Christine Norrie

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T18:01:41Z

Thanksgiving 2005
Originally uploaded by christinenorrie

As ever, I am forever thankful for YOU.

luv,

--x.

Posted using TxtLJ

2007-11-13T23:18:23Z

Get on board!

2007-09-28T16:32:05Z

Isn't K.T. super cute? I drew a silly little doodle in her sketchbook and she gave it a big thumbs up! You know who else gets a big thumbs up? ALEX SEGURA. Why? Because he brilliantly created an LJ feed for me so that I don't have to slave away at multiple blogs as my brain melts into a puddle of goo.

So, here's the deal! If you'd like to keep up with my projects and events and what-not via spookoo.com, please click on the link below and add my LJ feed to your LJ feed/friends thingie. I'll likely do most of my posting there and I'd hate to run into you somewhere and you ask, "Hey, what happened with that thing and the so-and-so?" And, I'm all, "Wha-? Didn't you see it on my blog?" Then, you're all, "No, I didn't, I thought you just stopped posting on LJ..." Which I then cry and slobber and you have to pat me on the back and it's just all a mess. SO, let's avoid that and you just click on the clickies and we'll all be happy! Thanks!

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/norriespookoo/

DARK PASSAGE (1947)

2007-09-24T16:15:12Z

I've got this old book celebrating WB films. It catalogs by genre, with a screenshot, credits, and a brief summary for each movie. I like flipping through it at the end of a long day, then sometimes something catches my eye and I doodle it in my sketchbook.

COMICS EVENT this Saturday night!

2007-09-13T19:42:35Z

This Saturday I will be participating in my second Asian-American event this summer. My first was at the spectacular and very well-informed Asian-American Film Festival where I was exposed to amazing writers and artisans, so brilliant and smart, who center a piece (sometimes largely, sometimes little) of their cultural roots and ethnicity in their work. It's made me consider my own background, since that is an aspect I have never consciously strived for in my work, much less think about except when trolling through my brick of take-out menus. However, in more closely examining my background as a German-born, Thai-Scot, first generation American hapa, I realized that I am a terribly strong advocate of diversity and have been for some time.

Besides my well-travelled biography, my own portfolio and bibliography is also all over the map. From vague sci-fi ethnicities in TEEN TITANS GO, to the "It's a Small World" cast of BREAKING UP and HOPELESS SAVAGES. I've also discovered that the only wholly culturally-specific work I've illustrated is the Mexican-American franchise SPY KIDS. Which, of course felt very familiar to me since I grew up partly in Tujunga, California, where I went to a Spanish/English bilingual school, and in my teens, my favorite comics were by the Los Bros. Hernandez.

So, if you'd like to be enlightened by more of my muddied perspective, please come to Chinatown!

Thinking Inside the Box:
Asian Americans in the Comic Book and Graphic Novel World

Saturday, September 15th at 7:00pm

In the past few years, there has been an explosion of media exposure for Asian Americans in the comic and graphic novel world. Join MoCA for a roundtable with giants of the Asian American comic book and graphic novel world.

Featuring :

Jann Jones is Senior Coordinating Editor for DC Comics who has worked on adding three new titles: Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam, Tiny Titans, and Super Friends to the DC Comics line.

Jae Lee rose to prominence for his work on Marvel's Namor the Sub-Mariner and Inhumans (for which he won an Eisner Award), as well as his character Hellshock. He is currently working with Stephen King on the Dark Tower series for Marvel Comics.

Gene Yang's graphic novel American Born Chinese was named a 2006 finalist for the National Book Award in the young people's literature category. This was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award.

Christine Norrie has worked extensively as an artist and comic illustrator since 2000. Her most noted works include her original graphic novel Cheat, the Oni Press series Hopeless Savages, and the newly released graphic novel Breaking Up.

Larry Hama is a writer/cartoonist/illustrator who works in comics, television, and film. He is best known as the writer of Marvel's G.I. Joe and Wolverine comic book series. He is currently working on Storm Shadow for Devils Due.
Moderated by DC Comics editor Pornsak Pichetshote.

