The Australian Cartoonists' Association is the world's first cartooning organisation (since 1924), and has been running for 90 years. Every year for the past thirty years, Awards (colloquially known as "The Stanleys") have been presented to Australian artists and cartoonists to "acknowledge and celebrate the best in cartooning, comic book art, illustration and caricature", with a new Award added this year for Animation. Are you interested in joining? Membership is not limited to artists and cartoonists, either: Associate Membership is ideal for Fans of the medium who want to join in at the end of year workshops, or the many functions held throughout the year. I first joined in 1988! Click here for details on how to join.

The Australian Cartoonists’ Association is now calling for entries for the 30th Stanley Awards. Submissions will be published in the annual ACA Year Book. Here's a run down of all the Stanleys that will be awarded this year at The Menzies Sydney on November 15, 2014.

For full details click here http://cartoonists.org.au/.
 
STANLEY AWARD CATEGORIES

Comic Strip Artist
An artist whose published body of work is primarily a multi-panel sequential comic cartoon strip, adventure or illustrated comic strip.

Editorial/Political Cartoonist
An artist whose published body of work is political and/or social satire in cartoon form. It can be either single frame or comic strip.

Single Gag Cartoonist
An artist whose published body of work consists primarily of single frame landscape or portrait panel gags. A cartoonist cannot enter the same feature in either Comic Strip or Single Gag categories.

Caricaturist
An artist whose professional body of work is either published, commissioned or “live” caricatured likenesses.

Comic Book Artist
An artist whose published body of work consists primarily of sequential art drawn with the intention of conveying information and/or telling a story to the reader in the form of comic books (periodicals/‘floppies’), graphic novels, adventure cartoon strips with serial content and zines (containing sequential art content). A cartoonist cannot enter the same feature in the Comic Strip category.

Illustrator
An artist whose published body of work is published humorous and general illustration for newspaper/magazine articles, books, advertising etc. Work deemed to be political, single-gag, caricature, or comic strip based will not be eligible for this category.

Animation Cartoonist  ***NEW AWARD**
An artist who is the original modeler, illustrator or cartoonist of the assets of a short animated piece for online broadcast, television, film, interactive digital products and motion comics (on-screen graphics, graphics-based TV show introductions or special effects for live action productions are ineligible). You must provide samples of animated works for submission and for print and a link to the animation online (if possible). An animation company can nominate an animator from the animated company's piece to be considered.

Just a short explanation why I may get a little behind in catching up with my emails in the weeks ahead: Carlene and I are moving house (again!)...we have just purchased what we hope will become our retirement home! Settlement in about thirty days... You can still write to us at: Comicoz, P.O. Box 187, MARGATE BEACH, 4019, Queensland.

I have mentioned Kevin Schreck's Documentary Persistence of Vision in a previous posting, and on that occasion (if I can recall) it was to talk of my past and possibly first involvement with crowd funding. To those who have not read my earlier posting about this documentary (and who are as lazy as I am in trying to locate it among my past posts!), let me recap. (And to do so, I am going to continue to be lazy and quote Kevin from his Facebook page...) Click here if you want to go to the Official Facebook Page.

"Striving to make the greatest animated film of all time, visionary and acclaimed animator Richard Williams (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) toiled for more than a quarter of a century on his masterpiece -- only to have it torn from his hands. Filmmaker Kevin Schreck has woven together mind-blowing animation, rare archival footage, and exclusive interviews with key animators and artists who worked with Williams on his ill-fated magnum opus to bring this legendary story to the screen. A tale of art, obsession, and dreams, Persistence of Vision is the untold story of the greatest animated film never made."  

Anyway, the reason I am telling you this, is because this documentary will be screening as a one-off event in Brisbane at the State Library of Queensland on Saturday August 2nd as part of the Brisbane leg of the 2014 Australian International Animation Festival. But wait: there's more! The State Library's screening (that begins from 6.30p.m.) will also feature a Question and Answer session with Director Kevin Schreck. 

There's still more! I am going! And not just because I was one of the original Kickstarter backers for this project and want to see my name on the credits on the big screen, either! (Well, maybe just a little!) Why not come and join me? Comicoz has limited tickets to the event! Give me an email if you are in Brisbane, available on that date, and are interested in coming... email me at [email protected]         First in gets them! 

