Confessions of a Comic Book Artist | Amanda Branham
Welcome Gallery
Summit DD artist Amanda “A.L.” Branham’s showcases her practice from 1996 to the present in Confessions of a Comic Book Artist. Inspired by family, fellow artists, music, her friend Kosperry, and influences ranging from classic Disney and Looney Tunes to Don Bluth and Jim Davis, the work reflects her personal story through original comic characters. A.L. has also expanded her practice to include colored pencil, pyrography, acrylic, and oil painting, often highlighting the fantasy themes that define her work.
Confessions of a Comic Book Artist showcases the progression of Summit DD artist Amanda “A.L.” Branham’s art practice from 1996 through the present day.
Branham is heavily inspired by her family and fellow artistic peers, music, her friend Kosperry, as well as classic Disney movies, Looney Tunes, Don Bluth (Land Before Time, Anastasia), and Jim Davis (Garfield). Her artistic practice has grown over 30 years, showcasing the evolution of her comic book characters, which reflects her personal life story. In this exhibition, you will meet characters she’s created over the years, such as Mariette, who, like A.L., is heavily inspired by classic rock and fantasy. Branham primarily works in the comic book medium because she feels it’s great for storytelling. “Comics convey motion and emotion like a movie on paper,” she says.
A.L. has refined her practice over the years. She’s not only created works on paper with colored pencil but has also enjoyed exploring pyrography (wood-burning), acrylic, and oil paintings, many of which showcase the fantasy elements that have inspired some of her comic book characters.
Amanda “A.L.” Branham was born in Barberton, OH in 1990. Growing up, she would draw animals and dragons with pencils and crayons. A.L. cited Disney, Don Bluth, and comic strips like Garfield as major influences. Around 1997, she started shifting her medium to colored pencils and has been using them ever since.
Branham started writing comics at a young age and would develop more characters for it in the coming years. Comic drawing and writing stories have always been her passion in life. Another passion A.L. has is music, especially music from the 80’s and 90’s. Throughout her teens, she would commonly listen to music while writing comics. It wasn’t until her 20’s that A.L. learned how to paint, crochet, and do wood burning also known as pyrography.
Now in the 2020’s, Branham is working on a revised and updated version of her comic series under the new name Musantasy. She’s starting to, little-by-little, step out of her comfort zone, show off her comic characters, and turn her needlework into a side business.
Did you know?
Most of the artwork on display at Summit Artspace is for sale.
Click on the artwork images for pricing and more information about each piece.
If you would like to purchase any art, please visit a staff member or volunteer at the front desk, or email anna@summitartspace.org.
All artworks in this exhibition are available as prints priced at $50 each.
Special thanks to Bradley Hart, Summit Artspace resident artist, for photography of virtual exhibitions!
All artworks in this exhibition are available as prints priced at $50 each.
1- Seven Years Climax Pg 5 | $35
Ink on Notebook Paper, 2006
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comic I did back when I was a sophomore in high school, Seven Years. For the occasion, I wanted to highlight some pages from the comic’s climactic battle between Mariette and Naraina in her dragon form.
2- Seven Years Climax Pg 31 | $35
Ink on Notebook Paper, 2006
(Statement same as previous)
3- Octavia’s Bedroom | $125
Prismacolor Colored pencils on Plain Paper, 2018
Octavia Guerrero is one of my all-time favorite characters from my comic series. This is her bedroom. She has a clamshell waterbed, aquarium walls, a plush seahorse, and several video game consoles.
4- Rainbow Dragon | $85
Colored pencil on black construction paper, 2015
I created this piece in 2015 at Dream Out Loud when it was still open.
5- Cake with a Dragon | $130
Prismacolor Colored Pencils on Plain Paper, 2023
Inspired by the 1977 movie Pete’s Dragon, here we have one of my newer characters, Ursula Parker with her dragon, Nebula.
6- Shining Bright | $120
Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Plain Paper, 2017
Mariette, her pet snake Sahara, and Octavia sleep and gaze at the bright moon at night. This was one of the pics where I experimented with tones and made the environment darker to match the nighttime scenery.
7- S.S.Dingus | $160
Prismacolor Colored Pencil and White Gel Pen on Grey Paper, 2016
Six good friends on a boat having a good old time at night. Top Row: Ursula Parker and Angelina Taroski. Bottom Row: Gretchen O’Neal, Siss Sissle, Octavia Guerrero and Mariette Bangalla.
