The June Cab Post
Dressing up, noise season and a few shout outs
Recap
Hello everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. This month, I got to dress up nice! My girlfriend invited me to her friend's wedding in Ottawa and despite all my efforts, I still looked like her 6th grade teacher. Let's say it was amplified by the fact that she was a maid of honor, complete with dress, hair and makeup while I wore sneakers(they were new at least!) because heels are a big NO. The contrast was striking in the photos so I immortalized the scene in a silly doodle. I think it’s very funny.
It’s the return of noise season in Montreal! All the yuppies who flipped duplexes during the winter are building themselves sheds, 12-foot fences to hang their Edison lights or sanding their floors. My alley is a haven of biodiversity, home to several species including: the dog purchased during the pandemic--now suffering from separation anxiety--the horny squirrels, and the one hundred and twelve billion starlings that chatter incessantly.I tried to capture the essence of this noble bird, also called “the bully of the sky”. It was really fun to do! I need more acrylic markers in my life.
Being an artist in 2024 sure is fun, huh? Meta announced that starting June 26, Facebook and Instagram were going to use everything that was ever uploaded on their platforms to train their AI. That means my drawings, your drawings, your photos from 2014 and the ones of your dogs, your cats and oops, your children too! And in North America, it's virtually impossible to opt out. Adobe also caused a storm by modifying their terms of use for the same reason; they also received a nice lawsuit from the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) regarding their shady subscription model, which is incredibly difficult to escape from. To feel like I have a modicum of control over what's happening, I purged my Instagram page; all that remains are grainy photos and a couple of poorly framed sketches. Many artists have migrated to Cara, a new ethical (for now) platform for artists, without AI (for now). I did not make an account for many reasons (the main one is: I’m tired) but I still made a post encouraging people to visit my site or my Patreon. Well would you believe it,, it’s one of my most popular posts of all time! Just text on a black background! I got a bunch of supportive comments, which is nice, but it’s still interesting that it got more attention than the unveiling of a book cover or full-colour illustration. Social media truly runs on outrage, huh. I’ll leave you with a quote that I often think about.
Announcements
Despite two grant refusals (*sad horn*) I am working on l’Heure du Lunch full time. I also just finished a comic for the 10th anniversary of Planches magazine and I am starting a 32-page children's book in the next few weeks. No upcoming events but a lot of drawing!
Since I don't have much to announce this month, I want to highlight the release of two self-published books by two extraordinary friends and artists. The first is Ken Mallar, who launched Les Cool Ducks #1, a comic book inspired by the Ninja Turtles, featuring mutated ducks fighting crime (and gentrification). Rabot released his artbook called Madames Bonjours et autres salutations, a collection of pin-up drawings and various illustrations. These are such beautiful books that it’s hard to believe they’re self-published!
July also marks the one year anniversary of Utown’s release in English. The book is still very much available in bookstores, comic shops and online. You can also get a signed copy via my shop! The subject matter is more relevant than ever and I hope Utown can find its way into people’s home for years to come :)
That’s all for the month of June! A little thought for the people who are moving or who are suddenly without a home on this first of July and to all the neighborhood community organizations who are doing their best to help them out :/ After my eviction scare earlier this year, I consider myself very lucky not to be loading boxes in a truck right now.
Cool Stuff
I'm not the biggest fan of monster movies Godzilla Minus One was SO good!!
Narrow Head et Momma : Sunday Medicine
Earlier this month, I got up on stage at Turbo Haüs, with a band, for the first and (probably) last time in my life at the Emo Karaoke Night! What a concept: a live band covers emo/rock hits while randos massacre the singing part, on stage, in front of a VERY enthusiastic crowd. It was SO much fun! Here is event playlist, if you feel like writing a poem to your crush.
Cool artist: Goran Gligović has a style that I would describe as “reading a Choose your own Adventure books, in an airbrushed van that smells like weed” and I REALLY like it.