The concept is relatively simple and is all about the number four.  For four weeks, four artists in need of rehab post four panel comics every four days.  Currently in its first round, the comics posted online are a diverse mix of bold monochromatic comics, black and white sketches and strips featuring more developed and intricately rendered characters. The comics vary in subject matter too, some are deeply and sometimes painfully autobiographical, others are mildly confessional (‘whenever I see someone that I only sort of know, I make mental notes of what I’m wearing. That way, the next time I see them I’ll remember to wear something different – yet equally fabulous’ one comic writes) and then there are some that verge on the ridiculous and document the childhood of a newly laid egg.

Amber Carvan created the blog several weeks ago, having found the ‘This is Not Art’ festival in Newcastle particularly confronting.  ‘It hit me hard that I wasn’t making any contribution to the creative community,’ she says of her experience.  ‘People would keep asking what I ‘do’ and I found myself saying, “Well, I used to make comics but now I don’t really do anything.” It was a very emotional experience for me.’

 A comic artist who has been drawing for around twelve years, Amber has experimented with self-published zines and comic books before Pluto Press published Brick Dog and Other Stories.  The production of the book was an intense experience for Carvan and after having two children, she found herself drawing less and less.  ‘I decided that I wanted to start drawing again but I also know that I would find it hard to keep it up without some serious peer pressure,’ she says, ‘So I came up with the idea for comic artist rehab.’

The peer pressure of Comic Artist Rehab is both serious and positive.  With each four panel comic posted, the contributing artist offers insight into the creative process, what they are happy with, what they struggled with, like hand-lettering or a font?  And is the size of Warm Kitty’s head unintentionally inflating in each new strip?? The result is a deconstruction of the comic and a dialogue between comic artists that is highly constructive, often humorous and always encouraging.

 As the first round draws to a close and Rehab readies itself for its newest artists (who are self-nominated or have been the subject of a creative intervention), Amber is already thinking beyond the second round.  ‘I think future rounds may well have themes or other challenges,’ she says, before excusing herself to return to rehab.  She’s got a post due tomorrow and has to get drawing.

 http://comicrehab.wordpress.com/