Maakika Art

Being the sort of person who trusts no one I double checked the stats from my Art Wanted page.
690Yes, in a week there have been 690 views of my non-comic art, mainly the Maakika artwork.  So, you all know there is a book, right?
Whenever I try to explain to someone the origins of The Maakika I get odd looks. I have no idea why, unless the people I'm explaining this to have no artistic minds and have never known a fevered mind!

However, the story I told on the original Maakika Art site in 2008 is factual. These pieces have been called some of the best work I've done -my comic work getting swiftly dismissed! I'm also told, though I never saw it that way myself until I went through all the pieces again, that the pieces seem to form a type of mythology or at least hint at one.  I'll let YOU decide.

The Origins

"What is Maakika Art?"  I get asked that a great deal and to be honest it is a very brief story!

In 2006 I had a serious respiratory infection.  It came and went but,in 2007,it came back with a vengeance over several months and with complications I thought it would see me shift this mortal coil -and I am NOT joking!


Around May, 2007, it got really bad.  Then, suddenly,pouring with sweat, while seated on a bus, my mind started getting a rush of images -maybe 50-60.  I got home exhausted but I sat down and began to draw.  Honestly, at 50 years of age I had drawn many things but these new images were so out of my usual frame of image reference that I was stumped.

I drew a few, sat back and thought "What the bloody hell have I drawn?!" Almost instantly the word "Maakika" [pronounced "Mah-kee-kah"] came into my head.  At the same time I got the definition "solid black and white art under guidance from the Maakika".  Ahh, a fevered mind -and no drugs involved!I've searched the word on the internet, in books and anywhere else I can but it seems not to exist. I cannot find anything similar.

And with each came a title or description.

So,a divine gift from the Maakika pantheon seems credible!

And lucky.

The original images are all 21x29cms and though I've not parted with the first "inspired" drawings which look crude to my eye, several were sold for between £150-£300 each.

I still have the original images in my mind [they won't shift!] but I've been inspired to work on larger images [60x42cms]. 
So,if you have any questions or comments get in touch! 

And remember:only one person does Maakika art -me (and I have absolutely no idea what's coming next!)
The Maakika Art ~ you can buy the book!

Paperback,A432 PagesPrice: £10.00 (excl. VAT)Prints in 3-5 business dayshttp://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/maakika-art/paperback/product-21849434.html
According to  one review:

By J Stransky
"Unique and eye catching. It is equal parts disturbing and wonderful. I've cut a few out and put them in frames on the wall in my work room. They are, I tell you, really quite though provoking. Recommended to someone with an interest in primitive art or hypnosis-state painting. Look at these images deeply for a while, they will seep into your soul."Can you resist?

Small Press and Indie Comics Events in 2018

Please remember that if you know of any events for 2018 let me know.  I can publicise them here and on the main Comic Bits Online website.

Also, if you or anyone you know publishes a Small Press or Indie comic then I will review them and on CBO that's 2-3000 plus views a day.  ONLY hard copies and no pdf for various (legal) reasons. Drop me a line at hoopercomicsuk@yahoo.com about where to send review books.

Cheers and have a Good Christmas and Smile in 2018!
Terry

Fred Egg Comics WOW! RETRACTED

A5
110pp
Perfect bound
B&W/Colour
£10.00
http://fredeggcomics.bigcartel.com/product/wow-retracted


Comic book with stories written and drawn by David Robertson and includes contributions
from  by Eileen Budd, Marc Casilli, Zu Dominiak, Damon Herd, Olivia Hicks, Rebecca Horner, Paddy Johnston, Tim Kelly, Neil Paterson, Ludi Price, and Pam Wye.

There can be a problem when you get a book like this.  Firstly, it is an anthology and I have found that in the past highlighting the work of specific contributors has led to complaints.  You know, like "I contributed a piece to that book so what was wrong with it?"  I normally point out that a reviewer has to try to highlight the best of any anthology whether professional or small press.  Pressed further and depending on my mood my response could be "Well, firstly, you cannot draw.  Would you like a further critique?"

