Welcome to Gutter Thoughts, where I share insights into my creative process and philosophy each week. From exploring big ideas to finding inspiration in comics, books, shows, and movies, this space is all about staying creative and grounded.
Comic Arts LA: Spotlighting the Creators Inspiring My Storytelling
This past weekend, I attended Comic Arts LA—a long-awaited return for the festival since its last appearance in 2019.
For those who might not be familiar, Comic Arts LA is a vibrant celebration of independent comic arts in Los Angeles. Best of all, it’s free and open to the public.
This year, I had the privilege of sharing copies of my comic, Boom Kid, with attendees. In the process, I connected with some of my favorite comic creators and cartoonists. The experience was electric—being surrounded by fellow creators, exchanging ideas about our work, and talking through the challenges we all face in this wild world of comics. I even caught up with some old friends while making a few new ones along the way.
In this issue of Gutter Thoughts, I want to spotlight some of the amazing creators I met and their projects. These folks are not only crafting incredible work but have also inspired my storytelling and creative style.
Let’s dive in:
Caroline Cash
Comic Project: PeePee-Poo
What I love: Caroline is straight-up funny. Her humor is what I seek out in this world, and she’s one talented artist.
Daswhan Mahone
Comic Project: The Brothers Boom
What I love: Dashawn's style is one that I can stare at for hours. Most importantly, he, too, is making a comic with hip-hop influences, which I will always say yes to.
Raúl Higuera
Comic Project: San Expedito
What I love: Raul is someone I’ve been following on Instagram for a long time and a big fan of Robin as much as me. I am drawn to his style and can’t wait to dive into his comic over the holidays.
Violaine Briat
Comic Project: Rodney R. Rodney
What I love: Violaine is an artist who inspired me to return to black and white with my stories. I love their use of light and shadow to make everyday interactions dramatic. A comedy horror comic—yes, please!
Sarah Webb
Comic Project: Kochab
What I love: This book caught my attention as soon as I entered the convention. I didn’t realize I was a fan of Sarah’s work until after I bought it and realized I’ve been following her on Instagram for some time.
Avijit Singh
Comic Project: Moksh
What I love: Avi mixes his culture and love for anime into this beautiful story. I can’t stop looking at his art. If you reference DBZ in any way, shape, or form, I am there for it.
John Phan
Comic Project: Epoxy Comics and Zines
What I love: The evolution of Epoxy. I’ve been a fan of John’s work for years, and it’s amazing to see how he’s evolved in his storytelling. He’s not scared to try something new. The world of J&K has become one I love to visit over and over again.
Nick Winn
Comic Project: The Orphic
What I love: This is a sci-fi story featuring a scientist trying to bring back a lover. It has a bit of a Frankenstein vibe to it, and I am stoked to dive into it.
These creators are doing phenomenal work, and I’m thrilled to follow their journeys.
If you’re a fan of indie comics or just want to discover some fresh voices in the medium, I can’t recommend checking out their work enough.
Let’s support the incredible talent that keeps this art form alive and thriving.
Comic of the Week
Fairmeadow
by Kendra P
At CALA, Kendra P’s table immediately caught my eye with its inviting outdoor vibe.
From the stickers to the art and banners, every piece begged to be taken home. Then I discovered Fairmeadow, and the artwork alone was enough to pull me in—it radiates Kendra’s personality and influences on every page.
Reading it was even better. Kendra masterfully develops characters and weaves their personal interests into the story. One standout moment features a character explaining a medicinal concoction in such depth that I wanted to jot it down and start foraging myself.
While the comic touches on modern politics, it never feels preachy. Instead, it delivers a heartfelt reminder: none of it matters if we can’t treat each other with love and respect.
I’m thrilled I picked up Fairmeadow and can’t wait to dive deeper into its world.
Check out the webcomic here and buy copies of the ebook here.
The Stoic Quote of the Week
A Stoic quote to inspire and motivate, helping to stay grounded in the creative process.
“The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.”
– Marcus Aurelius
Amor Fati shows us that nothing in the creative process goes to waste. Every obstacle you encounter can inspire new ideas, improve your story, and help you see things differently. By embracing the unexpected instead of resisting it, you build the strength to keep moving forward and learn how to transform setbacks into your greatest opportunities.
Want to put Amor Fati into practice in your creative process? Check out the full article on transforming setbacks into sources of creativity and resilience. Learn the 4-step exercise that will help you embrace challenges and build brighter fires. Read the full article here.
That’s a wrap for this week’s Gutter Thoughts. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—hopefully, something here sparked an idea or inspired your own work. Until next time, stay grounded, stay creative, and keep pushing forward.
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Note: This post contains no affiliate links. Every link is a direct path to the creator’s work, where you can support them fully. I receive no payment or sponsorship from these links—just sharing creators I admire and their amazing work.