ALL STARS 2: Episode 5

September 24, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Okay, so scheduling didn't work out with the queen I had been planning to interview about this week's ALL STARS, so I was going to host this gig alone. How hard could that be, right? But then this weird woman in green showed up, insisting I needed help, spewing salad based puns at me in a nearly indecipherable lisp.

Chad: So, I guess I'm being joined today by Tasha Salad? Um, welcome? Do you actually exist, or are you just a fictional character created by Roxxxy Andrews?

Tasha: Resht Ashurred Chad, Tasha's here to shave the day, jusht like I helped Roxxxy in her time of need.

Chad: Oh great, because that worked out well. So do you always magically appear when the desperate and humorless need hosting help?

Tasha: That'sh right, and I often appear before dinner as a light asshortment of greensh and veggiesh and dresshing.

Chad: Right... because... salad. Cool. So, uh, Tasha... this week it felt like we spent a decade or so discussing who was under the bus, who had thrown someone under the bus, who was driving the bus, and where that bus was going.

Tasha: They chopped up that shalad 'til it was cabbage shoup!

Chad: Wait, Alaska??? Did you show up just to punctuate that terrible salad pun? All of you, quiet down and let me talk, because this is my shitty blog. Okay? Now, as I was saying, I have this theory: Alyssa and Phi Phi are like matter and anti-matter, fundamentally opposites, and when they come together, the results are explosive. Phi Phi is super talented, particularly with her cosplay and her more cartoony, creative looks. But she just can't get a break. She works and works, and she wants that steely determination to win her accolades and acclaim. But that's not how this game WORKS. Her scheming and quibbling and defensiveness just make her unlikable, with the gleeful assistance of the producers and editors of this show.

Tasha: Absholutely.

Chad: Oh good, I'm so glad you agree. Now, Alyssa is painfully likable. She can't help it. None of Phi Phi's colorful cartoon cosplay can ever make her as much of a cartoon character as Alyssa already is. She keeps “coasting” through this season because she's entertaining and makes for good TV, and this is a TELEVISION SHOW. And most crucially, Alyssa learned an important lesson from her season, whereas Phi Phi has not – ditch the drama. During the fifth season, quite frankly, I didn't like Alyssa very much. She was tied up in this feud with Coco that didn't do either of them any favors. Their fighting kicked up such a cloud of Dorito dust that it was hard to see either clearly. But this time around, Alyssa doesn't let that shit stick – when Phi Phi pulled her aside in the workroom, eager to argue her case, Alyssa, was all, “Girl, I respect you, I love you, there's no drama, let's hug.”

Alyssa looks like she's having the time of her life on this show, living her gig, and the season has been better for it. But you see Phi Phi struggling every minute she's on the show, second-guessing herself and the other queens. Frankly, I don't think she committed any grievous sins in the competition to warrant the hate she's been getting, but she definitely didn't play the game right. Despite her considerable talent, it was all pretty painful to watch. She wasn't enjoying it, and neither were we. Except for that badass blue alien costume. I want that in EVERY COLOR of the rainbow every day for the rest of my life.

Tasha: Sho Chad, when are you going to show us shome actual art? Shometime thish week?

Chad: Well, gee, that's surprisingly hostile.This season, the format of the show seems to have been shifted around to allow the maximum time for drama. Mini-challenges? Nearly none of them. Runways? Not this week! An episode of Untucked tucked right back into the episode proper? Sure, yes, bottom queens, explain to all the tops why you're the better bottom.

All of that makes for FABULOUS television. But it sometimes leaves this poor drag illustrator without much material. During each commercial break, I kept wondering, “What will the runway theme be? Whose looks will I draw this week? Wow, All Stars has been great!” And then, a good 55 minutes into the episode, I realized, “This is an amazing episode and I have nothing to draw.” HOW COULD THE SHOW DO THIS TO ME????

Tasha: Keep crying into your shalad, asshole, and your croutonsh won't shtay dry.

Chad: What? I wasn't, I.... fine, let's talk about the challenge. I thought it was amazingly put together -- how it paired the kicked off queens with the remaining ones, how it gave such amazing drama at the end for the chance to return. It was all tossed together like some perfect, tasty... salad?

Tasha: Don't pander to me, nerd.

Chad: Okay, I'm just going to hurry along, because I'm feeling really uncomfortable, and you're looking at me with those hungry, hungry eyes. So, I think Alaska and Alyssa made an amazing team, despite their uneven performance last week. As Baby JJ, Alaska got all the good stuff in that scene, and Alyssa was stuck playing the straight, serious one (more or less). But this time, Alaska has perfectly utilized Alyssa's "off the cuff buffoonery" and structured it to give herself those perfect, punctuating punchlines, which was, frankly, genius.

Tasha: What did you think of Roxxxshy's hoshting, Shad?

Chad: Um, I mean, I think Roxxxy said it, herself: "I'm just here to look pretty." What did you think of Phi Phi and Coco's surreal fever dream of an SNL skit?

Tasha: It wash an awkward mish-mash of problematic shtereotypes and sheriously unfunny.

Chad: Well said. Detox and Tati made a surprisingly good team, even though I didn't like that weird, lispy old lady voice Detox was using.

Tasha: Choicesh.

Chad: Ginger and Katya were criminally under-appreciated this episode. I think it's because Ru didn't want Ginger back on the show, and she didn't expect that Ginger would offer a lip sync that could have come close to the legendary, orgiastic one that Tatianna and Alyssa birthed out on that stage.

Tasha: The matching outfitsh! Those shexy movesh! It wash shtupendous!

Chad: Seriously, I'm thrilled to see both Tati and Alyssa returning! I feel like the producers of this show carefully calibrated the last few episodes so that this week's would culminate in the absolute loudest cheering in a gay bar that is scientifically possible.

Chad: Despite my misgivings about Phi Phi's performance and depiction on this show, I agree with my friend Melissa's shouted assessment from the screening party: "Best Drag Race season, ever!" I have plenty of complaints about the show week by week, but I think the producers are making magic this time around.

Tasha: Are we almost done here? Becaush theesh leavesh are shtarting to wilt.

Chad: Yeah, Tasha, I'm ready for my main course, so GO BACK TO HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH WHERE YOU BELONG.

As always, you can find prints of my work at Etsy, though I'm not sure that I'll be adding any of this week's work to the shop, because it's all weird and terrible. (Never stopped me before, right?) You can also support me on Patreon if you want me to keep making weird and terrible things.

ALL STARS 2: Episode 4

September 17, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Chicago's own Valentine Addams joins me this week! She's a colorful, cartoony confection, and she is great. (Photo by Eric Magnussen)

Chad: When I'm thinking about an episode of the Drag Race, I feel like there are three main parts that I'm evaluating: the drama, the challenge, and the runway. This week totally delivered on the drama and runway, even if the challenge was the typical, cringe-inducing acting schtick. What did you think?

Valentine: Oh my god, yeah, it's as if the acting challenge wasn't even important this episode. All looks! All drama! I'm not mad tho.

Chad: As a queen, are you into the drama? Or does it feel fake, just part of the editing?

Valentine: I'm totally into the drama, but that's what makes the show so good. The drama sometimes feels a little exaggerated, but who doesn't love a good "rattlesnake noise"?

Chad: Does Phi Phi deserve all the hate she's getting online?

Valentine: I don't think anybody deserves hate like that. I'm not the biggest fan of Phi Phi's, but I'm not going around threatening her or hating her on the internet.

Chad: What do you think a queen should do if she feels she's been treated unfairly on the show? Try to set the record straight?

Valentine: I think actions speak louder than words, honestly.

Chad: So, you would advise against tons of angry tweets about the show, then?

Valentine: Yeah, absolutely. This show is the reason you are famous to any extent. So why are you biting the hand that feeds you?

Chad: I mean, I would be totally furious if I felt like someone took my own words out of context and turned them against me. But I guess that's the nature of the beast!

Valentine: Yeah, I get that. But you know what you're signing up for. Especially the second time around.

Chad: Which runway looks were your favorite?

Valentine: OMG Roxxxy!!! I literally couldn't stop myself from just screaming like a girl!

Chad: Everything was SO RIGHT with Roxxxy's look -- the movement, the wild proportions, the fabric.

Valentine: And of course Alaska! I mean who didn't love Alaska's look? Katya's was also amazing.

Chad: Katya's was kind of simple, but the sheer insanity of her transformation was just... devilishly delightful. Who would even think of snatching their own bangs off??

Valentine: Yeah, I feel like her outfit was simple. But it was those details that just made it sooo amazing.

Chad: I asked my friends, "Wait, where did that pentagram come from? What just happened??"

Valentine: Haha, it was so good.

Chad: I didn't see that she had snatched her own hairpiece -- I thought she had stamped the pentagram on her head just then! I don't know. Devil's work. Phi Phi's outfits were actually quite lovely! Just a little underwhelming.

Valentine: I liked the blue prince look, and then wasn't as into the yellow dress, myself.

Chad: I thought Alaska's reveal of Lil' Poundcake was probably one of the absolute highlights of this season. It was so. Perfect. I found her makeup transfixing! The way she transformed her face to give that "don't fuck with me" expression was EVERYTHING.

Valentine: Yeah. You couldn't stop staring at her. And it was obvious that mama Ru couldn't, either.

Chad: The fact that she was able to lip sync in character so perfectly was the final cherry on top. Phi Phi's performance was fine, but it fell far short of that kind of genius.

Valentine: Yeah, I agree. It's hard to top Lil' Poundcake hahah

Chad: Do you feel like Alyssa had been coasting through the competition with her comedy? Did she get a free pass just because she's Alyssa?

Valentine: No. I actually think Alyssa did really well up until this challenge. This one was a hard one. It's getting tougher and tougher to pick out the obvious bottom Queen.

Chad: Yeah, I agree that Alyssa was entertaining and, as she said, she hadn't been in the bottom as much as some others. I feel like this is a television show, and Alyssa makes for GREAT television, so frankly, I don't know how I'm going to watch without her on it. But I agree -- it's just going to get more brutal from here! It seems like basically half the queens will be in danger of going home each week!

Valentine: Oh yeah. And it's hard to say who I want to go home next. They are all really strong and giving it their all.

Chad: Well, I think it's fairly safe to say that, if Phi Phi lands in the bottom again, she'll be an easy pick for the others -- she just hasn't been proving as competitive a contender!

Valentine: Yeah, I agree with you there.

Chad: I mean, she's certainly a competitive person, just not... you know.....

Valentine: Good?

Chad: Of the queens who have been sent home, who are you hoping returns??

Valentine: I'm not gonna lie. I want Tati to come back.

Chad: Me tooooooo! Or Alyssa. But Tati is just really exciting, and I want to see more. Do you have any other favorite drama or T about this episode?

Valentine: Yeah, I really loved the way the had the girls on the other side of the mirror. It was just so good!

Chad: That was ICONIC!!!! I'm wondering if it was awkward for the queens behind the mirror to just stand there silently, looking pissed. Wouldn't you want to shout something out??

Valentine: Omg yeah! I probably couldn't help myself from giggling lol

Get more of Valentine on her Instagram! You can also find her performing at Berlin's Drag Matinee and hosting/twirling at Queen! at Smartbar. (Photo by Adam Ouahmane)

As always, you can find most of this week's work at my Etsy store if you want to decorate your walls with prints and postcards! If you'd like custom art or sketches, you can check out my Patreon page!

ALL STARS 2: Episode 3

September 10, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Adam Guerino joins me this week to discuss the history and future of the Drag Race! Adam is a friend, a comedian, and the founder of ALL GEEKS, a Chicago group at the intersection of geek and queer culture.

Chad: Adam, you produce a wide variety of shows for ALL GEEKS. How would you rate the All Stars Herstorical Pageant?

Adam: I've seen and produced a lot of group performances, and I thought the level of effort and coordination was excellent. The characters and lyrics were OK, but what I was impressed by was the characterization and choreography shown by the queens. What did you think?

Chad: Anyone who has ever heard me rant about the Drag Race (yourself included) knows that I rarely enjoy the group performance challenges -- I prefer when the queens have more freedom to bring their own humor and talents to a challenge, as we saw in the first two episodes this season. That being said, I can agree that it was... okay. I was left feeling like some of the queens really lucked out with particularly fun choreography, and others got stuck with more mundane numbers. Would you agree?

Adam: Absolutely. I think Alyssa was a favorite from this challenge by most, including the judges, but who is surprised that her Annie-Get-Your-Lap-Dance choreography was... killer? She was given a great hand. Conversely, I think Ginger did so much with what she was given, but wasn't given much. She has real camp appeal and used it to propel her performance, but she wasn't given the same steps to shine.

