BACKWARD Jam returns

To see the completed page proceed to the link!

It's that time of the year again, when kids go back to school, the OIAF takes over the city and Nuit Blanche #2 is merely a week away. Also, it is the time when the Ottawa Comic Jam presents its signature jam of the year: The September BACKWARDS jam. Come to the Shanghai Restaurant and join other comic artists, animators, writers and enthusiasts as we tell stories backwards.

You begin with a six panel page and start your story at Panel 6, describing the ending of the story. You pass the page to another artist and they draw Panel 5 (and so on). Finally, the last artist draws Panel 1 describing the ‘beginning’ of the comic. It’s loopy and fun: give it a try!

Ottawa Comic Jam September BACKWARDS Jam

Wednesday September 25^th, 2013

7 pm – 9:30 pm

Shanghai Restaurant

651 Somerset St. W.

Ottawa ON K1R 5K3

Contact: Suzanne.

ottawacomicjam@gmail.com

613-836-7821

Event cost: free, materials provided. Artwork is collected at the end of the evening and posted to the site for all to enjoy.

Adult themes/artwork may be portrayed. The jam is not generally suitable for minors.

For examples of previous Backward Jams, check out the archives!

September 2012

September 2011

September 2010

The Ottawa Comic Jam gratefully acknowledges the continued financial support from our sponsors: DragonHead Studio and Brainpower Studio Inc.

651 Somerset St W. The Shanghai Restaurant, home to the OCJ since '09!

New Interview Posted

Jamming fun! Tx for the pic Don

Halloo Jammers!

Thanks to everyone who came to the Solstice Jam at the Shanghai Restaurant, Wednesday, June 26th. It was a full house with over 20 artists and writers in attendance. Jim Woolley from Just Push Play (GS Central) was also there and took the time to interview me at the end of the evening.  It was delightful getting to meet him and I'm grateful for the opportunity to promote the Ottawa Comic Jam and other comic related events that are upcoming in the Nation's Capital.

I will be scanning and posting art from our May jam soon (if you're desperate for fresh art, head on over to the updated  Chinatown Remixed 2013 jam art that I posted last week). Keep an eye out for new photos that are going to appear there as well!

I was very happy that some of our May jam stories got worked on (thanks Gisele, Anna & Marisol!) As well, the June jam art is just hilarious and I'll be scanning and posting that over the next while (I hope :-)

We were very lucky to have in attendance, the extremely talented and very funny Eric Dyck who was in town for the evening on his way from the Maritimes to Alberta. Safe travels, man & thanks for the wonderful contributions n_n

Take care, keep creative and have a happy, healthy and fun Canada Day!

Cheers,
Suzanne.

ottawacomicjam (at) gmail (dot) com

Screen cap from Jim Woolley's interview on Just Push Play

NEW DATE Tuesday March 26th - HOT HOT HOT

Tuesday March 26th is our redux HOT HOT HOT comic jam at the Shanghai Restaurant. The Jammers will be drawing all things HOT! Come out and bring your red markers, coloured pencils, glitter glue... Draw fire, romance, burning feelings n__n It will be a night to remember.

There are goodie-treat bags assembled for your pleasure, containing HOT CANDIES! Do you dare take the challenge of eating them? Pony up your courage and your artistic and creative skills. It'll be hot!

March HOT HOT HOT Ottawa Comic Jam
Tuesday March 26th, 2013
7:00pm - 9:30pm
Shanghai Restaurant
651 Somerset St. W.
Ottawa ON K1R 5K3

Contact: Suzanne
ottawacomicjam(at)gmail(dot)com
613.836.7821

Event cost: free, paper provided
Artwork is collected at the end of the evening, scanned and posted regularly on the Ottawa Comic Jam site. Sponsored by DragonHead and Brain Power Studios.

Our home-away-from home, the Shanghai Restaurant!

Melting Snowball Jam - January 2013

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

Who knew Mother Nature was so keyed into comics that she actually sent a quick thaw our way on the evening of our 'Melting Snowball' themed comic jam last month? It was pretty cool I tell ya!

A wonderful number of folks attended the jam and produced some fun comics. It took a little bit to get into the swing of the theme (one object, piece of text or character had to disappear as the comic continued, until there was nothing left), but soon everyone was having fun and being silly with it!

Thanks as always to Don and the great staff at the Shanghai Restaurant who make us feel welcome, feed us great food (tofu ginger with veg!) and even turned the lights up for the hard working artists as we all laboured away n__n

Thanks to those who took the time to come out and draw (or write) and who made the evening a wonderful success: Suzanne Marsden, Clayton Jacobs, Liz Walsh, James Rule, Westin Church, Sean J. MacIsaac, Andrew Stutt, Scott MacLellan, Amy VanTorre, Susan Shore, Gérard Bélec, Sasha Lapointe Lawless, Christo L'Hiver, Tim J. Moerman and Erin English.

A big thank you goes out to Jason Chen, local Ottawa reporter and photographer for taking time to photograph the jammers in their natural environment! All of the photos posted here are his, from that evening and give newcomers a wonderful peek into the world of comic jamming.

A few people took the time to tackle John Campbell's wonderful challenge "Hourly Comic Day" February 1st, 2013.

Links to jammers' work are below:
Amy VanTorre
Suzanne Marsden
Suze Shore
Jillie from Chile (You may have to friend her on FB to see comics).


And now, on to the jam artwork!
Cheers,
Suzanne.

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

(c)2013 Jason Chen, used with permission.

January Comic Jam - Melting Snowball

Why spend a cold winter night drawing alone when you can draw comics in a warm, cozy atmosphere with other artists? Barring a blizzard, the first jam of the year will celebrate SNOW (and the eventual melting of it all…)

Come and experience a comic-making technique called 'Melting Snowball' where each new panel has one object/character removed from it than the previous panel (applies to text as well.) Thanks to Gérard Bélec for suggesting the new technique!

‘Melting Snowball’ Comic Jam
Wednesday, January 30^th, 7 pm – 9:30 pm
Shanghai Restaurant
651 Somerset St. W.
Ottawa, ON K1R 5K3

Contact: Suzanne
613.863.8264
ottawacomicjam(at)gmail(dot)com

Paper provided, event cost: free
Artwork is collected at the end of the evening and posted on the official Ottawa Comic Jam site for all to enjoy: http://ottawacomicjam.blogspot.ca/

The Ottawa Comic Jam repeats the last Wednesday of the month (except December). It is co-sponsored by DragonHead and Brain Power studios.

October 30th jam TELEVISION

It was a pre-Hallowe'en gathering as we attempted to explore our Television theme, with fun results. We were fortunate to have some new people check out the jam because of the jam's swell write-up in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, which was fantastic!

Thanks to the Shanghai Restaurant and staff for always taking good care of us and helping to promote cooperative creativity in the Nation's Capital!

Special thanks to the artists and writers who joined us for the jam last month: Suzanne Marsden, Clayton Jacobs, James Rule, Liz Walsh, Scott MacLellan, Andrew Stutt, Gérard Bélec, Aya Fawzi, Emily Hann, Susan Shore, Tim Moerman, Sean MacIsaac and James Love-Vani.

Our last jam of the year is TONIGHT! Come out the Shanghai Restaurant, 651 Somerset St. W., Ottawa ON from 7pm - 9:30pm to participate in the Holiday themed drawing event and share some great company, tea, martinis and dumplings.

Cheers and tx to all,
Suzanne