Melissa Dow Illo

Piece I just finished for the “Love of Portland” show, opening at People’s Gallery (downtown Portland, Pioneer Place), this coming Saturday.

Hipster lent our prized vinyl?  Ian Fellows never returned it.  Hipster wants bohemian brownstone apartment downtown?  Ian Fellows will never vacate it, he has rent control and pays the same per month as he did in 1975; he will die there.  Hipster seeks out sweet vintage clothing?  Ian Fellows pillages all sweet threads from Goodwill, before 11am.  Hipster plays the accordion?  Ian Fellows plays it better.  Hipster is cool.  Ian Fellows is a nerdy old man.

Would you like some contempt with that?

Another addition to my silly Scarfonie clan; Sal, Uncle Sal, or “Minor Key” Sal, if you want to be cryptic.  Sal used to play jazz piano, now he plays chumps when they need a lesson.  He is a man of few words and even less empathy.  He does not use that piano wire to floss.

Wish I’d spent more time on this character design, but in fear of falling behind, I must plow on.  :)

Things are not going very well for Test Subject 099, ever since he signed on the dotted line to drink Septix Co’s, Super Energie Fluxx.  The beverage hit the shelves last year.  Meanwhile, Test Subject 099 wanders the toxic green wasteland’s of his mind, searching for answers, and some ice cubes.

Part of my experimental Psychotronic Sunrise theme/world.

This is Sven, the Gentle Sailor.  Not at all typical of the usual kind of character I come up with, but I’ve sketched him a few times and wanted to bring him to life a bit more (besides it’s fun to explore new territory :)).  I don’t know too much about Sven, except that he used to be a circus strongman, can lift 100x his weight, and does not like spinach. 

The first in a set of characters I am working up, based on a very silly web comic idea I had awhile back.

Mama Scarfonie is the tough, fashion backward, ruling matriarch of the Scarfonie crime family.  She is the proud mother of 12 felons, has not seen her waist since 1977, been married 5 times and divorced 1.  As well as money, she still launders her son’s clothing.  She firmly believes that starch is the most essential food group.  She ate Snooki for breakfast.

(still trying to find a more original font for this set. ;) )

ladiesmakingcomics:

30 Characters in 30 Days Challenge!

Everyone knows that November is National Novel Writing Month, but what is there to do for comics in November?

Introducing the 3rd Annual “30 Characters Challenge”! 

Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to create 30 brand new characters, in 30 days- one for every day in the month of November- and then share these new creations with the world right here on this very site. [from their FAQ]

The challenge is for artists and writers, and you can create any kind of characters— superheroes, slice-of-life, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, whatever you want!

There are already a few women signed up, but I know there are plenty of women with character ideas brewing in their heads.  Why not join the challenge?  I’m looking forward to see all the characters that ladies come up with, and any projects that come from these characters!

i am taking part in this, and will be posting my characters here, as well as various other places online.  If you are an artist/writer/creator and want to take part, there’s still time to sign up!

(via ladiesmakingcomics)