Chad: Right, there are only so many bestiality jokes you can fit into a number. I felt like Katya also got stuck with a fairly static performance -- whereas others galloped around or danced upon the Pit Crew, she was fairly stationary.

Adam: Katya is one of my favorites, but I think she coasted on charm this time around like a Matthew McConaughey rom com. It was interesting to watch, but you walk away wondering what you saw.

Chad: What historical figure would you have loved to see in this challenge? Frankly, I'm surprised we didn't see a Cleopatra!

Adam: I think Hillary Clinton would have been such a crowd pleaser. She is as much "herstory" as princess Di, but is still relevant. Imagine what Ginger or Katya could have done with that!

Chad: UGHHHH you're right! I was all worried that there wouldn't be time for a runway after the historical pageant, but lo and behold! A fun sci-fi nerdy one!!! I was excited to talk with you about these looks, since we're both ridiculous comic nerds. Who was your favorite on the runway this week?

Adam: Phi Phi was my favorite. She reminded me of a beautiful Moebius character.

Chad: I agree, Phi Phi knocked it out of the park this week! Honestly, I haven't found myself very interested in her fashion when she goes for beauty and glamour, but she's incredibly inventive when she embraces her geekier side. You know what name I came up for her runway character? Thanus.

Adam: Yes! She definitely has a female space pirate thing going for her. In fact, Nebula fulfills that role nicely in the comic books and movie as Thanos' daughter. She is a blue character that even goes bald with cybernetic parts.

Chad: So many of the other queens went for a similar fembot look, I was worried we would have another kimono-gate on our hands!!!

Adam: I think we did, it was silver-gate this runway.

Chad: Roxxxy didn't get a lot of attention, but I did think her look was particularly polished and interesting. And Detox's sleek, minimal look definitely stood apart. What did you think of hers?

Adam: I was confused by Detox's look. It looked like The Fifth Element, but it was stuck somewhere between an homage and an interpretation.

Chad: Yeah, that confused me, too. I also think, with that wig she snatched off, she was channeling some Blade Runner, too, but of course, the Replicants didn't have silver skin like that. (god, we're such nerds)

Adam: I think it was Silver Surfer meets Leeloo meets Pris meets headache meets Advil.

Chad: I thought it was sleek and sexy, even if its references weren't clear. However, I do think the silver makeup put her at a disadvantage in the lip sync -- whereas Alyssa's makeup gives her huge, expressive eyes and lips, Detox's were obscured by her Tin Man mug.

Adam: I totally agree. And also with no wig, you can't whip your hair back and forth.

Chad: Wouldn't it have been hilarious if Alyssa had performed in her runway look, with the crazy silver horns and moon boots?? What a lost opportunity!

Adam: I'd watch it.

Chad: What do you make of Alyssa? Both as a drag performer and as a reality TV personality?

Adam: She had a terrific lip sync. She's a hilarious character that doesn't know how ridiculous she is, which makes it even better. It's my introduction to her, so it has been interesting hearing her say she was dismissed as a pageant personality in her season, because I don't get that from her at all.

Chad: Yeah, I think Alyssa has been sheer comedic GOLD this season. Girl is KILLING IT, and I'm just loving every second. I love hearing people's reactions to the All Stars when they haven't seen the queens' original seasons. My boyfriend hasn't seen Season 5, and he just DOES. NOT. GET. ALASKA. Or maybe he gets her, he just doesn't like her.

Adam: I hadn't seen it either, and I love Alaska. I think she's in the lead at this point.

Chad: I think she's been in the lead since... the end of Season 5.

Adam: She is this gratifying mix of bizarre and glamour. Her looks are interesting, and her characterizations are so deliberate, yet seem effortless.

Chad: Right, she completely embodies this bizarre alien character to the point where you're not sure if it's even an act.

Adam: Her futuristic look was interesting, but it looked like it belonged in a Mac commercial more than sci-fi. She was smart enough to add a twist with the alien-like scream on the runway, though.

Chad: I didn't think her runway was anything especially exciting, but I always love an off-kilter painted face. Hers reminded me of 70's Dave Cockrum character designs. Her crazy nail apparatus was cool, but it was REALLY difficult to make out against the busy background of the set.

Adam: It was a great look, but it seemed to me she was compensating for not knowing a lot of about sci-fi aesthetics.

Chad: Right, like Michelle said, I would have liked to see her take it further. At the start of the season, most of the queens seemed to agree that they should kick off whichever queen gets the worst critiques from the judges, but Alyssa seems to have bucked that trend. Do you think there will be any fallout from her decision?

Adam: Undoubtedly. But it was only a matter of time that someone contradicted the critiques. The fallout will be back-stage anxiety for whoever is at the bottom next time, because there's seemingly less rationale for who goes home.

Chad: I'm wondering if the other queens will give Alyssa shit in the workroom! Here's my take: the queens should send home whomever they want. Maybe they don't agree with the judges, maybe they just think one queen is a more interesting performer than the other. They win the right to choose! I am firmly pro choice.

Adam: I am also in favor of a queen's right to choose. And that is the entire point of the competition.

Chad: Yeah, I mean, in that kind of competition, you might WANT some system based on merit and objectivity, but... that's just not going to happen. Especially with some of the difficult decisions that the queens will face in subsequent episodes. Do you have any other thoughts on the episode?

Adam: I think Phi Phi is scared and resorting to survival instincts by becoming the villain.

Chad: Honestly, I don't really think she's done anything nefarious so far this season. Especially not anything nearly so aggressive as in her original season!

Adam: To me, it seems like basic insecurity. Instead of becoming a better performer, she is trying to bring others down. The only reason someone resorts to that is when they don't believe they can compete.

Chad: I do think she's probably wrestling with her confidence amid such a stellar cast of queens, but.... I don't know -- at this point, I'm blaming the editing more than her.

Adam: Really? Two episodes in a row she has literally whispered doubts into competitors' ears. Even if that's editing, it's still conniving.

Chad: But don't you think they're *all* talking shit while watching each other rehearse?

Adam: I think there is a lot of it, for sure. But it seems like Phi Phi is trying to get into someone's head, not just shit talk.

Chad: That certainly may be! I'm just sufficiently skeptical of all reality TV to the point that I try not to think too negatively of anyone based on what I see on the show.

Adam: That's a great policy, I think you're right. We shouldn't judge people for what they do or how they're perceived on the Hunger Games.

Follow Adam Guerino on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about ALL GEEKS on Twitter,Instagram, and at AllGeeksHQ.com! ALL GEEKS will be hosting American Horror Story viewing parties every Wednesday at Minibar, and on Saturday, September 24th, they're doing a Pokemon Bar Crawl in Andersonville at 2pm!

As always, you can get new art prints of this week's work on my Etsy store! And check out my Patreon page if you want to support me every month!

ALL STARS 2: Episode 2

September 03, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Dixie Lynn Cartwright joins me this week to discuss the All Stars Snatch Game! She hosts screening parties in Chicago at Sidetrack, where she does terrible things to her audience during the commercial breaks. (Dixie is pictured here between Dante Hernandez andSeazerz Peazza at Sidetrack)

Chad: How are you? The screening party was fun!

Dixie: I'm good. Still recovering from attempting to play the Snatch Game with sober white girls.

Chad: Here's the thing: talking to drag queens is hard. Especially you. On camera in a bar full of judgy gays. Have some sympathy for sober white girls who can't tickle your funny bone on command.

Dixie: I call them all Megan and give them free alcohol. I don't see what's hard about that. Congrats, Megan! Here's your shitty Blue Moon!

Chad: Ha! So, aside from some underwhelming performances of the Snatch Game at Sidetrack last night, you liked the All Stars' rendition of it?

Dixie: In the words of Drag Race's favorite MENSA member.... ABSOLUTELYYYYY. There were duds, but no big whammy's. These girls play Snatch Game on tour. I've drunkenly watched a few on YouTube when I should be brushing my wigs, so I know the girls have had a lot of practice. Alaska, who always kills on tour, was Mae West. And when she initially said it, I was worried. It seemed an obscure choice. But she killed it.

Chad: Alaska completely dominated that Snatch. It wasn't even close!

Dixie: I love that she just kept pushing the ridiculous sexual stuff. I think that's what made her so successful. She picked a trait and stayed with it. Her character was focused. Which can't be said for middle-of-the-road Alyssa.

Chad: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD? Honestly, I thought Alyssa and Alaska should have been lip syncing this week.

Dixie: Now, Alyssa Edwards is one of my favorite people to hear words from... but here is what she did for Joan Crawford: Google search “Mommie Dearest quotes,” and then she just vomited them up at random. Her opening talk with Ru was just random quote after random quote. At one point in the game, Ru even said, "well that doesn't make any sense, but that sure is funny."

Chad: Well, yes. Alyssa being random is just Alyssa being Alyssa.

Dixie: Which is true. ALYSSA as Joan Crawford was funny because it was like watching a parrot who became a human for a day trying to do comedy. So, did Alyssa deliver a good Joan? No. Was she funny? Yes...because she is Alyssa.

Chad: So, I agree that she didn't give the same kind of powerhouse performance as Alaska, but something about the look, the expressivity, the absurdity, it left me with much more of an impression than any of the others.

Dixie: But what about Katya?! SHE'S. JUST. SO. FUNNY.

Chad: Yes, Katya is wonderful and hilarious. But I've seen a lot of absurdist Bjork impressions before. She did well, but it didn't feel as fresh and new.

Dixie: She was quick. She focused. It was solid

Chad: It was! I just thought Alyssa's was more exciting and unhinged.

Dixie: I loved it. AND when we watched her, we could relax. We KNEW she would kill it, so we could just enjoy it. Whereas with someone like Alyssa or Detox, you have a knot in your stomach.

Chad: What did you think of Phi Phi's Long Island Medium schtick?

Dixie: I think Phi Phi's Snatch Game MUST have had an edit in there somewhere... how was she safe with that? And wasn't it Ross who said how great it was? That was incredibly lackluster. She had some good IDEAS, but she didn't take it far enough. When Ru caught her writing the answer, I got the bit, but I didn't laugh, because she didn't take it far enough with Ru.

Chad: Right, I liked the overall concept of playing a fraudster psychic, but the actual performance wasn't anything exciting. I was shocked she wasn't in the bottom.

Dixie: I like Phi Phi. I was cheering her on BIG TIME in Episode 1.

Chad: I like her, too, but I just don't think she's standing out in this competition. At least she gets SOME screen time, as opposed to poor Ginger.

Dixie: Oh...Ginger. Who was she last night? OH! Tammy Faye. Yeah...it was good. I feel like when Ginger made her comment about the lackluster reputation she and the girls in her season get, she kind of reminded us all of why Season 7 is that season we all agree to just not talk about... She had some good lines, like the “panties filled with God's love.” But I don't know... Ginger always leaves me feeling like my panties could use more filling.

Chad: Ha! Yeah, she's very funny, very talented. She's very reliable and consistent, but rarely EXCITING.

Dixie: YES! So, so well said. I cannot deny her humor and talent, but she just doesn't make me cackle. I don't get excited to watch her. And now...the bottom 3....

Chad: Can we all agree that no drag queen should ever pick Nancy Grace ever again?

Dixie: Oh, Detox. My blessed Detox. WHAT HAPPENED?! She had all the lines down. She had the focus on child murder (ALWAYS a laugh riot). She looked MUCH better than Acid Betty's version, but it was not funny.

Chad: Now, what about Tatianna? I thought she started out with a few good jokes. But...

Dixie: Ariana, just like Taylor Swift and Pink, is a pop star without a personality quirk to make her funny. Britney was funny because it was early on in the series and playing just a dumb girl could work. SHE LOOKED STUNNING, and when she came on screen, Sidetrack erupted!

Chad: Right, she was legitimately good in Season 2. But girl was off her game this time around.

Dixie: She wasn't awful, though. I didn't cringe. I think she thought more about the look than the character. The whistle tones thing was funny, I'll give her that. When I sing, I don't kill dogs. I just make cats horny.

Chad: Right, she definitely has a quick wit, but something was just off. She spaced out.

Dixie: WAIT. We forgot the biggest tragedy of all!

Chad: Oh! Which?

Dixie: Doesn't that say it all? Roxxxy as Alaska.

Chad: Oh, Roxxxy. Yes...... She didn't even get the voice right.

Dixie: I am a HUGE fan of her this season. The chip is off her shoulder and she's just f*cking gorgeous. But this was an epic fail.

Chad: It's hard to succeed as Alaska when Alaska is RIGHT THERE already stealing the show.

Dixie: Alaska is incredibly easy to impersonate. She's everyone's favorite queen to impersonate in casual conversation. But LORDt.

Chad: Wanna dish on the runway? Do you have much experience with... latex?