All Programs at:
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
70 Mulberry Street 2nd floor @ Bayard St. NY, NY 10013

Members $3/Non-Members $5
Please call for info and to RSVP:
(212) 619-4785 ext. 106

Something to Blog About

2007-09-11T14:15:39Z

The following is a long mosaic of the art I went through in order to cultivate the book illustration for Amulet Book's "Something to Blog About", a YA novel written by Shana Norris. I was contacted by art director Chad Beckerman, sent the manuscript, and started sketching in July. Throughout the days and weeks, we casually bounced back images and ideas, let the art rest, then would work in a fever over a day, then more discussion. My favorite moment was when we both exclaimed that we needed texture and pattern! There is nothing like a good editor or art director who can raise the game and make you feel good about your work...

Midway through, Chad decided that he wanted to include some of our ideas from the initial sketching for the title page. And so, I was hired for an additional illustration:

Black Canary Wedding Special

2007-09-07T15:38:39Z

The Black Canary Wedding Special is out! I contributed a couple pin-up type pages... check out Newsarama's PREVIEW.

lovely maintenance

2007-09-06T15:44:25Z

Remember when I twitter'd that I was sitting down with Sept. VOGUE and getting a pedicure? Well, I looked at Sienna Miller on the cover, sighed, and pulled out my sketchbook instead. It was a slow day in the salon, I was at Iris Nails across from Grace Church (I normally go to the one on University, but I was meeting my sister for coffee later at Le Pain Quotidien on B'way).

Anyway, it just so happens that my good friends have also mentioned the reading of the Fall:

http://kathrynimmonen.com/
Please see what Kathryn has to say, as well as a look at her terrific postings of FASHION ARTIST.

http://www.immonen.ca/news/
Stuart is also touting Kathryn's blog and has a nice sketch and ramble about current couture. Including the Sartorialist!

The B-Side

2007-09-04T19:53:40Z

My sister and I went out this past Saturday night and I doodled our entire adventure out. Including a hilarious thirty minutes at Village Yokocho where we communicated soley via notes/drawings in my sketchbook because we were seated at a table right behind an ex-friend we didn't want to hear us talking. We also had a really swell time just drinking beer and dropping dollars onto the jukebox at The B-Side. You can tell that I'm pretty tipsy since I wrote down two song titles twice... in any case, can you guess:

1) the artist/band that goes with the song? No googling!

2) and for a cooler challenge, try and guess which sister chose which song!

Good luck at TCAF!

2007-08-17T15:17:47Z

To all my pals going to the Toronto Comics Art Festival! Hurrah and have a splendid time...

At da club.

2007-08-14T16:19:24Z

At da club.
Originally uploaded by spookoo

After a night dancing (it's been about seven years, and I didn't so much dance as I just sat at the bar w/ a couple beers and very happily conversed), I left the girls at 1:30am. I grabbed a falafel on MacDougal Street and spooned on way too much harissa. Eyes and nose streaming hot!

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

2007-08-01T18:05:00Z

Drinky
Originally uploaded by spookoo

I think I explained that I don't post via LJ as much as I should... but I DO update http://www.spookoo.com! Just little twitter updates and flickr DESKSET (as commanded by Mr. Matt Fraction) and the occasional peek into recent doodling... which I realized the other day, I haven't really done in a loooong time.

So, please bookmark SPOOKOO and visit there occasionally, ok? As an incentive, I'll be posting some of my art from the Black Canary Wedding Book soon. Written by my friend J. Torres, I've illustrated some sexy things and silly fun.

Love and Peace,

--christine

DESKSET @ Vbar

2007-07-23T14:57:41Z

DESKSET @ Vbar
Originally uploaded by spookoo

I've been having the most hectic summer. I know that I say that I'm busy all the time, but really, this is by far the busiest I've ever been in my life. Even busier than that crazy multi-deadline-filled summer of 2003. Yes, even!

