Arts ‘N’ Crass

We aim to collaborate and encourage anyone and everyone to participate in zine making. We happily accept first-time zine makers into our catalogue and help with printing advice and fees when applicable.
Currentlly our catalogue consists of: D.I.Y. instructionals, labor history and research, comic series about a feminist band, photography, queer perspective poetry and mental inquiries.

City:Los Angeles and Anaheim

Poetry/Literary
Photography
Political/Social
Cultural
LGBTQ/Gender
Feminist/Riot Grrrl
Illustration
Comics
Music/Art
DIY/Instructional
Fanzines

What are your current zines about?

Currently our distro contains per zines, how-to zines/guides, Satire, Art, Illustration, Edited and curated response to a prompt type zines, Music zines, and comics!

What methods do you use to make your zine?

Handwritten/drawn
Cut-and-paste
Photocopying
Screenprinting
Digital

What type of binding do you use for your zine(s)?

Folded
Stapled
Hand-stitched
Other

When did you start making zines ... and why?

Jessica: I made my first zine around 2010 after being inspired by my first trip to a zine fest in Portland, OR.

Brianna: My first zine was made in 2009 to accompany a workshop I was doing at an O.C. DIY Fest! I made it because I was doing a workshop in Crochet, and I wanted anyone who attended to get a how-to guide to take home with them!

How do you create your zine content?

Jessica: Currently I am inspired by Lynda Barry when it comes to comic making. I start with real life situations that happened to my band and add any sort of fictional finesse the story might need.

Brianna: Content usually comes from a need to share either how I am feeling or wanting to share a skill that I have learned. I also create content based on my peers and everyday interactions that I impulsively like to archive.

Why do you think independent publishing is important?

Jessica: Independent publishing is only becoming more and more popular and I think it is important that people keep creating so as to inspire others to feel motivated to express themselves and to be an example for all the various ways there are to publish work, not limited to zine making.

What was your first zine called? What was it about?

Jessica: My first zine didn't have a name but it was an abstract comic collaboration zine between me and a friend.

Brianna: My first zine I ever made is called MAKE IT YOURSELF: CROCHET - It is a step by step hand drawn guide that shows you how to crochet in the line and in the round. It guides you through two basic projects (a scarf and a hat) and it also touches on the subject of Yarn Bombing!

What is your favorite part of making zines?

Jessica: I love the assembly. For comics, drawing is so painful sometimes, so it feels like a great swell of relief to have it printed and all that is left to do is assemble and make the thing.

Brianna: My favorite part is the ideation. Thinking of what to make, and then feeling the rush of excitement to get started! I love brainstorming; there are so many ideas I have yet to fulfill! I also love thinking of how I can add a special touch or variation on a zine that I haven't done before. I am a fan of small details!

What is your biggest challenge in making zines?

Jessica: Sitting down to do it.

Brianna: Organizing all the zines I've drawn up and keeping the master copies in the right place, and then sorting out all the piles of copies I've made to assemble. Another big challenge sometimes is deciding when to stop publishing a zine and make room for work that better suits what I currently want to put out into the world.