Dixie: If I did, I wouldn't be so well-known at the free clinic. Latex is kind of becoming its own genre in drag. I'm loving it. It makes me sweat just looking at it, but it's so much fun.

Chad: Is it expensive? Hard to find the right fit? Squeaky?

Dixie: It's a material that is difficult to work with if you've never done it. Katya's outfit was SO well thought out. It was SO Katya. It made me laugh, but she legit looked amazing.

Chad: Katya's was definitely a surprise. I don't think of her as someone who pulls out all the stops for a runway look, but she's clearly budgeting for it this season. Putting that Miss Congeniality money to good use!

Dixie: It was like her bearded drag from her season, Abraham Lincoln. She met the challenge while also being hilarious.

Dixie: Detox just looked incredible. Nancy Grace should've been looking for the bodies of the judges as she walked down the runway, because bitch SLAYED. The body shape. The headpiece. Her thigh gap. It was all so, so good.

Chad: Detox has delivered some of my favorite runway looks of all time. She has an edge and experimental side of her looks that just kills me.

Dixie: She is experimental without being sloppy. That's tough.

Chad: I sometimes wish she would bring that same precision and polish to her performances, though, right?

Dixie: Detox gets in her head during the challenges. I think she stands in her own way.

Chad: Agreed. I like her a lot, and I LOVE seeing more of her this season. I'm sure she'll be around for quite a while.

Dixie: Most of her body parts are only a few years old, so she'll outlive us all.

Dixie: Alaska was also very strong. I LOVED the eyes.

Chad: Yeah, it was somewhat simple, but it worked VERY well. Simple, but impeccably done.

Dixie: Yeah, gold star. Simple and striking. She killed this episode. Start to finish.

Chad: Absoluuuutely.

Dixie: I know that Tatianna's was straight out of a catalog, but SHE LOOKED STUNNING. It all worked for me.

Chad: Agreed. She looked absolutely perfect. You think we've seen the last of her?

Dixie: I don't think they're bringing people back. She keeps saying "revenge." I think they will have a hand in choosing the winner.

Chad: I feel like if anyone's going to come back, it should probably be Tatianna.

Dixie: I agree. And she needs it more than the other girls.

Chad: I was legitimately rooting for her after the first episode. They can't squander that potential! And right, as they've brought up several times, she's not as well known and could most benefit from the exposure.

Dixie: When she was chatting with Alaska, I wanted her to say, "I'm from an earlier season. I need this for my career. Detox and Roxxxy are doing just fine. Let the new fans get to know me." AND SHE'S INCREDIBLE. She deserves to be seen. Yeah, Sidetrack was NOT happy when she was sent home, not when Phi Phi was safe. The bar ERUPTED.

Chad: What did you think of the lip sync?

Dixie: JUST SO FUN. They are such favorites. When they were the top 2, Sidetrack's walls nearly collapsed from the cheers and screams. Seeing them lip sync together was just plain fun. We watched our favorite aunts duke it out, and I had a smile on my face the whole time. I LOVE watching the lip syncs this way, because there is no threat of elimination, so THEY are having more fun, WE are having more fun...it's just watching them show off.

Chad: Ha! Yeah, it was legitimately goofy and unpredictable. Did Alaska cut off her skirt? She had a blade hidden somewhere?

Dixie: Haha, no idea, but I loved it. Her weird final pose. It was all so great.

Dixie: Okay. The time has come. Adore. Where to start? First of all, I want to say that I love Adore. She's a fan favorite. I was psyched she was going to be on. But we need to be honest here. That was a dick move, dude. SO many queens would have LOVED to be there. Tatianna NEEDED to be there. And you just say, "I'm not getting the positive attention I'm used to... so, bye."

Chad: Ha! Based on what I've been reading, it sounds like she was in a shitty place at the time of filming. I think it's weird to go from colleagues to competitors, and even stranger to have Michelle go from being a maternal figure to your biggest critic.

Dixie: True, we don't know all the personal demons and such, but from a TV-only, superficial perspective... it was fucked.

Chad: It sucked. I felt bad for her, and I was disappointed.

Dixie: She seemed to be saying that she didn't know what to expect. Um. Yes you did.

Chad: I mean, yes, I agree. She should have known what to expect. But I do think shooting that show is incredibly stressful and surreal, and I'm not surprised that it can bring up powerful emotions, especially if you're already struggling with a lot.

Dixie: On her season, she was the underdog that kept getting by. As she did better, she played better. But now she is someone who is praised constantly. She comes on the show, is critiqued, and quits.

Chad: I agree, that's how it came across, and it's not great.

Dixie: I am SO upset that she won't be part of this season.

Chad: Well. Maybe Tatianna will come back and take her spot. Party!

Chad: Okay, that's all the stuff I wanted to talk about! Any other thoughts?

Dixie: Alaska is my All-Star and Jesus is Lord.

If that wasn't enough of Dixie for you, follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also find her this week at Dixie Wins A Talent Show (While Alexis Bevels Stage Manages) Tuesday, September 6 at Berlin. She also hosts Drag Race screening parties every Thursday and Beyonce Night at Sidetrack, September 14.

I should also mention that Sidetrack currently features a TON of my superhero and drag artwork all over their lovely walls, so you should stop by! I'll be selling my work there during the All Stars finale!

As always, you can find prints of my work at my Etsy store and support me on Patreon! Thank yew.

ALL STARS 2: Episode 1

August 27, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

I enlisted Alexis Bevels to chat with me this week about the new season of ALL STARS! Alexis is a fabulously funny Chicago queen known for her stellar singing and dancing. (Photo by Jose A. Rios)

Chad: Alexis, I LOVED this episode! As much as I love meeting new queens each season of the Drag Race, it was a blissful, 90 minute reunion with a bunch of my favorite girls. What were your overall thoughts on the cast and changes to the competition?

Alexis: I am completely obsessed with this cast. Obviously, Alaska and Katya are fan favorites (I am especially loving UUNNHHHHH with Katya and Trixie), so I’m excited to see more of them, but I think I’m most excited about Phi and Roxxxy.

Chad: I agree -- I had been worried that the season would feel like it was just dragging its feet until the inevitable crowning of Alaska, but man, it's going to be a fun ride.

Alexis: Oh, absolutely! Are you excited to draw some of those entrance looks? I like how some of them were callbacks to their seasons.

Chad: I LOVE entrance looks. I feel like they're often the embodiment of everything the queen is trying to convey, and yes, it was great to see these queens reference their previous seasons. I thought there were a few underwhelming ones, like Detox and Coco's, but man, I LOVED drawing Alaska's gown. You can never go TOO crazy when you're drawing Alaska.

Alexis: Haha absolutely. Although I will say that I think Detox looked like a Fraggle, and I am 100% on board with that aesthetic.

Chad: Were you impressed with any of the entrance looks?

Alexis: Loved Alaska. (Even the workboots underneath. Baby Alexis would have shaded her for that, but now she knows semi long hours in heels, I say kudos) And Roxxxy can do no wrong with her looks. That graduated bob was everything.

Chad: Roxxxy, yes, is totally gorgeous. I was a little miffed with her in Season 5 because of her animosity toward Jinkx, but come on, girl has it going on.

Alexis: Exactly. That's something that always frustrated me about her. Girl, you are SICKENING..... you didn't need to be so focused on bringing others down. But I do think things are different this time around. Fingers crossed.

Chad: I have to admit that I adored Alyssa's giant orange bow. She's been adopting goofy, cartoony props and accessories sometimes, and those kill me. I also feel like I'm now totally on board with her as the campiest, most outrageous queen to ever be on this show. In her own way. (Her drama with Coco in Season 5 really detracted from that.)

Alexis: I agree, completely. And I loved that little moment of "girl that was so three years ago." I was watching at Sidetrack, and everyone was lol'ing pretty hard. Also, please somebody make me a Dorito compact. I want one in every flavor.

Chad: Ha! So, I thought it was pretty funny that I ended up scheduling my interview with you for this maxi-challenge, since you're involved in a local "talent show" every month. What did you think of the queens' performances?

Alexis: Oh hayyyy! That's right. As the “Stage Manager” for Berlin's monthly Dixie Wins a Talent Show *While Alexis Bevels Stage Manages, I do think I know a thing or two about a talent show. (shameless plug over)

Chad: Haha, I should mention that Katya talked in her YouTube series about the fact that Alaska, after winning the reading challenge, was put in charge of the show. Probably just deciding on the order of acts, but still, kind of interesting.

Alexis: Ooooo that's interesting! Does that mean she saw the acts before arranging the set list?

Chad: I.... doubt it. But I dunno. I would guess it was more like, "Who do I put first? Who follows whom?" (I'm sure Alaska properly uses "whom," obvs.) I think there was an interesting dilemma for a lot of these queens -- do they play to their strengths, or do they try to do something different that will surprise the judges?

Alexis: I think everyone did a really good job of playing to their strengths, except maybe Coco. Who was lovely! But perhaps missed the mark. She is a lip sync goddess, and I wanted more.

Chad: Were there any highlights? Also, how bad was Phi Phi's pitch? Honestly, I'm asking because I don't understand pitch.

Alexis: I do think Phi Phi was off. But when she was on, I thought her voice was great! Ginger was so right in saying singing a capella is rough. It's sooo easy to stray off notes. If you can't hear yourself, how in the hell are you gonna slay anybody else.......... was that funny?

Chad: Ha! I think the other singers struggled with the limitations of the show's format -- it seemed like Ginger and Adore were only allowed to perform brief excerpts of their songs, so they weren't really able to get to the emotional peaks of them.

Alexis: Oh yeah, plus that’s an odd space to do something intimate or rock related, I imagine. Not quite a concert venue or club.

Chad: Right, Adore definitely wouldn't have made it far crowdsurfing on that audience.

Alexis: Exactly. For me, the clear winners were Roxxxy and Alyssa. I may be biased because I love that old world glamour, Broadway production numbers.

Chad: I think Alyssa's was particularly effective because she started it off with that ridiculous giant Ru puppet, and you were like, "Oh god, what trainwreck is this?" But then.. it was totally fun and totally Alyssa.

Alexis: Roxxxy is a showgirl extraordinaire. I LOVED the nod to the wig reveal that put her on the map in her season.

Chad: The wig reveal was definitely the funniest addition to what otherwise felt like kind of a traditional burlesque number.

Alexis: Oooo yeah, but I like that she did that. She's not a singer or showstopping dancer like some of the others girls, so she did something, maybe a little safe, but she did it so well and she looked fantastic.

Chad: She looked superb, definitely. And I was really glad this first episode featured Tatianna and Roxxxy so prominently, because it really sets the stage for a lot of surprises this season, a lot of chances for redemption and renewal in these queens' careers. Were you tickled by Tatianna's performance?

Alexis: I was! Totally unexpected. I think there's probably a notion of....... oh you haven't been around for six years. But i was delighted and surprised by what she did. What did someone call it, a beatnik slam poetry performance or something? I loved it.

Chad: Yeah, I thought it was weird and sexy and strange. Tatianna was right -- people are always underestimating her. I re-watched Season 2 a few years ago, because I hadn't drawn it the first time I saw it, and Tatianna was the one I was most surprised by. Like, I didn't remember her being so funny and resourceful! [I did an interview with her back then about it, in case anyone's curious!] She's become the one I'm most excited to see again, because she's such a wild card. She's very very good at subverting your expectations and coming out on top!

Alexis: I believe it. I'm excited to see more from her. And hopefully everyone.

Chad: What did you think of the “lip sync for their legacy?” I thought it was pretty epic, but I disagree with its outcome.

Alexis: I loved it, what an incredible twist to have the top two lip sync, and for 10k to boot? I did agree with the outcome. I felt like maybe Tatianna didn’t get all the words out, but maybe it was a delay in the screen i was watching......... or the Remy Martin they were giving away for free. Also, I think I'm just in love with Roxxxy's face, and any time I look at it, I just black out.

Chad: Ha!!! I think Roxxxy was totally lovely and delivered a very good performance, but I was completely mesmerized with Tatianna's choreography. Something about the way she moved, the tightness of her performance, completely won me over. Here's my conspiracy theory -- Since the producers (and Ru) know who each of the top 2 plan to send home, that could very possibly affect the selection of the winner. I think Tatianna, planning strategically, was totally going to send Adore home. She knows how popular and well loved she is. And the producers were like, WHOA NO WAY and gave Roxxxy the win.

Alexis: Oooooooooooo that’s good! Omg that’s so good!

Chad: When I first heard about the new system, I assumed the winner of the lip sync would just choose on the spot who goes home. Which would be crazy exciting, but also terrifying from the producers' point of view. So by "picking the lipstick" ahead of time, they are essentially warning the people making the show what they're going to do.