8- Fun Never Ends for Us | $160
Prismacolor Colored Pencil on Tan Paper, 2018
One of my all-time favorite scenes to draw. Here we have Mariette holding the winded Bart and Octavia having fun on the large blue plant, the Armychuous (pronounced Ar-mitchyou-us). I just love jungle scenes, and I love to make the scenery colorful and fantasy like.
9- Blue Eyes White Dragon | $80
Prismacolor colored pencils on Artagain Paper, 2016
My favorite monster from the Yu-Gi-Oh anime series. I was experimenting on Artigain paper, and I am pleased with the turnout. Using Prismacolor pencils on the paper make the colors pop.
10- Black Cauldron Gwythaints | $70
Prismacolor pencils on Plain Paper, 2016
Fan art of the underrated Disney film The Black Cauldron.
11- Lisa Frank Dragon | $50
Digital Inkjet Print created from Prismacolor pencils on Toned Blue Paper, 2023
Originally commissioned by one of my high school friends for their daughter. This piece allowed me to experiment and
implement the colorful Lisa Frank style.
12- Tension Tamer Dragon | $70
Prismacolor on Plain paper, 2016
Part of my Dragon series I did back in 2016. I always loved this dragon and the Tension Tamer tea itself. It has hints of mint, chamomile, and catnip in it.
13- Maleficent Dragon | $80
Prismacolor pencils on Artagain Paper, 2016
This has to be my all-time favorite dragon period, the
Maleficent dragon from the 1959 Disney classic Sleeping Beauty.
14- It Began with an Alligator | NFS
Ink and Colored Pencil on Notebook Paper, 1998
The page that started it all. Drawn all the way back in 1998. This is from the oldest surviving comic I currently have. As a side note, my character Alex the Alligator turned 30 this year,
making him my oldest comic character.
15- Junkyard Society | $140
Prismacolor Colored Pencils and Markers on Tan Paper, 2026
Fanart celebrating the 25th anniversary of the direct to video movie Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure. This film came out when I was still 10 years old and I have always
loved it. Also, as a side note, Doberman Pinschers are my favorite dog breed.
16- Don’t Walk Away Pg 2 | $50
Digital Inkjet Print created from Prismacolor pencils on colored pencils on Plain Paper, 2024
A sample of the 15-page musical comic I did to Electric Light Orchestra’s “Don’t Walk Away.” Throughout the comic, Mariette and Hamilton turn into various animals and creatures in a colorful fantasy setting. Inspired by the 1980 movie Xanadu, and Don Bluth’s and my friend’s Kosperry’s art style.
17- Don’t Walk Away Pg 3 | $50
Digital Inkjet Print created from Prismacolor pencils on
colored pencils on Plain Paper, 2024
(Statement same as previous)
18- The Best Year Pg 3 | $50
Digital Inkjet Print created from Prismacolor pencils
on Plain Paper, 2022
Pages 3 and 11 of my 2022 musical comic The Best Year. In the first half of the comic, I emulate my art style back in 2002 and later jump ahead to how it looks now. Featuring my character self and Mariette.
19- The Best Year Pg 11 | $50
Digital Inkjet Print created from Prismacolor pencils
on Plain Paper, 2022
(Statement same as previous)
20- Facing Dragons Since 1990 | $200
Prismacolor and Faber Castell Colored Pencil on Tan Paper, 2015
The picture that got me a “Daily Deviation” on DeviantART back in 2020. This piece represents both figuratively and metaphorically facing dragons in daily life. Inspired by the artist Meat Loaf and one of my favorite artists, Zach Bellissimo.
21- Burning | $120
Prismacolor Colored Pencils and Brush Pen on Plain Paper, 2017
In this pic, we simply have one of the creatures featured prominently in my comic series, the Angiblaze, breathing a torrent of fire. This was me experimenting with blending dark to light with the fire. As a side note, I always loved drawing fire and have taken inspiration from my mother’s Hot Rod magazines.
22- Truly Madly Deeply Pg 5 | $50
Digital Inkjet Print created from Prismacolor pencils on
Plain Paper, 2023
A sample page of the musical comic I did to Savage Garden’s “Truly Madly Deeply” in 2024. Featuring Mariette, Hamilton, and Thoren on guitar.
23- Eternal Flame Pg 9 | $50
Ink on Notebook Paper, 2009
“Eternal Flame” by The Bangles is my all-time favorite song, and for its 20th anniversary, I illustrated Mariette singing the entire song. Yes, I used to have Pokémon in my older comics; my comics started out as a Pokémon comics but gradually became more original as time went on. Side Note: This is my favorite part of the song!
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