Hope Larson
Encyclopedia
Hope Raue Larson is an American illustrator
and cartoonist
. Her main field is graphic novels.
Carolina Day School
. Upon graduation from high school, she matriculated at Rochester Institute of Technology
and then transferred to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she graduated with a BFA
in 2004. She then moved to Toronto
with her husband, Canadian Bryan Lee O'Malley
. In 2005, they moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia
.
From 2008 until 2010, Larson and O'Malley lived in Asheville, North Carolina
. As of 2010, they have relocated to California.
took an interest in her illustrations, encouraging her to create comics
. Soon after, she was invited to the webcomics anthology site Girlamatic
and produced her first professional comic, a web serial entitled I Was There & Just Returned. Afterwards, Larson concentrated on a number of small, hand-made minicomics, combining her interests in comics, screenprinting, and bookmaking.
She contributed to comics anthologies
Flight
, True Porn 2, and You Ain't No Dancer, while working on a web-serialized graphic novel, Salamander Dream
. This eventually became her first full-length book, published by AdHouse Books
in September 2005; she moved to Oni Press
for her second graphic novel, Gray Horses (released March 2006).
In 2006, Larson signed a two-book contract with New York publishing house Simon & Schuster
. The first book under this deal, Chiggers (released June 18, 2008, under the Atheneum Books
Ginee Seo imprint), is a graphic novel about "nerdy teenaged girls" who meet at summer camp. Chiggers is intended for a 9-12 year-old audience.
In addition to comics, Larson has worked as a freelance illustrator for various clients, including the New York Times.
She has also worked as a letterer
on such books as Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly's Local.
for Best New Female Talent, and won the 2006 Ignatz Award in the category Promising New Talent. In 2007, Larson won the Eisner Award
for Special Recognition (formerly known as "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition").
Rebecca Kraatz's House of Sugar, Larson's first publishing venture, won the 2007 Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
. Her main field is graphic novels.
Biography
Larson is of German and Swedish descent. She grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and attendedCarolina Day School
Carolina Day School
Carolina Day School is an independent, co-ed, college preparatory school serving grades pre-k through 12. The school is located in the historic Biltmore Forest neighborhood of Asheville, North Carolina. It consists of a lower, middle, and upper school...
. Upon graduation from high school, she matriculated at Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
and then transferred to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she graduated with a BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in 2004. She then moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
with her husband, Canadian Bryan Lee O'Malley
Bryan Lee O'Malley
Bryan Lee O'Malley is a Canadian cartoonist. He is best known for the Scott Pilgrim series, but is also a musician using the alias Kupek.-Career:...
. In 2005, they moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
.
From 2008 until 2010, Larson and O'Malley lived in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. As of 2010, they have relocated to California.
Career
While Larson was still in college, Scott McCloudScott McCloud
Scott McCloud is an American cartoonist and theorist on comics as a distinct literary and artistic medium...
took an interest in her illustrations, encouraging her to create comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
. Soon after, she was invited to the webcomics anthology site Girlamatic
Girlamatic
Girlamatic, published by Joey Manley, is a member of the Modern Tales family of subscription-based webcomics anthology sites. Girlamatic publishes comics with a particular appeal for young adult women. The site launched on March 31, 2003 with...
and produced her first professional comic, a web serial entitled I Was There & Just Returned. Afterwards, Larson concentrated on a number of small, hand-made minicomics, combining her interests in comics, screenprinting, and bookmaking.
She contributed to comics anthologies
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
Flight
Flight (comic)
Flight is a comics anthology series edited by Kazu Kibuishi, showcasing young and innovative artists and writers. According to Volume One's Afterword by "Scott McCloud's Brain", the average age of its contributors was 24 years, although Volume Two features one or two older contributors. Image...
, True Porn 2, and You Ain't No Dancer, while working on a web-serialized graphic novel, Salamander Dream
Salamander Dream
Salamander Dream is an original graphic novel by Hope Larson, her first, released by AdHouse Books in 2005.The book covers the relationship between Hailey, a young girl, and Salamander, an ambiguous forest-dwelling being. As the years go by their friendship changes with them...
