Squishface Studio

In 2011, eight Melbourne comic artists were invited by the National Gallery of Victoria to spend a month in residency at the NGV Studio space at Federation Square.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/media_release/inherent-vice/|title=Inherent Vice {{!}} NGV|website=www.ngv.vic.gov.au|access-date=2019-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.invurt.com/2011/07/15/event-inherent-vice-ngv-melbourne/|title=Event – Inherent Vice – NGV - Melbourne|last=Facter|date=2011-07-15|website=INVURT|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-07}} Two were Sarah Howell and Ben Hutchings, who decided, along with four other local comic artists, to establish a permanent space that would function in a similar way.{{Cite web|url=http://www.inkersandthinkers.com/?p=115|title=Inkers and Thinkers 2014: Squishface Studio: A Physical Hub for Comics in Melbourne by David Blumenstein {{!}} Inkers and Thinkers - Alternative Forms, Alternative Voices|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-07}}

The original Squishface Studio was located at 309 Victoria St, Brunswick, and was a single room shop front in which eight to twelve artists were typically resident at any given time.{{Cite web|url=https://dailyreview.com.au/chris-goochs-impressive-debut-graphic-novel/69668/|title=Chris Gooch's debut graphic novel; Monkey Grip for Millennials|date=2017-12-30|website=Daily Review: Film, stage and music reviews, interviews and more.|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-03-07}} It was previously a bridal shop.

Squishface Studio is now located at Studio Hall in South Melbourne, on the grounds of St Kilda Southport Uniting Church.{{Cite web |title=Squishface Studio Open Day 2024 |url=https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/squishface-studio-open-day-2024/2024-04-07/1/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Melbourne - City of Literature |language=en-AU}} It supports itself financially by memberships and running classes.{{Cite web|url=http://australiancomicsjournal.com/wp/comics-and-contempt-david-blumenstein-and-tristian-on-arts-funding/|title=Comics and Contempt: David Blumenstein, and Tristian, on Arts Funding|website=The Australian Comics Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-07}}

The studio's major events are the Squishface Coaster Show (a parody of the Linden Postcard Show), Squishface anniversary events and the monthly drawing night (first Wednesday of each month).{{Cite web|url=https://www.meetup.com/Squishface-Comic-Studio-Meetup/|title=Squishface Comic Studio Meetup (Melbourne, Australia)|website=Meetup|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}} At different times the studio has also held Ladies' Drawing Auxiliary, a showcase for the work of non-male comics makers, book launches, children's classes{{Cite web|url=https://squishfacestudio.com/classes|title=Classes|website=Tumblr|access-date=2019-03-07}} and exhibitions.

Squishface has also been heavily involved in the Homecooked Comics Festival, which was run for several years by Squishface artists Sarah Howell and Clea Chiller and was then passed on to Black Inc publicity and marketing manager Marian Blythe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2018/02/13/101912/blythe-to-direct-homecooked-comics-festival/|title=Blythe to direct Homecooked Comics Festival {{!}} Books+Publishing|last=Mem: 32846144|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-03-07}}

In 2023, Squishbook: Make comics with Squishface Studio and friends, "a how-to-make-comics book, and a why-you-should-make-comics book",{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=David Blumenstein (Illustrator, Editor); Patrick Alexander (Illustrator); Sarah Howell (Illustrator); Scarlette Baccini (Illustrator); Warwick Holt; Ben Hutchings (Illustrator); Briar Rolfe (Illustrator); Alex Clark (Illustrator); Alex Pavlotski (Illustrator); Ive Sorocuk (Illustrator); Jin Hien Lau (Illustrator); Jo Waite (Illustrator); Nicholas |title=Squishbook - Make Comics with Squishface Studio and Friends! |url=https://shop.brunswickbound.com.au/p/squishbook-make-comics-with-squishface-studio-and-friends |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Brunswick Bound |language=en}} was crowdfunded, and received support from the City of Melbourne.{{Cite web |title=Squishbook – Patrick Alexander's Personal Internet |url=https://www.chickennation.com/2023/11/20/squishbook/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |language=en-AU}} The book was officially published in 2024. Contributors include David Blumenstein, Alex e Clark, Patrick Alexander, performer Nicholas J. Johnson and screenwriter Warwick Holt.{{Cite web |last=Wok |date=2023-11-17 |title=I'm in a book - Squishbook! |url=https://www.media-empire.net/im-in-a-book-squishbook/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Warwick Holt - Media Empire |language=en-US}}

In 2024 Squishface held the first Emerald Hill Comics Festival at their South Melbourne location.{{Cite web |title=Emerald Hill Comics Festival |url=https://cityofliterature.com.au/explore/comics-and-graphic-novels/emerald-hill-comics-festival/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Melbourne - City of Literature |language=en-AU}}

The following artists have been resident in the studio.

