David Lasky is a Seattle artist and teacher who has been making comics and zines since 1991. He teaches both kids and adults at 826 Seattle, Richard Hugo House, Seattle Art Institute and with Arts Corps. His work has been published in The Comics Journal, The Stranger, and many anthologies, including Best American Comics 2006. His comic series, Urban Hipster, was nominated for the comic-book industry's Harvey Award.

Did you draw as a kid? How did you learn? Who helped you?
I drew as far back as I can remember. My mother encouraged me a great deal. I also had some good art teachers in school. And occasional there would be a neighbor who painted or took photos whose work I could look at. But I didn't know any cartoonists as a kid.

When did you publish your first comics/zines? Did you sell them?
I published my first mini-comics in early 1991, and sold them at Comic Relief in Berkeley, CA. This was before the Internet, so I would also submit them to a magazine called Factsheet 5, which listed all kinds of zines and comics that people were selling.

Do you think kids should try to publish online instead of paper?
Online comics (and writing) is nice because it gets ones work out there quickly and without the expense of printing on paper. But printing (or photocopying) on paper creates something that stands on its own and could potentially be kept around and mulled over by the reader. So both ways of doing it have their benefits.

How is teaching kids different from teaching adults?
Kids are usually less inhibited about trying new things. Many adults will not want to take my class because, they'll tell me, they "can't draw." Kids won't worry (as much) about what they think they can or can't do. If they really want to draw comics, they're usually willing to give it a try.

Any tips for kids who want to become comic artists?
Practice, practice, practice. Practice drawing, and also writing. Learn about storytelling. Study the comics you like reading to see how they were made. Also look closely at movies, books, TV shows, etc. -- to see how they tell their stories. Don't just copy the drawings of artists you like. Learn how to draw from life. Practice facial expressions and "body language". And don't let yourself get discouraged. Believe in what you're doing.

Drawing is kind of solitary - I know you've done comics jams, could you explain how those work?
Comics jams are one of the great challenges for a comics artist. Two or more cartoonists gather together (OR: work by mail, which is much slower). You draw a panel on a page, and then pass the page to someone else who is asked to draw the next panel in the story. Meanwhile, someone is passing a page to you, and you have to decide what will be drawn in the next panel on that page. Pages are passed until all the panels are filled up. Sometimes the results are hilarious, sometimes just... weird.

Can you recommend some books for us?
Scott McCloud's two books are great: Understanding Comics and Making Comics.
For manga, I really like Draw Your Own Manga: All the Basics by Haruno Nagatomo.
And its sequel, which is called Draw Your Own Manga: Beyond the Basics.
And for zines, this is a nice book: Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine? by Esther Pearl Watson.

In this video, Kristin White from TalkTech interviews Bryan Pate, co-founder of PT Motion Works about his elliptiGO glide bike, which is powered by an elliptical training motion. If you missed the elliptiGO at Maker Faire this May, this video is a good introduction. As a former ironman competitor, Bryan explains why this bike is a great alternative to the indoor elliptical trainer for folks who love to exercise outside but can't stand high-impact running.

Related:

elliptiGO Glide Bike at the Maker Faire site

Core77's Carl Alviani caught up with super-Maker-Faire-planner Sherry Huss and Make's managing editor Shawn Connally for an interview video at Maker Faire. It's nice to see two really special and crucial behind-the-scenes folks share their amazing ideas on camera.

Related:

• National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest 2008 (Pictures)

"Is that a jet engine in your pocket, or..." Oh, nevermind.

The accidental pocket jet engine...

Regine at We Make Money Not Art has a great set of interviews up with artists using RFID. She writes:

I interviewed 5 artists (Paula Roush, Doria Fan, Joshua Klein, David Kousemaker and Meghan Trainor) as well as our favourite expert from Tokyo (Konomi Shin'ishi) about their experience with RFID technology. What comes below doesn't reflect my presentation which was focusing on the ethical and cultural implications of the technology. I used these interviews as background research and thought they might be useful mainly for the workshop participants but also for some readers

The words of these artists are inspiring and it's great to see what they're up to. Check it out!

Masayuki Akamatsu has taught sound/media arts at IAMAS (International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences/Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, Gifu, Japan) since 1997. He has exhibited multimedia electronic installations and performed throughout the world, and is also a member of The Breadboard Band, a group that performs electronic music made from circuits on solderless breadboards. His numerous installations incorporate sound, visual manipulations, and many other forms of mixed media. He has written several books on the Max/MSP/Jitter sound/visual processing program, and he has also written quite a few of his own objects for use with Max/MSP/Jitter. His software creations incorporate unconventional applications for interfacing existing hardware functions in unexpected ways (for example, using the Sudden Motion Sensor on a PowerBook as a way to control parameters in Max, interfacing the Wii Remote and iPhone with Max, etc.). Lately his work has focused on writing software applications that exploit the possibilities of the iPhone, a device that he sees as being an important step in the evolution of computing. In Made in Japan Vol. 1 we showcased his ever-growing collection of iPhone apps, and this week Mr. Akamatsu was gracious enough to agree to an interview, so the following interview was conducted via email and translated from Japanese.

