As I mentioned in the previous entry, I’m moving my blogging over to my own site. I don’t need to tell anyone here about the pain in the ass that MySpace can be. I’ll still stop by to check messages and stuff. I do chat with lots of people here and wouldn’t want to lose touch with them.

But if you are really interested in following all the strange little happenings swirling around my life, the other website is really the place to go. Plus, I’ve got a new regularly updated, behind-the-scenes section at the website where I’ll be pulling back the curtain a bit on the day-to-day happenings around the studio, the classroom, and the shop. Just click on the little screen grab and you’ll be on your way!

Our good friends at iFanboy just published one heck of a nice book review over at their website. It’s worth heading over there for a couple reasons though. iFanboy 3.0 recently launched and the site looks great. They have all kinds of new features like personalized comic book pull lists, fan reviews, and a couple other surprises that I know are launching very soon.



Also, it looks like my blogging days at myspace may be numbered. Since my revamped iWeb homepage has a nice blogging interface and RSS feeds, I’ll be doing most of my posting over there.

Feel free to continue to check here for smaller updates or links to any big news that I’m announcing over at: mattsilady.com!

A week has passed and it feels like I'm finally getting my feet back under me. With a monster event like WonderCon, there's no way for me to do the whole thing justice in this tiny space. So, I've peppered this post with lots of links that will hopefully fill in some of the gaps. All the pictures are linked to bigger photo sets for each event. Feel free to wander around. There's lots of good stuff to check out.

And when you are done with the big wrap-up, make sure to check out the two and a half very cool announcements at the end of the post!

Thursday

Things got off to a pretty impressive start with Darwyn Cooke's super-double-secret-pre-convention-signing at the Isotope.

Here's Darwyn sketching for a fan.



And here's James Sime up in the balcony chatting it up with the incredibly talented J. Bone.



The evening was capped off by a fantastic dinner at Farallon with James, Kirsten, Darwyn, J. Bone and our assorted friends and family.


Friday

On a typical Friday, I'm running around getting ready to teach my graphic novel workshop. This Friday, I was running around getting ready for the convention. But that's okay because my class was taking a field trip to WonderCon! Here we are ready for the day.



We met around noon and set out to tackle Artist Alley. We were quickly sidetracked as I found myself bodychecked by Sequential Tart's very own Adrienne Rappaport. This bit of slapstick comedy quickly turned into a round of introductions as half my class of future comic book creators are women and Adrienne's target audience. My favorite part of the day might have been when class had officially ended and we were meeting in the Moscone Center lobby and instead of going home, many of the students went right back down the escalator to see more of the show.

Friday night ended with one of the two big parties I was working during WonderCon weekend. 30 Days of Night artist, Ben Templesmith, and Wasteland author, Antony Johnston, were scheduled to sign at the Isotope. Things got off to a fun start when I was asked to pick Antony up at his hotel and bring him back to the party. We spent the car ride talking about my current television obsession: The Wire.

Here's a shot of the evening's special guest saying hello.



And here's Ben's take on the evening.


Saturday

I started the day on the show floor over at our table. Here's a lovely picture of fellow Writers Old Fashioned members Emily Stackhouse and Jason McNamara (seen here sexing up our new vinyl banner.)



For pictures of McNamara's better side, check out our appearance over at Newsarama. Speaking of the fine folks over at Newsarama's blog, JK Parkin was nice enough to throw a spotlight my convention plans. Thanks, JK!

Just after lunch, I moderated the comic book podcasters panel. Here's a picture of me at the podium taken from the audience by our honeymooning friends, Chris and Miranda. It's totally worth checking out their fantastic WonderCon and Isotope party photo sets.



And here's a shot of the iFanboy guys who were Isotope's event co-sponsors this weekend.



Keep an eye out for iFanboy's internet video show highlighting their trip to San Francisco. I'm told I managed to avoid falling on my face while moderating the panel. I think moderators are a lot like the folks that letter comics for a living. For the most part, they only get noticed when they screw up. Moderating panels and lettering comics: the invisible arts.

It's safe to say that nothing really prepared me for Saturday night at the Isotope though. The official Justice League - The New Frontier After Party was nothing short of spectacular. I'll just let the pictures do the talking. Here's photo the Isotope staff with Darwyn Cooke and a shot of the incredible crowd at the event. Click on our happy mugs for some terrific flickr slide show action!






