Kendal, 19th July 2016: The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (14th -16th October 2016) is pleased to confirm an appearance by one of the most critically-acclaimed cartoonists of his generation, award-winning author Craig Thompson, alongside current collaborator, the acclaimed French artist Edmond Baudoin. Thompson is the writer and artist of the critically-acclaimed graphic novels Blankets (which has been published in 20 languages), Habibi, the New York Times best-selling graphic novel; Space Dumplins, launched last year, Good-bye, Chunky Rice and Carnet de Voyage. He has been awarded three Eisner awards, three Harvey awards, two Ignatz awards, and a Grammy nomination for album cover artwork on Menomena’s Friend and Foe. In addition to his own solo event, Craig will be appearing alongside French artist Edmond Baudoin, sharing a stage and do what they do best – draw! These ground-breaking creators from different sides of the Atlantic are currently collaborating on a project which will undoubtedly create ripples throughout the comic art world. Baudoin is a revolutionary comic artist and winner of three major awards at the Angouleme Comics Festival in France. His biography of the great surrealist painter Salvador Dali will be published in English by SelfMadeHero in October 2016 and will debut at the festival. “I’ve never been to the Lakes before (the place or event), but have heard legend of its beauty,” says Craig. “So obviously, it’s an honour to be attending this year. “For me, the international guest list is the biggest draw, the intermingling of sensibilities, and stirring the embers of enthusiasm for comics. “In part, this’ll be a continuation of tour for my most recent book, Space Dumplins, published in the UK by Faber & Faber. But it’s also a platform for Edmond Baudoin and I to continue work on an upcoming project; a collaborative, bilingual travelogue – a meditation on arts and ageing and drawing with our brothers growing up.” Tickets for the main events at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival are on sale now. Guests at this year’s Festival include Charlie Adlard (artist on The Walking Dead), Jordi Bernet (Torpedo and Jonah Hex), Rufus Dayglo (2000AD‘s “Bad Company”, Last Gang in Town), Isabel Greenberg (The Encyclopedia of Early Earth), Joe Kelly (I Kill Giants,Deadpool), Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim, Seconds), Luke McGarry and Steve McGarry, Mick McMahon (2000AD), Leah Moore and John Reppion, artist and Festival art designer Ken Niimura, and Paco Roca, best known for his award-winning graphic novelWrinkles. Many international and British comic creators – writers, artists, publishers and retailers – are heading to Kendal, in Cumbria, for a packed weekend of comic celebration in October, crammed with panels, exhibitions, children’s events and other activities. The town will be entirely given over to comics, with business owners lining up to support the Festival’s famous “Windows Trail“, providing store front space to display comics art created by artists and local groups and school children. While panel events and film screenings are ticketed, the Comics Clock Tower offers plenty of free access to many comic creators and their work, and there’s an exciting line up of free events lined up for children, too, in assorted venues across Kendal. The October weekend is just one of a number of comics projects from the Festival, which has included the world premiere performance of Black Dog – the Dreams of Paul Nash by Dave McKean that took place in May and will return to Kendal for the Festival. • Buy your tickets now from The Brewery, Kendal – www.breweryarts.co.uk (Social media short link – http://bit.ly/LICAF16-Tickets) | Box Office 01539 725133 | Email • Event ident images for all tickets events are up on the Festival Flickr page • For all events information visit the Lakes International Comic Art Festival web site:www.comicartfestival.com | Find the Lakes International Comic Art Festival on Facebook | Follow the Festival on Twitter @comicartfest • For more information on the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, contact: Julie Tait: julie@kendalartsinternational.com |