Swiftriver by Patricia Lupien

The contract job I was working has ended. Such is life. But this means all you wonderful readers get to profit from it.

This means I need to update my portfolio a bit. So for a limited time, I’m taking commissions. I’m opening up FIVE commission slots for now, first come, first serve. Each commission is for a 6 x 8, one character, PG-13, color sketch, for only $10 (and s+h, naturally). If you want more than that, you need to talk to me. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.

UPDATE 1/15: Slot one is filled! Thank Bill! Four to go.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead

Monday, January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To participate, we formed the Comic Creator’s Alliance–a group of over eighty comic book creators (both web and print) who volunteered our artistic talents to raise money and awareness for this cause. You may not know it, but there are currently 27 million enslaved people worldwide- more than double the number of enslaved Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children every year are sold into slavery, most of it sexual. The US Department of Justice estimates 16,000 victims of human trafficking are brought into the United States every year. Unlike slavery in the 19th century, what is happening today is happening in secret. So it won’t end until awareness is raised, and people like you and me take a stand.

So here’s what we did: each creator contributed an original drawing of one of our own female characters, and combined them into a single wallpaper image. The wallpaper features characters from The Phoenix Requiem, Girls with Slingshots, Earthsong, Looking for Group, Shadowgirls, Marsh Rocket, The Uniques and three IDW Publishing titles: Fallen Angel, The Dreamland Chronicles and The Dreamer, and lots, lots more!  Donate today to download this unique, once-in-a-lifetime wallpaper. The Donations Drive will last for two weeks, from January 11th – 24th. All proceeds will be split evenly between Love146 and Gracehaven House– two organizations working on rehabilitation of victims and prevention of this crime.

To learn more about the Comic Creator’s Alliance visit www.comicalliance.weebly.com.  To learn more about the problem, visit http://love146.org/slavery. (Note: contains adult themes and actual accounts of sex slavery.)

Miranda for The Comic Creator's Alliance

Hi everyone!

I guess it’s true what they say. “When it rains it pours!” Not only did I take care of my hubby when he had surgery, but I was hired for TWO jobs. Yep. A part time and a full time. And it’s about time after being out of work for over a year.

So I’ll be working both for a while to help catch up on bills and student loans. What’s this mean for  Swiftriver? Is this the end of the comic? Hells no!

What this means is you’ll be getting a page a week. What this means is I need to increase my speed without sacrificing style. What this means is you still get to read my story.

Therefore, if anyone has any working tips on how to increase one’s speed in drawing, send them my way. Email them or Tweet me directly at B_Swiftriver. And you’ll be getting a comic on Friday sometime. I’m dancing as fast as I can, boss.

Oh, and a few quick announcements while I have your attention. One, thank you all for nominating and voting for Swiftriver for the WCRCAs. I didn’t win, but various fine folk did. Maybe next year, eh? Two, I’m taking place in three art collaborations. (With what time? 😉 ) The first is the fabulous Webcomics Tarot Project by Jessica Cantelope. The second is a site founded by Lora Innes of The Dreamer called the Comic Creator’s Alliance. This project is trying to raise awareness about human trafficking. And third is a bit of fun called Comics Secret Santa, made just for Web Comic Creators.

See you Friday!

–Tricia