Welcome...

This is my first newsletter!

Hellooo, everyone. Thanks For Signing Up!

I’m Rina Piccolo and I’m a syndicated cartoonist and writer. Some of you may know my work from Rhymes With Orange (current!), or Tina’s Groove (long ago!), or you may remember a little webcomic titled, “Velia, Dear” (coming back!) Anyway, my About Page will tell you a little more about me, but as this is my first newsletter I’d love to jump right in and tell you what it’s all about, and what you may expect.

First, why am I starting a newsletter?

For the past couple of years I’ve been working on a collection of comic stories that centre around a character I created years ago named “Velia”. (You’ll be seeing lots of Velia in future newsletters.) I wanted to introduce this new work to readers but like so many artists on the internet today I’ve learned that social media is not often the best place to reach your audience. I’ve also heard from fellow cartoonists that Substack totally rocks! With this newsletter, I now have the ability to be in direct contact with you— whether you’re a friend, a friend-I’ve-Yet-To-Meet, or just a casual reader who loves comics, art and humour.

This is a panel of the story I’m currently working on. Velia and Lou are characters I created years ago for a 2 year webcomic titled “Velia, Dear”

As some of you may already know,

I write and draw the dailies for the syndicated cartoon panel Rhymes With Orange (syndicated by King Features). I work alongside the strip’s creator, the wonderful and award-winning cartoonist Hilary Price. Here are a few of my personal favs…

Witches eating children is a trope that will never get old.

Are there still TV commercials that show the Pillsbury Doughboy being tickled? When I was a kid I used to wait for his little giggle at the end of the ad. Whoever created that character must’ve been at least a little high on something.

No matter what the celeb mags say, I think spending money for a bigger ass is just plain ridiculous.

(If you like these toons and would like to help support Rhymes With Orange you can subscribe for only $2.99 per month. In Canada, that’s a toonie and a loonie. (Yes I’m a Canuck. Toronto born and raised.) You’ll get perks, like a fresh new cartoon in your inbox every day!)

In future newsletters, you may expect to see more of these toons, and some thoughts about the creative process — like what it’s like to come up with fresh material day-in-day-out with few breaks (ever wonder why cartoonists seem a little wacko sometimes?), and what happens when you get writer’s block (I cry and sulk but that’s only because I’m one of the wacko ones).

Here are a couple of older toons from my archive…

Cartoon published in Narrative Magazine. Although most of my cartoons appear in Rhymes With Orange, I sometimes have stuff published in magazines.

Originally published in The Reader’s Digest eons ago when the internet we know today was still relatively young. I believe it’s my most popular cartoon. (If I had a dime for every time it was shared and/or ripped-off online I’d be writing this from my palazzo on the Grand Canal.)

….and More…

When I’m not working on Rhymes With Orange, or the Velia stories, I pick up my daily sketchbook for some aimless drawing and art journalling. I do it every single day. It’s an addiction, but a good addiction! You can expect to see some of those crazy pages here in future posts. I’ll also share my knowledge about the benefits of keeping a daily visual diary, and how you don’t have to be an artist or writer to engage in this awesomely fun and relaxing activity. Here’s a sample little drawing for you from my daily sketchbook…

I know, it’s weird. Don’t ask!

I have zero clue what this is. My sketchbook is a place where I can begin a drawing with little knowledge of where I’m going, or what the final result will be. Have any thoughts? Tell me.

This is a free newsletter.

You’ll get lots of fun content every month —although I may consider sending you something more frequently. We’ll see.

That’s all for now. Please comment, share, and all that good stuff— it helps creators like myself feel like we’re not just throwing stuff at the big blank wall.

Thanks for reading!

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RINAPICCOLO.COM