#vacnj

(via #ggvacnj hashtag on Instagram • Photos and Videos)

Like many of you, we here at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey were saddened by yesterday’s news of the passing of Stan Lee. Few people were as influential in their chosen genre as he was with comic books. Lee gave his superheroes a flawed humanity, a departure from the ideal archetypes which were the standard at the time. His heroes were often complex, naturalistic characters who had bad tempers, fits of melancholy and vanity, would bicker amongst themselves, and worry about paying the bills or impressing their girlfriends. But most importantly, Stan Lee created characters that expressed to readers all over the world that it was ok to be different, and more than that, that it was their differences that made them special.

On December 1, the Art Center will host our own comic book event, Getting Graphic: Novels, Memoirs, and Comics. As a way to remember Stan Lee and his lasting influence, we’re launching a drawing contest. Interested artists are tasked with drawing a portrait of Stan Lee. The term portrait can be interpreted in many ways, so any kind of drawing that you think illustrates his contribution to the genre is eligible. Once your drawing is complete, post them to social media with the hashtags

#VACNJ #GettingGraphicVACNJ #GGVACNJ , and #StanLeePortraitContest

and make sure to tag us as well. We’ll choose a winner at Getting Graphic from all images submitted online. Artists can also submit work in person at the event and the winning artist will receive a check for $100. Artists submitting images online can also email their submission to the Art Center at [email protected]. Please put “Stan Lee Portrait Contest” in the subject line.

Excelsior!

(via Grandpire Bats on Twitter: "I'll be sharing the #Sweetiecomic alongside other amazing comic artists at the Visual Art Center of NJ (summit) on Dec 1st. It will be the first time all four books from the original print run will be available! https://t.co/6Dyj1GLDQF… https://t.co/wTWTtODHIp")