Drawings from the Chicago Zine Fest 2015

Hello, again! Early last month Lemon o Books attended the annual meeting of the Midwest chapter of the International Tree Killers Union. Just kidding! It was the sixth annual Chicago Zine Fest, but the event was held in a beautiful, old union hall this year.

I've been lucky enough to have exhibited at this fabulous event every year, and I love the experience. You can read a comprehensive write-up of Saturday's exhibition from Broken Pencil Magazine at this link (featuring my smirking face). Thanks to all the organizers, exhibitors and attendees who make the Chicago Zine Fest possible.

Here's some fantastic drawings that some kind folks created for The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music project:


This handsome gentleman is wearing a regal cape reminiscent of Madonna's hair. The drawing was done by the incredible Trevor Grabill of Flat Mountain Press. A gentle piece of advice: Give Trevor all your money, cover your walls with his prints and fill your bookshelves with his zines.


This is Madonna's childhood cat who is rarely credited for inspiring the Material Girl's earliest popular hairdo. Drawing by Rebecca Dols.




Two sad men kindly drawn by a visitor to the fest. 💔
❤


And finally, here's a drawing by Liz Mason of Caboose zine and Quimby's Bookstore who has been telling me for years that she doesn't draw. This lovely rendition of Glenn Danzig suggests otherwise! Heartfelt thanks go out to Liz and all the other drawers for these wonderful post cards. You all truly make The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music possible.

Anyone interested in acquiring Lemon o Books' sundry paper souvenirs can see our catalog here and read ordering instructions here. Have a wonderful summer, Internet!

Drawings From The Chicago Zine Fest, 2014

I journeyed on Saturday from Milwaukee to Chicago to represent Lemon o Books and The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music at the 5th annual Chicago Zine Fest. I've attended this amazing event each year, and as always my deepest thanks go out to the organizers, attendees and exhibitors for making this day one of the highlights of my calendar.

Thanks also to the kind folks who submitted drawings to the Famous Hairdos of Popular Music project, which is closing in on its own anniversary- six years, hundreds of drawings, and eight books. I hope you enjoy these portraits as much as I do! Let's keep doing this.

Drawings from The Chicago Zine Fest, 2013

Saturday March 9 was the fourth annual Chicago Zine Fest . I've attended each year, making the trek from Milwaukee to the Windy City, selling Lemon o Books' projects and soliciting drawings for The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music. The festival grows bigger and more popular each year, but the organizers put on a more organized, inclusive, and welcoming show each time. Thanks to them, to all the zine fest attendees, and thanks as always to all the drawers who donate their talents to this project.

Here are some wonderful hairdo drawings. Enjoy!

Drawings From The Milwaukee Zine Fest 2012

The fifth annual Milwaukee Zine Fest was held on Saturday, and I was in attendance representing Lemon o Books and soliciting drawings for the Famous Hairdos of Popular Music project. Thanks to the festival's organizers, everyone who attended, and deep thanks as always to anyone who has ever made a drawing for this project.

Here's the day's doodles, starting with a bevy of Madonnas:

I think I was told that this is supposed to be Rick Moranis. By Jason Ludtke.





The above drawing was done by a man standing and holding a small child. It's both a horse and a human face and should appear in psychology textbooks for generations to come.

The next one was done by the small child mentioned above.



The above postcard was signed on the back by Shane Matthias. Thanks, Shane!



I had a great day once again at The Milwaukee Zine Fest. Thanks again for the drawings, everybody, and until next time, thanks for looking!

Twin Cities Zine Fest 2012

Above: The view from the parquet, Twin Cities Zine Fest

On Saturday September 22nd, Lemon o Books made the trek from Milwaukee to Minneapolis for the Twin Cities Zine Fest, held at the Powderhorn Recreation Center in beautiful Powderhorn Park. Personally, this amazing event was also the public unveiling of the newest project from Lemon o Books: Real Fake Clouds. I had a great day, met some great folks, and traded and sold some books. I also received the great drawings below for the Famous Hairdos of Popular Music project.

