An inventive window display for the local barbers, Gentry’s.

The Windows on Comic Art Trail is a unique element of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and the team behind the event have just launched an appeal for artists to get involved in this year’s redecoration of local shop windows, be they book sellers, clothes shops, coffee houses or hairdressers!

The Lakes team are asking artists to create special window displays working in partnership with businesses in the town, using paint, paper or whatever elese springs to mind, just as many did last year. The window displays are then in that business window from 2nd to 23rd October and LICAF are offering a special prize for the best window by an artist, which will be judged over the festival weekend.

“Not only does the trail extend the festival across the month of October, it extends it across the town too,” says organiser Sandra Wood. “It provides a fabulous opportunity for the town to get behind the festival and for a wide range of artists to get involved. It also provides visitors with a brilliant way to explore the town.

“All the artists involved, whether from local community groups or schools right through to professional artists, take their own approach to their individual windows. They are encouraged to reflect both their own work and the business that’s hosting them.”

Any artist interested should send two images of their work along with your email address, phone number and social media accounts to sandra@comicartfestival.com. Entries must be in by 5pm on 30th June 2015 and participants will be informed by 7th July 2015.

Batman takes over the downstairs windows of Ruskins bar

If you win, you don’t need to be based in Kendal. Sandra will help work with the chosen artist to understand the business, the window space, the limitations of working remotely and introduce you to your business as well as help make sure that you are in contact with them – as well as being able to put the window display in for you.

“The onus is on you to develop your own idea in your own style,” Sandra emphasises. “We just ask that you reflect the business, the Kendal area or comic art.

“We also ask that you keep your business owner appraised of your plans so that they know what to expect of the content, style, size an fixings needed for your work.”

If you don’t plan on visiting Kendal to help instal your work, bear in mind that the Festival doesn’t have a huge budget to cover transportation costs. They also ask all festival artists if they would donate their work for the festival to the festival auction where we sell the artwork to raise funds for next year’s festival.

• You can find additional information here on the Festival web site and pictures of last year’s displays are here on Flickr. If you have any questions, please email Sandra@comicartfestival.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: Art and Illustration, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, Events, Features

Tags: Comic Artists, Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Sandra Wood, Windows on Comic Art Trail