Sunday

Spent the last day of the con working the table with Jason. Stopped by and chatted with some of the usual suspects, Steve Buell and Jeff Davidson, Chris Wisnia, Dan Cooney, Jose Cabrera, Joe Keating, etc. With so many things packed into the weekend though, I felt really rushed and never got to sit down in one place long enough to have a really good conversation. I did get a chance to finally meet Brian from Khepri Comics. He's been a big supporter of the book and it was nice to get to thank him for that. Oh... and I was interviewed by Lene Taylor for her podcast and Ryan and Jesse over at Going Train. Hopefully, those will on-line soon.



For other WonderCon wrap-ups, I'd recommend checking out David Brothers' take on Day One and Day Two. Actually, I'd recommend David's blog on any day of the week. He's a great source for both insightful and hilarious coverage of the comic book world. And then, of course, there's always Tom Spurgeon's clearinghouse of show reports.




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So there you have it.

Now, without further ado, onto the announcements!

March brings the Isotope's next big event. Our good friend and superstar USA Today pop culture blogger, Whitney Matheson, is hosting her San Francisco meet-up right at the store. Add to that, Heroes artist and very special guest, Tim Sale to the mix, and it becomes the can't miss event of the spring! Click on the event poster for more details!



I'm also pleased to announce my next convention appearance. Without question, Portland's Stumptown Comics Fest was my favorite show of last year. And now that the event has moved from the fall to the spring, I get to return to Portland this April. This time around, I'm bringing some of my pals from Writers Old Fashioned with me! Click on Craig Thompson's beautifully illustrated poster for more info.



And that half announcement I mentioned earlier? I've relaunched my website. I've added a search function, rss feeds, and a clean new look. If you have a chance, click on the screen capture and let me know what you think!



Whew. That's it. Time to get back to work!

The convention season kicks off this weekend right here in San Francisco with WonderCon!

As has been the case in 2008, I'll be wearing all of my hats during the show: comic book creator, retailer, and educator. If you are in town for the festivities, here's where you can find me throughout the weekend:


Writers Old Fashioned

I'll be selling copies of my work at the very first Writers Old Fashioned convention booth. I'll be hanging out at the table periodically throughout the weekend. Make sure to check out books by all the Writers Old Fashioned creators. I'm sure you'll find something that will pique your interest. They will also have my cell number and can help you find me wherever I am on the show floor. The Writers Old Fashioned booth will be easy to find too. Just look for our brand new six foot banner!



California College of the Arts

Your best chance to catch me Friday during the day is to look around the show floor for me and sixteen of the industry's brightest future comic book stars. In a wonderful coincidence, my CCA graphic novel workshop meets on Fridays. So, this week we're going on a field trip to WonderCon! We'll be checking out artist alley looking for inspiration and innovation. Note to editors: get in on the ground floor. A couple of my students may be dragging their portfolios around with them as we tour the show floor.


Comics Podcasting Extravaganza!

For Saturday, WonderCon was kind enough to ask me to moderate the comics podcasting panel. Stop by to find out the inside scoop from some of today's most popular comic industry podcasters. Get tips on starting your own on-line radio and video programs and meet the personalities behind your favorite internet shows.

Click on the panel poster below to check out all the additional WonderCon panels that you can attend. Special note: it is our understanding that the the X-Files panel staring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson that runs concurrently to ours will be happy to accept our overflow if we run out of seating. We like to help out the less popular panels whenever we can.




Isotope After-Parties

I'll be donning my retailer hat after the convention closes its doors and playing host along side of James Sime and Kirsten Baldock at the Isotope Comic Book Lounge both Friday and Saturday nights. Stop by and enjoy some cocktails as we celebrate the work of artist Ben Templesmith and writer Antony Johnston on Friday night and the world premier of the New Frontier animated movie with creator Darwyn Cooke on Saturday.

Just click on the party posters for all the details!







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So, that's where I'll be this weekend!

If you won't be in town for the festivities, here's some good reading to keep you occupied. Writer Russell Burlingame takes a politically oriented look at The Homeless Channel and does a really nice write-up of what he finds in his new column Conscientious Sequentials.

All the best,

Matt

From behind two Ikea chair cushions frantically strapped to my art table, I managed to survive my first live radio interview yesterday. The impromptu sound booth seemed to do the trick as my parents and sister and Aunt Mic were able to tune in coast to coast. And now you can dial up the archived edition of yesterday's broadcast at your leisure.

Just head right over here:



For what it's worth, I've done quite a few podcast and print interviews, but if you wanted to listen to one that really captures what I'm about at this point in my career - this is it!

There are a handful of cities that I've fallen for the moment I stepped out onto their streets. Chicago, Seattle, Portland, even little Champaign, IL. I'll be honest though, when I first found myself in San Francisco, I wasn't quite sure what I thought. Sometimes it takes a little while to figure out what makes a city tick. But this place has been growing on me. And recently, the strangest thing happened.

