Thursday, March 15, 2012

55th Birthday Art Show & Sale

I've posted some gorgeous Bughouse original art pieces from 1997 here.

I'm celebrating my 55th birthday with a showing of an eight page sequence.

Like most cartoonists (and chefs), I am very critical of my own work. I labored on Bughouse from 1993 to 2004. The result was a trilogy of graphic novels, almost 400 pages of comics. I went the extra mile to put my best foot forward and maintain a high level of craft, and here and there I was satisfied. Other times I'd look at the work and think it was lacking, a natural reaction for any serious artist.

From the present, I have to say I'm near astounded with Bughouse. It really shines. If you'd told me 15 years ago that I would write such an assessment, I'd be dubious, and maybe a bit appalled, but I stand by it.

With Bughouse, I created a singular, unique work in the history of comics that stacks up well with pretty much anything. A subjective statement, even audacious, but any opinion about comic art, all art, has a subjective element, so I'll just say it's true: Bughouse swings, baby!
I turn 55 tomorrow and I'm a happy man, some thirty plus years down the road as an auteur cartoonist.

These pages originally appeared in Bughouse #5 in June, 1997. They were reprinted in the Top Shelf graphic novel Scalawag in 2005. They are priced at $200 each. Of course, anyone who really digs the spread can buy all 8 pieces for $1200. These are potent, lyric works of comic art; a fine value for dedicated collectors.

Steve Lafler
503-213-3671

3 comments:

SPADESHADOW said...

WE DO SOME SHOWS YOUR BAND ...WHAT EVER I SCRAPE TOGETHER FROM MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT I PLAYED WITH ...WE CO-CONSPIRE TO START A FESTIVAL BASED ON OUR INTERFACE AS A CERTAIN ZOOMASS NEXUS...PEOPLE WOULD LOOSE IT STEVE HAS A BAND!!!PLAYING SHOWS STAY TUNED WITH KARL MARTIAN...AND VARIOUS,,,,I WAS GOING TO ASSUME A PERSONAL FRIEND HAS OFFERED TO ALLOW THE USE OF HIS LAND NORTH OF AMHERST. NOT SURE...MY FRIEND FRED AND I HAVE BEEN JAMMING PRETTY CONSISTANTLY THE LAST 30 YEARS...I MENTIONED SOMETHING TO HIM WHEN I GOT COMICS AND PUT YOU IN THE FIRST ISSUSE OF MY ZINE (BUG...MY KID/SIS HAS THEM HER KIDS TOO)HE WAS SORTA OUT SORTS AND MENTIONED HE NEVER REALLY MET YOU,,,,BUT WE WERE THE ART/MUSIK FUCKEM ALL I WILL CREATE

SPADESHADOW said...

AND STILL DO WHICH BLEW MY MIND AS I RAVED BEFORE...AND NO MATTER WHAT WORD OF MOUTH ONLY THE ONLY BANNED FOLK WOULD BE BETWEEN AND NEVER SAID OUT LOUD....THOSE OF MY INCIDENT. WE COULD GET MY" THIRD EYE "BASS PLAYER AND ME AND YOU WOULD DO THE WE PLAY SOME TUNES ME AND YOU,,,THEN YOU KNOW US AS AND OUR THOUGHTS AND VIEW AS SCHOLARS..I TOOK FOUR SEMESTERS OF DESIGN AND BLAHHHH AND REMEMBER THE OLIG-GHARK-EE THEME YOU USED TO USE ,,,THAT WAS WILD SHIT...

Steve Lafler said...

Mr. Shadow! I'm stateside this summer touring the states with a phone book size BUGHOUSE collection. Bringing my guitar. Already booked Museum for Cartoon Art NYC July 12. More dates to come. Portland OR late July/early Aug. We should get together.