Bread Tarleton
Cartoonist and Illustrator
Hey! I'm Bread!
I create comics, typically made digitally, using digital collage and mixed media to build unrestrained worlds and to convey complex emotions within my characters. I am heavily influenced by graphic novels and films focusing on meta-narrative and psychology, and the way those are used to understand characters in unique ways.
My work is typically comedic and juxtaposes humor with characters growing after traumatic periods of their lives. This combination builds a positive representation of people moving through challenging situations and builds hope within readers of my work.
Together, I use mixed media, humor, and meta-narrative to build moments of association and dissociation, reflection and connection throughout a book, allowing readers to step in and out of a character's mind and emotions, letting them see the character from all sides.
The goal of these many perspectives on a character, and my work in general, is to allow people to reflect positively on the challenges of their lives, to help them laugh, and to see themselves represented. The stories and characters I create are reflections of what I wish to see in the world: love, care, and growth.
Publications:
2024, Soften the Blow, Fieldmouse Press
2023, Flip Turn, Self Published (CupCAKE Award winner)
2023, BodyBuilding, Self Published
2022, Bruce Fort: Professional Bully, So-So Press
2021, Capn Durk, Self Published
2019, Losing Comics, Self Published
2018, The Woods, Self Published
2018, This is the World I am, Self Published
2018, Big Grungus, Self-published, with Ocean Jones
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Editorial works:
2023, the Atlas of Billy Dean Vol 2: Explicitly Queer, A.B.O. Comix, Billy Thomas
2023, The Atlas of Billy Dean Vol 1, A.B.O. Comix, Billy Thomas
2022, A Queer Prisoner’s Comix Anthology: Edition V, A.B.O. Comix, Various Artists
2022, Bod-E of Work, A.B.O. Comix, E.L. Tedana
2021, Boy of Hearts, A.B.O. Comix, Sirbrian Spease
2021, Podlife Vol. 1, A.B.O. Comix, Harold Lee
2021, Dark Matters and Prophecy: Secrets of the Ouija Board, A.B.O. Comix, Jefferson Borba de Souza
2021, Hope: Rise of a Trans Woman Superhero, A.B.O. Comix, Tyreise Swain
2021, Any Way but Straight, A.B.O. Comix, Gabriella Wyatt
Anthology Pieces:
2023, Virtual Woman, Far Too Fat Issue 3, Far Too Fat
2022, Dans la Terre, Meandering Realms
2021, Virtually IRL, Malt Adult 22 Zine, Malt Adult
2021, Dogfish Love, Swim On 7, Swim On
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Press:
2023, Flip Turn Publication interview with Sequential Philly
2023, Review of 2022 work by Rob Clough
2022, Bruce Fort: Professional Bully Interview with Tim Patton
2021, CupCake Award interview with Sequential Philly
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Awards/Grants/Fellowships:
2023, Fellowship at The Soapbox Community Print Shop
2022, CupCAKE Award, Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE)
2021, Illustration Mentorship Grant, Koyama Provides
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Teaching:
2021, Bookbinding workshop with Free Library of Philadelphia
2022-2023, multiple Bookbinding and zine-making workshops at The Soapbox
2023, Bookbinding and Comics making workshops at the Free Library of Philadelphia
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Education:
2019, MFA, Center for Cartoon Studies, White River Junction, VT
2017, BS, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
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