cake!

Tonight I'm doing my first ever "comic reading" at this benefit for CAKE  The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo--which is taking place next weekend June 16th&17th and I'm very excited to attend.  

The reading tonight is at the Hungry Brain at 9pm, come support me and CAKE!

In other news summer is shaping up nicely.  I'm going on another reading tour starting July 20th, so stay tuned for dates and venues having to do with that!

My book Stella's Big Wish was featured on this really awesome online magazine Make It Mag--check out my interview and write up, it's pretty awesome!  http://www.makeitmag.com/#/leslie-perrine/4563508976

That's all for now, hoping summer gives me the time to actually make a new book...so far it's just packed with fun.  I guess I'm not complaining!

Dealing with Sharks

At a coffee shop playing Dinosaur Jr, not a bad way to spend a gray Sunday afternoon.  I'm ready for summer.  Ready for warmth and excitement.  I'm tired of spring.  Tired of gray days and heavy hearts.   I'm lucky I have such awesome friends who support each other and are open with each other even when things are bad and scary.  It makes me proud but also sad and frustrated with the people who try to threaten that or take it away.  So I made a comic about it.  Sticking with the sea creatures for now.



I'm also hosting a reading this week at the Read/Write library that my friend and former tourmate is reading at.  Here is the flyer I made for it:


This week is my 30th birthday, so I'll be suddenly in my 30's, which I'm excited for.  I definitely thought being 30 would look different..but I'm not worrying about it too much.  I'm sure you'll read my comics about it in the future!

better things

I'm finally back in the swing of making things!  There's always a good couple week decompression time after Chicago Zine Fest happens that I don't want to do ANYTHING..but I think that has luckily passed.  Zine Fest was amazing.  It's hard to imagine doing something of that magnitude again every year but every year I think "how could I not?!"

Recently my best friend since first grade Jamie Walsh, started a website called The Quickest Flip it's a really awesome curated space to sell art.  I have a page and so do a lot of other really talented people.  Jamie decided to make a publication by the same name with an open call to artists.  I just finished my submission for it which is a one page comic.  This is my first time doing a 3-panel style comic and coloring a comic so I'm pretty excited about it!


I also finished another comic that was supposed to be for a free comic book day comic my friend Neil Brideau was putting together, but due to personal stuff I missed the deadline.  Welp, here it is anyway:


I usually hate the spring.  When it was super warm out it was helping me forget that but alas, real spring seems to be creeping in.  It seems like the time when people leave and although it's the time of flowers blooming and trees budding it always seems the opposite in my life.  Ah Mr. Eliot you're so right "April is the cruelest month."
What can you do but paint pictures, make mix cds and snuggle with cats to feel better?

back from the dead!

Hey!  I've been in Chicago Zine Fest lock down mode--but I'm back!
Exciting stuff is happening.  Mostly that it's Chicago Zine Fest  week!!

Because things aren't crazy enough, I'm doing a reading tonight to benefit CZF which features many amazing zine readers and zinesters in bands playing.  So excited about it!!

Show starts at 6:30 tonight, 814 W 18th street, tell your friends!

CHICAGO ZINE FEST kicks off Friday at 1pm at the Conaway Center at Columbia College!

I've been working on this since August, so I'm pretty excited about it happening.

Check out the floor plans of Exhibitors online here

I will have some things set up at the organizers' table on the 8th floor table #45. 

This will be the first time EVER you will be able to buy my new book Stella's Big Wish

I'm really excited, I had them printed through Lulu in the end which is making them cost a bit more ($7) but I think they're worth it and really glad I have copies to sell now!

To finish out the weekend we're having a karaoke afterparty next Saturday night that should be a blast.

Here is the flyer I made for it:

I can't wait for next weekend--I hope to see everyone there!!!!

First Snow

Last night was the first snow of the year.  It's late this year.  Although I'm not a huge fan of the cold, looking out and seeing the snow blowing under the streetlamps on Mozart is a magical feeling.  I really love it and it feels like things are really changing.

Tomorrow is already time again for the Milwaukee Zine Fest!

I love this zine fest because it marks the anniversary of Matt, Ramsey, Neil and I's decision to start Chicago Zine Fest.  It was 3 years ago now already!  Sadly, just Neil and I are left from the original crew but we'll be tabling with Zine Fest goods and our own zines tomorrow from 10-5 at the Falcon Bowl.

What new things will I have there?
Sadly, not much.  I finished my book Stella's Big Wish at long last
Here is the cover:

And a couple sample pages:

I printed two copies through lulu and was going to get more but was not entirely happy with the printing...so I don't have any copies for Milwaukee unfortunately.  I will figure it out soon and post more info when they're available!  Hopefully soon!

Here are a couple of little drawings I did for my friend Jamie's website (more about that in the future too!)
"party/happy/fun" pic:

"trading" pic:


And lastly, Chicago Zine Fest is in full swing.  Can't begin to say how excited I am about things going on this year.  Holiday fundraiser, with our NEW ARTWORK by the amazing Lilli Carré

Free Fallin'

Listening to a lot of Tom Petty, getting a lot of work done.
It's been so gorgeous out and I've had a few unexpected days off from work, which is great for getting real work done.
My friend and former tourmate Jim Joyce is putting together a Halloween zine he asked me to be a part of.  These four pages were my contribution:





I'm excited to see it all together.  Also in the zine are Xavier Maldonado, Dave Roche, Vicky Lim and more!

I've been working non stop on a project I can't share..shhhhh it's a surprise for someone!  But I'm really excited, so just rest assured there's a lot of work going on.
photo proof:


Fall means getting back in Zine Fest swing.  We're back on a weekly meeting schedule and hosting our first fundraiser Oct. 24th.  Here's the flyer I made for the reading:



Speaking of zine fests, I'll be at the Madison Zine Fest Oct. 22nd--if you're in the area or looking for a day trip, come say hi!  I'm excited to go back to Madison.  It was really lovely this time of year last year.  

End of Summer

It officially feels like the end of summer these past few days.  I saw a few trees starting to turn color this week.  I've been spending a lot of time holed up in my apartment with my roommate Sara Drake drawing, eating curry and watching Gossip Girl before she leaves to teach comics in Cambodia in mid-October.

Whenever it turns to fall I start missing Michigan.  Seeing the leaves change, going apple picking and drinking cider.  Hopefully I will make it back there soon and see my niece (who is already 10 months old!)  For now, here is a comic about how much I love my family (awwwww..)