If you would like to get your own tickets (or if Readers of this Blog have beaten you to the tickets offered), you can book for the Brisbane session at the State Library by clicking here. Persistence of Vision will also be screening in Cairns at the Arthouse on Friday August 8th, from 7:30p.m. followed by a Question and Answer session with Kevin Schreck. Information about the Cairns viewing, I am told, is available if you click here.

I know I will be (eventually?) asked to pull this part of my blog down (and I will)... Just before I posted this blog, while searching on YouTube for the above trailer, I found the "full length original cut of The Thief and The Cobbler" that Persistence of Vision was based upon....  Or so the YouTube posting said...

Continuing my theme of sharing some information that centres around things apart from Comicoz doings, I thought I should share with you about the Second Zine and Independent Comic Symposium (ZICS) being held in Brisbane in late August (29th to 31st to be precise). The function is open to the public and is being held at The Edge, near the grounds of the Queensland State Library, at Southbank. You can learn more about this by clicking here and reading information on their Facebook page.

Let me be lazy and spruik from their blurbs: "The event aims to provide a forum for the talents involved in independent publishing within Brisbane and across the nation. ZICS is a not for profit community collective, all run by volunteers who want to put on an event different to the usual conventions. ZICS is about people’s passions and engaging with the community."

One reason for attending is to mingle with some of the creative talents attending. One of those will be Jase Harper, who will be bringing copies of his brand-new graphic novel Awkwood to sell (see below). And one reason why I would like to be there. And -- due to my being scheduled to work a stint of night duty -- I shall sadly be unable to attend.

However, even if you have a legitimate excuse like me and are unable to attend, you will have NO EXCUSE not to contribute into making this ZICS event a success. The ZICS collective are seeking fund through the Pozible crowd-funding site and (at this point of writing) are just over $1000 short of their most modest target of $3000. I do urge you to help them reach their goal by putting in even a very small Pledge. You can access the site by clicking here.

However, Dear Reader, lest you think I am doing nothing except make a small pledge to ZICS, I can let you know that I am taking part in a workshop run by The Edge with the help of the ZICS crew called "Create Your Own Comic or Zine: From Whoa to Go". This workshop runs over six weeks and allow participants to "conceptualise, design, refine, print and distribute a zine or comic" and have them offered for sale at the event. I am afraid that the workshop has already begun. I will be participating (with Elouise Quinlivan) and speaking on August 15th. Details of the topics covered can be found by clicking here; and if you were interested in joining in any similar future workshops, let the good people at The Edge know, so they are aware there is a demand for this community activity. 

For Readers of this blog who live in Melbourne (and surrounds), if you are keen on meeting Jase Harper and attending his Awkwood graphic novel launch, then pencil in August 23rd on your calendar. Then on that day, head on down to Squishface Studios (that's at 309 Victoria Street, Brunswick) where comic publishing colleagues Milk Shadow Books will host the event between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. More details of the event are available by clicking here.

The Australian newspaper celebrated it's 50th birthday today. As part of its Celebrations, someone (the site does not really indicate who) has shared the stories of all of the Cartoonists who have appeared over those years. This link (click here) will take you to that site. It is really worth a look! Check out all of those fabulous artists and cartoonists who have entertained us over the past fifty years in that newspaper... 

Artists and Cartoonists featured are: Bruce Petty (1964 - 1977), Aubrey Collette (1966 - 1970), Larry Pickering (1977 - 1980), Mark Lynch (1988 - 1994), Bill Mitchell (1980 - 1994), Bill Leak (1994 - Still Employed), Peter Nicholson (1994 - Still Employed), Eric Lobbecke (1997 - Still Employed), Jon Kudelka (1998 - Still Employed), Stuart Krygsman (1993 - Still Employed), Judy Horack (1997 - 2004) and Lindsay Foyle (1996 - 2011).

I wouldn't want anyone to think that Oi Oi Oi! is the only show in town, because outside of the Comicoz Office there is a lot going on in the world of Australian cartooning, and it is about time I shared some of those happenings with you. For starters, there is the Rotary Cartoon Awards, now in its 26th year, being held in the beautiful city of Coffs Harbour. The Awards are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour and various other community organisations with the aim of promoting Australian Cartooning and The Bunker Cartoon Gallery, presently the only gallery that regularly shows and promotes Australian Cartoonists and Artists.

