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Calyn Pickens (Dill Comics)

Animation / Video / Film, Craft, Design / Digital, Drawing, Fiction, Graphic, Jewelry, Literary, Multidisciplinary, Multidisciplinary Art, Multimedia, Non-Fiction, Paper / Book / Illustration, Public Art, Sculpture / Installation, Visual / Media

The best thing about making up stories is you can build a world exactly like ours... but just a little bit cooler, with slightly more color, and characters who make everything alright in the end.

About the Artist

Calyn Pickens is a cartoonist, video editor and general multimedia maker from Paris, France. Calyn created the cartoon character "Dill" at the age of six, developing a world of "dills" which continues to evolve to this day. She holds a BFA in Critical and Visual Studies from Pratt Institute and attended programming school during École 42's inaugural year. Through classes, editing and translating work, she aims to open access for any and all art forms. 

Calyn Pickens (Dill Comics) website Dill Comics Calyn Pickens (Dill Comics) website Dining with Dana Calyn Pickens (Dill Comics) website Calyn's Portfolio

Artist's Statement

I work with both traditional and digital materials. My traditional materials range from chalk, acrylics and canvas to alcohol markers, dip pens and bristol paper. Digitally, I love illustrating as well as editing videos. Places I have previously been published include the New Yorker, The Routledge Companion to Gender and Sexuality in Comic Book Studies, and Time Out Paris. While comics are an important medium to me, I also enjoy rolling up my sleeves to create sign art, design display windows, and put together large format installations for businesses. Getting my hands dirty while making art means that something's getting made! 

Featured Work

Photos

In 2020, Dill Comics began featuring sign art for small businesses throughout Brooklyn, New York. Alongside other multimedia marketing efforts, sign art was used to attract a takeout customer base. Inspired by the general public's need for reassurance and familiarity during the start of 2020, Dill Comics used bright chalk markers to illustrate menus and promotions for local businesses.
Comic used to promote the new Comic Book Station website. After writing copy and editing graphics, I used Squarespace to put together a new web presence for the comic shop as part of their rebranding efforts. This was in addition to creating daily, engaging TiktTok videos and Instagram posts for future customers. While e-commerce was heavily emphasized, in-person shop sales encouraged local visitors to become repeat customers, cementing Comic Book Station in the community.
Illustrated menu for local Brooklyn bakery, Ava's lifeline.
The Pratt Student orientation series included a collaboration with "Pwatt", the parody comic featuring a coffee-fiend and average campus art student. The series was informational and intended to support the student body whether graduating or incoming.

Booking

Booking Price: < $500

To commission video editing, sign art, comics, illustrations or branding materials, please contact drcalyn@gmail.com or copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://www.dillcomics.com/contact.

Materials listed are currently on hand, but may require refill or a special purchase depending on the size and nature of the project.

For sign art:
- chalk markers
- chalk paint
- cleaning material refills
- board or surface

For traditional comics or illustrations:
- drafting tools (pens, pencils, ink, erasers)
- paper, board
- printing supplies (please specify if basic or commercial printing needed)
- other (rulers, hole punch, staples, etc...)

Digital:
- Adobe Suite CC
- Procreate
- Final Cut Pro

I am able to work primarily within Montgomery County and D.C.

Write-ups:
- https://afropunk.com/2018/08/this-black-feminist-cartoonist-is-up-to-bi…
- https://www.pratt.edu/news/catching-up-with-the-black-alumni-of-pratt-s…