How to Do It (self publishing) Yourself

Here's another of my passions folks. Zines. I am a fully fledged zine maker. A zinester, to use the technical term. What is it about making zines I love? Well, it is the whole process. But the main main thing is that it is DIY publishing which means you only answer to yourself. You write, draw, play, create whatever it is that you want to. Totally and utterly authentic. Nobody else has any say, influence or sway over what you want to produce. What can be better than that? Well, making money out of it would be nice. But, that's never the starting point. You'd be sorely disappointed if it was. They are a labour of love. No, the starting point is 'I'm going to make this because I want/need to'. 

It does, however, mean that sometimes we have to flog our creations. So, here's a bundle of my five current zines. Each has a run of 1000. No more no less. And, I've put a SALE on. Normally $50 but I've knocked 20% off so for this weekend they're just $40.

This is the perfect inspiration kit for anyone who loves drawing or just loves to look at drawings.

Molezine 2

A collection of some of the drawings from my travel themed Moleskine sketchbook. Limited stock.

 How To Draw Like a Loon

Created with nothing but a four colour ballpoint. This zine is all about drawing and handwriting. Filled with lots of exercise for you to try. Including how to make a zine! Very limited stock.

An Idle Daydream

A zine that reviews my favourite (and not so favourite) pens. Also includes some of my favourite blog images from the last eight years.

How to Draw Like a Barmpot

Another tutorial zine. This one focuses on drawing with your imaginations. Includes lots of little exercises to get your imagination working.

The Daily Tamp

A tiny cut-out-and-make newspaper full of stories, film reviews, classified ads and all the usual features of a big full sized newspaper but just tiny.

 

If you'd like to purchase, or read more about this zine bundle you can do so HERE. You will be supporting an artist to create more publications that you won't find on the supermarket shelves.

Many thanks for listening.

you've come a long way baby

When I began my first travel themed journal I filled it with the souvenirs I'd brought from my trips. Because back then I would never draw in front of people, and so I could draw the souvenirs from the privacy of my own home. In fact, when I made my second little zine I wrote inside "I am a reluctant public sketcher. Actually, that is a big fat understatement. The thought of drawing in public fills me with horror". That was about three years ago.

 And, here I am today. drawing on planes, and in airports, cafes, parks and streets. I made the sketches, above, on the way back from France. I was sat with a really nice French guy who watched me draw through the whole flight. He commented on my sketches and even suggested the passengers who I should draw. The guy who is asleep in the middle of the page was looking over my shoulder at what I was doing (when he'd woken up, obviously!) and the flight attendant came over to take a look. I didn't mind. At all.

 I don't know what has changed in a relatively short space of time. I'm certain it's not one thing. Sure, my confidence has grown and I worry less that people will think my work is rubbish. When I reflect on how far I've come it inspires me to keep on going. And, to keep pushing myself in directions that I never thought I'd go. Roads I never thought I'd travel down. Learning as much as I can to become the best illustrator that I can be. 'Cos, I love drawing. It's as simple as that really; I just love drawing.

like a one man band clapping in the pouring rain

So, I've taken a moment for a little commercial break. I thought I'd just let you know that I have now listed my first three zines (above) as a package. This is the cheapest way of buying them, so it's perfect for those of you who have not yet started your AJ collection (can't tell you how uncomfortable I am about writing this sort of stuff). Anyways, you can find them in my Etsy shop HERE. Also, new to the shop is this hot of the press limited edition zine based on my children's book. I have just 75 of these little fellas for sale. You can read more about them on my children's book blog or HERE.

Plus, in other news, I have recently been interviewed by the folks at the brilliant Empty Kingdom. If you are interested in reading about my work, and me, then click HERE.

Right that's the end of the sales pitch. I promise.

you are the only thing

I thought I'd take a moment to bang on about the Moleskine sketchbook. Actually why stop there? I might as well take this opportunity to bang on about the Moleskine in general; sketchbook, notebook, diary, etc.

