Shirley Jackson Project. We talk about Rob's origins in the alternative comics community. Through the culture of queer zines and journal comics, Rob found a place and a voice that marries the two worlds. Rob's Website QU33R, available from Northwest Press What's Your Sign, Girl? and The Shirley Jackson Project, avail...
Episode Forty Seven: Aatmaja Pandya
December 14, 2016 02:04 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBAatmaja Pandya is the guest! We talk about her work on the visual novel Rose of Winter, as well as her webcomic Travelogue. Also, we discuss webcomics in general, and the way we've learned to tell stories through comics. Aatmaja's website Rose of Winter on Steam Travelogue Gawain's Girlfriend and the Green Knight by Polly Guo Connor Brown, author of The Grrls Are All Right - that comic Kevin got at CALA Mystery Flavor Podcast - Hosted by Kristine Thune and Eric Kubli Amuse B...
Episode Forty Five: Kevin Czapiewski
November 11, 2016 03:36 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBThis episode's guest is Kevin Czapiewski, cartoonist and publisher. Kevin's imprint, Czap Books, is one of the growing forces for good in the alternative comics community. The tone of this episode is a little somber. It's very hard to see good in the world right now, but the only way through it is by surrounding yourselves with people you love and admire. Czap Books website Kevin's Website
Episode Forty-Four: Whit Taylor
October 26, 2016 17:36 - 40 minutes - 36.6 MBKevin is joined by Cartoonist, Editor, and Comics Journalist Whitney Taylor In this episode we talk about the benefits of picking up other tools, learning from your peers, and imbuing your work with a sense that you care about the subject. Whit's Website Subscribe to Tight Pencils on iTunes
Episode Forty-Three: Daryl Seitchik
October 12, 2016 21:56 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBDaryl Seitchik's new book Exits just debuted from Koyama Press. Kevin and Daryl sit down to talk about focusing outward in order to develop their work and the thoughts they direct inward. Exits on the Koyama website Daryl's Website
Episode Forty-Two: Keiler Roberts
September 26, 2016 14:50 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBKeiler Roberts is an Ignatz Award winning cartoonist whose autobiographical comics series, Powdered Milk, focuses on her family, her daughter Xia and husband Scott, and her childhood memories. I talked to Keiler about how she started Powdered Milk, now a 15-volume, seven year series. We discuss comics and mental health, and the way the latter effects our processes. Keiler Roberts Website Buy Miseryland on Amazon Issues of Powdered Milk are available through Spit and Half Other ...
Episode Forty-One: Carolyn Nowak
September 09, 2016 06:09 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBKevin and Carolyn talk about The Small Press Expo and The Ignatz Awards (in which they're nominated against eachother!) Other topics covered in this episode include the vary nature of awards, the romanticized notion of working oneself to death, and the timeless work of Tillie Walden. Carolyn's recent comic, Diana's Electric Tongue, is included in the second bespoke comics-subscription Short Box - There are a few on sale now. Carolyn is also a co-host of the wonderful comics round...
Episode Forty: Matt Cummings and Lauren Jordan (Returns!)
August 29, 2016 17:10 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBKevin talks with Matt Cummings and Lauren Jordan about working lifestyles and freelancing. There's a lot of good cat-noise in this one. Matt's website Follow Matt on Twitter Support Matt on Patreon Lauren's website Follow Lauren on Twitter Lauren's new show - Amuse Bouche Podcast Lauren's Shop The Small Press Expo This episode is sponsored by Basecamp, and the Chicago Podcast Cooperative Follow Tight Pencils on twitter @tight_pencils Follow Kevin on twitter @knittedsweat...
Episode Thirty Nine: Jessi Zabarsky
August 12, 2016 18:48 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MBKevin interviews Jessi Zabarsky about her artistic influences including plant-life and creating ecosystems surrounding characters. Jessi’s comics focus on small stories that may seem inconsequential to the grand scheme of the world, but have a distinct emotional significance to the characters involved. Witchlight is Jessi Zabarsky’s lushly illustrated shoujo-adventure comic that introduces Lelek the witch as she blows through town one day, kidnapping the peasant girl Sanja. The unl...