It felt like home.

So, I bring you three things about San Francisco that are making me happy right now.


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Each week at the Isotope, the staff members post their comic book recommendations on the store website. It's been a long standing tradition to come up with new staff pictures each and every week. Sometimes silly, always fun - I've been cataloguing the last month or so right over here.

For this week's pictures, I decided to show San Francisco's rock and roll history some love! Click on the thumbnails below to see our staff picks, bigger versions of the images, and links to the original posters over at Wolfgang's Vault.



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Next up, I'd like to introduce you to Writers Old Fashioned.

As I've mentioned before, making comic books can be a rather isolated occupation. Smart folks like Steve Lieber gather a bunch of creators together and start co-ops like Periscope Studios up in Portland.

Here in SF, a group of like-minded comic creators started hanging out once or twice a month just to swap industry stories and talk comics. We give each other feedback on our projects, help each other get our books out there in the public eye, and tour some of city's finest watering holes. Over the past year, we've become sort of a professional support system for each other and now we're taking it to the next level by launching a website for the group. Click on the Writers Old Fashioned logo to bookmark the link and then make sure to check back in for the full-site launch early next week!



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Last, but not least, I'm gearing up for the California College of the Arts inaugural graphic novel workshop which opens its doors to students next week. One of the most difficult challenges of preparing for the course was coming up with the required reading list. For one thing, comics are expensive. Compared to the average paperback prose novel, a graphic novel of a similar page count can cost twice as much. Compounding that problem is the fact that most graphic novels can be read in one sitting. After a great deal of thought, I ended up with an anthology, a modern classic, a critically acclaimed recent release, and work by a prominent Bay area creator. (Before anyone hyperventilates - I'll be supplementing individual lessons with work by Eisner, McCloud, Tezuka, etc. I just couldn't ask the students to buy them all.)

Still, I felt there was something missing. Something... fun. Well, Image Comics really stepped up to support local arts education and the growing bay area comic book scene. By supplying the workshop with copies of the ultimate comic book mix tape, POPGUN, we've now got a handful of comics to really sink our teeth into.




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It's a bit drizzly these days. But it's hard to beat the feeling of living by the Bay.

- - - - - - - -

In other news...

End of the year recognition for The Homeless Channel keeps trickling in. This time, Scott Cederlund of Pop Syndicate drops us into his Top Ten of 2007. The Homeless Channel lands at No. 2 sandwiched between Tales of Essex County and Madman.

That's some good company to keep.

One of my favorite things to do around this time of year is to check out what everyone thought of the past year in arts and entertainment. Whether it's the best of cinema according to the guys over at CHUD or Jane Dark's top forty pop songs, there always seems to be some little gem that escaped my radar.

I gotta tell you though, this is the first year that I've found my name on any of those lists.

All through 2007, the comics blogosphere has been super supportive of the The Homeless Channel. And with their Best of 2007 lists, it looks like they're at it again. It's both very humbling and totally energizing. Does that make any sense?

Here's a sampling of what they're saying:


Ryan Schrodt over at Newsarama tells us that The Homeless Channel
was the Best Original Graphic Novel of 2007!


And right over here the good folks at Publisher's Weekly
give the book an Honorable Mention.


Next up, Steve Higgins gives us a nod in his Top Ten
Graphic Novel round-up at Playback.


Long-time Homeless Channel supporter, Matt Price, adds us to
The Daily Oklahoman's Top Ten list of graphic novels in '07 as well.


And last, but not least, JK Parkin puts The Homeless Channel
in the running for Book of the YEAR!

In other news:

If you happen to be walking past your local comic shop, make sure to stop in and flip through the latest copy of The Comics Journal. Somewhere around page 117, you'll stumble upon something that goes a little like this, "...the smooth attractiveness of Silady's pages and the skill of his TV-inspired dialogue provide compensating pleasures."

You hear that, 2008? The Comics Journal says I'm a provider of compensating pleasures. You've been warned.

Oh, and if you happen to be walking past Isotope Comics in San Francisco, make sure to stop in and check out the current gallery exhibition. I'm filling the gap between JH Williams and Darick Robertson. Good grief.

I think it's pretty safe to look back on 2007 as the year when I finally started to figure out how to make a career for myself in comics. January kicked off with a frenzy of inking that lasted until early March when I finally put the finishing touches on the The Homeless Channel graphic novel. I spent the spring learning the ins and outs of the publishing process from Larry and Mimi over at AiT/Planet Lar before engaging in an on-line barrage of publicity for the book. Summer brought the big release party at Isotope and the whirlwind convention season. Between trips, I set up my new studio in Berkeley, placed all the art from the book for sale on-line, and began to think about how I could really make the best of 2008.