Obviously, there hasn't been too much in the way of drawing getting done, around here, recently as I've been going doodlealley trying to finish off hand decorating these million and one envelopes. And, talking of envelopes (it seems to be the only subject of conversation I have these days) while I was out the other day, desperately trying to source more, I popped into my favourite shop and only local Moleskine seller in the area.

I was going to treat myself to a new Moleskine sketchbook and diary. Perusing the lovely shelves of Moleskines it struck me that it really is the perfect product. It's a product that is so beautifully designed (like a Clark's desert boot, the Eames chair or a Swiss Army knife) that it doesn't need advertising as the customer does all the advertising. Just like I am. Here. Now.

Anyway, I was most disappointed to find that the shop didn't have any Moleskine diaries left. That's what you get for buying a diary on January the 12th. How would I live without my page-a-day diary? Not only do I fill my diaries full of all the extremely important dates for all the extremely important things I'm going to do (don't laugh) but I also fill them with stuff like this;

But, mainly I fill them with stuff like this; lists, references, lists, quotes, lists, lyrics and more lists. This one I made whilst watching the History Boys. I loved the big pin board they had at the back of the classroom (I will have one of those myself one day) that was filled with portraits of icons and idols. I listed some of the people I could spot of the board in the film and added some of my own. For future reference.

I also use my diary to plan drawings and blog posts (NO, don't laugh. I actually plan this stuff). And how would I possibly do without the detachable address book that fits so perfectly into the back pocket of the diary? One less thing for me to doodle on.

Anyway, after perhaps an hour of deliberation (can I do without a page-a-day diary? am I really a weekly planner type of gal?) I settled for the planner. I'm sure I will come to terms with it.

Then I had to choose a new sketchbook. Damn I love new sketchbooks more than I can say (I live alone). That anticipation of the clean pages. That inner cover waiting. Just waiting. What will it look like in a years time? Which direction will it take? I love that space.

Will it be another place to through down ideas like my 'spare' Moleskine, above? A place to work through all those lists and pull a drawing out of the hat? Or will it take on a colour theme like the Sepia one? Still the only Moleskine I've ever completed from inner cover to back pocket.

Or perhaps it'll become the second volume of my travel Moleskine. I'm so close to finishing the first volume. There's definitely a possibility of that. I loved this theme and am not quite done with it yet. Although of course it could be something completely different. I quite like the idea of combining my love of food and drawing and making a kind of foodie-skine. Who knows?

One thing it won't become is a ballpoint Moley. For me, these two mediums didn't quite go together. I don't know why. It's just a personal thing. So the ballpoint Moley that I started, below, doesn't actually exist anymore. I pulled it to pieces.

Anyway, sometimes you need one that is no longer in sketch book form, cos sometimes you need the paper for those little odds and sods that you might want to draw that are not part of any theme.

And, one thing is for sure, to celebrate my love for the Moleskine this year will see more of my little Molezines. I already know the theme for the next one of those. I've been obsessing over that for the last couple of months.

Finally, they threw me out of the shop. I purchased my new books and went. Dreaming of all the possibilities. All the possibilities that a new book and a new year can bring.

she's in my head

So, as I said, some brand spanking new drawings from my travel Moleskine. Ah, I just love those sketch books so much. That beautiful smooth cream paper. Plus, of course, it's a heavyweight paper which means it can just about withstand all my obsessive cross hatching. I don't think there is anyway you can improve the Moleskine product - although I'd love them to add a bigger size paper size, and perhaps a nice bright white paper to their range. Not that I'm complaining. I just love these books.

I am now feeling determined to finish this travel themed Moley. Maybe by the end of the year. I know it might not sound like the most ambitious ambition (?) in the world, but these spreads do take hours - and sometimes I'm talking about double figures. Not that I'm complaining. I just love to draw, so I'm going to go hell for leather in this sketchbook. Time permitting, of course.