Episode Thirty Eight: Sage Coffey
July 29, 2016 16:07 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBSage Coffey joins Kevin to talk about finding a place in comics. In this episode, Sage and Kevin discuss what it's like to read and write comics from a very personal place. Sage is a fantastic cartoonist whose recent diary comics portray nervousness and daily life with remarkable sincerity. Sage is the co-editor of the upcoming Sweaty Palms anthology, a collection of comics about coping with extreme anxiety. Show notes: Sweaty Palms! Sage's website Follow Sage on Twitter Dirty...
Episode Thirty-Seven: Jon Marchione
July 08, 2016 02:51 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBJon Marchione makes comics and prints with a bold graphic style. Influenced heavily by a rural upbringing, many of his images contain simple and clean scenes of nature. Jon sat down with me to talk about where he draws influence and guidance, and how single-image illustration drove him to pursue different avenues of art In this episode Jon and Kevin talk small-batches, comics as art objects, and how collecting brings us closer to our friends Jon's website : http://jonmarchione.com...
Episode Thirty-Six: Tara Helfer and Caitlin Rose Boyle
June 24, 2016 05:39 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBTara Helfer and Caitlin Rose Boyle talk about their experience creating and developing Buck and Lou and the Night Crew, for Nickelodeon's 2014 Animated Shorts Program. We discuss what it was like to pitch a concept for a short, and how their friendship resulted in a natural road towards collaborating. Caitlin also shares a bit about Jonesy (written by Sam Humphries, colored by Mickey Quinn), the comic she is currently illustrating for Boom!. Additionally, we talk about tools, ar...
Not Episode Twenty Three: Matt Soria
June 10, 2016 17:16 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBMatt Soria is a web designer and developer, creative professional, and former co-host of this very podcast! Matt and I started Tight Pencils as an excuse to hang out more, while also exploring the creative process of or favorite friends and artists. In January, Matt got super busy and had to leave the show for a bit, however he's back for a sort of State of the Union conversation about maintaining friendship when you have both work and passion projects. Coincidentally, there was a...
Episode Thirty-Five: Sean Dove
May 27, 2016 17:57 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBDesigner and Illustrator Sean Dove joins Kevin to talk about his new book Brobots, out now from Oni Press. We talk about Sean’s personal history with illustration and our mutual excitement over Kaiju movies order Brobots: http://andthankyouforflying.com/brobotsbook/ Sean’s website: http://andthankyouforflying.com/ Four Star Studios: http://fourstarstudios.com/ This episode is sponsored by The Second City and The Chicago Podcast Cooperative
Episode Thirty-Four: Marnie Galloway
May 27, 2016 17:57 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBMarnie Galloway joined me to talk about her new book, In The Sounds and Seas, debuting at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. We discussed the origin of the story that became her three-part collected work, as well as how it feels to create myth from personal experience. This conversation took an interesting turn towards exploring the feeling that as an artist one needs to always be producing new work, and whether or not that can be damaging to one’s physical and mental stability. Marn...
Episode Thirty Three: Zelda Galewsky
May 27, 2016 17:41 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBZelda Galewsky is a multimedia illustrator, and current student at Columbia College Chicago. Zelda has a distinctive style and personal discipline that sets her work apart from that of many current young illustrators. Zelda is ALSO one of the editors of the LINEWORK Anthology of Comics and Illustration, a publication that will be releasing it’s sixth annual issue next month. This episode’s conversation centers around pursuing a variety of materials and style in one’s artistic proces...
Episode Thirty-Two: Danielle Chenette
May 27, 2016 17:41 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBDanielle Chenette is an amazing illustrator whose work carries an incredible sense of weight. Her paintings, drawings, comics, and illustrations utilize color and mark making to warp perspective in a remarkable way. Danielle and Kevin discuss the differences between the LA and Chicago comics community, how environmental factors effect your productivity as an artist, and navigating life as a freelance artist. Danielle’s Work: http://daniellechenette.tumblr.com/ Believed Behavior h...
Episode Thirty-One: Hazel Newlevant
May 27, 2016 17:39 - 54 minutes - 50 MBHazel Newlevant is an autobiographical cartoonist based in Queens, New York. Hazel’s most recent project No Ivy League is a coming of age story about her experience working in the National Park system, meeting young people from different cultural backgrounds, and getting to know herself through both positive and negative romantic encounters. In this episode, Hazel and Kevin discuss No Ivy League, Chainmail Bikini (an anthology of comics about gaming by female and non-binary creator...