Alexis: I thought maybe people would line up Survivor style, and the person with the most votes would get the boot.

Chad: Yeah, Ru does love asking the girls "who do you think should go home," so I could have seen them voting, too!

Alexis: I love the lipstick thing btw, I wanna know what shades they are. I do think it has gotta be such a bummer to win the challenge, the lip sync, and 10k, but have to immediately dash someone's chances at staying. Talk about bittersweet!

Chad: Yeah, this season will have ALL THE EMOTIONS! I'm guessing that everyone will be DYING to know who Tati would have chosen, and that seems like the perfect scene to start the next episode with, as the queens disrobe in the workroom.

Alexis: Oh, that’s true. Speaking of workroom....... can we talk about the biggest twist of all that I CERTAINLY did not see coming?

Chad: Which one? REVENGE??? How do you think that will work?

Alexis: Maybe it’ll be like in that one season of ANTM Guys vs. Girls, where they kept all the eliminated contestants separate, and they still did all the challenges, but not with the people still competing. They put all their pics on social media so the public could judge, and then later on, the competitor with the highest social media score got to come back. Maybe Ru wasn’t lying when she said nobody would be going home!

Chad: Huh! I think that sounds REALLY interesting, but also like a ton of work for the poor camera crew! Maybe they allow Coco to spy on the queens from the shadows, make catty comments, and snatch their wigs? She literally becomes the female Gremlin of the show!!!

Many thanks to Alexis for joining me! You should absolutely go see her in Chicago if you can, because her performances are always a treat. She'll be hosting Truth or Bare: a Strip Trivia night at Berlin Nightclub on August 30th, as well as Dixie Wins a Talent Show *While Alexis Bevels Stage Manages on Sept 6th, also at Berlin Nightclub. You can also find Alexis on Instagram and Twitter!(Photo of Alexis by Sam Probst)

As always, you can find a bunch of this week's art at my Etsy store! If you want to support my art and get exclusive new RPDR art of your own, you can support me on Patreon!Or you can just follow me on Twitter and Instagram and stuff.

RPDR8, Episode 10

May 17, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Joining me this week is Dixie Lynn Cartwright, a fabulously funny and sharp-tongued Chicago queen. We were both at the Sidetrack screening party last night – I was selling art, and she was hosting, so we both ended up missing parts of the actual episode. So... yeah.

Dixie: Are you ready to chat about the season finale of Criminal Minds? I have to admit, I wasn't caught up, but I stayed up all night long to catch up.

Chad: Ha! I'm ready to chat about the parts of the RPDR finale I actually saw.

Dixie: Girl. I just rewatched it. I NEVER get to watch the show when I'm working. And not just because of alcohol. Although, mostly.

Chad: Okay, so, all T all shade, I really loved the old reunions where the queens actually got to interact with or at each other. But I will say that I really enjoyed this one, too. I live for the dumb, scripted stuff, like the opening scene with the past winners, the clown, and Ru's phone call.

Dixie: Oh, agreed. I loved that they really spotlit the top 3, but I miss them talking to one another now that they've seen what they REALLY thought of each other.

Chad: Aside from the finalists, whose looks did you like tonight?

Dixie: I'm sure this won't be the popular answer because most of us forgot she was a person, but I think Laila looked amazing. Seriously, she's a little Adore Delano, but with more polish. I was into it. Robbie Turner was the white version of Beyonce's Lemonade dress. Cultural appropriation.

Chad: My nerdy side really dug Dax, whose outfit was an homage to "Asgardian Storm," and with that reference, I think I just lost all three readers of this blog.

Dixie: Oh, I'm a BIG fan of Dax's looks. I love her nerd thing. I mean, I don't get into comic book shit because I like my pictures without having to read, but damn. She looks good. Chi Chi grew on me so much that she could have come out in an expected black dress and I would have loved it...oh wait. Seriously, she looked GREAT.

Chad: Chi Chi looked weirdly different -- did she change her makeup or something?

Dixie: Her makeup has changed drastically, and it needed to. Someone else styled her wig, built her an outfit. What we saw was Chi Chi with TV money.

Chad: Ahhhh, yes, that's it. Good for her!

Dixie: Can we take a moment and honestly dissect Derrick's look. The dress. Cool. Britney. We get it. Flesh. Stones. Pop music circa 2002. Good year. But it's almost like she has lost her confidence as Britney. Girl, you tried to be a different queen. You're not. Go back to looking like Britney and wear your straight hair. I couldn't figure out why I was so turned off by her look until the interview, and then it hit me. At least a dozen cats had chewed on her wig before she walked out.

Chad: I LOVE CATS! What's wrong with that?

Dixie: If you were at Sidetrack at all during the season, then you're familiar with my completely one-sided love-hate relationship with Derrick. She made it on TV, so good for her. Thorgy made my heart happy. She's just so positive and fun and wonderful. I loved everything about her last night. Except the painted nails. Press-ons are buy 1 get 1 at Walgreens right now. Let's make it happen.

Chad: I love Thorgy. Absolutely. But I just couldn't visually process what was going on. Did I miss some clever reference? What was with the Twizzlers wig? The ugly green bodysuit?

Dixie: REALLY? I feel like that's been her all season. A lot to process, but she's having such a good time, who the fuck am I to judge?

Chad: I love her hippy urban eclecticism, but this was like a rejected extra from The Fifth Element.

Dixie: REJECTED EXTRA?! Chad! You are NOT holding back. I thought it was interesting and fun and weird. I was on board.

Chad: The thing is, I love Thorgy. I just.... I.... I have no words. Okay, let's get out of this strange alternate world where you're kind and generous and I'm the mean one.

Dixie: I LOVE it. I'm a human now. Okay. I need to know... You said last night that it's difficult to draw fishy queens or queens that don't have memorable looks...who do you NOT want to draw? Then we can leave this alternate reality.

Chad: Ha! Although they're both nice and talented and gorgeous, I don't really find myself itching to draw Naysha or Derrick. They're aspiring to a pop star level of beauty, which is TOTALLY fine. But it just doesn't fall within the realm of my limited artistic sensibility.

Dixie: "Limited," okay... stop pointing towards yourself and just say it's boring to draw them.I have to admit that I wasn't a big Naysha fan until this season, and for a lot of the same reasons. She's STUNNING, but I didn't see what else she had to offer. But we had her at Sidetrack and I immediately fell in love. She's a fucking doll. Her beauty is out of this world, she's kind, she's deprecating (MY FAVORITE QUALITY IN A QUEEN), and talented as hell. I would've loved to look half as good in that gown as she did.

Chad: Well, I do like drawing Derrick, because he's cute. But those are private drawings.

Dixie: Oh, Chad. Don't. I'm sorry. I know it was TV, and Kim and Shea and all the queens that have met her have said that Derrick is wonderful, but TV is my reality...and she was awful.

Chad: HA! I think the key thing is that I did meet her briefly at the start of the season, and she was such a sweetheart to me that I'm always giving her the benefit of the doubt. Which is fine, right? It's not as if I'm the president of her fan club.

Dixie: I have no doubt that she's a kind, wonderful human, but I drank the Drag Race Kool Aid. The producers did an amazing job this season by manipulating the drama without it being as obvious as Season 7. To be totally honest... Hosting Drag Race every Monday at Sidetrack, it is a very uniting and fun element to have a common TV enemy. She became that, which is what the producers intended, and we LOVED it. She was always the punchline to my trivia questions. The bar knew it was coming, and they loved it. I was happy she provided that to the viewers.Is that shitty to say?

Chad: I think that's a very self aware and surprisingly nuanced thing for you to say. Are you okay??

Dixie: I've been drinking since 11 am. My feelings are feelings now.

Chad: Hm, drunk Dixie is what I'm used to. Weird.

Dixie: Okay, so where were we? Cynthia! We didn't talk about Cynthia!

Chad: Okay, yes, Cynthia stole the show with that gown.

Dixie: I HATED it. But I hated everything she wore this season. I'm sorry. She seems so sweet and a legit nutjob, but I couldn't get with her this season. I know she is a fan favorite, so I don't want to upset all the cu-cu lovers, but I just didn't connect with her. The fact that she has cancer is devastating, and I wish her the absolute best, but there was never a moment in the season that I felt connected to her.

Chad: I thought she was sweet, and a fun performer, but I agree that her runways weren't... great...

Dixie: The Miss Congeniality thing baffled me. Is it just because she would smile constantly and show all 32 of her teeth? And of course, this comes from a bitter place of resentment for those perfect teeth. I have like 12 left and who knows what color they'll be any given day. #dewmouth

Chad: She wasn't really a standout on the show except for her shining personality. And you didn't get that, because you're blind and deaf to kindness.

Dixie: That's my brand. YOU JUST SAID I WAS KIND EARLIER. Get it together, Sell.

Chad: I don't know what I'm talking about, I've been drinking since 10am.

Dixie: I've never seen you drunk, and I've never not been drunk.

Chad: Okay, so what did you think of the finalist's musical numbers? I have to admit that I kind of loved them and think it was great to see those queens perform in polished, well choreographed numbers.

Dixie: I LOVED THEM! I thought it was PERFECT. As much as I want Lucian to sit on my face, I'm not always on board with his songs, but I LOVED THEM ALL. Let's start with Bob.

Chad: I thought the "humble brag" theme of Bob's number was absolutely perfect.

Dixie: Oh, absolutely. And Bob's lip sync is so tight, he vogued, he was ratchet (I can say that word. I've seen Dreamgirls 8 times in the theater).

Chad: The final "death drop" was priceless.

Dixie: I mean, no one can say that Bob was not an incredible performer this season. That's what he was born to do. Bob is the comedy queen I want to be, but my comedy swings negative and his is just so FUN. I could watch him all day. Kim didn't move at all....and I loved it. It's my dream to have an entire number choreographed around me.

Chad: Kim's choreography was BRILLIANT! The dress was gorgeous, the dancers were gorgeous.

Dixie: At Sidetrack, we watch with the closed captioning on, and during her number it just said: {Singing in a foreign language} --Even the closed captioning people gave up on understanding her.

Chad: Her simple movements were really effective. I found myself strangely moved by the end of her number -- it was just so amazing to see her effectively showcased in such a thoughtful, stunning way.

Dixie: I was so, so proud of her. I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed when the crowd was so supportive of her. I can't put into words what it's like when a hometown queen is on that show. We have a Chicago treasure that Kim Chi has VERY wisely employed: Tiger Lily. She's a gorgeous, sweet person who has styled Kim into a goddess. Yes, Kim is creative and talented in her own right, but her pairing with Tiger Lily is magic. Everyone go find Tiger Lily on all the social medias right now.

Chad: Yes, I actually interviewed Tiger Lily for the first episode of the season! I think Kim has been extremely smart or lucky to find so many outrageously talented designers and photographers in Chicago. I was going to say that next season, I want TWO Chicago queens on the show for once. But then I remembered Naysha.

Dixie: Coming to Lifetime Movie Network: "But Then I Remembered Naysha: The Naysha Lopez Story" starring that girl from that one thing that you saw that one time.

Dixie: I know Kim like I'm sure a lot of people do, in that we have texted on occasion, she came over and helped me with my hair, she's friendly and sweet, but we aren't close. I wish we were, but Kim has been SUCH a kind, supportive member of the Chicago drag scene. She changed and elevated drag in Chicago before the show, and now she is CHANGING the face of drag across the world.Seeing her makeover the world as she has our city, I didn't know I would feel so deeply proud of her.

Chad: And she's doing it in her own, goofy, awkward and stunningly unique way. That's what's so great about seeing her on the show -- she never pretended to be anything she wasn't, she acknowledged her weaknesses, but she still slayed, because she's an outstanding, eccentric, insanely imaginative artist.

Dixie: Kim deserves all of the incredible success that is headed her way and MORE. I really can't say enough about what an incredible person she is. She is LEGIT the nicest person I've ever met in the drag scene. She can be shady, but it comes from such a kind heart that she'll immediately compliment you or praise you in some way.

Chad: Also, I LOVED that she brought everything in that theater to a standstill with that line about the Pit Crew -- Ru looked speechless!

Dixie: That's what is so great about her comedy: you just don't expect it, but she's a shady MF. After Drag Matinee one night, she came up to me and said, "Your hair looks really bad. You can't wear that again. I'm going to help you." And then we spent the day together wig shopping and styling. She was so patient and kind... and all I had to pay her was a burrito bowl.

Chad: HA! I wish you would have written some of her notes down and remembered them.

Dixie: I don't know what you mean. My hair was crispy and fragile last night. I wrote it ALL down. And watching Drag Race at Sidetrack where EVERYONE was cheering her on, it was just electrifying. We had over 750 people at the finale last night, and we were all holding our breath for Kim. We love Bob, and have all season, but we have a deep appreciation for how lucky we are to be able to claim Kim as one of our own.

