Surviving Spring
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Ethan Parker, and I’m a disabled queer Black cartoonist and designer from Seattle asking for support to help me be able to attend major events related to my comic arts career.
I am considered to be an "emerging artist" in my field, but with these upcoming events I am hoping to take my career even further. I started creating in 2015 and a year later, Black Girl Dangerous published one of my comics in THE SOLIDARITY STRUGGLE. Since then I've slowly been working toward reaching my goal toward a stand-alone publication of my own. My works have been featured as editorial pieces, in national campaigns, and I have worked with major organizations including Logo & GLADD. In fact, 2019 was my most accomplished year ever as an independent artist as my comic 'Unclear' won an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Anthology as a part of the compilation in WE'RE STILL HERE from Stacked Deck Press. So far this year my work will be featured as the cover art for the upcoming Lambda Literary anthology EMERGE.
I’m standing on the threshold of being able to bring my comics to a wider audience in 2020 as I move forward with the momentum that 2019 provided me. However, truth be told, the life of independent artists is wrought with financial hardship — especially when taking time to work on large projects often means being unable to continue working a day job.
I have several amazing opportunities coming my way this year: the start of my pursuit of higher education and Alaska Comic Camp in April. These are huge, critical steps for my career as I've been accepted to the graphic design program at SNHU, which I am hoping will open many doors as so many design firms require artists to have at least a BA. Plus the networking, workshopping, and education I will receive from my peers at the comic camp will be invaluable in growing my skills as a visual storyteller.
And this is why I need help. For the past 4 months I've been freelancing full time, but I will not be able to sustain that workload while also going to school full time. Though the cost of getting to the camp is covered, I will still need to fly myself all the way to Alaska to attend it. Needless to say, I need help from my community.
I've put this direct ask off for a while because I thought I could do it on my own, but the truth is that I need immediate support to be able to reach the finish line. With my goals so close at hand, I am looking to you all for help making it through March and April so that I can continue doing the work I love so much. Fortunately I received financial aid that's able to cover the spring trimester, but I am still seeking assistance to help get me to Juneau in April.
This GFM is intended to help me pay the following: my rent for March, my portion of monthly utilities like electricity, and to have a small emergency cushion to should something unforeseeable crop up while I'm planning my trip.
Your support in pursuing these goals means the world to me & without your help I'd be in a rough spot. I greatly appreciate the love you all have shown me over the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I am considered to be an "emerging artist" in my field, but with these upcoming events I am hoping to take my career even further. I started creating in 2015 and a year later, Black Girl Dangerous published one of my comics in THE SOLIDARITY STRUGGLE. Since then I've slowly been working toward reaching my goal toward a stand-alone publication of my own. My works have been featured as editorial pieces, in national campaigns, and I have worked with major organizations including Logo & GLADD. In fact, 2019 was my most accomplished year ever as an independent artist as my comic 'Unclear' won an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Anthology as a part of the compilation in WE'RE STILL HERE from Stacked Deck Press. So far this year my work will be featured as the cover art for the upcoming Lambda Literary anthology EMERGE.
I’m standing on the threshold of being able to bring my comics to a wider audience in 2020 as I move forward with the momentum that 2019 provided me. However, truth be told, the life of independent artists is wrought with financial hardship — especially when taking time to work on large projects often means being unable to continue working a day job.
I have several amazing opportunities coming my way this year: the start of my pursuit of higher education and Alaska Comic Camp in April. These are huge, critical steps for my career as I've been accepted to the graphic design program at SNHU, which I am hoping will open many doors as so many design firms require artists to have at least a BA. Plus the networking, workshopping, and education I will receive from my peers at the comic camp will be invaluable in growing my skills as a visual storyteller.
And this is why I need help. For the past 4 months I've been freelancing full time, but I will not be able to sustain that workload while also going to school full time. Though the cost of getting to the camp is covered, I will still need to fly myself all the way to Alaska to attend it. Needless to say, I need help from my community.
I've put this direct ask off for a while because I thought I could do it on my own, but the truth is that I need immediate support to be able to reach the finish line. With my goals so close at hand, I am looking to you all for help making it through March and April so that I can continue doing the work I love so much. Fortunately I received financial aid that's able to cover the spring trimester, but I am still seeking assistance to help get me to Juneau in April.
This GFM is intended to help me pay the following: my rent for March, my portion of monthly utilities like electricity, and to have a small emergency cushion to should something unforeseeable crop up while I'm planning my trip.
Your support in pursuing these goals means the world to me & without your help I'd be in a rough spot. I greatly appreciate the love you all have shown me over the years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Organizer
Kosmo Parker
Organizer
Seattle, WA