This Saturday, April 18, the CraftSanity team will be among the hundreds of comics and zine fans who are expected to swarm a concert venue in Lansing, Michigan, for the second Lansing Independent Comics and Zine Fest (LICZ!). https://www.liczfest.com/ The show attracted more than 600 people in its inaugural year, and the one-man band LICZ! organizer and art enabler, Jimmy “Soup” Coyer, is cautiously optimistic that even more people will turn out this year - especially given the show’s new rented digs – Lansing’s Grewal Hall. (The show is scheduled from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 224 S. Washington Square. Abby and Jennifer will be vending in booth 19!!) We’re glad Jimmy took the week before LICZ! off from his day job so he could pencil in an 8 a.m. CraftSanity Podcast interview with us to discuss Ultra Mega https://www.instagram.com/ultramega.studio/, the community print shop he operates out of his living room, and reveal what it takes to launch a comics and zine fest. Even if you’re too far away to make the trek to LICZ! Fest this weekend, we hope you’ll tune in for our chat with Jimmy. His enthusiasm for making art tools accessible to everyone is contagious, and we’re here for it! Instagram links for all three of us: Jimmy: https://www.instagram.com/ultramega.studio Abby: https://www.instagram.com/dipper.draws/ Jennifer: https://www.instagram.com/craftsanity

Rhiannan Sibbald, a Grand Rapids based illustrator and muralist, shares how she got her start, how to break into public art, mural tips, and how to get paid for your work! Zines! Zines! Zines! You can read a free zine of Rhiannan’s advice here https://craftsanity.com/rhiannan-sibbald/, or order a physical copy https://craftsanityshop.com/products/dear-art-student-zines. Keep up with Rhiannan! Check out Rhiannan’s website https://www.rhiannansibbald.com/ And Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rhiannansibbald/

Sean is a self-published comic artist and illustrator who travels all over the Midwest for indie comic and small press shows. Sean shares some tabling tips, how he balances illustration with a non-art job, and how to stay structured outside of art school.

Julia Kaye, a cartoonist and storyboard artist, has two graphic novels. She is known for her “UP and OUT” gag webcomic and her autobiographical comics.

Connie Jin is an interactive developer/designer, comics journalist, and illustrator. Connie shares their journey with art, how to balance the creative workloads of a day job and a passion project, getting out of a creative slump, and mental health tips for creatives!

Genice is a freelance visual development artist and illustrator known for her concept art for the Netflix anime series “Brand New Animal.”

David Huang, a metalsmith who makes vessels and jewelry, has a unique approach to financing a studio art career.

Lou Tsui is an illustrator, designer, and the artist in residence at CopyCat Studio, a risograph and artist retail space they opened in 2024. They are based in Vancouver, B.C. and have a cat baby named Tongyuen. Abby met Lou last year when Lou came to Grand Valley State University to lead a zine-making workshop. Listen to Lou’s story and advice for emerging artists!  You can read a free zine of Lou’s advice here: https://craftsanity.com/dearartstudents/  Or order a physical copy here: https://craftsanityshop.com/products/dear-art-student-zines  Keep up with Lou! https://www.instagram.com/louscribbles/  https://www.louscribbles.com/  Check out CopyCat Studio! https://www.instagram.com/copycat_riso/  https://www.copycatriso.com/  4000 Number 3 Rd, Unit 2045, Richmond, British Columbia

Coming soon: Series of podcasts interviews with artists giving advice to art students.

In honor of Juneteenth, the day that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., I’m posting my conversation with Dano Wall, the artist who created the Tubman Stamp that allows the likeness of American hero, Harriet Tubman, to be printed on the $20 bill.