Chad: I know! I just hope she stays here, or at least comes home to roost amid her many international adventures.

Dixie: Oh, she and Naomi will be in and out, I'm sure. I'm just so proud of her. I know she is going to do amazing things. I just hope she gives me a discount on her makeup line.

Chad: With Naomi in Chicago, what will you do now that you've been surpassed as the skinniest bitch in Boystown?

Dixie: Hahaha! Naomi will be traveling the world being a supermodel. I'll still be the upside down broom of Chicago wearing whatever was on the sales rack at Akira. We travel in different circles. It doesn't surprise me at all that she and Kim are besties, b/c second to Kim, Naomi is the nicest queen in the world. I don't get what happened in their childhoods to not make them bitter, garbage pail kids like me and Trannika, but I like it.

Chad: Did you feel like Naomi got overlooked in the finale last night?

Dixie: I mean...there's always one in the top 3 that is there because she's good, but she's not ready.

Chad: Right, and like they said, she was the youngest queen this season!

Dixie: Listen, she's 12 years old. She's already stunning and talented. She'll be fine. She'll be modeling on our graves.

Chad: Can we just take a second to discuss how Violet stepped onto the stage and destroyed it? I'm amazed anyone survived.

Dixie: I GOT GOOSEBUMPS! And I've never been team Violet, but JESUS CHRIST ON A COCKROACH I can't. Violet is other-worldly.

Chad: I don't generally draw queens from past seasons for this gig, but I'm praying that I'll have enough time to illustrate that.

Dixie: Oh, you MUST. It is legendary. It's too good for Logo. That's some Vogue-can't-handle-it shit.

I. Just.

It's.

Ugh.

It's.

What.

I mean.

Chad: Can you, like, reboot yourself or something? Technical support, I think Dixie has frozen up.

Dixie: Anyway, back to Naomi, before we skip over her like they did last night. I loved the Benetton ad that was her family ( I stole that from a spot-on Vulture article). It was a sweet moment, and I was living for that cape, bodysuit, choker thing. She's a gorgeous, lovely person. I'm happy we got to know her, and I'm thrilled that I get to run into her on occasion.

Chad: Yeah, I mean, she's got it going on, absolutely. I want to see her and Kim doing some amazing photo shoots like Fame and Violet have been doing.

Dixie: Oh, We haven't seen the last of Naomchi.And Rachael Sanders is her assistant, which, if you aren't following Rachel Sanders, you aren't doing drag. She is a tough bitch in Chicago who makes shit happen and she cracks me the f*ck up. I love that she and Naomi work together. Naomi is too nice to get her shit done... Rachael will make it happen... and hurt someone in the process.

Chad: I don't have a TON else to say except OMG CAROL CHANNING

Dixie: Oh, that Carol moment. I'm sorry, but everyone else's celeb call-in was shit compared to CAROL CHANNING! Pandora Boxx was rolling in her grave. Wait...she's dead, right? I guess my final question for you is... What was your initial reaction when Bob won?

Chad: Disappointment. I love Bob, but as you've so eloquently stated, it would have been something really really special to us both personally and as Chicagoans for Kim to have won.

Dixie: It feels shitty to say that I felt disappointed because Bob SLAYED this season. She absolutely deserved the crown, but Kim is elevating and changing drag like we've never seen. The brand of Drag Race would've benefited greatly with Kim as the ambassador. Oh, and Naomi was cool, too.

Chad: But hey, at least Kim did as well as Pearl.

Dixie: Ugh. Season 7 should be destroyed. What a disaster.

Chad: If Kim had won, I think there would be a backlash where people would be pointing out everything Kim *doesn't* do so well. But as it is, she's the Raven or Alaska of her season -- beloved, beautiful, and without the baggage.

Chad: Are you hoping the show changes anything for Season 9?

Dixie: No. I like the formulaic nature of the show. I think it allows us to rally around it. I just want to see Shea Coulee bring that crown home. You?

Chad: I kind of liked this shorter season, so I would be okay with another cast of just 12 queens. I still think they've been focusing on too many awkward group challenges, especially early in the season, but eh. If you were ever mistakenly allowed to be on TV, what kind of edit would you hope for?

Dixie: If they accidentally invited me thinking they were inviting back Nicole Paige Brooks, I would want to be a Jinkx, but I would be a Magnolia Crawford. If I ever had to lip sync for my life, I think I would just thank them for their time and go have a drink.

Chad: Thanks so much for joining me, Dixie! Where can people track you down?

Dixie: THIS WEDNESDAY May 18th, it's the one year anniversary of All Things Beyonce at Sidetrack. We're giving away exclusive Slay t-shirts AND BEYONCE CONCERT TICKETS. The first Tuesday of the month, Dixie Wins A Talent Show (while Alexis Bevels stage manages) at Berlin. I host and automatically win my own talent show while contestants compete for second and third place. Typically, the last Wednesday of the month is Sidetrack's Sync It! party. It's a lip-sync contest with a rotating theme. It's always really fun and really drunk.

I'm co-hosting the Dance Pavillion at Milwaukee Pride with Trannika Rex! June 10-12. Get your tickets at pridefest.com

Find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat (DLC4Lyfe).

I've added most of this week's art to my Etsy store!You can also pre-order 80 QUEENS, my Season 8 book that will collect almost all of this season's artwork!

And if you want to support me in the Drag Race off-season, you can join my Patreon campaign! I send out custom sketch cards and other goodies to me supporters every month!

RPDR8, Episode 9

May 03, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Joining me this week is Ariel Italic, a NYC queen who also writes hilarious Drag Race recaps for Queerty!

Chad: Okay, Ariel, at the end of a weirdly abbreviated 8th season, I have one question: Where was Mathu?

Ariel: SERIOUSLY. I've read theories that they got into a fight.

Chad: Between whom? Bob and Mathu, about whose makeup was better?

Ariel: Oh, sweet Bob. I love her so so much, and I wish wish WISH that she would learn to do a better face. Like, I know it doesn't REALLY matter, but it does KIND OF matter.

Chad: What should she improve? I don't know enough about makeup to actually know anything.

Ariel: For most of the season, she just wasn't doing much. Not a lot of highlight or contour. Kim's read about it looking like she wasn't wearing any make-up was pretty accurate. For the finale, she tried to amp it up, but then her blending was off. Like, a thick, dark line down each cheek is TECHNICALLY a contour, but it wasn't necessarily helpful in making her look pretty. And again, I adore Bob. Her paint is FINE. Just not, you know, GOOD.

Chad: Ha! I agree that Bob doesn't necessarily need to be a glamazon. But I do sort of wish, given their similarities, that she would get more of a "Bianca" thing going on. Where she at least gets a polished level of consistency, a very exaggerated but recognizable aesthetic. But again, she's about to win the season, so she's clearly got it going on.

Ariel: Yeah, I understand her point that she's a performer and the beat is secondary, but to call on Kim Chi again (I think she's the one who said it), your face as a drag queen is your calling card. A stronger aesthetic would help Bob make a better first impression. She puts so much work into what she does, but you couldn't necessarily tell that by looking at her, the way you could with Naomi or Kim.

Chad: Right, I think that's a fair point! So what did you think of this week's challenge? Or do you need a reminder of what it actually was?

Ariel: Oh, the infamous music video that never actually factors into the judging. It was so irrelevant this week that they didn't even bother to show finished clips for the runway.

Chad: I know! It felt like a complete afterthought. The "floatography" part reminded me of the ridiculous photo shoots they usually have in the first episode of a season -- physically taxing and sloppy. And then the rest of the shoot was... well, I assume there was more, but I don't remember much of it.

Ariel: It all seemed entirely arbitrary and ultimately useless. Of course Ru needed that footage because she actually will release a music video, but in terms of its impact on the game, it may as well have happened after the crowning. It would have made more sense to just do a Tic Tac luncheon and retrospective for the whole episode. Everyone was clearly being judged based on cumulative performance rather than video-making skills.

Chad: Right, it felt like half of it was the “Rucap” episode with Ru and the judges discussing each queen's personal growth, the journey they underwent over the course of the season. Did you buy any of it, or do you feel like it's mostly contrived for good TV?

Ariel: I noticed that they pointedly DIDN'T push the growth narrative for Bob (since, like Bianca, she showed up ready to win from Day One), but it seemed entirely accurate for the other three. Chi Chi especially came in a somewhat shaky regional queen and left a much more polished and assured champ. Kim was clearly more comfortable in print than on stage, and while I think they downplayed her lingering awkwardness significantly, I think she's blossomed. And Naomi... well, she's gotten more confident, I guess? I dunno, I don't have as clear a sense of her personality. She's super chill.

Chad: I agree that Naomi really didn't have a ton of stuff going on -- yes, she emerged as a serious contender halfway through the season, but I see that more as editing than actual performance. I was at the viewing party she was co-hosting last night, and even she acknowledged that her only storyline was... really loving her mother?

Chad: With Kim, as people get to know her, her talent, and her quirks, you just sort of say "that's Kim," and don't necessarily notice her occasional awkwardness anymore. So honestly, the "growth" is probably more of our own subjectivity. And, hopefully, a deep fondness and admiration for how amazing she is.

Ariel: It seems clear that Naomi snuck up on everyone. Which is not to say that I think she shouldn't be there. I am extremely impressed with her aesthetic. She brings something different to the table. She's less extreme than Kim in terms of her looks, but also infinitely more comfortable in her skin, and it shows in how she works the runway and camera.

Chad: Right, she's like a cat slinking around and effortlessly stretching, striking seemingly impossible poses. It was especially intense watching the episode with her, because they shot it in such a way that no one knew for sure whether they were in the top 3!

Ariel: I had a really hard time predicting who would last. I could have seen literally any of them going home. Even Bob! I was worried for Kim because performance is not her strongest area. It was anyone's game.

Chad: This episode didn't really focus much on Bob, which was interesting. Like you said, she came into the season already so self-assured, so the judges discussed the growth of the other three girls more.

One nice thing about the challenge was seeing a few new outfits from each queen. I got the feeling that a few were out of new stuff and had to recycle. Why would Bob bring back that white wig? Why, Ariel???

Ariel: It might be the only long, straight hair she has. She probably wanted something that would move in the fan. In that way, it was smarter than Kim's choice; that red thing was rock-hard with a hairline to match.

Chad: Ha! But everyone's longer wigs just lay flat on the bench underneath them! I see what you're saying, but I feel like the final video will show everyone's hair lying flat behind their heads.

Ariel: I think that was a poor production choice. I noticed that when they were filming, and I couldn't grasp why they didn't have everyone scoot up a little. Like, let your head hang over the edge so that the hair can flow back. And then you'll have more support for your legs! Two birds, one stone.

Chad: Right, it was baffling. So, given that Bob seems to have the most momentum, what circumstance would lead to any of the other queens taking the crown?

Ariel: I think it has a lot to do with what Ru wants to SAY with the win, you know? When Ross mentioned that Kim Chi could "change drag," that definitely caught my attention. She's part of a new era of queen that's more about Instagram and viral fame than local club performances. In that way, she almost makes Bob seem old-fashioned. Similarly, Naomi has this fashion model potential, and focuses much more on that chic, androgynous look. And she's young, so she brings the "next" to the title. This is about Ru leaving a legacy and what she wants to be remembered for.

Chad: Those are good points. But aside from dominating most of the challenges, I think Bob brings a level of activism and social consciousness that the community sorely needs, and I hope/expect that to play into the decision, as well!

Ariel: Absolutely. Her efforts raising money for charity since the season filmed have been phenomenal, and as she's pointed out during the show, it's not a new side of her. She's been fighting the fight for a while, and I respect that so much.

Chad: What did you think of the episode's runway looks? Who just grabbed what was left in their luggage?

Ariel: Only Kim really slayed me, as she does every time. Chi Chi's dress was clearly something she had saved until the end, and for someone on her budget, that was no small investment. It wasn't outstanding by the show's overall standards, but it was a new high for her. I was frankly not impressed with Bob's look, and Naomi's was true to her aesthetic, but not necessarily a showstopper.

Chad: Now, everyone I've interviewed so far this season has been from the Chicago drag community, so we were all smitten with Kim Chi before she was on the show. What do you think about her aesthetic and artistry?

Ariel: I followed her on Instagram before the season started, and I agree that in terms of makeup and fashion, she's in a class all her own. And her personality came across on the show in a really charming, endearing way. I'm not hugely impressed with her performance skills, but I think her look is in a league by itself.

Chad: It's hilarious that so many people initially dismissed her early on as an Asian Trixie Mattel, right?

