Press: BBC Radio Leicester

Hey guys,

Me and Adam Weikert, of the band Her Name is Calla did a radio interview on BBC Radio Leicester about my new comic 'The Way We Write' which is about the band that Adam is in.

We were both hella nervous, but we had lots of fun. 

You can listen to our interview for 7 days online, so be quick! :)

Listen to us here (Please!) We're on at about 1.1.20:
CLICK HERE!

Press: Feature in The Monograph mag

I had a lovely write up by Jack Richardson about my new comic in the Monograph Magazine!

Click the image above to read it, or click this link:

http://www.themonograph.co.uk/news/calla-comic-comes-to-crumblin-cookie

Press: Leicester Mercury feature on 'The Way We Write'

Gemma Peplow, from the Leicester Mercury did a wicked feature on my new comic, 'The Way We Write'. The Includes a little interview with me and also with Tom Morris, of the band 'Her Name is Calla'.

Click the image below to read, or read the online version here.

Press: Page 45 review of 'The Way We Write'

I had a super nice review of my new comic 'The Way We Write' on the Page 45 website.

Please have a read of it! It's on their website here, where you can also buy the comic!

I've also posted it below:

Page 45 Review by Jonathan

I'm not sure what the connection is between Rachael Smith and Her Name Is Calla actually is, but given both hail from Leicester I suspect there probably is one. I must confess I'm not familiar with their music, but being a big fan of easy-going talented tinkle poppers like The Boy Least Likely To, I will certainly give them a go. So, if nothing else, Rachael's amusing intro to the likeable three-piece might end up winning them at least one new fan!

You can see that Rachael is a talented illustrator. I immediately thought of John Allison's early SCARY GO ROUND material, both in terms of the art and the zany storyline (also HECTOR UMBRA actually on that latter point), and I happen to know she is a fan of John's simply because I asked her. But her style is definitely her own with some distinctive flourishes that add a lovely swooshy touch to proceedings. This, then, is a phantasmagorical affair as our urbane trio head to remote Oswy House for a weekend writing and jamming session, but some ghostly choirboys are damned if they're going to let the band get anything done!

I think it would be fair to say we're going to see a lot more in the future from Rachael as her story-telling and art develops further, in much the way in we've seen John Allison progress from the very early non-published purely web-comic Scary Go Round material through to MURDER SHE WRITES and THAT, and Luke Pearson progress from SOME PEOPLE to the HILDA books, I certainly think she has that potential ability. For a debut work this is indeed really excellent and I have popped some interior art up of the first few pages for you to see for yourselves. Next up for Rachael, the inevitably tricky second album...err...I mean comic. I look forward to seeing it.

P.S. Anyone spot my hidden album and band reference? I did misspell the album title ever so slightly to make it work, and I will give you a clue the album was released in 1985. A free copy of THE WAY WE WRITE to the first, and probably only, person to tweet Stephen with the answer!

How nice is that?? :)

I have no idea what the hidden album and band reference is - but if YOU do, you can tweet Steven here :D

Look at this handsome front cover image! This is what you need to look out for in Page 45! Make sure you go 'Oooh' and 'Ahhh' whilst holding it too.

I've also been getting ready for the launch party... :D

Cooking with Annie and Oxford - starter!

This will be the page that signals the start...of the starter!

Click 'im to make 'im bigger.

P.S. I'm expecting one of my recipe comics to be out in a few months, so watch this space :D

'The Way We Write' Now available for preorder :)

Check out this link: http://hernameiscalla.bandcamp.com/merch/the-way-we-write-a-comic

Woo! Sooo exciting! :D

Her Name is Calla sketches

Hey guys,

Here's just a few examples of little original ink sketches I'll be selling at my 'The Way We Write' comic book launch on the 16th March :)

They're cute, huh? I'll be doing lots more hopefully so everyone who wants one on the night should be able to get one.

Tom looks a BIT like he's completely forgotten how to play his guitar correctly...but never mind! Hehe!

If you're all like 'Huh? What comic book launch?' Then please read THIS BLOG POST I DONE ABOUT IT :D

I also have a FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE FOR IT :D :D

Much loves,
Rachael xxx

My Beautiful Life project #2

Here are three more pictures I did for the My Beautiful Life project, which I first blogged about and explained here.