So, I haven't had the time, nor been really inspired to write anything purposeful or meaningful on my LJ. Instead, I've suddenly found myself drawn to http://twitter.com/christinenorrie. I was appalled by the notion of it at first (who cares what mundane things I'm doing at any given moment??), but after mulling it over for about half a minute, I jumped/logged in. And now, I love it. Somehow, it keeps me a bit better focused/on track and gives me a terrific sense of how I spend my day. Useful, since I have a tendency to get sidetracked and while my hours doing useless productive things (like, rearrange my art-drawer or whatnot). At the same time, people suddenly know I'm alive. I'm connecting with folks I only see maybe a couple times a year and I get a bit of insight into what their days are like. It's an incredibly sweet experience and takes no more than a collection of minutes (perhaps twenty at the end of the day) and yet I get so much out of it.

And, I'm also contributing to www.mattfraction.com 's DESKSET flickr group. Each Monday, I post a snapshot of my desk(s).

***
Still recovering from bad cold virus and didn't have the energy to drag myself uptown to the office in the pouring rain. So, I'm camped out at Vbar with a soy double-latte.

Working on a book cover for www.boydesigner.com, and two late DC Comics assignments.

Christine Norrie / Desk

2007-07-11T15:04:52Z

Christine Norrie / Desk
Originally uploaded by spookoo

Insanely busy time. Too much work, not enough hours, espresso, or wireless to let you know all that's happened and is happening.

The best I can offer these days are some phone pics and nutty updates via my blackberry:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76555791@N00/
http://twitter.com/christinenorrie

Love and miss you.

--c.

Oh, linkers!

2007-05-23T03:49:02Z

Despite what most people may think, I am not always the most cheerful person. So I am pleased to announce that I could very well be the happiest person on the planet. I know I have just jinxed myself in a colossal way, but... ah, well. It's what I do. Anyway, here are some things that have made me feel so durn good:

-- Working on an amazing new project/concept/thing with Late Night & Weekends
-- The Pulse's Alex Deuben interview CHATTING COOL COMICS WITH CHRISTINE NORRIE
-- Received J. Torres script for unannounced super-hero (wedding!) book.
-- Turned in final art for letterpress stationer ELLA STUDIO
-- Met Dustin Yellin this afternoon.
-- Sarah Grace's frightening Grosse Pointe Furries
-- Doing a children's mural with Wayne Gonzalez for Village Preschool.
-- One of my shirt designs made it into Rocawear for Spring 2008.

my neck hurts.

2007-05-17T18:33:30Z

But, things are well! Still haven't emailed anyone back (down to only 546 messages/inbox!), but I am doing doing doing stuff. Go look at spookoo.com if you don't believe me.

Meanwhiles, SECRET FUN TIME'S "Old Friends" made me fall over laughing (thx, Jxn). Maybe you will like too?

What?

2007-05-03T01:46:27Z

What?
Originally uploaded by luby.

siiiggghhh....

anatomy of a digital life

2007-05-02T21:03:49Z

hey guys, sorry i've been away so long... i've been crammed with work alongside all the usual terrible (black plague disguised as the flu) and wonderful things (getting lost on sunny mountain w/ best friend) that life brings. i've gotten your desperate emails and frantic phone calls and i swear all is now well. in fact, things are suddenly so well that i spent this morning fixing my digital life. and by fix, i mean i bloody threw out half of everything on the FTP, had intern update the portfolio site, did away with wordpress, resuscitated the ol' blogger account, and added my reading list (pulitzer winners in the fiction category) to del.icio.us. at this rate, i may actually post photos to flickr and say something on myspace. so, please have a look-see, okay?

http://www.spookoo.com/
http://www.christinenorrie.com/
http://del.icio.us/spookoo

signing at BOOKS OF WONDER

2007-04-20T13:13:36Z

GRAPHIC SUNDAY!
Sunday, April 22
1 - 3:00 pm

BOOKS OF WONDER
18 West 18th street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

