(I know it’s been like a month since Lightbox Expo! But there’s been so much happening!)
An Introduction
Hi! There’s a few newbies on this newsletter list, so I wanted to do a real quick re-introduction of myself :-)
I’m Christine LêSantos! A comic artist, illustrator, writer, and story artist currently working at Disney TV Animation. I’m a queer kid of Vietnamese refugees, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. I usually spend my free time making comics and hanging out in coffee shops with my wife and dog. I recently self published “Legendaries: Good Bai Sun”, a kids graphic novel, and “Grown: A Comic Album”, a collection of semi-autobio comics!
And this is my newsletter “Thanks for Being Here!”
Lightbox Expo 2024
This was my first year tabling at a convention as large as Lightbox Expo!
My previous tabling experiences have all been at zine fests which usually consists of 3 feet of table space, are only a single day, and feel cramped enough to probably be a fire hazard. Lightbox Expo in comparison is a huge convention for artists that are working in or want to work in animation, illustration, and video games. There’s talent in every corner of that convention hall, from working professionals selling their art, influential artists paving the way in panels, to hopeful artists roaming around the halls - being at the convention was so freaking inspiring! ✧
Tabling was a big investment, not only for the cost of the table but also because I really wanted to showcase my work in the best way possible. So within a month after Pris and I got back from our trip to Mexico (I’ll try to make a future post about Mexico!) - I made a collection of stickers, designed and self published ✦GROWN✦, created a special edition newsprint poster of “Good Bai Sun”, riso printed some business cards, hand painted a custom shirt, hand painted a custom banner, and I had some prints riso printed in Los Angeles and Mexico City! (˘•‿•)





I debuted ✦GROWN✦, A Comic Album! A book that’s a collection of semi-autobio short comics about growing up as a queer Asian-American in Los Angeles. A lot of the comics are from “Outloud” a charity comic reading that I do every year to raise money for the Los Angeles LGBT Resource Center. The book looks like a CD album and the tracklist are the names of all the comics inside. The inspiration actually came from doing those comic readings! People tend to have a favorite comic that I perform and it really felt like I had a real “visual album” (ba dum tss).
Everyone that came up to my table was so kind! ╥ ᴗ ╥ I only had personal work displayed, so it really felt like people that walked up were genuinely interested in checking out my art! It is seriously so special to have people resonate with my work and to see their reaction and responses in person. There were a lot of people who came over because they just loved the visual branding of my table!
If I met you at Lightbox Expo, thank you for stopping by! ( ˙ᵕ˙)♡
Also we raised $360 in donations for aide to Palestine! Thank you for buying a postcard or sticker!
I really want to try and figure out creating an online storefront for the work that I sell in person, but I’m still working out the logistics of it! Hopefully I can make something happen early 2025!
The Pop Hop Makers Residency
I was accepted into the “Shelf Made” makers residency at The Pop Hop, a co-op bookstore in Highland Park, Los Angeles!!! The residency is an opportunity for selected artists to have designated shelf space in the store to showcase and sell whatever they want! And all the sales go directly to the artist! I’ve already set up my shelf in store with some red envelopes, riso prints, and books! if you’re around the area you should check it out!


There’s also a ton of cool stuff along York Blvd where the store is located! Here are my faves: Crush & Touch (art supply store), Shorthand (stationary store), Big Bud Press (clothing store), Kumquat (coffee shop), Joy (Taiwanese food), Bob Baker’s Marionette Theater (historic Los Angeles theater that is currently doing a holiday puppet show).
Riso Comics Workshop
Registration is open for my next Riso Comic Workshop! It will be on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 2 PM- 4 PM at Nova Community Arts in Atwater Village, Los Angeles!
SuperNova III: Riso Fantasy, Community Art Showcase
I have a piece in a riso art gallery hosted by Nova Community Arts x Junior High LA! Stop by and check out some cool riso art made by some cool riso artists!
Thank you so so so much for taking the time to read my newsletter! I hope you liked it. If you have any questions or if you would like to leave a comment you can click reply on this email or visit the Substack website or app!
✧*:・゚Thanks for being here! ✧*:・゚
-Christine
www.christinelesantos.com