Anyone who's spent any time around me knows I can't stay cooped up in a studio day after day after day. As much as I absolutely adore my new workspace in Berkeley, I simply enjoy being around real live people too much to shutter myself away from the rest of the world. That got me thinking... how could I create a workweek schedule that allows for plenty of time in the studio while keeping me in touch with the world around me. As the gears started to turn, I also knew that I had to find a way to make that time apart from the studio as important as the time spent at the art table itself.

I knew it was going to be a difficult trick to pull off, but I've kept at it and I couldn't be happier with the results. I think I've managed to come up with a three-part workweek that's everything I've ever wanted. So, without further ado, here's a sneak peak of what I'll be working on in 2008!


In the Studio

To get things started, I've scheduled three days a week for myself in the Berkeley studio. I'm looking forward to a strong cup of coffee downstairs at Cafe Clem each Monday morning followed by a couple days of solid work at my art table. The studio has really turned out to be both a sanctuary and a great place to get things done. One thing is for certain, creating the art on the next book is going to be a dream compared to the process involved in creating the art for the last book now that I have this baby at my side. For those of you that don't know, all of the work I did in Photoshop for The Homeless Channel was done with with my finger on the touchpad of my laptop as my only input device. I actually wore the finish off of Serena's PowerBook while completing the graphic novel. With the Wacom Cintiq in the studio, it's like upgrading from a Ford Pinto to a Ferrari. With the Cintiq, I can draw directly on the screen. If you've seen my process, I'm sure you can imagine how much time and effort this will save me every single day!


In the Shop

My next stop each week will be the comic shop!

When James Sime and Kirsten Baldock asked me if I'd be interested in working at the Isotope Comic Book Lounge once a week, I jumped at the chance. Before I finished giving my answer though, James stopped me and said, "Wait... there's a catch. You have to promise me that working at the Isotope won't get in the way of making the funny books."

Now, there's a guy with his priorities straight.

I assured him it wouldn't. As a matter of fact, I knew it would help. First, working at the Isotope gets me out of the studio for a day. It keeps me fresh and motivated. In addition to that, I've always wanted to be (as they say on the CBIA forum) a retailer friendly pro. I can't think of any better way to understand the trials and tribulations of all the retailers who work so hard to sell my books than to actually get down in the trenches and sell some comic books myself. That said, I have to admit that I also just enjoy working at a comic shop. Cracking open the UPS boxes on New Release's Day. Interacting with customers who are there to buy something that they truly love. Helping newcomers who've just stumbled into their first comic shop. Pairing readers with great books that match their interests and individual sensibilities. And, of course, nothing... nothing beats selling good comics to smiling kids.

So, here it is - my first official round of staff picks. I'm super proud to work at a shop where guys like special-effects guru Jared Guenther, bon vivant Ian Yarborough, and the super-talented Ryan Yount cut their teeth. In the end, I hope I can learn from and contribute a little something of my own to the world of comics retailing.

If you are in the San Francisco area, make sure to stop by Isotope on New Comics Day and say hi!


In the Classroom

And finally, here's the announcement I've been just dying to make. I'm finally teaching again! The California College of the Arts has hired me to teach their weekly graphic novel workshop starting in January. I've been waiting for the right teaching gig to come along and the CCA position was simply too good to pass up.

That makes three days in the studio, one day behind the counter, and then a trip to CCA's Potrero Hill campus each Friday to work with the next generation of comic book greats. It just doesn't get better than that. Nothing turns a more critical eye on your own craft than the act of teaching.

Can't wait for 2008!

So, there you have it. In 2008, I'll be making comics, selling comics, and studying comics with some of the finest artistic minds around. Stay tuned for more announcements in the coming weeks and months concerning specific projects and a couple new website launches I'm involved in. And make sure to sign up for my e-newsletter if you get a chance. It's the best way to stay on top of news and upcoming events!

Matt

The original art from The Homeless Channel is now on sale!


[Original art on display at the Isotope Launch Party.]


If you already know what you are doing and want to own a piece of the critically acclaimed graphic novel, head over to the ComicSpace original art sales site right now! If you still have any questions, make sure to check out the FAQ below.


Original Art Sales FAQ

1. I thought you used a computer to create your artwork. How can you sell the "original art"?

If you check out the behind the scenes section of the website, you'll see that I start with digital photos and laser print-outs to create my art. You can even see some of the blue laser toner garnishing the art on display in the photo just above this FAQ. What I'm selling here today are the one-of-a-kind pages on which I've used a brush and acrylic ink to create the final images found in The Homeless Channel graphic novel.