Ariel: I didn't realize that was happening! I mean, in NYC we were hoping for an Acid/Thorgy/Bob Top 3, but everyone I knew figured Kim would be Top 4.

Chad: I agree that she has a hugely endearing personality and sense of humor, and I'm curious to see where she goes from here. Who are you excited to see at the Reunion?

Ariel: CYNTHIA! She brings me infinite amounts of joy. Also, I really want to see what Violet wears to crown the new winner.

Chad: Oh! Yes, absolutely. I'm hoping Bob brings something stunning to wear, and I can't even imagine what Kim is cooking up. I'll be interested to see how Thorgy is doing, how she responds to Ru and the girls. I feel like she got depicted in a weirdly competitive way during the season, and I hope that doesn't stick!

Ariel: She's got such a positive energy overall, I think she'll come out looking good. I'm sure she was surprised by some of the negative edit, but I'm hopeful that she'll be her usual upbeat self. Also, after seeing her wear a full fat suit and facial prosthetic to the NYC premiere, I want her to do something nuts for the crowning.

Chad: Ha! Yeah, here's hoping! Did you have any other thoughts about the season? It was short, wasn't it?

Ariel: It was extremely short! I can't believe it's already over! I want more! As for other thoughts: not really. Go read my recaps, everyone, I've expressed many opinions. All of them obnoxiously.

You can follow Ariel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and be sure to read her RPDR recaps here!

All of this week's art is already available on Etsy! You can also find my queens and me at RuPaul's Drag Con in LA this weekend! I'll be exhibiting my work in Chicago at Sidetrack's finale viewing party on May 16th!

RPDR8, Episode 8

April 26, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Joining me this week to discuss the Drag Race is IMP QUEEN! She recently celebrated her very first year of drag, but she's already an indelible presence in the Chicago scene. (Photo by Jo Control with styling by Daniella DeLuna)

Chad: I was so thrilled with this week's episode -- I think it might be the high point of the entire season! There's plenty of fun stuff to talk about, but first, let's dig into the workroom drama between Naomi and Derrick. What do you think was at the heart of their bickering?

Imp Queen: I think last night they reached the point of the competition where politeness and tact and desire to appear "unbitchy" on TV went out the window. Derrick accused Naomi of attacking her to cover up her own insecurities, but sometimes I think the behavior you imagine you are seeing in others is really the behavior you are refusing to see in yourself. I think Derrick seemed really shaken by the journey of the competition, the struggle to find his own "authentic" identity in drag. And I think Naomi was rightfully annoyed that Derrick kept criticizing Naomi's objectively superior visual drag. Also, as much as this is "the big fight of the season," there really wasn't all that much animosity, just spirited disagreement. This wasn't a Shangela/Mimi or a Phi Phi/Sharon moment. Which I think speaks to the increasing media savvy of the queens each season.

Chad: One of the reasons I enjoyed this episode so much was that, even after all that animosity, Naomi and Derrick made an effort the following day to talk and help each other out. It was very humanizing and warm -- the bonds of their sisterhood were evident.

Chad: Naomi was described this week as the underdog of the season, but honestly, I had been thinking that was Chi Chi's storyline! Who do you think deserves a spot in the final three?

Imp Queen: I've been saying since week one that Kim and Bob are locks for the top 3 to me. I just could never for a moment imagine the season going any other way. But the third spot could really go either way. Both Naomi and Chi Chi have performed extremely well in all aspects of the competition. They both are endearing. I think Chi Chi's edit has a little more storyline, but only because the judges were kinda sleeping on Naomi at the beginning of the season for some reason. Pageant answer: they both deserve it. Non-pageant answer: I pick my Neverland sister Naomi.

Chad: I would truly be happy to see either in the final three, alongside Kim and Bob, of course!

Imp Queen: Also, like, heaven forbid Kim Chi gets cut next episode-- it would be really cool to see an all Black top three, especially since there hasn't been a black queen in the top three since season 2.

Chad: I can't even contemplate such a thing -- No Kim Chi in the final 3? I think that's officially sacrilege, especially in the city of Chicago.

Imp Queen: Yeah, exactly. It's actually just not possible to comprehend.

Chad: I have two questions for you: Are you a fan of Strangers With Candy? And were you a fan of the queens' performance that paid homage to it?

Imp Queen: I LOOOOOOOVE Strangers With Candy! I thought the queens' performance was like the Ball challenge opening numbers always are-- silly, pointless, sloppy, and wonderful. It was a lot of fun to hear Amy singing (I would LOVE a Strangers With Candy musical...) but like, what was with the false teeth they were all wearing? None of them were able to lip sync!

Chad: I know! That was the weirdest part of it. I'm also a huge, huge fan of Amy Sedaris and her work on Strangers with Candy, but I agree entirely with your summation of the homage. But... at least it was short!

Imp Queen: Kinda great, though. One of my favorite lip sync moves is to do the Coco Montrese point-at-your-mouth thing, but then get all the lyrics wrong.

Chad: HA! I love that so much. I wasn't initially thrilled with the Book Ball challenge -- I was worried that the use of paper would echo the Money Ball from Season 3. But I actually LOVED the autobiographical theme of the challenge, and the runway looks slayed me. Which were your favorites, and what are your thoughts on their construction/innovation/concept?

Imp Queen: Kim was hands down the winner of the Ball. The queens were joking about it in Untucked, but she really did "embrace the material"-- and not just paper, but the whole idea of an autobiography challenge focused on your relationship with drag and your mother. She went deeper conceptually and emotionally than any of the queens, crafting a clear and compelling visual story that HAD ACTUAL CONTENT!!! Her looks said something deeply personal about her life experience, something that has a real emotional cost for her to share. She didn't win because of her flawless construction and her perfect taste. She won because she showed us something special and sad and beautiful about herself.

Chad: I thought Kim's looks were utterly stunning. Her story and her performance were so masterful!The way the challenge was constructed to allow the queens to visually convey their history and character was fantastic, but I think it was particularly suited to Kim's skills -- she knocked it out of the park! I adored both Naomi and Chi Chi's eleganza looks -- what did you think of them?

Imp Queen: Naomi's was absolutely stunning-- the silhouette when she leaned back was just gorgeous. I don't know if you're aware of this, but I look exactly like Naomi Smalls. We're practically twins. (lol in my imagination) I think Chi Chi was also great, especially the hair and face pieces. I think both Naomi and Chi Chi's looks felt a little bit similar to their looks from the wizard of oz challenge, but amplified. I think that makes a certain sense; you're creating all of these pieces so close together, and I know my drag sort of moves through phases of similar visual obsessions.

Chad: I agree -- I'm obsessed with those hairpieces that Chi Chi made. And the earrings, too. I had to draw her close up, because the angles were stunnnnning. I thought her use of the varied textures were really interesting, but I wasn't quite as drawn to the overall gown.

Imp Queen: Yeah, the way she placed the earring to extend the lines of her bone structure was super QT

Chad: I guess you're quite knowledgeable about unconventional uses of paper applied to one's face, aren't you?

Imp Queen: lolol what can I say, I love a nice natural lash... just one pair of 3001s. I actually really liked Bob's look, too.

Chad: Yeah! The colors were gorgeous, and I loved that hair on her.

Imp Queen: I think it's very smart to spray yourself a strong color if everyone else is walking out in off-white.

Chad: Do you feel like she skirted the challenge by using primarily cardboard?

Imp Queen: I mean, I guess so, but i don't get the sense there's a real advantage to cardboard over paper-- so it doesn't feel like cheating or dishonesty, just like missing the opportunity to give the judges what they really wanted. I'm glad cardboard-gate didn't turn into tulle-gate 2.0

Chad: Bob got a lot of shit from the other girls about her makeup -- what do you think of her paint?

Imp Queen: I mean, it's not good... Kim said it best-- it looks like she wears lips and lashes. But like Bob said, her paint isn't really the point. So, like, I think I can be a sickening drag queen even if I can't death drop or tongue pop or serve you Rihanna in a one-armed leotard. And i think Bob can be a sickening drag queen wearing one pair of 301s and some strawberry lipsmackers. It's all about what you DO have to offer. That said, once you get to a certain level, maybe it's time to step your pussy up (and I think Bob has, paintwise. She looks so much better now gigging the gig than she did shooting a year ago.)

Imp Queen: I LIVED for her Sylvester lip sync!!!!

Chad: Ha! It was fabulous! And I was so tickled by the song selection!

Imp Queen: One of my favorites, and you could tell Bob really loves the song, too. Derrick did a great job, too, but she was definitely the supporting actress.

Chad: I took a million screengrabs during the lip sync for reference, and I was struck by how many wonderfully expressive and varied faces Bob was pulling at every moment in her performance.

Imp Queen: I loved the moment when Bob slid on his knees, and then Bob and Derrick sort of scooted along the floor together in sync.

Chad: And then her moment with Derrick after Bob was told to stay -- I think that was a magnificent moment of tenderness between them. It was an incredibly WARM episode. They've been through a lot, but there was a lot of reconciliation this week.

Imp Queen: Also, like, from an appearing-on-reality-TV standpoint, that was really smart. Like, Bob knows some shit went down with him and Derrick, he doesn't know 100% how the edit will go down, so he makes a point of saying, in a very public moment, how positive he feels about Derrick and how much they've grown.

Chad: I think Bob is EXTREMELY smart with how she comes across onscreen. Compassionate and fun and creative.

Imp Queen: She and Kim both I think are being very genuine, but also playing the TV part of the game very intelligently-- like Bianca and Willam did, where it felt like they were holding up little storyline signposts for the editors to pick up on and use. That's Kim's ultimate embrace of the material.

Chad: HA! Brilliant. That leads me to my final question: When's dinner?

Imp Queen: lololol seriously though, I'm hungry.

Chad: Did you have any other topics you'd like to discuss?

Imp Queen: Last little thought about Kim Chi the entrepreneur--- I think Trixie and Katya changed the game last year in terms of how to market yourself online and IRL during the airing of your season. And I think Kim is really taking what Trixie did and going, like, ten steps further. She's far and away the best businesswoman to ever be on the show. Releasing gorgeous Adam Ouahmane photos of every runway look, a new limited edition T shirt of every catch phrase... She's playing the fuck out of this game, and building the kind of platform that will keep her one of the top Ru girls for years to come.

Find Imp Queen on Instagram, SoundCloud, and Snapchat! (@impqueen) She'll be performing May 4th at Hydrate's #FACE, and she'll be at SmartBar's Queen! on May 8th. She'll be performing and hosting at IT Presents' next party May 12th at Berlin, and then at Neverland's Animal Farm IML party at Charlies. Every Monday, she's at Annex at the Boom Boom Room, and every Thursday, she's at Debonair Social Club for Neo. (Photo by Erik Michael Kommer)

Find all this week's art on my Etsy store!

RPDR8, Episode 7

April 19, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Joining me this week is Sara Andrews, who has quickly become one of my favorite queens in the short time she's been in Chicago.

Chad: Sara! I'm really excited to talk Drag Race with you! I've totally fallen in love with you, your style, and your performances since you moved to Chicago – about a year ago, was it?

Sara: Yup! I fell asleep in sunny 75 degree Florida and woke up in a 10 below zero blizzard last January.

Chad: Ugh, I apologize on behalf of the entire city of Chicago. Now, you've been really outspoken about the show's general politics of representation on social media, but first, I'd like to hear what you thought about the week's "political" challenge.

Sara: I loved it! Drag is meant to be a lot of fun, of course. But it's also good to be vocal about important things like politics, too, if you're in the public eye. It made me love Bob even more. It showed that he was more than just funny. He had some depth, too.

Chad: That's true! I felt like the most political discussion in the show wasn't in the challenge, but rather with Bob in the workroom. I LOVE me a socially conscious queen!

Sara: Oh, for sure! If you have a voice, and you don't use it for good, you're wasting it.

Chad: Did you know she's also auctioning off a lot of the clothes she wore on the show for charity?

Sara: I saw that! That's incredible! I absolutely adore her!

Chad: I felt like the actual challenge this week wasn't really about any kind of heightening of political consciousness, but rather about making fun of each other. But that was still pretty entertaining! I thought it was a cleverly designed exercise. The queens knew that they couldn't be TOO mean about their partners, but they also had to be entertaining. It allowed for some character work, some jokes, and a lot of Pit Crew action!

Sara: It was a good ratio of serious to entertaining.

Chad: So aside from Bob, whose performance did you like most?

Sara: I actually really liked Derrick's. Although I have a feeling Bob probably helped him out a lot with that.

Chad: Yeah, it was an interesting challenge in that regard -- the partner often helped carry the other queen's commercial with their goofy acting! I didn't feel like Derrick's jokes were that strong, but she was committed, and like you said, Bob helped out a lot. And admittedly, Derrick's "baby eating" contributions to Bob's commercial were also... delicious?