Text-o-possum / Your Psycho Girlfriend - Link

Interview/Article by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

In the illustrious world of case-mods and console hacking, artists and makers are re-inventing the design and function of these ubiquitous consumer electronics devices by creating hybrid systems and creative artifacts that challenge the corporate status quo. Taking this credo to an extreme with his inventive hardware projects is Dutch artist and maker, Gijs Gieskes. From casting a Nintendo Gameboy in concrete in order to build a garden path with "GameBoy Bricks" to creating an analog version of the hated spinning cursor in the Mac OSX operating system with "Spinning Beach Ball of Death", Gieskes' work and live performances are an inventive look at how closely entrenched we've become in the world of glitchy hardware and scrambled noise producing machines. MAKE recently caught up with Gieskes to discuss his practice, philosophy, and exactly how important the current crop of hackable consumer electronics might be to future generations.

Read the full interview with more videos by clicking below.

Robert Scoble has 3 interviews with the folks from BUG labs (Peter Semmelhack & #38;Jeremy Toeman) makers of a forthcoming open source hardware platform for creating a variety of hardware applications...

• Video one, introduction - Link.
• Video two, final shipping plastic - Link.
• Video three, open hardware - Link.

Related:

• Bug Labs (photos) - Link.
• Bug labs - hardware, first look - Link.
• Bug labs - Link.
• Bug Labs BUGbase & BUGmodules - Link.

This is basically the same hack we blogged about before (see below), but these instructions hold your hand a bit tighter.

How to make a prank musical caps-lock keyboard - Link

Related:

• HOW TO - The Singing Keyboard prank - Link

I just finished up a Gizmodo Gallery on Berlin-based media artist, Niklas Roy. Roy's work is an astonishing glimpse into the future of recreating modern systems with outdated components. His approach focuses on innovative ways of imparting a sense of history onto today's technological objects and experiences.

Gizmodo Gallery: Reinventing The Past and Bizarre Future With Niklas Roy - Gizmodo - [via] Link.

In the rapidly changing world of consumer electronics and portable devices, a trend is occurring amongst artists and designers to embed social problems and concerns into these objects to shift their intended focus and intent. Taking this credo to an extreme with his work into technologically enhanced objects and accessories is German artist/designer Martin Frey. From creating a watch that keeps track of time and positioning data to guide you towards your destination with his "Just in Time Watch" to integrating GPS and motors into the soles of hiking boots with "Cab Boots", Frey is interested in the connections and clashes between physical realities and digital data displays.

Gizmodo Gallery: Networked Accessories and More with Martin Frey - Gizmodo - [via] Link.

Pictured here -

Nathan Ball, hangs 50 feet in mid-air from his battery-powered rope ascender, a device that can raise more than 250 pounds at 10 feet per second. Ball is the 2007 winner of the $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, an award that recognizes students at MIT who have demonstrated remarkable inventiveness.

The Rope Ascender created by Atlas Devices is a powerful new tool that enables "reverse rappelling" up buildings and other vertical surfaces at unprecedented speeds.

More:
Atlas Devices, LLC - Link.

Ok Makers, ask some good ones.

"Inventor Damian Renzello has been making portable skating rinks and related accessories for years, so it's not surprising that it's come to this: a homemade super zamboni that blows snow, shaves ice, and looks totally awesome. I love projects like this - the false starts, the dangerous accidents, the madness - I think those are the three ingredients that make up what they call "Yankee Ingenuity." I was a little disappointed to find out this wasn't a meaningless, self-destructive quest for a personal homemade zamboni, and instead the latest invention from a genuine entrepreneur. I should have known from the photo--it's far too well built to have been cobbled together by a crazy person." - Link.

"Opening up the book, I like You: Hospitality Under the Influence by Amy Sedaris, is like going into another world. The world of Amy. Which for anyone who's a fan of her work, from the Comedy Central TV show and movie, Strangers with Candy, to her many comedic scene stealing guest appearances -- you know and love Amy's world. Opening up this book really grabs both sides of your senses. Your crafting sense will love the kitschy ideas. You'll find yourself saying, "I want to make this!" (cupcakes, tea towels with pom poms, root beer floats, and lots more) and then your human sense kicks in and you just can't stop yourself from laughing out loud hysterically (by yourself, alone, at home to the point that maybe the neighbors can hear you) over her comedic genius. If at any point you are looking at the beautifully shot photos and find yourself saying, "wow, she looks absolutely gorgeous in that shot." You only need to turn the page and see another photo of Amy in one of her many special funny faces. But don't let the comedy overshadow this beautifully designed and well-written book. I love all the illustrations, photography style, and graphic design. I Like You is chock full of helpful and informative nuggets to help you make stuff out of everyday things. That's the underlying message and the humorous way in which it's presented is a major added bonus!

