Category: ComicFest

ComicFest 2024: Workshops and panels

AlayneLeave a comment

ComicFest hero image - ComicFest 4 May 2024 with illustrated comic characters around the title.

ComicFest 2024 is just around the corner, which means it’s time to plan what workshops you’re going to!

These events are free and have limited capacity, so make sure to book ahead of time to avoid missing out. You can browse the full ComicFest schedule here.

Panel: Drawing Nature – The Great Outdoors

With Giselle Clarkson, Lily Duval, and Sarah Laing. Hosted by Neil Johnstone.

Reserve your spot here.

The natural world of Aotearoa New Zealand has always been, and continues to be, one of our greatest inspirations.

In this unmissable event hear three of our finest graphic artists talk about how they, in their own ways, engage with our great outdoors.

Our fabulous panel features: Sarah Laing, the artist behind the illustrations for the award-nominated Sylvia and the Birds; Giselle Clarkson, the creator of the publishing phenomenon The Observologist and Lily Duval, illustrator for the Critters of Aotearoa, the book based on RNZ’s hugely popular programme “Critter of the Week”.

Each one of these acclaimed artists has a unique interest and perspective on our natural environment.

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ComicFest 2024: 5 minutes with Giselle Clarkson

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While we look forward to ComicFest 2024, meet Giselle Clarkson in this “5 minutes with” interview.

Self portrait by Giselle Clarkson
Self portrait by Giselle Clarkson

What first got you interested in comics?

When I was a kid I loved Tintin, The Far Side and books by Raymond Briggs, but it wasn’t until I was at university and discovered webcomics that I realised how broad and accessible the medium was. Discovering stuff like Hark! A Vagrant, Hyperbole and a Half and xkcd gave me the idea that I could do it too.

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ComicFest 2024: 5 minutes with Isobel Joy Te Aho-White

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Isobel comicfest 2024

While we look forward to ComicFest 2024, meet Isobel Joy Te Aho-White in this “5 minutes with” interview.

Self-portrait illustration of Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
Self-portrait illustration of Isobel Joy Te Aho-White.

What first got you interested in comics? 

I grew up reading the Asterix and Tintin series, both were staples in New Zealand libraries in the 90s. My twin sister and I would get stacks of them and swap them after we’d done reading. 

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ComicFest 2024: 5 minutes with Lily Duval

AlayneLeave a comment

While we look forward to ComicFest 2024, meet Lily Duval in this “5 minutes with” interview.

an illustrated portrait of Lily with a paintbrush and pencil behind her ear and a book with a little creature on top of her head.
Self-portrait by Lily Duval

What first got you interested in comics?

From about the age of 5, I was obsessed with Tintin. I loved the clean lines of the drawing style and his wild adventures. Captain Haddock is a terrible role model for a child but I loved him the most. He was often drunk, had a seemingly endless supply of creative obscenities (some of which are terrible to read now) and was altogether pretty hapless. I even cut my hair like Tintin in my early twenties (shaved all over with a ‘party at the front’) and made Tintin-esque clothing.

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Cartoons & Comics Curator Sam Orchard on the highlights of ComicFest 2024

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Fast approaching is the wonderful, unmissable celebration of all things comic and graphic that is ComicFest 2024.

Join us on Saturday 4 May to explore the world of cartoons and comics at the National Library of New Zealand in Thorndon (cnr Molesworth and Aitken Street). From 9am – 4:30pm, we will be hosting a festival of workshops, talks, comic giveaways, live drawing, and even a children’s cosplay competition. Find more full details of the jam packed programme here.

Sam's self-portraitWe recently interviewed Curator for the Cartoons and Comics Archive at Alexander Turnbull Library, Sam Orchard, to quiz him about his involvement with ComicFest 2024 and also touched on a whole host of other comic and graphic related topics.

Sam also writes comics and creates art that celebrates difference. His  comics explore the themes of mental health, fat embodiment, nerd culture and trans lives. Sam’s comics and resources about sexuality, sex and gender have been used internationally by SOGI advocates. Sam is currently working on his first full-length graphic novel.

We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Sam for doing this interview, which was done in conjunction with Radioactive FM’s Caffeine and Aspirin arts and entertainment review show. The interview was conducted by Neil Johnstone.

And below is the podcast of that interview for your enjoyment:

ComicFest 2024 is Sat 4 May! Register your interest

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ComicFest 2024 Website

This May 4th 2024, Wellington City Libraries in association with the National Library of New Zealand, will be celebrating 10 years of ComicFest — join us for this fantastic, and totally free, national celebration of all things comics-related in New Zealand!

Explore the world of cartoons and comics at the National Library of New Zealand in Thorndon! From 9am – 4:30pm, we will be hosting a festival of workshops, talks, comic giveaways, live drawing, and even a children’s cosplay competition!

We’ll be teasing our full line-up of amazing artists in the upcoming month, so save the date and stay tuned!

Register your interest in ComicFest

What? ComicFest 2024!
When? 4 May 2024, 9am – 4:30pm
Where? National Library Wellington,
Cnr Molesworth and Aitken Street