Upcoming: comics about billboard advertising

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let you know the latest with me.

Even though I haven’t published anything for a few months, I have been working solidly behind the scenes.

During July and August, I had a real ‘purple patch’ of writing. I surfed a wave of inspiration towards the topics that I will focus on for the next 9-to-12 months: billboard advertising and the commodification of public spaces.

After first thinking about this idea in 2017, I realised how billboard advertising is such a symbolic topic that represents so many things that I care about.

The plan: “Twenty-Five Arguments Against Billboards”

My July-August writing spree is probably the greatest period of writing that I have done in my life so far. Every day I would arrive to my art studio, and the words would magically pour onto the page.

(Of course, it is your crowdfunding support via Patreon that gave me the luxury of working in this daily creative headspace. So thank you for your continued support!)

The upshot is I have written over 180 double-pages of comics, which I have given the working title Twenty-Five Arguments Against Billboards.

I am seeing this as a book-length project which can be read as 180 double-pages back-to-back. But I have deliberately written the comics so that they can also be read as 25 individual comics. So, for example, comic #14 The Parasites of the Highways (about roadside advertising) will work perfectly as a self-contained reading experience.

I am intending to sequentially release each of the individual comics to my website, with an eye towards ultimately publishing this collection as my first book.

Next steps: drawing the artwork...

Since I completed the writing in August, I have been focusing on storyboarding the comics, and drawing the artwork. Most weekdays I have been completing a double-page of artwork.

It is looking likely that I will use full-colour in these comics, as a departure from my usual monochromatic style. Using colour will help me to emphasise the over-the-top visual intrusion of billboard advertising on our visual landscape.

I will be working with a mentor—fellow Canberra cartoonist Pat Campbell—to ensure that I use colour tastefully in these comics.

...and seeking legal advice

I will also seek legal advice about whether I can depict real brands and logos in my artwork. See below for an example double-page of artwork that I have drawn:

This example involves using the logos of Coca-Cola, Telstra, Bundy Rum, and other brands. I will learn whether this is kosher, or whether it is wise to adapt to genericised brands.

So I will continue stockpiling artwork for these comics, before asking for legal advice in late 2018. This advice will determine the approach that I take with the rest of my artwork.

I will aim to begin publishing one or two of these comics each month from late 2018 or early 2019 onwards.

Recent controversy with Sydney Opera House

It is amazing how this body of work aligns with the recent controversy in Australia, surrounding the decision to project advertising for a horse racing carnival on the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House.

I was inspired by the hundreds who went to the Opera House and used torches to disrupt the advertising. It was a good opportunity for commentators discuss the appropriation of public spaces by private interests.

Once again, thanks for your ongoing support. I look forward to showing you the completed comics before too long.

Cheers,

Stuart

PS: Art prints for sale via Creative CBR

For the first time, I am offering prints of my artwork for sale, via online retailer Creative CBR.

Creative CBR aims to compete with so-called generic “Kmart art”, by offering affordable, high-quality prints by creatives based in Canberra.

Right now I have five prints for sale on the Creative CBR website. Prices start from A$35 (unframed A4 size), through to A$339 (fully framed A2 size). 

Knowing the owners of the print studio personally, I can vouch for the quality of these prints.

Take a look at the five prints currently available via https://creativecbr.com.au/shop/tag/stuart-mcmillen/ Also, let me know if you have a favourite illustration of mine that you would like me to add to the list in the future.