Post-Hurricane Survival

I've recently come back from a really amazing, three-week comics residency in Florida. I was lucky to get into LaGuardia Airport before it was shut down and flooded. Instead of celebrating my return from the residency and getting back to normal life, the hurricane hit. We have power and internet, but our gas supplier is no longer delivering oil--meaning no heat, and hot water for only a few more days.
 
I moved to NYC on August 28, 2005, the day Hurricane Katrina hit, and cannot describe what a terrible loss it was for me, my friends and family. It's surreal that a hurricane has hit New York and has destroyed so many lives. We are all very fortunate to have what we have. The subway tunnels are flooded, repairs will take months.  My nine-to-five job that I get by on is without power and internet, meaning I'm out of work for the indefinite future. I have already missed three weeks of work so that I could attend the residency, and to be honest, I am worried about making ends meet.


I'm taking advantage of this time off of work by doing drawing commissions. I will draw for one hour on a 9 x 12 piece of paper, using a phrase suggested by you (i.e. sexy librarian, Batman, flying objects). I'll also do portraits, please send me a photo. Email your drawing request with your Paypal receipt to callingthedog@gmail(dot)com.  The finished piece will be sent via email, but I will mail the originals out when I've got access to a post office later, so be sure to include your mailing address. Thanks for taking the time to read this and for spreading the word. It means so much to me.

Lots of love and gratitude, 

Jess

Open Studios at Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Fl.

Page 2 getting inked at the comics residency.

SAW Micro-Grant

I just received the great news that my grant application to the Sequential Artists Workshop Micro-Grant program was accepted. Funds were limited and applications were abundant in number and talent. I'm honored to share this distinction with Julia Gfrorer, her work is really beautifully drawn. You can see some of her work and read about her here on the Comics Journal. Congrats Julie and thank you, Tom Hart and SAW!

Residency! at Atlantic Center for the Arts in October

Here's an excerpt from an email I just received from the Atlantic Center for the Arts:

Dear Jessica Ruliffson,

Congratulations! We are delighted to inform you of your acceptance as an Associate Artist at Atlantic Center for the Arts’ October 8 –October 28, 2012 residency session with Master Artist Dean Haspiel. We are looking forward to hosting you. Throughout the three week residency, you will meet within your discipline with your respective Master Artist, with the daytime and evenings open for interdisciplinary interaction and collaboration, in addition to the opportunity to work on personal projects and goals.

Charlie

I'm making a comic book and some etchings based on people I have met in the city that have been or are homeless. Charlie is usually on the Bowery, near some nice graffiti. Banksy spotted him last year and had him pose for this poster:

It was weird seeing this poster at the Sunshine Cinema, only a few blocks away from where it was taken. I asked him about it and he said he got paid $100. That made me kinda mad but Charlie said it was okay. I see Charlie on the way to work most days if the weather is good. He told me sometimes the other men at the housing place try to put curses on him. I tell him that I am sending him good thoughts. I think I gave him California Raisin Hands in the drawing.

Prayer 3

a mess.