I was really excited to get the chance to interview Amy Sedaris for the CRAFT Blog where we talked about the book, her projects, and growing up as a Girl Scout. " - Link.

I did a series of interviews with Instructables users about their fabulous and varied Halloween projects, and noticed recently that the Thanksgiving contest is just wrapping up. I was curious to see what Instructables users cooked up when they turned their skills toward the kitchen, so I interviewed a few of the creators of my favorite Thanksgiving projects. I'm salivating just reading Ryan Hays' deep-fried turkey Instructable. While most of us may not have a turkey fryer just lying around, it looks to be a worthy investment. If you like extremepumpkins.com, then this looks to be the logical next step...

More:

• William Lidwell interviewed übermaker, technology visionary, and science evangelist Dean Kamen for MAKE 04. In this exclusive web extra, the conversation with Kamen continues. Learn Kamen's views on wasting time, creativity, Stirling engines, and his advice to Makers - Link.

• Dean Kamen: The Dean of Engineering - MAKE 04 - Page 30. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition!

The perfect example of "cool doesn't have to be complicated," Chaintool's robot costume made out of old Clorox bottles rocked the Southwest last year. Made out of "laundry detergent bottles, crutches, and football shoulder pads," it looks more like an early Star Wars prototype. Chaintool talks about his favorite tools (of course!), the importance of space exploration, and why Halloween is great. What's he wearing this year? You'll have to wait to find out - Interview by Arwen O'Reilly, Staff Editor.

Hmmm...What to do with those pesky cords and cables? Of course! Whip up a creepy-cool USB monster! At least that was Ed Lewis' plan. Not content with just making pop-up pyramids, oobleck, a paperclip bow and q-tip arrows, or causing havoc around Squid Labs, Ed turned his creative juices to the ever-present problem of tangled USB cables. And now the world is a better place for it. He told me a few things about his creative process, his next project, and what he missed at Burning Man - Interview by Arwen O'Reilly Staff Editor.

How would you describe yourself?
Restless and a bit messy. After spending a lot of time writing about other people doing things as a journalist, I decided to start doing more things myself. Instead of letting ideas get backed up, I'm determined to get them out as fast as possible. It's a bit of a dangerous road and I find myself wanting more tools to play with and more tools to use them on, but that's just how it goes. I'm also a big believer in interaction and I find myself attracted to projects that make people want to pick them up and play with them.

How on earth did you come up with the idea to make that bizarre USB spider monster?
There are so many USB devices out there and a tiny amount of ports to plug them into, eh? I figured that a hub would be the ticket, but then there's the problem of jamming them all the devices into a tiny space. Extension cables were the next logical step and with some armature wire laying around from another project and I figured that putting the two together would allow for several ports to be accessible and separate. So I had an idea to create a USB squid that would be plopped onto a desk. But I didn't have the patience to try to find some rubber squid to destroy so it turned into a spider. And once that happened it had to get some glowing red eyes. They just tie the whole thing together, really.

After making it I realized that I had gone and made something so completely against the clean and sterile nature of boring computer parts. The only downside is that I now feel kinda bad about bending the poor guy's leg up to patch in a flash drive or card reader. I now spend more time just putting him in different poses than using him for his hub qualities.

What interesting projects are you working on right now?
There will be another hub monster, that's for sure. The spider's getting lonely and a cerberus desk lamp creature will be along in a little while to keep him company. I'm just waiting for the packages from eBay and newegg to roll in before that happens. Other than that: an international analog clock, a modified Rubik's Cube, and some experiments with fabric and magnets on a scale that will hopefully become massive.

I've also become fascinated with mailing pieces through the mail and seeing if they make it. A wooden postcard with the addresses burned out arrived in two pieces and an acrylic variation of that is now on its way to Brooklyn. Another will have an oil and water wave box which hopefully won't explode en route. And then there's a low tech mass mailing of stenciled pieces of wood than I'm planning. I'm still looking for volunteers to receive them. Preferably on the east coast and with a decent digital camera. Any takers?

What new idea (in or outside of your field) has excited you most recently?
I'm not sure what field I'm in exactly. I do love cool uses of bamboo and the Starry Bamboo Mandala that I saw pictures of from Burning Man this year was pretty brilliant and was the only thing that made me wish I'd gone this year.

What's one tip you'd give to other makers or users of Instructables?
Make lives better with the cool stuff you bring into the world. There's already plenty of suck.

Pictured here - The "Recycling Entertainment System" connects six Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controllers to a computer to control a shared software synthesizer...