Art Club is the graphic novel/comic thing I have been working on intermittently since 2004. 😛 I have never been happy with the first version, but I still like the characters, so here we are.
You can read the current version of Art Club for free on Webtoon, but it looks much nicer in print. The print version is available on Etsy, but if you are reading this and would like print copies, just send me an email with your mailing address and I will be happy to send you stuff. 😛
You can read more about the previous versions of this story by clicking here, if you really want to. There’s also pages about the sequels focusing on Alex and Marguerite and Genevieve.
Characters
Deanna Lewis is our heroine. She is a typical insecure teenage girl, who has just moved from the city to the small town where her parents grew up. She is roped into joining the school art club by Doug and Alex. Deanna is good at writing and enjoys photography. Deanna is a senior in high school, but she still isn’t sure what she wants to be when she grows up.
Doug Maddox is Deanna’s next-door neighbor who is also in her class. His dream is to become an artist and get the hell out of their crappy town. Doug is confident, outspoken, and maybe kind of a jerk? Or maybe he’s just misunderstood. Deanna can’t be sure. One of eight siblings, Doug is vice-president of the art club. He had an unspecified falling-out with his parents that led to him being thrown out of his parents’ house, so he lives with his sister.
Alex Mitchell is Doug’s best/only friend. Unlike Doug, Alex is shy, friendly, and sweet. In addition to being president of the art club, he is an exceptional musician and used to roller skate competitively. He lives in a trailer court with his mother, to whom he is extremely close. Alex is a year behind Deanna and Doug, and he is super, super cute.
Genevieve Swanson and Marguerite O’Grady are best friends and weeaboos. They are co-creators of their own manga; Genevieve is the artist, and Marguerite is the writer. They are both shameless little perverts. Marg and Gen are in the ninth grade.
Albert Lewis is Deanna’s dad and the high school art teacher. He becomes advisor to the art club. He attended a prestigious design institute in New York. While he was in school, he missed large portions of Deanna’s early years, but the two of them are very close.
Erin Lewis is Deanna’s mom. She’s a librarian. She is more protective and overbearing of a parent than Albert.
Erica Lewis is Deanna’s annoying little sister. She’s about eight years old, and she has the hots for Doug.
Kierra Lewis is Deanna’s cousin. Her interests include smoking, partying, and guys. She holds an extremely low opinion of Deanna’s new friends, particularly Doug.
Julie Maddox is Doug’s older sister, who allows Doug to live with her. She travels for work, so Doug is usually alone. She gives him money for things like groceries and bills.
Martindale (Marty) and Debby Maddox are Doug’s parents. Marty runs the family real estate business, and Debby is a homemaker.
Art Gallery!