SIENA CHERSON SIEGEL, MARK SIEGEL, GEORGE O'CONNOR, AARON RENIER, CHRISTINE NORRIE, JEFF KINNEY & DAVE ROMAN

Meet 7 terrific graphic novel authors and artists as we celebrate this rapidly growing genre in children's literature. Join as we welcome husband-and-wife team SIENA CHERSON SIEGEL and MARK SIEGEL, author and artist of To Dance; former Books of Wonder employee and best-selling picture book author and artist GEORGE O'CONNOR for Journey Into Mohawk Country; Eisner Award-winning author and artist AARON RENIER for Spiral-Bound: A Top-Secret Summer; CHRISTINE NORRIE for Breaking Up and Hopeless Savages; JEFF KINNEY for Diary of a Wimpy Kid; and DAVE ROMAN for Agnes Quill.

The authors and artists will discuss their works, answer questions, and sign copies of all their books.

This event is free and open to all. Please note that you are welcome to bring one book from home to be signed for each book you purchase on the day of the event. If you have any questions, call Books of Wonder at (212) 989-3270.

Confessions of a Superhero

2007-03-14T18:52:19Z

The MoCCA/FoL event the other night was terrific! Co-panelists were all very smart and there was much lively dialogue about gender specific issues ranging from who your potential audience might be and why some artists feel a need to use vague names to obscure their sex.

I chatted about my life-long dream of Tiffany's to carry graphic novels so that my comics might come tied with a white bow and placed into a tidy blue bag next to my diamond purchases. I am vain, I know. But the real reason is that I'd like to see comics/graphic novels really reach the critical masses so that there's no shortage of places to purchase comics/ GNs, etc. I know things are tremendously better, but I'd like to not have to explain to non-comix pals what I do and where to easily buy my work (outside of on-line retailers). Comics and graphic novels should be as prevalent and simple to buy as a latte, shoes, books, movies, etc. Wouldn't that be something?

Anyway, on to something interesting that popped in my email today:

Confessions of a Superhero
-Jeffrey Abramson, VP Gen Art Film Division

The next film I screened was Matt Ogen's dark but comedic documentary Confessions of a Superhero. The movie explores the real people behind four of the characters who pose for photos with tourists outside the Mann's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Wonder Woman (the popular girl), Incredible Hulk (the homeless guy), Batman (the thug) and their questionably mentally-disturbed fearless leader, Superman, hustle for tips to fund their efforts to make it as actors.

The film provides a voyeuristic exploration of people whose obsession with gaining fame is literally worn on their sleeves. Ogens does an incredible job of peeling back their costumes and revealing their (in some cases awfully disturbing) realities. He told me that a fifth character—a senior golf pro who played Spider-Man—had to be cut from the film because he refused to reveal his Peter Parker.

The Hulk and Superman were on hand for the SXSW festivities, but Batman was not invited. (Ogen was concerned that he might pick a fight if he wasn't let into a party.) The Hulk's acting career has actually taken off since filming ended; he recently walked to Burbank to audition for an episode of E.R. and slept in a park overnight to be ready for the shoot the next morning. Ogen, realizing the potential in all of these characters' back stories, is currently developing a fictional version of the documentary. Check out our other sighting of the superheroes in Austin here.

TONIGHT in SoHo! Women in Comics

2007-03-12T14:15:11Z

Monday, March 12: THE BIG PICTURE
7PM / FREE
The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
594 Broadway (between Houston & Prince), 4th Floor

Four women from diverse sides of the comic book world talk about what’s happening in the industry now and its intriguingly complex future. Featuring: Trisha Narwani, Del Rey Manga Editor; Heidi MacDonald, Publishers Weekly Comics Week editor; Christine Norrie, graphic novel creator (writer and artist of Cheat, artist of Hopeless Savages and Breaking Up) and Melissa Jenvey, Teen Librarian at the New York Public Library. Marion Vitus (No In-Between) will moderate the discussion and offer Q&A to the audience.

ny comic con app. / breaking up q&a / spookoo.com down

2007-02-21T16:29:35Z

NEW YORK COMIC CON
I'm only showing up for Saturday, but here's my schedule:

How to Draw Heartache
When was the last time a graphic novel made you cry? How did it do
that? This panel examines how comics storytelling plumbs the depths
of emotion experience to deliver a powerful and unique reading experience.