. This eventually became her first full-length book, published by AdHouse Books
AdHouse Books
AdHouse Books is an independent comic book publisher based in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded in 2002 by graphic designer Chris Pitzer. Its small annual output and high-end production values have earned it the nickname "The Boutique Juggernaut."...
in September 2005; she moved to Oni Press
Oni Press
Oni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
for her second graphic novel, Gray Horses (released March 2006).
In 2006, Larson signed a two-book contract with New York publishing house Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
. The first book under this deal, Chiggers (released June 18, 2008, under the Atheneum Books
Atheneum Books
Atheneum Books was a publishing house and adult publisher created by Alfred A. Knopf, Jr. in 1959. He recruited editor Jean E. Karl personally, to come and establish a Children's Book Department in 1961....
Ginee Seo imprint), is a graphic novel about "nerdy teenaged girls" who meet at summer camp. Chiggers is intended for a 9-12 year-old audience.
In addition to comics, Larson has worked as a freelance illustrator for various clients, including the New York Times.
She has also worked as a letterer
Letterer
A letterer is a member of a team of comic book creators responsible for drawing the comic book's text. The letterer's use of typefaces, calligraphy, letter size, and layout all contribute to the impact of the comic. The letterer crafts the comic's "display lettering": the story title lettering and...
on such books as Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly's Local.
Publishing
In 2006, Larson launched her own publishing imprint, Tulip Tree Press. She has released several minicomics and prints through the Tulip Tree websitehttp://www.tuliptreepress.net; the only book released under the Tulip Tree name was House of Sugar, an award-winning collection of Rebecca Kraatz's comic strip, released 15 November 2006.Acclaim
Larson was nominated for the 2006 Kim Yale AwardFriends of Lulu
Friends of Lulu was a non-profit, national charitable organization in the United States, founded in 1994 to promote readership of comic books by women and the participation of women in the comic book industry...
for Best New Female Talent, and won the 2006 Ignatz Award in the category Promising New Talent. In 2007, Larson won the Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
for Special Recognition (formerly known as "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition").
Rebecca Kraatz's House of Sugar, Larson's first publishing venture, won the 2007 Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent.
Graphic novels
- Salamander Dream. AdHouse BooksAdHouse BooksAdHouse Books is an independent comic book publisher based in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded in 2002 by graphic designer Chris Pitzer. Its small annual output and high-end production values have earned it the nickname "The Boutique Juggernaut."...
, 2005 - Gray Horses. Oni PressOni PressOni Press is an American independent comic book publisher based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Schreck and Joe Nozemack with the goal of publishing the kinds of comics and graphic novels they themselves would want to read...
, 2006 - Chiggers. Atheneum BooksAtheneum BooksAtheneum Books was a publishing house and adult publisher created by Alfred A. Knopf, Jr. in 1959. He recruited editor Jean E. Karl personally, to come and establish a Children's Book Department in 1961....
, 2008 - Mercury. Atheneum Books, 2010
Selected short stories and minicomics
- "Sex Rainbow," March 2004 (originally printed as a deck of cards)
- "Compound Eye," April 2004
- "Weather Vain," August 2004 (originally printed in FlightFlight (comic)Flight is a comics anthology series edited by Kazu Kibuishi, showcasing young and innovative artists and writers. According to Volume One's Afterword by "Scott McCloud's Brain", the average age of its contributors was 24 years, although Volume Two features one or two older contributors. Image...
Vol. 2) - "Mud," February 2005 (originally printed in You Ain't No Dancer #1)
- "Little House in the Big Woods," August 2006 (originally printed in the New York Times)
- "When I Was A Slut," March 2006 (published in Project: Romantic)
- "Henry and Elizabeth," July 2007 (printed in the New York Times, and later expanded to a minicomic)
External links
- Larson's website, hopelarson.com
- Tulip Tree Press, Larson's publishing imprint
- Hope Larson on hinah exhibitions