Article:
Comics Pub Meets: Scotland and Wales

Introduction

"But, as you know the pub is the natural meeting place for cartoonists" wrote Andy Richmond. It's a sentiment I agree with: a good pub experience is romanticism, communual congregation intoxicating regardless of chemical intake. My first foray into publishing comics was at the mythological Brum PubCon in 1997. Thrown by Dek Baker, Jez Higgins and Pete Ashton among others, it featured about sixty cartoonists squashed into a tiny rock metal bar. And it did rock.

There are many variations of the Illustration associated PubCon or PubMeet. Among the most well-known is Dr Sketchy's, where cabaret meets art school and burlesque meets illustration. Founder Molly Crabapple says "As of April 2008, there are fifty Dr. Sketchy's, in eleven countries and four continents." (Check out the link for a helpful guide)  I would guess that's an understating figure. Crabapple's graphic novel, 'Scarlett Takes Manhattan' certainly reflects her love of burlesque and comics.

"Drink n Draw" searched through Facebook in January 2010 brings up 121 results, majorly American: Portland, Washington, San Diego, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, NYC, Boston, Orlando. Listings also include the UK & Ireland, Canada, Australia and Malaysia. I get 121 search results, that's the short version. Of special note, is the Southern Californian meet affiliated with Eddie Freakin' Peters and Joenis Norac. Their dedicated http://drunkdrawn.blogspot.com/ not only suggests experimentation and crazed addiction levels. The blog contains evidence and a number of games to try while in the act of drawing.