Creator Resources

Info and resources for Artists and Writers.

  • Art How-To,  Art Supplies,  Blog,  Colleen's Work,  Interviews

    Calvin and Hobbes Cartoon Art Museum sketch, Fusain’s Liquid Charcoal, and Paint Flex

    A look at Colleen’s original art for the Calvin and Hobbes benefit for the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. A talk about Fusain’s Liquid Charcoal, Thrifty Art Supply Shopping, Elaine Lee and Mike Kaluta’s “Starstruck”, and studio tips. Chakra Sketchbook Fusain’s Liquid Charcoal “Starstruck” Lock-Eat Jars Daniel Smith Watercolor SetCartoon Art Museum Colleen Doran’s Patreon

  • Blog,  Creator Resources

    Affordable Care Act and the Freelance Artist

    This webinar is FREE provided by the Graphic Artist Guild, but you must register to participate. FREE Webinar Wednesday, December 12 at 2 p.m. EST (1 p.m. CST, noon MST, 11 a.m. PST) The enrollment period for health insurance via the public exchanges has been shortened by an additional two weeks, ending on December 15. But the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still around, and with a change in House leadership, probably not going anywhere. So how does the changing political landscape affect your ability to access – and afford – health insurance? We’ll discuss how freelancers can enroll in health coverage and what the forecast is for health insurance…

  • Blog,  Creator Resources,  Fandom

    A Letter From a Friend

    I’ve written many times about toxic fan groups, and one of my oldest friends in fandom wrote me a letter about it. Printed with permission and light edits to remove personal information. Yesterday I got into a twitter-spat with a friend from many years ago. It was really kind of terrifying, but it gave me the opportunity to reflect on one of the things I am most thankful for.: Having known you. That fellow and I were once quite tight. What’s scary is that looking back I was well on my way to ending up like he has. The man I spoke to yesterday was once just like me and…

  • Blog,  Creator Resources

    Effective Medical Treatment for Migraines

    A migraine is not a headache. It is a neurological condition that affects the central nervous system. Those who do not suffer migraines dismiss them as the whines of malingerers. Those who get them want to put those people in a chair and hit them in the head with a spike so they can see how it feels. Migraine pain is said by many to be worse than natural childbirth. I have been a migraine patient for 25 years (chronic for eight) and gave birth to my first child a year and a half ago. Hands down, a migraine is more painful than labour and birth (including the episiotomy, lateral…

  • Art How-To,  Blog,  Creator Resources

    Brain Fog

    You used to be able to do long division in your head. Now you can’t do simple math on paper. You always knew what time it was, never needed a watch, and had the entire television schedule memorized. No one bought a TV Guide because they had you. Now you can’t keep up with your favorite shows because you can’t remember the storylines. Or when they were on. You never had to study because one pass over a book and you had it down. Now you can barely remember what you’ve read a half hour after you put the book away. You write for a living, but you stumble over…

  • Blog,  Creator Resources

    Thought for the Day: Steve Bissette

    I fear the mythos of “creative living” sans income is not just damaging to individuals, but is one promoted culturally to justify various methods of creative theft, corporate mistreatment, and publisher methods tilted to ensure successful publishers elevated on the backs of processions of starving creators. Steve Bissette

  • Blog,  copyright/trademark,  Creator Resources,  Legal

    Marvel Comics vs Jack Kirby Decision: Marvel Wins

    Just received 50 page judgment of the United States Southern District Court of NY in Marvel vs Kirby and counterclaim Kirby vs Marvel. Grants plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment against Kirby, and denies Kirby’s motion for summary judgment against Marvel. Key quotes: The expert opinions of Mark Evanier and John Morrow on behalf of Kirby were roundly dismissed as hearsay. The court paper goes into Marvel’s business practices with regard to creation of comics and payment of freelancers in detail, so it’s worth a read for that alone. A 1972 agreement signed by Kirby reads: And a 1986 document signed by Kirby: VERY important note here: the “instance and expense…

  • Blog,  Creator Resources,  Culture,  Education,  Guest Blog

    Guest Blog: Sarah Beach on The Metaphysics of Creativity

    THE METAPHYSICS OF CREATIVITY About a month ago on another website, there was a discussion about fanfiction and professional writing, and the distinctions between them. Some of the posters contended that it was a matter of the quality of the writing, in terms of craftsmanship. Me, I think that’s a mistake. Some professional writers can be sloppy craftsmen, while some fanfic writers have exceptional talent. Colleen and I (we’d both followed the discussion there) continued a conversation spun from this discussion. Our conversation led into other territory, and it seemed to me it would make an interesting guest blog topic. So, here’s some wandering on where my thoughts went. Professionalism…