Canzine 2009

This past weekend Lisa and I tabled at Canzine, Toronto’s big annual zine shindig.

Last year we went to Canzine on a whim to check it out for what it was. We came out so inspired and jacked up with excitement that we talked about making zines for a good couple of hours. We knew we just had to make something.

So, after a few months of procrastination, we made our first zine! We decided to make our small vegan cookzine, Small Potatoes because we love food so damn much. Lisa made all of the recipes and wrote them out in pen while I did the illustrations and formatted the book for print. It has been quite well received and we plan on making two more volumes when we’re a little less busy with life.

Also, over the past year, I started making comics. Comics are something I have always been interested in doing but never thought I was good enough. Before I went to art school I had made some comics but lost interest when they mostly turned out awful. In my final year of animation school I used comics as a distraction from the work I was supposed to be doing. I discovered that I really do love making them.

Now, a few months later, I have a collection of comics I’m proud of.

I don’t think we would have done this stuff if we hadn’t gone to Canzine last year.

This Canzine was our first time ever tabling. I felt a little nervous being on the other side of the table selling our stuff in person for the first time. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a huge sense of accomplishment. It’s rare that those conversations that you have that get you so riled up to create stuff go anywhere. I’m so proud of us for sticking to our guns and doing it. We’ve come full circle.

All I want to do now is make books and draw comics. I feel, for the first time in a long time, that I’m on track and I know what I want to do with my life.

- Jason! <3