Our Books

Happy Holidays!

December 25th, 2009

Hot off the press

November 24th, 2009

When we’re not doing comics, we often marshal Our Books resources to assist in illustration, graphic design and layout.

Since Our Books was founded (and perhaps a little bit before) we’ve been doing illustrations for Bridges Across Borders’ paralegal manual:

A Cambodian Guide to Defending Land and Housing Rights
Simple resources for a growing topic of concern in Cambodia.

We’re pleased to say the manual has hit the presses, with the help of the Centre for Housing Rights and Evictions. More news to follow. You can see a selection of illustrations here, or just click on the picture.

Posted in miscellaneous, news | No Comments »

24 Hour Comics Drawing Day

October 2nd, 2009

Streaming Video by Ustream.TV
Once a year, cartoonists around the world participate in 24 Hour Comics Day! Java Café & Gallery will host a Cambodian contingent joining cartoonists all over the planet who are attempting to draw 24 pages in 24 hours.

The 24 Hour Comic is a ‘free drawing’ exercise designed to unlock creativity. Our Books has been developing Project: 24 since October 2008 to gradually introduce Cambodian artists to this unique exercise and the global comics community.

This year marks the first time Cambodian comic artists will attempt to ‘go the distance’ for a full drawing day. Cambodian and overseas artists are welcome to join the drawing marathon at Java Café’s new downstairs space, beginning at 8am SHARP October 03.

Art supplies, paper and coffee will be provided until 8am the following morning. One-page efforts from 2008 will be posted as example and incentive for this year’s effort.

All artwork will be posted as it is finished on the walls of Java Café, to be exhibited for the following month. A live webcam linkup and Twitter feed will be accessible via http://www.javaarts.org . Staff from Cambodia’s comics nonprofit Our Books will be on hand to scan pages and assist overall documentation of the event.
• Artists: bring your ideas and enthusiasm, we will see who makes it to 8am the following morning!
• Amateurs: all nationalities are welcome, regardless of your skill level, please feel free to give it a try!
• Enthusiasts: enjoy reading comics? Check in on use in person or via the web to see art in action and cheer us on! We’ll need all the encouragement we can get!
• Pages will be on sale for $24 a page, at the discretion of the artist. (We request that they remain on display at Java for the following month’s display.)

As with the previous year, we offer participants a ‘Cambodian Variation’: One artist – one page – one hour of the day. Many Khmer artists have jobs, school, and family obligations, but all artists who have an hour to spare are welcome to join the exhibition!

‘Best of’ pages from 2008 and 2009 will be collected in a photocopied ‘zine’ collection and archived on the web as a ‘Who’s Who’ of contemporary Khmer comic art by Our Books, as well as sent to the permanent 24 Hour Comics archive.

Event Time: 8am Saturday October 03 to 8am Sunday October 04, 2009.
Event Location: Java Café & Gallery, 56e1 Sihanouk Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120819675668&ref=nf

+855 (0)12 526 840 (John, Our Books)
+855 (0) 12 894 180 (Dana, Java Café)
info@javaarts.org
john@siewphewyeung.org.kh

For more information, updates and background, to follow shortly at http://www.javaarts.org !

Posted in Comics, Project:24, exhibition, miscellaneous, news | No Comments »

ComicKaze Cambodia 2009

June 7th, 2009

ComicKaze Cambodia 2009 took place with a live video feed at ‘The Living Room’ this Saturday.

Thanks to all our overseas friends who encouraged us and said hello! Cheers to ComicsLifestyle.com for hosting & PulpFaction.net for facilitating this year’s challenge!

Here are some of the results below. (Click to enlarge)

Tuy Chanthoeurn

Chan Pisey

Peou Ty

Tek Tevin

Kong Monirath

John Weeks

Moeu Diyadaravuth

Try Samphos

In addition to drawing some one page / one artist / one hour comics, we also conducted two impromptu workshops for children from Aziza school. Ranging from grade school to high school age, this was unexpected and a lot of fun. (Below: Moeu Diyadaravuth and Chan Pisey)

(Pictures courtesy Amanda Mithers.)

Australian participants are at: http://tinyurl.com/qkflgq

More: http://www.comicslifestyle.com/group/comikaze2009

Cambodia raw scans and pix at http://www.flickr.com/photos/comicslifestyle/tags/comickazecambodia/

Phnom Penh Post – Cambodian Comic Challenge

Watch this page, more to follow as photos and emails trickle in!

We are in the process of sorting the art that emerged from workshops and creators to share on the walls of ‘Living Room Café. Come by Monday for a look!

Posted in Comics, Project:24, Workshops, news | No Comments »

ComicKaze Cambodia Press Release

June 5th, 2009

Every Queen’s Birthday Weekend (6th – 8th of June), Australia’s brave cartoonists undertake ‘ComicKaze’ – an endeavor to draw 24 pages in 24 hours. http://www.ozcomics24.com

This Saturday, Cambodian comic artists will be lending creative support to their Aussie friends via a live web link from 8am to 8pm. Sunday morning will see new artwork posted from this Cambodian – Australian collaboration!

Art supplies and local technical support will be provided by Our Books, Cambodia’s comic art nonprofit, and web linkage will be hosted by ComicsLifestyle.com with the help of Café Living Room.

The 24 Hour Comic is a ‘free drawing’ session designed to unlock creativity. Our Books has been developing to gradually introduce Cambodian artists to this unique exercise and the global comics community.

Project:24http://www.scottmccloud.com/4-inventions/24hr/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_comic

Artists are welcome to attempt the full 24 hours. Since this is a big task, we are offering a ‘Cambodian Variation’: a one page in one hour ‘Introduce Yourself’ comic, so Australian and Cambodian artists can get to know each other.
http://www.comicslifestyle.com/group/comikaze2009/forum/topics/cambodian-variation

Example:

We will have a scanner on hand for sharing comics and jam strips. Final efforts will be displayed at Café Living Room this coming month, and compiled into a small publication for Australia’s National Young Writer’s Festival.

Come by and see artists in action! Lend your enthusiasm to comic artists going the distance! Come by, log in and see them live, or check out the final art as we post it up on Sunday!

Event Time: 8am – 8pm Saturday June 6 2009.
Event Location: Living Room Café
#9, Street 306, Boeng Keng Kang 1, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
+855 (0)12 526 840 (John, Our Books)
+855 (0)92 948 005 (Rhianna, Café Living Room)
+855 (0)23 726 139 (Café Living Room)

john@comicslifestyle.com
cafe@livingroom.com.kh
Press Release cross-posted at:
http://www.expat-advisory.com/forums/topic9891.html
http://www.sangsalapak.org.kh/whatson/2009/06/its-comickaze-weekend-cafe-living-room.html
http://www.asialifeguide.com/component/option,com_events/Itemid,67/agid,260/day,06/month,06/task,view_detail/year,2009/
http://www.ladypenh.com

Posted in Comics | 1 Comment »

Coming Soon

February 27th, 2009

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Happy Holidays!

Hot off the press

24 Hour Comics Drawing Day

ComicKaze Cambodia 2009

ComicKaze Cambodia Press Release

Coming Soon

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