Etsy's Handmade Blog
Handmade Portraits: Leslie Stein
Story by larrybear, TeenAngster, weirdwolf
Published on November 14, 2008 in This Handmade Life

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(music by Prince Ruperts Drops)

Leslie Stein, aka larrybear, spends most of her time drawing comics, listening to old time radio shows and playing records. Leslie started her first comic series, called simply Leslie, back in high school. It revolved around her wacky adventures with her magical bunny and bird that helped her out in gym class and other misadventures.

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After discovering underground comic book artists like Dan Clowes and Peter Bagge when she was an angsty teenager, Leslie decided comic books would be the perfect medium for her to tell her stories. Both of her comics — Eye of the Majestic Creature and her more experimental construction paper comics — are hand drawn and printed at a small printing press. Unlike mainstream super hero comics, her stories are autobiographical and don't have a typical plot. As Leslie says, "If you're looking for thrills and drama, this might not be for you, but if you're interested in seeing the world the way I see it, pick one up."

Leslie decided long ago that rather than work professionally as an illustrator, that she would hold a regular job and save her creative energy for her own work. She dedicates all of her free time to her creative pursuits and she finds inspiration everywhere. From walking down the street in Brooklyn to looking at an empty field, humanity and curiosity light the way to new adventures and new tales to tell.

Leslie won a Xeric Grant to print her work "Yeah, It Is!" and was nominated for Best New Talent in 2004 by the Harvey Awards. Keep you eye on this one!

Watch more Handmade Video Portraits on Etsy's blog!

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Tags books, books and zines, Brooklyn, comic books, comics, drawing, Handmade Video Portraits, illustration, larrybear, Leslie Stein, New York, sellers, Tara Young, THIS HANDMADE LIFE, video, weirdwolf, zines
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31 comments     Login to add your own!

Nov. 14, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. PearsonMaron

Leslie is so talented. I love the comic book made out of construction paper. So good!

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. Leannegraeff

Really great interview! Thank you !

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. EJPcreations

really interesting!

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. dogties

Amazing!!
Great Etsy Items too.

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. RADCOW

I love you.

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. JustFeltHungry

It's so great to see comics on Etsy!!!! I love the little inanimate / animated creatures...

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. kinsellaart

this is great-great answers from Leslie stien and great work! thanks etsy

Nov. 14, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. Lundberg

Ok this is awesome.

Nov. 14, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. TashaHussey

Very interesting and creative.

Nov. 14, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. crankbunny

woo! i have a bunch of her comics - no idea she was on etsy! yay!

Nov. 14, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. mermaidclaire

SO inspiring!

Nov. 14, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. katiearms

She's the tops!

Nov. 14, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. Slowshirts

I hope someone gives her good neck massages.

Nov. 14, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. jascamille

I *instantly* knew that was Bushwick as soon as I saw the picture of the building!!!! I just had to watch to make sure.

Nov. 15, 2008 at 1:35 a.m. weirdwolf

Leslie Stein's autobiographical underground comic books are funny, insightful, vulnerable and brave! Leslie says you have to be fearless to make the best art you can. A wise woman indeed.

Nov. 15, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. aisle3studio

I love it!

Nov. 15, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. dearbirthday

super awesome!

Nov. 15, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. lucie39

I adore Leslie's work!I read 'Yeah,It Is' and thought it was wonderful:)

Nov. 15, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. LaCometaLab

God, I have just discovered this etsy (handmade) stories and love them! I am subscribing to them. They remind me a little of the "Magnum in Motion" at Magnum Photos.com, where photographers talk themselves about their work.
Oh, and in the future I will but one of Leslie's comics, I just checked her shop and she doesn't have any available at the moment.

Nov. 15, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. gaily

You're very talented, Leslie. Nice video, too. ;)

Nov. 15, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. faeryrach

What an inspiring artist, comics rule!!!!!!!!!!

Nov. 16, 2008 at 5:04 a.m. topsyturvydesign

I love this portrait Tara!
Leslie is such a talent & it was so wonderful to see her at work.
I too was obsessed with Daniel Clowes/Eightball as a brooding teen & this portrait took me back.

Nov. 16, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. mostlyhuman

That was wonderful and inspiring.

Nov. 16, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. moddyboy80

Love it.Great to see comics and zine related stuff getting their day on Etsy. More please!

Nov. 16, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. oliveandbee

Great article. Thank you !

God bless !

Nov. 20, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. alustgarten

Weirdwolf, you're camerawork looks awesome!! Especially like the comic book/bakery shots. And a great interview too.

Nov. 26, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. larrybear

Thanks so much to Tara (weirdwolf) who made this video, she's so talented!

Nov. 26, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. iheartuforeal

nice to know there are other loners :) awesome stuff!

Dec. 1, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. vivikas

I really love to check This Handmade Life, it gives me such a inspiration, and I believe that we sellers can all related with everyones history.
Congrats Etsy for the good work!

Dec. 3, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. CRSisters

Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us!

Feb. 25, 2009 at 7:51 p.m. meluseena

oooh such an amazing talent.. Can't believe you cut out all those comic book pages that's INSANE!! ♥

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