Anyway, to celebrate my return to the travel Moleskine I've put a sale on the zine that I've produced from this book. It contains nine drawings all with a travel theme. Buy it now by visiting my little shop HERE.

Cheers, my dears. And, in case you are interested the travel Molsekine set (so far) is HERE.

i'm going to take you to my secret place

Over the weekend I've been throwing myself back into one of my Moleskines. The travel one, to be precise. It feels like I've been away from my Moleskines for too long a time. And, it would be so satisfying to complete another one of these books.

It's really good to be working in them again. I think this is my favourite place to be. In a sketchbook. And, whilst I diving back into them I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. It seems, that my Moleskines hold a lot of secrets so, before I post the new drawings, I thought I'd let you into a couple of them.

When I started the travel Moleskine the drawing, above, was the first thing I did. It was the drawing from the inner cover. But as I started to work through the rest of the sketchbook this drawing started bugging me. And I can't live with that kind of thing. I don't know what annoyed me about it the most - I think it might be that it is very pink, and a little too feminine for my tastes. So after an appeal, to you guys, for stamps from around the world it was covered until it became the collage that you can see below. Which, to this day, is still one of my own personal favourite sketchbook spreads.

I do love to know that these lost drawings exist, though. Like when you peel off the wallpaper, in an old house, and find the ghosts of wallpapers past.

Another of the secrets, the travel Moley holds, is that hidden in the drawing, below, is a tiny little cat. Can you spot it?

And, finally, while I was flicking through the book, getting myself all worked up to start drawing in it again, I found this little apparition below. I'd not noticed it before. It seems my sketchbooks hold secrets from me too.

Anyway, from tomorrow some brand new drawings from the travel Moleskine. You can see the rest of the drawings from this book HERE. And, to celebrate my return to this sketchbook I'll also put a sale on the little zines that were produced from this Moleskine. Hope you come back.

coming to take you away

I've been meaning to make this post for such a long time now. To announce the winner of the drawing below.

Now, you might remember my last competition draw (see it HERE). We roped in Wilf the dog, on the promise of a Bonio, to choose the winning name (WHAT am I doing with my life?). Since then I have been feeling the pressure to make this draw just as spectacular.

Has anyone ever tried to get a cat to do something that they don't want to do? Well, if you are attached to your face and don't, necessarily, want it to be removed from the rest of your body, I'd suggest you don't.

I tried. And, let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight. But I am getting over it. Once I'd mopped up the blood and put my eyes back in, I was able to retrieve the winning name. Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo of the actual draw. It was just too dangerous. And, was probably for the best.

So, the winner is Sara Blackthorne. The drawing is making it's way to you.

Thanks to everyone who purchased my little zine. For those of you who haven't yet got your copies of Molezines 1 and 2 (what is wrong with you?) they are currently available with FREE postage (for a short time only). So check this out, and don't be left out, you squares.

is that you walking home?

So, this feels very weird. I feel like this is the first time I've ever blogged. In my whole life. What do I do? What should I say? Firstly, big thanks for all the messages, orders and concerns for my computer. The news is that I have some kind of temporary fix - if the laptop moves, even by a millimetre, it stops working. So, as long as it stays just where it is it's usable.

As well, as the technical troubles I've also had a deadline to live up to. That ends at the end of June. So, I thought I'd just let you know that I'm going to be back blogging on a regular basis at the end of the week. I'm really looking forward to it. The break has been quite nice but I'm itching to get back to it now. I'll bring you up to date with all my news then, and announce the winner of the Beatles drawing (a few posts back). Thanks for sticking with me and continuing to visit.

Right now, I'm off to watch England kick some German asses in the World Cup. Hopefully. Maybe.

See you at the end of the week folks.

lead me to your door

So, for everybody who has pre-ordered Molezine No.2 some news. I had hoped that they would be on their way to you by now, but no. There has been a delay, I'm afraid. I won't bore you with the details but please know that I am suitably ashamed of myself. New estimated time of postage is the end of next week.