Look at the number of contributions in this book:

01. NANDO. 

02. INK DRIVE. 03. PATRIOTISM. 04. REVENGE ON THE ORBITING SPACE POD. 05. ENDLESS LOVE. 06. NEWS FOR THE DEAF. 07. MISSILE ATTACK CONCORDE. 08. RODOLPHE TOPFFER’S REVERIE. 09. I LIVE WITH A KILLER. 10. IN CONCERT. 11. HOOVERING. 12. PEZZ. 13. TH:12:43. 14. I LIVE WITH A KILLER 2. 15. LADY MASQUE. 16. THE MAKING OF SPACE FILM EPISODE 7. 17. META AF (art: Zu Dominiak). 18. HORRIBLE PUPIL (art: Neil Paterson). 19. VISUAL MUSIC (art: Rebecca Horner). 20. MILDEW (art: Paddy Johnston). 21. TURBO-SLUSH (art: Tim Kelly). 22. DEADLY DEODORANT (art: Eileen Budd). 23. ASS/U/ME (art: Olivia Hicks). 24. GRAFFITI WALL (art: Pam Wye). 25. TEENAGED TARGETTED TERRORIST TARANTULAS (art: Damon Herd). 26. I DON’T SEE DIFFERENCE (art: Marc Casilli). 27. THE FUTURE (art: Ludi Price). 28. FUMETTI. 29. UNEXPLODED GRENADE. 30. HOMELESS. 31. I LIVE WITH A KILLER 3. 32. ORCHESTRAS. 33. LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE IT’S YOUR LAST. 34. FB -- OUT! 35. SMALL WORLD. 36. MOUSE. 37. SHOPPING FOR TUNA. 38. GEORGE VS. HERBERT. 38. HOURLY COMICS DAY 2017. 39. ROBOT // MONSTER. 40. INTERSECTIONALITY.



Not all credited though there is something about contributions in 2 or 3 point font size and that is no good for a reviewer or someone glancing through it.  Here is what should be done:

26. I DON'T SEE DIFFERENCE  script:----   art: Marc Casilli

Where David Robertson writes the scripts then it should read "D. Robertson" or "Robertson" because tucking that away in tiny text is very amateur. My new spectacles show the tint text reads "stories 1-16 and 28-40" are by Robertson.  No. Credit next to the story, please. I just spend an hour going through the art pages trying to see if there was any script or art credits!  It highlights a very big problem for a reader, too.  If he/she is reading a strip and likes it the automatic thing to do is flip back to page 1 of that strip to see who drew or wrote it.  Having to flip back to page one of the book itself and squint at tiny text is not on. Credits for writer and artist ON the strip.

It is a niggle and I have taken larger publishers to task on this.

But "Uncle Terry is in a mood" is not what you want to read, right?

Nando is a bit of a bleak strip to start on: plane crash on a mountain, cannibalism...one man left. Ink Drive still has me wondering what the hell the ending was about as it seemed messy. I read it at 01:00 hrs and at 11:45 hrs but same impression. Not sure if I missed something.  Deadly Deoderant drawn by Eileen Budd was a nice colour strip and Pam Wye's Graffiti Wall was a nice style. Intersectionality  by Robertson had some nice work. Teenage Targetted Terrorist Tarantulas also had some promising art by Damon Herd. Olivia Hicks, Neil Patterson and Rebecca Horner are also notable contributors.

Is the book worth buying?  That depends on whether you are only interested in super heroes because if so -no. You only buy full colour comics -no.  If you want to buy and read small press books and see what new creators are up to then -yes.  And for the contributors I've noted it is worthwhile -Budd, Wye, Hicks, etc. I would like to see more of their work. 

There are preview pages on the Fred Egg Comics page so check it out.

Comics should not just be confined to the slick, full colour companies or even Independents.  If someone wants to draw or put together for fun or as a hobby then why not?  There is a degree of snobbery from all quarters but the point is creativity and having fun.

Support the Small Press and Independent Comics.