The really good news is that the Competition is still running and that there are many cash prizes to be won: over $8000 in total prize money in fact. Cartoonists do not have to be a Member of Rotary to enter. The only qualification is that you are an Australian Citizen or Resident and are over the age of 18. You don't even have to be a professional cartoonist, all you need is an ability to draw a cartoon. How easy is that?!

The competition does not close until August 22nd, so there is still plenty of time to get your cartoons in! The categories (and you are not limited to entering only one) are:

1. Best Comic Strip
2. Best Caricature of a Well-Known Person
3. Best Cartoon with a Political Theme
4. Best Cartoon with a Sport Theme
5. Best Cartoon with an Open Theme
6. Best Cartoon with a Special Theme, which this year is Men and Their Sheds

Each of these categories wins a cash reward. And there is a special Merit Award in each category as well. The overall winner (selected from the winning entries in all categories) will be deemed to be the Cartoon of the Year and wins a Special Plaque and a total of $3000 in cash as a prize.

So, what are you waiting for?! Full details, Rules and Conditions, and the most important Entry Form can all be found by clicking on this link here. The Award Ceremony is held in Coffs Harbour on September 20th, and the details about that are found here (below)...

Without trying to look too far ahead, Comicoz is happy to share the planned cover to Issue Two of Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi! due for release in early October 2014, beautifully drawn by Sydney-based artist, Lesley Vamos. This Edition is planned to include nothing but the very best of Australian Women Artists and Cartoonists...  A list of the artists and cartoonists appearing in that Issue will be shared a little closer to the release date. The files were sent to our printer yesterday!

Lately, however, there have been some issues with potential readers trying to find copies of the First Issue of Oi Oi Oi! in some newsagents. If you have tried to find a copy by using the Stockist Locator (click here for the link) without success, please contact me at [email protected]   Also, if your local newsagent is NOT listed as carrying the First Issue, and you would like to buy a copy without having to travel too far, please let me know at the same address. Our Distributor, Integrated Publication Solutions, is really trying to work with us to ensure that we have the Maximum Sales possible.

Because Comicoz is actually paying its Artists and Cartoonists, the more sales that are made the better rewarded will be the creative personnel involved in each Issue. You see, payment in many cases is directly linked to the sales of each issue of Oi Oi Oi!  This magazine is an important vehicle for Australian comic book artists and writers, so reader support is going to be vital to its success. Please tell your friends, enemies: let everyone know!

The more publicity the magazine generates, the wider the readership. And nothing generates more publicity than an Award. If you care to, why not vote for Oi Oi Oi! in the "Best Zine by an Individual" Category in the Golden Staple Awards?  Vote by clicking here.  As I said (in my last posting), this is NOT about me: the contributors who gave their all in the First Issue deserve to bask in any accolade that comes to Oi Oi Oi!

In seeking to expand our readership base, a copy of Oi Oi Oi!'s First Issue has recently been sent to Diamond Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comic books and graphic novels. Although Integrated Publication Solutions are doing a great job in getting the message out to Australian comic fans, nothing less than world-acknowledgement of the high-class artists and cartoonists that live in our country will do!

Ahem! Just beating the Oi Oi Oi! drum for a moment... The Golden Stapler Awards -- "Australia's National Awards For Zine Excellence" -- yesterday announced the list of finalists for their 2014 Awards, with preliminary voting now taking place....

Oi Oi Oi! #1 by Nat Karmichael has just been nominated for "Best Zine by an Individual This Year" and Nat Karmichael has been also been nominated as "Zinester of the Year".

I hate writing in the third person; but I just had to share this incredible Honour! For more details and to locate the place to vote, please click here... Of course, the magazine wouldn't have been anything without the wonderful artists and cartoonist who took part in the magazine, so can all the personnel involved in the Issue please take a bow? This means you Anton Emdin, Rob Feldman, Tony Thorne, Glen Le Lievre, Bruce Mutard, Dillon Naylor, Steve Carter and Antoinette Rydyr, Josh Santospirito, Ryan McDonald-Smith and King Wang!  

Hullo Fans of Oi Oi Oi!

If you are finding it difficult to find a newsagent that is carrying Oi Oi Oi! please use this Stockist Locator link (at the foot of this link's page)... Click Here!

If you are still having trouble, please feel free to contact me: [email protected]