Sara: Hahaa! For sure. I enjoyed Chi Chi's as well! Being a southern girl, I thought a lot of her jokes were funny. I was surprised that she did so much better than Thorgy in the challenge.

Chad: Chi Chi definitely had some great jokes! Do you relate at all to her turmoil about playing up her "deep South" roots?

Sara: Oh, for sure. I grew up without a pot to piss in as well. Hahaa! Even though I hate that she uses her poverty as an excuse so much, I understand where she's coming from. But sometimes, you just gotta laugh about it.

Chad: Despite her excuses, do you think she's at the same level as the other remaining queens?

Sara: Not at ALL! I honestly thought she'd be one of the first to go. I'm all for an underdog storyline... but not a whiny underdog.

Chad: Oh really?? See, I think she's proven to be one of the very best lip sync performers this season. Would you agree with that?

Sara: I think I could definitely agree with that. She's from the South, after all. Drag down there is a little more old school. It's all about what you can do on the stage. So it make sense that she would excel in that area. From what I've seen, southern drag is to Broadway as northern drag is to Hollywood.

Chad: That's a fascinating analogy! (haha, anal)

Chad: Kim had a really rough week, but I have to say that I adored her commercial! I think she embraced her oddball sense of humor and pulled it off. How do you feel about her performance and longevity on the show?

Sara: Omigosh! You know I'm the biggest Kim Chi fan ever! I really liked her commercial a lot! I think there was only one joke that went over my head. The rest were hilarious to me. Kim is so quick witted. And, being that I'm a hill person from the backwoods of Tennessee, I can be a bit slow, sometimes. So it often takes me a little extra time to get Kim's jokes backstage.

Chad: I thought her "don't trust a skinny cook" angle was super smart. And self-deprecating jokes are always a safe bet, but I just hope she isn't really that hard on herself! How did you feel about the black and white runway? I'm glad that they at least acknowledged that they totally got the idea from Detox!

Sara: Ya, I am too! I loved it. Kim was my favorite, of course. She's just such a visual spectacle and a makeup genius. I liked that hers was outside the box from all the others.

Chad: Hers was the only one that made me flip my shit. Kim is a flippin' genius! What did you think of the lip sync? Was it even close?

Sara: Not at ALL. I think we only saw 2 half-second clips of Thorgy the whole time... probably for good reason. Those 2 clips were terrible. But, also, I've believed for quite some time that they choose the songs specifically for the queen that they want to stay.

Chad: Yes, I do think that's a valid theory -- I've worried for a few weeks that Thorgy wasn't being depicted well.

Sara: I really liked Thorgy in the beginning. But as the show went on she became more an more unlikable.

Chad: When Chi Chi's beads broke, what was Thorgy doing? Did you see how she kind of stopped performing and was grabbing for Chi Chi?

Sara: I did see that! I was wondering what that was all about. But it seemed like Thorgy seemed to not know a lot of the word. And, how any drag queen could not know the words to that song is beyond me.

Chad: I thought that Thorgy might have been worried Chi Chi was going to trip on the beads? Or something? It was a strange moment.

Sara: Maybe. Thorgy does seem like someone that would be caring like that.

Chad: I think Thorgy is a VERY strong personality. The competition played up her quirks and competitiveness, which is too bad. I still dig her, though!

Sara: Ya, I like her, too. I've learned not to judge the girls on the show too harshly. I've met too many that I loved on the show and ended up not caring for in person. And vice versa. Often times my least favorites on the show are my favorites when I work with them.

Chad: You don't have to answer this question, but here it is: You are given this week's challenge, and your partner is RuPaul. Where do you even start?

Sara: Hahaa! You know how I feel about RuPaul. I want to like her soooo bad! She was my idol growing up. I even drew her and sent her a fan letter when I was 14. Bought her autobigraphy, albums, watched her talk show on VH1. If it had to do with RuPaul, I had it. But I feel like she's quickly becoming the Caitlyn Jenner of drag. It's great that she's shining a spotlight on her community. But the ignorance she has for the current state of said community is mind boggling. Not that I'm one to talk, really. Kids these days have so many terms for gender and sexuality, it's confusing. But at least I'm making an effort to understand it all. She's very set in her ways.

Chad: In her controversial Vulture interview, she said that trans people take gender too seriously. Do you think that's true?

Sara: I think it can be. But I also know a lot of drag queens who take their gender too seriously. And I know a lot of trans people who don't take theirs seriously at all, too. It seems to me that Ru sees the trans vs drag issue in black and white (as does much of the media) when, in fact, it's actually a very colorful spectrum. I chuckled to myself when I saw that the runway challenge was black and white, by the way. How fitting...

Chad: Ha! Well said! What perspective do you think a trans performer could bring to the show?

Sara: I feel like drag today is all about saying, "Fuck you," to gender norms and the gender binary. But I feel like Drag Race still caters to those norms a bit at times in order to appeal to a wider audience. I really think a trans perspective could push the boundaries that Drag Race is trying to push even further. And why not?! The trans issue is HUGE right now. Heck. If we have a right wing Republican trans person in the media, why not the opposite end of the spectrum - a trans drag queen?!

Thank you SO MUCH to Sara for joining me this week! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, andInstagram.

If you liked the black and white sketches in this week's post, you can get your own custom postcard sketches every month though my Patreon campaign! And you'll find this week's Bob and Kim art on Etsy!

RPDR8, Episode 6

April 12, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Hi folks! It's just me and my dumb art this week. My interview didn't work out, but that's okay, because after talking Drag Race non-stop for 4 days in Seattle at Emerald City Comic Con, I'm happy for a break! (Thanks to everyone who came by! It was great!) With the Wizard of Oz runway, I was really hoping for wild, avant garde looks from the queens. They don't assign you a poppy-fueled interpretive dance challenge if they don't expect you to pull some crazy shit, right? But the majority of queens brought out underwhelming looks. Some simply lacked the imagination, others probably lacked time.

In any case, let's get to the good stuff:

I liked the looks of Thorgy and her partner -- I didn't actually know what the "Citizens of the Emerald City" looked like, but after googling them, it's clear that Thorgy stuck pretty close to the source material while giving her looks a sleek, simple consistency.

Kim and her partner came out in fairly simple garments, but they had a fabulous graphic appeal. And those brooms! Trading, hitting, flying on them. Maybe even sweeping with them! Plus, I'm a total sucker for stripes.

I was excited that Naomi stepped it up this week. I like her a lot, but I agree with the judges that she needed to branch out beyond her lingerie sets, and it's clear she's learned a lot from those Barnes & Noble fashion magazines!

This week's prints of Kim and Naomi are already available on my Etsy store! And if you feel like it, you can sign up to send me a few dollars every month at Patreon!

RPDR8, Episode 5

April 05, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Joining me this week is Toyota Corona! She's a fairly new Chicago queen who won the first cycle of CRASH LANDING, Trannika Rex and Nico's talent contest at Berlin. (Photo by Meg Strobel)

Chad: So, my expectations were exceedingly high this week -- for both the Snatch Game and the juicy rumors I had read about the episode's lip sync. Neither ended up being quite as exciting as I had hoped. What was your impression of this week's episode?

Toyota: I thought it was a a good episode. Overall, I liked a lot of the impressions. I was so looking forward to whatever Bob was going to do. He's such a charismatic performer that it didn't even matter who he did. There are always going to be a few underwhelming performances

Chad: If a queen knows that comedy isn't her strength, what do you think she should do?

Toyota: Every queen has a gimmick, and they need to work it if acting/impressions aren't their forte. Whether it be using props or flirting or reveals. Kim blew me away with the commitment to that ridiculous character. At the very core, you have to know the person you're impersonating. Even if you're not witty, have at least a few references in your pocket.

Chad: I thought Kim made a really smart choice -- going with an over-the-top character who is funny from the start, just from her crazy appearance! I feel like Pearl would have been the wrong choice -- queens with low energy in the Snatch Game often go home, so impersonating such a character would have been risky!

Toyota: She definitely chose correctly out of the two.

Chad: I felt like Thorgy absolutely nailed the look and behavior of Michael Jackson -- to a creepy extent!

Toyota: You can tell she studied him and really put work into it.

Chad: I think what kept her from winning was the subtle, somewhat subdued nature of the performance -- the most effective aspect of her impersonation was Michael's soft voice, which doesn't steal the spotlight like Bob's louder characters did.

Toyota: Michael had a soft voice, but he also had a larger than life personality on stage. So Thorgy could have channeled a bit of the other persona if he wanted to make it bigger. I think Michelle or someone called out Bob for "showboating," which was a ridiculous critique. It's a competition for drag queens. That's literally our job. If you're fighting wig and nail for something, you're gonna try to make everything you do as big and flashy and memorable as possible.

Chad: Ha! I think that's a fair point. However, as a somewhat introverted person, I often want my artwork to stand by itself, rather than having to fight for it to be seen. Bob is that motormouth extrovert that can be a great ally and friend, but only if he lets you get a word in!

Toyota: Ahh I do understand that. I think the nature of the reality tv competition lens that their art is being shown through gravitates towards the grandiose.

Chad: Yes, definitely. And clearly, drag is a performative art! I'm FASCINATED by the friendship between Bob and Thorgy -- in fact, I think the show is doing a really great job this year of depicting the complexities of these queens' relationships.

Toyota: I agree. I think the whole season has been really fantastic because we're getting to know the queens as people, and I feel like they're doing a great job of humanizing everyone. Acid was pegged as a mega bitch, but everyone has a struggle, and you could tell the bitchiness comes as a defense mechanism. Same, I think, with Derrick.

Chad: Yup, I agree -- We saw Acid unload on Thorgy how she feels like such an outcast in the drag community.

Toyota: I think a lot of queens can identify with that. Because of social media, drag feels like a lot more of a community than it really is.

Chad: What do you mean? That tagging each other and liking each other's posts don't equate to an actual community?

Toyota: At the end of the day, the people on social media aren't at your gigs. They're not in the dressing room when you just performed your heart out for $3, and you're staring at the mirror asking if you should even be doing this. It's a lonely sport, sometimes. So I understand Acid's feelings.

Chad: You recently moved from Milwaukee to Chicago -- was it specifically to join this unique community?

Toyota: Absolutely. At Divas of Drag on Saturday, Trixie said Chicago is still the best place for drag in the world, and I believe that. There is so much art and talent and drive, and people here are at the forefront of this drag Renaissance. I was a public high school English teacher for 4 years, and I quit everything to be a part of this.

Chad: Yeah, that's quite a leap! One of the most striking elements of your performances has been your use of character, jokes, and (occasionally) props. So I think you're the perfect person to be chatting with for the Snatch Game!

Toyota: Everything I do has an element of humor, and I have wanted to make people laugh from as soon as I could talk. It's been a crutch, a defense mechanism, an art medium, a way into job opportunities and now I'm making (a very little amount of) money from it!

Chad: Speaking of queens in bankruptcy, what did you think of Chi Chi's performance this week?

Toyota: I am absolutely enamored with Chi Chi, as I think most of the world is by now.Her Eartha Kitt was purrrrrrfect. The runway was also great because she: A) made that all in 6 hours and B) didn't wear a kimono. Kimono-Gate was so freaking uncomfortable. I was talking to Naomi last night, and she said they all thought it would be a look no one would do.

Chad: Yeah, I'm sure! It was just a really unfortunate coincidence.

Toyota: My question is why didn't anyone whip up something new?

Chad: Eh, I'm guessing the producers WANTED that drama -- like, "who wore it better?" But FOUR? It was somewhat interesting to pick apart the differences between their approaches -- Thorgy went for a very cartoony take, Kim did an authentic one, Naomi put on a red sheet and looked amazing.

Toyota: And Derrick's looked like a Mexican blanket from the flea market.

Chad: You didn't like it?

Toyota: Those blankets are fierce! I have a fuzzy blue one with a beautiful lion on it.

Chad: The artwork on Derrick's kimono absolutely slayed, but I felt like the overall look was flat.

Toyota: I'm definitely, definitely not one to talk about fashion. But I felt like it was tacky. Beautifully illustrated and crafted, but it was more "Madonna fan" than "Madonna."

Chad: I see. I wanted something more -- the wig was too simple, the makeup was too simple, the palette of the kimono was too simple.

Toyota: What did you think of her Britney?

Chad: I thought she was playful and fun as Britney. I don't really remember any actual JOKES, but she was a lively presence.

Toyota: There's been such a big build up about it. Like, is she gonna make it to Snatch Game? (Duh) Is she gonna do Britney? (Duh) She was lively, but didn't take the character to the over-the-top place that's needed to do well.