As with Molezine No.1, I'll be entering all the names, of those who have ordered, into a hat to win a drawing. Funnily enough, this drawing. What a co-incidence. This isn't a great scan. The colours are a bit off. It does look better in real life!

The closing date to be entered into the draw will be the last weekend of May.
And, you can order Molezine 2 HERE.

i wanna tell ya

So folks, just a little note to say that I am now taking pre orders for my second Molezine. You can find the details on Etsy and get them at a cut price if you order now. Same format as the first zine, with a different vibe. The drawings all come from my travel Moley. There will also be a prize draw, like last time, to win a drawing. Everyone who places an order will be entered into the draw. I just have to draw it now!

PRE ORDER my Molezine No.2 HERE.

Cheers.

ain't too proud to beg

It does not please me to keep on flogging my wares here on my blog, folks, but sometimes necessity dictates. So, I have put a sale on my prints and zines for a short time - 'til the end of the month or until I've paid my heating bill off. One or the other. I find it incredulous that I have had a huge bill and yet I've frozen my ass off all winter. I've walked around in the evenings with a hot water bottle strapped to me like some kind of hot water suicide bomber.

Anyway, as I'm artwork rich but money poor I have to try and raise some funds. So, I have knocked MONEY OFF my prints, plus I'm throwing in a FREE ZINE if you BUY NOW. So currently all this (top picture) could be yours for a very a teeny weeny price. If you've thought about buying before but not got round to it do it NOW!

And, also to make way for some new products for my shop there's also a SALE on my Molezines. Any cheaper and I'd be giving them away. So, folks, hope I haven't put you off coming back to my blog with all this slick professional sales talk (I know, I know, you're impressed). Come back soon and I promise to never mention it again. Well. Maybe.
BUY BUY BUY HERE.

why i went missing

a) Thank you to everyone who has ordered my little Molezine. Aaw.

b) I do hope you like them. Yikes.

c) I've been so busy with packing and posting them that I haven't had time to do anything else, including draw. Phew.

d) All packing was done with an excruciatingly painful, and probably life threatening, paper cut on the thumb. Ouch.

e) Every single order, zines and prints, that has been placed up to this point in time (15:44 GMT on Friday afternoon) has now been posted. Yipeeee.

f) If you want one before Christmas, and live anywhere but the UK, order right now. Shazam.

g) It seems I've lost the ability to take a half decent photograph. Damn.

h) It's back to drawing. Yay!

THANK YOU ALL. I'm touched by the amazing response and I'm cream crackered. I was up til 3:30 last night/morning packaging them all up. Time for nice sit down and a cuppa, I think. AND I'm going to eat an entire packet of Jaffa Cakes. Do you have a problem with that?

Cheers, my dears.

thinking back down the roads to then

So, here it is. My first zine. My Molezine. Oh yeah, you can't believe how much joy it brought me when I came up with that. 'Molezine'. It was, as Oprah would say, a light bulb moment.

You can find out anything you might want to know about it on Etsy. So I'll keep this brief. It is basically one of my Moleskines condensed into a little zine. Covers and all. I'll just reveal a few of the nine drawings that feature, the rest will be a surprise for those of you who order one or two or five (!). If you follow this blog, though, all of the drawings will be familiar.

To anyone who has already ordered they'll be shipped over the weekend. I'm so excited to be sending them out around the world. I like to imagine you sitting on buses looking through them. I don't know why buses specifically, it just seems appropriate.

Just a reminder, too, if you order before Christmas Eve will be put into a draw to win THIS DRAWING. Thanks folks.

Buy my Molezine HERE.

Last thing (I can't do brief), any Brits who'd like to buy the Molezine direct from me, email me and I'll tell you how to do that; andreajoseph24 [at] btinternet [dot] com.