Thanks to the festival's organizers, exhibitors, attendees, and thanks as always to anyone who has ever submitted a drawing. Thanks for looking!

Haircuts: News in Brief

Above: The second haircut of 2012

Here's a rundown of a couple places around the Internet that have graced Lemon o Books with press and a few places that are selling our projects on consignment.

Press:

Fine Line is a beautiful international fine arts magazine based right here in Milwaukee. Check out what they had to say about Actual Bird Song and Our Moon here.

For Print Only is a blog featuring all manner of printed material, and they highlighted the most recent volume of The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music here.

Sales:

Printed Matter is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of publications made by artists. They're now selling both Actual Bird Song and Our Moon online here and here.

I was approached by the folks at Colpa Press in San Francisco for copies of Our Moon. They are utilizing an old newsstand on Market Street to sell magazines and newspapers, but also independently printed books.  Visit their website here.

Finally, Quimby's bookstore in Chicago is once again selling our books. Here's their listing for Volume Seven of The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music.

Thanks to all the great people who have supported these projects. Stay tuned here for Lemon o news and Famous Hairdos drawings. Thanks for looking! If you wish to order any of these projects directly from us, please see the ordering info at lemonobooks.com.

From the Mail

I received this great, funny rendition of The Material Girl in The Famous Hairdos P.O. Box today. It arrived in a wonderful package from Michigan sent by Mr. Ron DelVillano. The package also included four of his books of comics, including three issues of his series Usual Tapes. The books are handmade but also very spare and controlled, achieving a really nice balance. They're billed as "pieces of memoir and other things", and while I'm not usually drawn to memoir, as the series progresses he seems more and more willing to experiment, with nice results. Thanks, Ron.

Ron will be one of the first people to receive a copy of the next volume of The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music, which should be done by the end of this week. Check back here very soon for more information about this newest book.

Haircuts: News in Brief

Above: The first haircut of 2012

Fresh from a trip to The Chicago Zine Fest, as a weirdly warm winter turns into a suspiciously summery spring here in Milwaukee, layout has begun on the long-promised seventh volume of The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music. Volume Six was more jam-packed than any previous volume in the series, and Volume Seven is going to have even more of the great drawings that comprise this project. This one will be dedicated to all the beautiful, weird, profane, silly, sweet renditions of Loretta Lynn that our contributors have created. Stay tuned for more information.

Meanwhile, if you haven't already done so, please check out the new Lemon o Books website, which collects all our freshest completed projects in one tidy place. Lemonobooks.com

Drawings from The Chicago Zine Fest

"Milwaukee is to Chicago as the Moon is to the Earth-- nearby, lifeless, and ultimately inhospitable." Steven Blush, American Hardcore: A Tribal History

Above: Returning from The Chicago Zine Fest by train.

This weekend I traveled from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois to debut a new zine and CD inspired by the moon at the third annual Chicago Zine Fest. As in the last two years, it was a blast, a welcoming, well-organized, inclusive festival, but I'm glad to be home. Thanks as always to the organizers, attendees, and my fellow exhibitors. Thanks to the staff at Quimby's Bookstore in Wicker Park, and big thanks to Jeff Prokash and his roommates for the couch to crash on and some much needed post-festival unwind time.

Below are some of the great drawings I collected for the Famous Hairdos of Popular Music project on Saturday. Heartfelt thanks go out to the drawers who make this project real. When I started The Famous Hairdos of Popular Music four years ago, I dreamed that I would get submissions as great as these, but I am continually thankful that my dream has come true. Finally, to Ron, I decided your drawing was a little too saucy for this website, but thank you nonetheless. Without further ado, the drawings:



The artist who created the above portrait said, on handing me the completed drawing, "Happy Danzig." When I said thank you, I should have added, "And Happy Danzig to you, too." I apologize for my rudeness.







Until next time, thanks for looking.