:)

The Way We Write - comic book launch party!

ANNOUNCING 'The Way We Write' comic book launch party!

A party/gig/exhibition to celebrate the release of Rachael Smith's first full-length comic book, staring the much-loved band, 'Her Name is Calla'.

March 16th, 2013, 7pm - lateThe Cookie Jar, (basement of the Crumblin' Cookie), Leicester
FREE ENTRY

The evening will include:

A paired-back 'Her Name is Calla' set, plus solo stuff from Weikie
An exhibition of exclusive, limited edition posters by Rachael Smith which will be signed, numbered and available to buy. (have a sneak peek at these here),
A chance to buy a copy of 'The Way We Write' (ask the band or Rachael to sign a copy if you wish),
Loads of merch from Rachael and 'Her Name is Calla',
And much more fun and frolicks :D

We have a Facebook event for this - here!

But what if I can't come? How do I get the comic?

There will be plenty of comics on the evening available but if you're really keen, or unable to come party with us -  it will be available for pre-order from the 15th February from http://hernameiscalla.bandcamp.com/ and we will start sending them out from March 16th.

OR...

if you wanna be really sneaky, head over to Page 45 in Nottingham, where they have 10 exclusive copies for sale right now...'citin'!

me and my comic :D

inside the magical sample copy

GIRL - one of the 5 exclusive posters

MOUNTAINS - another of the 5 exclusive posters

 badges :) these will be available on the night too :D

We hope to see you there!

Cooking with Annie and Oxford - double page introduction

Another double page spread for my recipe comic project, in this one we get a short introduction to the two main characters :)

Click on the image to make it bigger/easier to read.

Valentine's Day Comics

Hey guys!

So, with Christmas and New Year out of the way - the next big thing to think about is Valentine's Day! Why not get your loved one something unique and personalised this year? 

I am offering one-of-a-kind, original, 4-panel comic strips which could tell a story about the two of you.

Your comic could be about...

• How you met,
• When you got engaged/started seeing each other,
• Your first date,
• An adventure you shared,
• Or, quite simply, 4 things you love about your partner.

For £75 (+postage) you can present an A4 framed, signed, colour, high-quality print AS WELL AS the original ink drawing on Valentine's Day morning.

Please see the images below (click to make them bigger) for an example of what you can get: 

All you have to do to order yours is email me at rachael@rachaelsmith.org with your idea, details of what you'd like in each panel and photos of you and your loved one before February 4th, 2013. Please get in touch sooner rather than later (especially if you live outside the UK).

I accept Paypal and back transfers.

If you're unsure of which idea you'd like to go with, email me anyway and we can come up with something together for you :)

C'mon - make this Valentine's Day really special, with something you can keep forever ^_^

R xxx

Annie and Oxford go shopping

Annie and Oxford take a trip to the supermarket to get ready for their recipe comic book :)

Cooking with Annie & Oxford - a recipe comic

Happy Monday, guys!

Here's my first draft of the front cover of one of the recipe comics I've been working on.

At the moment I'm working on two recipe mini-comics with two very talented cooks/recipe-writers Lauren Sharp and Hannah Louise White.

I'm hoping to have both out and available to buy later this year.

Click on the image to make it bigger.

There are two versions because I haven't made my mind up yet T_T

Peace x

My Beautiful Life project

Here are some sketches I did for one of my fave illustrators Emi Lenox's project 'My Beautiful Life'.

The project was inspired by this book, and you can see everyone else's illustrations, as well as mine, on this Flickr group.

Click the images below to make them bigger/easier to read:

Loves xxx

Lasagne recipe comic - equipment page

Hey guys,

Here's the last page in the 'you will need' section of mine and Lauren Sharp's recipe comic.

I'm quite excited to start the actual recipe and see what the characters do to mess the odd thing up, hehe!

The first two pages of this section can be seen here.

Click on the below image to make it bigger.

Lasagne Recipe comic

Happy New Year guys!

Thought you'd like to know I'm working on a few recipe comics with some very talented chefs :)

This double page spread of ingredients is for the wonderful Lauren Sharp's recipe for lasagne.

I can't wait to make the rest of the comic :D

Click on the image to make him bigger:

Hope you're all well,
R xxxxxxxxxxxx