Time: 11:00am-12:00pm
Location: 1E04
Speaker(s): R. Kikuo Johnson, Megan Kelso, Christine Norrie, Gabrielle Bell

Scholastic, Graphix
Time: 2:00-3:00pm
Location: Booth #993:
Signing: Aimee Friedman & Christine Norrie

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY COMICS WEEK Q&A
Chris Arrant fields questions and Aimee and I answer!

PWCW: Christine, how would you describe the relationship between the four girls?

CN: I would describe the girls as very sisterly. Especially Mac Kenzie and Chloe, of course, since they've known each other forever. I think they individually may appear to be really different—from physical characteristics and family situations to personal interests and tastes. But they all share some kind of special bond, that kind of fundamental understanding that someone just "gets you." Sometimes the people you think you'd never hang around with end up being great friends due to a diversity in thoughts and ideas and because you're basically in tune to one another.

READ the whole piece! But, ignore the fact that I sound like a goofy kid. Or, just assume I am still in character-mode from working in teen fiction.

----------------------------------------
PS. spookoo.com is down for re-working. i was so
happy to build a cool new wordpress thing to host
some new comics and sketches to share... only to
completely destroy it over the weekend (wine +
web programming = disaster).

i'm try to fix it, but i have no idea how! so, it's going
to be awhile.

Hourly Comics Day

2007-02-02T18:11:52Z

OK, so I got ten pages done. I was doing great all day then evening hit and I got derailed by stuff. Anyway, hope you think it's as interesting as I thought it was fascinating... and check out other folks' day on the 'board-- so many neat cartoonists!

click to view my hourly comic!

some web things.

2007-02-01T16:33:46Z

Did you know... It's HOURLY COMICS DAY?

And I'm working on a new spookoo blog??

I bought a book on wordpress but I can't figger out some basic things... like, how do I make this blog my index page for spookoo.com? Do I have to create a new database and rescript junk? Ugh. And how do I make my LJ coincide w/ the new blog? I'd like to do that magic trick where posts on the blog feed onto my spookoo LJ. Why do I feel like a granny trying to program a VCR? Why do I now feel like someone who ignorantly prejudges grannies tech skillz?

RADIOHOLE! BENEFIT! ART AUCTION! BUY MY PAINTING!

2007-01-31T22:15:33Z

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2
FANCY-PANTS BENEFIT SOIREE!

* 7 PM Pre-show tapas and wine at Zipi Zape - 152 Metropolitan Ave at Berry
* 8 PM Performance of Radiohole's FLUKE at the Collapsable Hole
* 9:30 PM-4 AM BLOW-HOLE party RICH MAXWELL & THE NEW YORK CITY PLAYERS BAND!
Dewar's open bar 9:30-11:30PM ... DJs, sex toys for sale, and a silent auction at The RockStar Bar! 351 Kent Avenue at S. 5th
[PURCHASE TICKETS]

PRESS for Fluke:

The New York Times, Jason Zinoman
Radiohole's 'Fluke' Splashes Around in a Sea of Ambiguity
"Listen closely and you'll hear the gurgling sound of the deep"

NYTheatre, Ross Peabody
"No matter the material or the presentation of it, you always want to see what these performers will do next, usually because it's engaging (at worst) and mind-blowing (at best), but also because, honestly, they might really hurt themselves. Not to mention that they're all just so good."

TimeOut NY, David Cote
"As with most of Radiohole's technically brilliant if hermetic works, it's the ingenious stagecraft that haunts you."

*** ALSO! There's an art auction for this event in which I donated a watercolor (from the show I did last month w/ Mad Art Gallery).
The auction is also online, go see and peruse and buy buy buy!