• Ben Hutchings
• Sarah Howell
• David Blumenstein
• Marta Tesoro
• Arran McKenna
• Sacha Bryning
• Jo Waite
• Scarlette Baccini
• Patrick Alexander
• Lily Mae Martin
• Laura Renfrew
• Scott Reid
• Jess Parker
• Teags Humm
• Alexander Trevisan
• Agathe de Gennes
• Jase Harper
• Lucy Fekete
• Haydn Kwan
• Natalie Britten
• Samantha Ee
• Danny Stanley
• Chris Gooch
• Grace Reeves
• Eleri Mai Harris
• Emily Hearn
• Mark Ingram
• Drew Turketo
• Ele Jenkins
• Ive Sorocuk
• Alex Clark
• Jonathan Vyssaritis
• Lauren (Hills) Bedggood
• Rebecca Clements
• Andrea Crisp
• Sophia Parsons Cope
• Clea Chiller
• Simon Howe
• Marlo Mogensen
• Verity Sathasivam
• Simon Wall
• Nicola Mitchell
• Martin Nixon
• Tom Winspear
• Ariel Ries
• Sam Emery
• Sarah Firth
• Issey Fujishima
• Priscilla Ong
• Vicky Nguyen
• Tom Vaughn

• Jase Harper's graphic novel Awkwood{{Cite web|url=http://australiancomicsjournal.com/wp/milk-shadow-books-launches-jase-harpers-awkwood/|title=Awkwood, by Jase Harper|website=The Australian Comics Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-07}}
• Chris Gooch's graphic novels Bottled{{Cite web|url=https://squishfacestudio.com/post/165716950539/on-sunday-chris-gooch-will-be-launching-the|title=Squishface Studio|website=Squishface Studio|access-date=2019-03-07}}
• Ben Hutchings' graphic novels The Invisible War, Mini-Mel and Timid Tom, Avanti! Tutta and Follow Your Gut{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BCpjVqjvBcL/|title=Squishface Studio on Instagram: "Here's Annie from the Invisible War."|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2019-03-07}}{{Cite book |url=https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/follow-your-gut-9781761380891 |title=Follow Your Gut {{!}} Book {{!}} Scribe Publications |date=2024-07-30 |isbn=978-1-76138-089-1 |language=en-AU}}
• Squishbook: Make comics with Squishface Studio and friends
• Photographer/filmmaker Kasper Voogt created a portrait series of Squishface Studio artists.{{Cite web |last=Voogt |first=Kasper |title=Squishface Studio |url=https://kaspervoogt.com/squishface-studio |access-date=7 December 2024 |website=Kasper Voogt}}

• Comics in Australia
• List of Australian comics creators

• Squishface Studio, About[https://squishfacestudio.com/about]
• Blumenstein, David. [http://nakedfella.com/comics/Blumenstein%20David%20-%20Squishface%20Studio%20-%20A%20Physical%20Hub%20for%20Comics%20in%20Melbourne.pdf "Squishface Studio: A Physical Hub for Comics in Melbourne"].
• Caterson, Simon. [https://dailyreview.com.au/chris-goochs-impressive-debut-graphic-novel/69668/ "Chris Gooch’s debut graphic novel; Monkey Grip for Millennials"], Daily Review (Dec 30, 2017).
• Maynard, Amy. [https://www.academia.edu/34659072/The_Melbourne_Scene_A_Case_Study_of_Comics_Production_City_Spaces_and_The_Creative_Industries "The Melbourne Scene: A Case Study of Comics Production, City Spaces, and The Creative Industries"].
• Blumenstein, David. [http://nakedfella.com/blog/2013/10/stanleys-2013-the-australian-cartoonists-association-conference-part-1/ "Stanleys 2013: The Australian Cartoonists Association conference (part 1)"] (Oct 29, 2013).
• Squishface Studio, [https://squishfacestudio.com/post/122461892544/squishface-studios-response-to-australia-council#notes "Squishface Studio's response to Australia Council cuts"] (26 June 2015).

• {{Official website|https://squishfacestudio.com/}}

Category:2011 establishments in Australia

Category:Publishing companies established in 2011

Category:Australian cartooning

Category:Australian comics artists

Category:Australian artist groups and collectives

Category:Comic book publishing companies of Australia