Paul Taylor Fund-Raiser Update

We've added a few auctions to the list since the first announcement, so please give the list another perusal.

Evil Inc Auction: As part of the fund-raiser to raise money for Paul Taylor, I'm auctioning off the original art from this comic. It is matted and framed. The lettering is on a sheet of transparent film that overlays the art, which is black ink on bristol board. The mat is signed by me. The frame is black wood and plexiglass. Bid now.

Donate Directly to Paul: Some people have been asking how to donate directly to Paul without bidding on an auction. Feel free to go to http://www.wapsisquare.com and make a donation directly to Paul through his PayPal donation button which appears under the comic on the left-hand side of the screen (look for Monica wearing a "SUPPORT WAPSI" T-shirt.

Auction Items:

Ugly Hill original art, by Paul Southworth

Sheldon original art, by Dave Kellett

Melonpool original art by Steve Troop

Original PVP cover art by Scott Kurtz

Shortpacked! original art by David Willis

Numbered sketch edition of Schlock Mercenary: Under New Management by Howard Tayler

Original Checkerboard Nightmare art by Kris Straub

Evil Inc original art, matted and framed, by Brad Guigar

Logo, Stationary, Branding Design by Elizabeth Dean

Wapsi Square original art, Golem Girls, by Paul Taylor

Wapsi Square original art, Katherine Gilchrist, by Paul Taylor

Wapsi Square original sketch, Monica, by Paul Taylor

Wapsi Square original art, Shelly with guitar, by Paul Taylor

Wapsi Square original art, Shelly finds hope, by Paul Taylor

Wapsi Square original art, Shelly and Monica jogging, by Paul Taylor

What's This All About? Blank Label Comics is announcing a fund-raiser for BLC member Paul Taylor. Paul's first child was born a month prematurely on Aug. 16, and he has required an extended hospital stay. Paul and his wife have been through quite an ordeal -- which continues to this day.

Extended hospital stays turn into extended hospital bills, so we'd like to help our friend. Several BLC members and friends are auctioning off original art and other amazing items over the next two weeks. The money made from these auctions will be donated directly to Paul Taylor and his family.

A full list of auction items appears above. All list items will be linked to the auctions as they go live. Some items may be added to the list as the next two weeks progress, so check back often.

Everything Cartooning Book

When I mentioned my appearance ot the Buckeye Book Fair in November, I heard from a number of readers who hadn't heard of my how-to book, The Everything Cartooning Book.

The Everything Cartooning Book is a 305-page, text-heavy tutorial that covers cartooning from the raw basics all the way to self-publishing and freelance basics. It can be found in most bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Borders. To say that I'm proud of the book is an understatement.

Unlike most cartooning books, this one doesn't spend a lot of space on showing you drawings; it explains how to get those drawings done and done well.

Plus, there are entire chapters that go into depth on editorial cartooning, comic strips, single-panel strips, anthromorphic comics, character design, expression, and several other topics.

And it has a chapter that you won't find in any other cartooning book that I know of -- how to write humor. Of course, there's no formula for humor, but there are some strategies you can follow to write jokes and improve the gags you've written.