Strip Search, Episode 44 — Heide Solbrig & LJ Baptiste

Detail of a displayed work by LJ Baptise.

“Cartoonist” sounds like one of those jobs that would be cool to have, but how does one go about getting there? Well, turns out there is no one way, says Heide Solbrig, a cartoonist and media scholar who teaches art, comics and media studies throughout Boston.

That’s one of the reasons why she — along with LJ Baptiste, another art educator and cartoonist from Boston, whose comic series COMIXSCAPE has been running since 2012 — have developed a certificate program at MassArt to help would-be cartoonists figure out where to start. Both of them are this month's guests on Strip Search, where they talk to us about the program, the Boston comics scene, and their own upcoming projects.

Also, we discuss our visit to Parker Memorial Library in Dracut, Mass. (to teach a comic strip workshop, not just to take out books); and give a preview of the Ruben Awards! (Yes, we know by the time you see this they already happened, but we're living in the past.)

Listen or watch below, and scroll down further for some great art from both Heide and LJ!

From "Nixon & Bicycles" by Heide Solbrig.

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Introducing Strip Search, the cartooning podcast

Hello all! Welcome to Strip Search, a new podcast where we'll be interviewing cartooning professionals and talk comic strips: their history, classic comics, the current state of the industry, and comics to watch out for. If you're a cartoonist or humorous illustrator and want to appear on the podcast with Dave and Pete, email us at petpeevescomic@gmail.com .

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