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Small world, this. I got to meet Rachel from Austin last weekend, and unbeknownst to me, she had passed a link to my site along to Ryan. I met Ryan via email that same week.
Ryan, who lives just outside P-Town (hence the inherent cool), makes this fantastic zine, which combines art and construction equipment. I was so delighted when it came in the mail yesterday.
First, look at the envelope! According to his blog, Ryan cuts and assembles his zine envelopes by hand. And he decorates them with hand-carved stamps. Plus, I love those stamped initials. (Note to self: re-think the utilitarian packaging of my zines, ASAP.)
Inside the zine are Ryan’s beautiful drawings of loaders, haulers, dozers, graders, and more. And, the story of how he came to make this zine (he’s a geotechnical engineer by day), and some great references in print and on the web for art, drawing, and zines.
(Plus, if you’re a zinester yourself, then you can join me in being jolly impressed with how cleanly he’s been able to run his drawings over the gutter.)
This all exemplifies what I love so much about zines — they’re a tangible statement of someone saying: “This is what a piece of my life looks like, and here’s how I embrace it.” I love the blogosphere too, of course, but if pressed, I’d have to say I love zines more. I love visiting my bookshelf of zines, all lined up and each one representing a real person, living a real life, and taking the time to celebrate it in a handmade way.
. . . Where the heck is your zine? I really can’t wait to see it.
HOORAY! This is so cool! Ryan’s stuff is simply amazing. (I, too, was amazed with the way he put the zine together). Zines are so cool! I hadn’t thought about them in so long – until I saw Ryan’s stuff and heard him talking about zines (and then saw your blog post on Portland zine scene!) and it makes me want to play with one …
So cool!
HOORAY! This is so cool! Ryan’s stuff is simply amazing. (I, too, was amazed with the way he put the zine together). Zines are so cool! I hadn’t thought about them in so long – until I saw Ryan’s stuff and heard him talking about zines (and then saw your blog post on Portland zine scene!) and it makes me want to play with one …
So cool!
P.S. – The Grader sketch is a personal favorite of mine and Ben! ;)
P.S. – The Grader sketch is a personal favorite of mine and Ben! ;)
Yeah! Ryan’s work is awesome, and the zine is fabulous. I agree that the packaging he did with his hand-carved stamps is very cool, too!
Yeah! Ryan’s work is awesome, and the zine is fabulous. I agree that the packaging he did with his hand-carved stamps is very cool, too!