2. Where are the words?

After I finish each page, I scan the art back into the computer and letter the image in Adobe Illustrator. The letters exist only as a digital layer above the artwork. The words are for the book. The original art is for your wall!

3. How big are the original pages?

Each page is 11 inches by 17 inches. There are some special double-page spreads for sale at the site.

4. How do you set your prices?

There are several things that factor into the price of a page: the time it took to complete the image, placement of the page in the story, reader response to the scene, and often, my personal attachment to the piece.

5. What's up with this ComicSpace site? Do I have to use paypal to purchase a page of artwork?

ComicSpace is the website that I'm using to host the original art sale and to handle all the financial transactions involved in your purchase. Here's a link to ComicSpace's website FAQ. They also have a Buying Artwork FAQ at their site that might help you out with your purchase as well. ComicSpace accepts most major credit cards. You can also purchase art using paypal's secure online transaction service.

6. How much is shipping?

Domestic shipping is $10.00. That includes insurance and delivery confirmation. If you are ordering multiple pages that you expect will be shipped at the same time, make sure to select $10.00 shipping for the first purchase and then select the $0.00 shipping option for all subsequent purchases.

7. Will you sign the page or write a personal message on it?

Sure, I'd be happy to. It's your art. Keep in mind that a signature and a personal inscription might reduce the resale value of the piece. So, if you plan on putting it up on ebay someday... most collectors named Jeff don't want a piece of art that's dedicated to Mary. That said, send me a separate email after you make your purchase if you'd like me to personalize the page for you.

8. Are commissions different that original art sales?

Yes! Click on the commissionsl tab at my homepage in the coming weeks for full details about original art pieces created just for you! For the moment, I'm only selling the original pages of The Homeless Channel.

9. Okay, I'm ready to check out some art. Where do I go?

Right here!

Hope you find something you like!

Matt

So, that's it. The Small Press Expo was the last of this year's conventions for me. Now I can add Washington, D.C. to the list of places that I want to get back to and really explore. When I travel to each show, I just get a tiny taste of the host city. Expect return trips to both Portland and our Nation's Capital some time in the next year!

Before I dive into all of the show details, here's how my trip started:



Long story short, it was a very stressful day of travel. Thankfully, my bags did arrive on the next flight from Chicago and, from that point, everything started going my way. I was lucky enough to have some great company on Thursday night. Superstar entertainment reporter, Whitney Matheson, and her husband were kind enough to put me up for the night- but not before a quick tour of the uber-cool USA Today headquarters and a great meal provided by one of D.C.'s finest barbeque joints.

The next day, I woke up early and drove to the airport to pick up Isotope retailers James Sime and Kirsten Baldock . Soon, we were all back at the hotel in North Bethesda and I was setting up for the show. Traffic at the show on Friday afternoon was a little light. I was told by one of my table neighbors, Aaron Gonzalez, that it was usually the case and that Saturday was going to be really packed. Turns out, he was absolutely right. Aaron sold out of all but one of his new graphic novel, Broken Chain. It's a beautifully illustrated wordless comic book that I highly recommend you check out. Sales were brisk all over the convention. My other table neighbor, Matt Rhodes, garnered plenty of attention for both his books and his purple suit. I spent money all over the place on a whole bunch of books. I think the convention report over at Newsarama's blog mentions that there wasn't really a "book of the show." Tell that to the everyone in the perpetual line vying for one of the 97 advanced copies of Dark Horse's new Perry Bible Fellowship collection on sale at the show. Now, there's a hot comic. Other highlights included reconnecting with one of my very favorite artists, Matt Kindt, and getting a sneak peak at some very special pages from Scott Pilgrim: Volume Four when I ran into James Lucas Jones at the local Kinko's.

Here's a really low-res look at the show floor taken with my digital camera:



For even better convention coverage, head over to James' great flickr set and, of course, the clearing house of show reports over at Tom Spurgeon's Comics Reporter website.

As I've mentioned before, now that I'm done traveling for awhile, it's time to lock myself away in the studio again. So, the less you hear from me, the better. It means I'm rolling along on my new projects.

That said, stay tuned for a special announcement in the next couple weeks. I'll be putting the original art of The Homeless Channel up for sale very soon! Look for announcements over at my homepage, at comicspace (the site that will actually be hosting the sale itself), and most importantly, sign up for my my e-newsletter so you can get first pick when the sale goes on-line!

Oh... and here's one final pic of me at the show: