Squishface Studio
| Company type | Artist collective |
|---|---|
| Industry | Comics, illustration, publishing |
| Founded | November 2011 |
| Founder | Ben Hutchings, Sarah Howell, David Blumenstein, Marta Tesoro, Arran McKenna, Sacha Bryning |
| Headquarters | South Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Sarah Howell, David Blumenstein, Ben Hutchings |
| Products | Comics anthologies, graphic novels, educational classes |
Squishface Studio serves as a collaborative workspace tailored for comic creators and illustrators, situated in South Melbourne, Australia. Initially established in Brunswick in November 2011 by a group of artists including Ben Hutchings, Sarah Howell, David Blumenstein, Marta Tesoro, Arran McKenna, and Sacha Bryning, it welcomed the public starting January 26, 2012. By 2024, Howell, Blumenstein, and Hutchings continue to be active resident artists.
Esteemed as a pivotal comics community center in Australia, Squishface stands out as the nation’s sole continuously accessible public comics creation hub and ranks among a select few worldwide. The studio also engages in publishing efforts, producing comics such as three issues of the anthology Squishzine Brunstown, with its inaugural edition earning a Bronze Ledger award in 2015. In 2024, Squishface introduced its debut publication titled Squishbook: Make comics with Squishface Studio and friends.
History
In 2011, the National Gallery of Victoria invited eight Melbourne-based comic artists to participate in a month-long residency at the NGV Studio located within Federation Square. Among these were Sarah Howell and Ben Hutchings, who, alongside four additional local artists, opted to create a lasting space modeled on this collaborative approach.
The original Squishface Studio was housed at 309 Victoria St, Brunswick, occupying a single-room retail space that typically accommodated between eight and twelve resident creators. This venue was formerly used as a bridal boutique.
Currently, Squishface Studio operates out of Studio Hall in South Melbourne, situated on the premises of St Kilda Southport Uniting Church. Its financial sustainability relies on membership fees and the provision of educational classes.
Studio activities
Prominent events hosted by the studio include the Squishface Coaster Show—a humorous take on the Linden Postcard Show—annual anniversary festivities, and a monthly drawing session held every first Wednesday. The studio has also facilitated Ladies' Drawing Auxiliary (highlighting female and non-male comic artists), book launch events, children's workshops, and various exhibitions.
Artists Sarah Howell and Clea Chiller from Squishface played key roles in organizing the Homecooked Comics Festival before its management transitioned to Marian Blythe, marketing manager at Black Inc.
In 2023, the studio successfully crowdfunded Squishbook: Make comics with Squishface Studio and friends, a guide offering insights into comic creation and motivation for making comics. Supported by the City of Melbourne, this book was officially published in 2024 featuring contributions from David Blumenstein, Alex e Clark, Patrick Alexander, performer Nicholas J. Johnson, and screenwriter Warwick Holt.
In 2024, Squishface hosted the first-ever Emerald Hill Comics Festival at their South Melbourne venue.
Resident artists
Among the distinguished resident artists affiliated with the studio are:
- Ben Hutchings
- Sarah Howell
- David Blumenstein
- Marta Tesoro
- Arran McKenna
- Sacha Bryning
- Jo Waite
- Scarlette Baccini
- Patrick Alexander
- Lily Mae Martin
- Laura Renfrew
- Scott Reid
- Jess Parker
- Teags Humm
- Alexander Trevisan
- Agathe de Gennes
- Jase Harper
- Lucy Fekete
- Haydn Kwan
- Natalie Britten
- Samantha Ee
- Danny Stanley
- Chris Gooch
- Grace Reeves
- Eleri Mai Harris
- Emily Hearn
- Mark Ingram
- Drew Turketo
- Ele Jenkins
- Ive Sorocuk
- Alex Clark
- Jonathan Vyssaritis
- Lauren (Hills) Bedggood
- Rebecca Clements
- Andrea Crisp
- Sophia Parsons Cope
- Clea Chiller
- Simon Howe
- Marlo Mogensen
- Verity Sathasivam
- Simon Wall
- Nicola Mitchell
- Martin Nixon
- Tom Winspear
- Ariel Ries
- Sam Emery
- Sarah Firth
- Issey Fujishima
- Priscilla Ong
- Vicky Nguyen
- Tom Vaughn
Projects completed at the studio
Notable works created at the studio encompass:
- The graphic novel Awkwood by Jase Harper
- Graphic novels titled Bottled by Chris Gooch
- Ben Hutchings' graphic novel series including The Invisible War, Mini-Mel and Timid Tom, Avanti! Tutta, and Follow Your Gut
- Squishbook: Make comics with Squishface Studio and friends
In addition, photographer and filmmaker Kasper Voogt developed a portrait collection showcasing artists from Squishface Studio, emphasizing the vibrant creative network cultivated within the studio.