Chad: I thought she was firmly in "safe" territory, yeah.

Toyota: I don't agree with everything she says, but she's playing the game as well as she can.

Chad: I really like Derrick! I think she's trying her damnedest, but this just really isn't her game.

Toyota: I like her, too, and I hope her portrayal on the show doesn't hurt her.

Chad: What did you think of Robbie this week?

Toyota: As a Maxxinista, I had never heard of her character. So I think that put her at a disadvantage. And she was already feeling the pressure of being in the Seattle shadow of Jinkx and BDLC.

Chad: Yeah, I was dying to see her do Liza -- she's performed as her for years!

Toyota: That would have been so much better, even if it was bad. The recognizability would have helped a lot, and Liza has a lot more to play with in terms of gestures and mannerisms.

Chad: Agreed.

Toyota: Betty and Naomi were let-downs, so there was no surprise they were in the bottom two. Naomi should have done Celie/Whoopi. I don't know if it was editing, or if Bob got in her head, or what.

Chad: Yeah, that was disappointing! Naomi is talented, but SO YOUNG, and I can see how she would be intimidated by the more experienced queens.

Toyota: Right.

Chad: So, we may or may not want to venture into this territory, but with something like the Snatch Game, what do you think about the queens impersonating characters who might be deemed problematic -- the mentally ill, accused child molesters, etc? And what about a lot of queens of various racial backgrounds coming out in kimonos?

Toyota: Oh geez, here we go! Let's do this. As far as problematic characters, I think it's okay if it's done correctly. RPDR/Snatch game is a pop culture microcosm, and so meta, and already such a critique of many of society's issues, so I like when a queen can dig into something in the world of the media and make it humorous. For the the first round of Trannika Rex, Nico, and Lucy Stoole's Crash Landing, I impersonated Kim Davis. She's a shit human and hurt a lot of people, but I got to turn that into something funny and turn the tables.

Chad: Right! I saw that! That was at the peak of her fifteen minutes of infamy!

Toyota: Mine too! Thorgy as Michael didn't skirt around any of his issues, but he also showed that this person was a human being, and a very talented, but damaged, one.

Chad: I mean, I really liked the performance, but I could see how someone would have a problem with him making light of what may have been sexual abuse.

Toyota: That's very true. There's always a question with artists--can you appreciate the art but despise the artist, or are they inseparable?

Chad: I hope people like my art despite me being a terrible human being.

Toyota: Let's face it, most celebs/artists have a facet about them that should not be glorified

Chad: So very, very true. Some of them even host reality shows about drag queens.

Toyota: Bloooooop. Are we going there?

Chad: If you have some thoughts you'd like to share on Ru's recent interviews and such, I'm happy to hear them!

Toyota: In all of my years of school, and also as a teacher, I don't feel knowledgeable enough to speak on this, but I am going to anyway, because I'm an American, and that's what we do. A few quotes from an interview with RuPaul and a follow-up tweet have incited quite a bit of controversy in our community.

Chad: About the inclusion of cis-women and trans performers into the Drag Race?

Toyota: Yeah, they're kind of different issues, but also kind of the same. Ru said that drag mocks gender, and trans people take gender very seriously, so while the general public thinks they're similar, they're opposites. Not the exact quote, but that's the gist.

Chad: Right, I think that's a fair summary of that particular point.

Toyota: And with that statement, he widened this already present "us vs. them" gap between gay men and trans women. It's driving a wedge between people and further boxing and labeling and other-ing, which are all things that the queer community doesn't need more of.

Chad: Right, well said.

Toyota: One side of the argument is that he's entitled to his experience and opinion, and we can't fault him for feeling the way he feels.

Chad: True. It's his show, he can cast whomever he wants.

Toyota: But as pretty much the biggest icon of our community, he's got a platform and a megaphone, so he should use that to help as many people as possible. It's not just about casting. It's this idea that all trans people take identity so seriously and "drag queens" don't. It's obviously not that cut and dry. It was just a small answer in a much longer interview, but the way he just easily dismissed the issue was painful. I know tons of queens who still take their gender and masculinity very seriously and only do drag as a job.

Chad: Right, and trans performers who have a lot of fun with gender norms!

Toyota: Exactly. The first people that come to mind are Sara Andrews and Kelly Lauren. They're both like, fuck your ideas of what you think I am and what you think about my gender. Really, ultimately, at the end of the goddamn day, drag should never be boiled down to genitalia.

Chad: That is a supreme point.

Toyota: And I didn't wake up thinking that, or start drag thinking that, but it became pretty obvious after working with amazing people on every point of the spectrums of gender and sexuality.

Chad: Exactly, you and I both know amazing performers across the spectrums, and we think, "They would be amazing on the Drag Race. And in fact, the Drag Race would benefit from including them and expanding its boundaries." And apart from the show, they're amazing, period. I don't mean to frame everything as, "They would be soooo good on that TV show!"

Toyota: That's what it boils down to these days, unfortunately. One of the only ways to get that world-wide exposure that these people deserve is on Drag Race. Of course, there have been entertainers who have made it big without Drag Race, but they're exceptions to the norm. The goddamn acronym for the essentiality of drag is CUNT for crying out loud! It's not Gender, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent.

Chad: Ha! Imagine!

Toyota: Ru can host GUNT with the fellow small-minded men who want to hold on to at least a little privilege. I get it. You fought. You struggled. You had to work to make drag what it is today, and you definitely blazed the trail. But, girl, you gotta see the bigger picture here. We are in this together.

Chad: Yeah, you can't expect to be a trailblazer and then get offended when others want to follow in the path you've made! ESPECIALLY when you've inspired so many varied people to do so!

Toyota: I just don't ever want anyone to be denied the joy that drag can bring. It's unlike any other type of art or performance.

Follow Toyota on Facebook andInstagram! Or find her at Bingo Brunch at Dive Bar every Sunday from 11-3. Get Ur Freak On is at Berlin on April 20th and every third Wednesday. She's competing in Shea Coulee's #FreshFace on April 13th and performing in "Gender is a Drag" at improvOlympics on the 18th. She's the special guest at the SAIC drag show on April 28th. (Illustration by Jen Wiley)

As always, you can find my latest prints, postcards, and posters on Etsy!I'll also be in Seattle forEmerald City Comic Con April 7-10!The pencil sketches of Robbie, Chi Chi, and Sara Andrews are some examples of the postcard sketches I send out every month to my Patreon supporters!

RPDR8, Episode 4

March 29, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Kat Sass joins me this week to discuss Episode 4 of the Drag Race! Kat is an amazing singer and performer in Chicago, so I was excited to hear her thoughts on the New Wave challenge! (Photo by Sam Probst)

Chad: This week's episode was a breath of fresh air for me -- I loved the challenge, I loved the workroom dynamics. What did you think of it all, Kat?

Kat: I loved that they were able to write their own lyrics and come up with their own looks. I thought the New York team came across as bullies, but I'm pretty sure they were all picking at each other during the work room time, and the New York team got a rougher edit. It's a lot like when we all get ready for a show together, we pick on each other one second, and lend each other nail glue and shoes the next.

Chad: I 100% agree with you that it was SO GREAT to see the queens picking their own teams, writing their own lyrics, coming up with their own goofy acts. The NYC team had especially funny choreography and timing.

Chad: The workroom shenanigans with Thorgy were absolutely priceless. I love that the quirky qualities that make her such a joy to watch also make her difficult to work with.

Kat: Thorgy reminds me of my dad. A consummate, classically trained artist, approaching things from a really specific viewpoint. Highly trained classical musicians tend to approach work in a way that is less overtly aesthetic and more about the rhythms of the words, the way it feels... it's why her comic timing is so dead on, I think.

Chad: Oh, that's fascinating!

Kat: She can feel the rhythm of it and find the space where the beats of a joke belong. She's also terribly silly and easily distracted like my dad.

Chad: HA! Would you also consider yourself a classically trained musician?

Kat: Hmm, not really. I am, in fact, a classically trained performer -- I was raised on Chekov and Shakespeare and the like. My parents are both artists, and I was, like, basically fed art and music from the second I popped into the world. So when I told them I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 8, they were super confused.

Chad: You're a trained singer, though, surely?

Kat: I am trained, but my voice still needs refinement and work, things I can hear, you know? Some people's voices are instruments – they are pitch perfect, the tone is great, and so on -- mine comes from my guts, my feeling.

Chad: I see, well I remember being struck by your skills when I first saw you in Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens! I was eager to hear what you thought about the singing and performances this week -- but first, I was curious about your opinion of Lucian's vocal coaching!

Kat: I think that Lucian seemed... too vague in his direction to help them change their tactics and be more successful. I didn't love that he told the NY crew to be "less musical theater" when they seemed to really just all be parodying the genres, anyways.

Chad: Yeah, Bob wasn't the only one who was confused by that. I thought their campy approach totally fit both the song and the challenge!

Kat: Lucian suggesting Lorde literally made zero sense to me. I came away from it not sure how many of them could actually sing, what about you?

Chad: Ha! Well, despite a bit of acting in high school and college, I have a TERRIBLE ear for singing. I felt like both the Streetmeatz and Les Chicken Wings delivered fun, punchy performances, but anytime they sang in unison, I didn't really hear any effective harmonizing. Most of them stuck with the "speak singing" which more or less worked for me!

Kat: The speak singing was....probably for the best.

Chad: What about Derrick -- Debbie Harry claimed she sang well, but Lucian cautioned her not to.

Kat: I don't think she was good. Perhaps she was the best of the day – or at least the only one harmonizing. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna argue with Debbie Harry. She's obviously a witch –

Neither her face nor her rack has aged in 30 years.

Chad: HA! She wields VERY powerful magic.

Kat: I can't decide if I want to fuck her or be her. Aren't those the best people?

Chad: Yes, the best.I feel like there must be a very steep learning curve to overcome in singing live for an audience -- the mic, the nerves. How did you think the queens did at the basic task of.... being heard and putting on a show?

Kat: I was overall really really pleased with that part. Hell, I still get nerves. These queens are extremely tough to manage the task for TV, especially if some of them are not comfortable singing. I personally was super-loving Kim and Naomi for their enthusiasm and embodiment of their characters.

Chad: Ha! Yes, even if Kim isn't necessarily someone I think of as "punk," her sheer enthusiasm and spirit absolutely sold it.

Kat: Punk would be literally THE LAST TERM I would use to describe Kim, but she slayed. I have never met someone so overtly and profoundly glamorous who also totally is a sweet, humble goofball.

Chad: Do you think Robbie deserved the win this week?

Kat: Robbie led the team well and made sure everyone was able to provide input. I think she is a fucking great stage performer... I just hate the edit they are giving her.

Chad: I found Chi Chi to be an extremely compelling and complicated character this week -- on one hand, her teammates found her difficult to work with, but on the other, we learned more about the challenges she's struggling with at home. What were your impressions of Chi Chi?

Kat: Scrappy, hungry, talented. She has a long way to go to develop into the type of pro they are looking for, but she is incredibly smart and fast on the uptake. I admire that she has gotten to where she has, and she could potentially be a dark horse for the season. I would be surprised if she is a difficult team member again. She seems to want it bad enough to change habits quickly!

Chad: I hope so! It seemed like some of her detachment was due to insecurity about her wardrobe. At the start of each season, we see the queens show up in the workroom as if by magic. And each week, they whip out some fabulous runway look, often with little explanation of where it came from, who made it, and how much it cost them. It's been really interesting to see things from Chi Chi's perspective, where she's working with such limited resources and finds herself trying to compete with queens who have likely spent thousands of dollars on their looks!

Kat: I definitely agree that the detachment was from that very insecurity. And yes.... we all end up spending a lot to do drag. I feel like if you love it and want it enough, you will fashion anything you can to make a look happen. I myself have used crazy things to build a look out of.

Chad: I find myself wishing we had more of a look at the queens' lives at home -- I wish RPDR did something like Project Runway, where Ru would travel around to see each of the finalists at home, see their drag closets, and kiki with their families! As brief as those glimpses are, it can be so insightful to see where the contestants have come from.

Kat: Thats a terrific idea! I dislike not having enough background knowledge of the queens to understand their motivation, and that's a terrific (and possibly very juicy) solution.

Chad: I just doubt Logo has that kind of travel budget!

Kat: HA! Agreed.

Chad: Although the runway section of the episode went by at lightning speed, I loved the neon concept! Who were your standouts?

Kat: Kim, Betty, Naysha were my standouts. You?

Chad: I had definitely been waiting for this look from Acid, ever since getting a peek in the season's trailer!

Kat: those GILLS THOUGH.

Chad: Are you pro or anti-gill?

Kat: SO MUCH PRO

Chad: I don't always love everything about Acid's looks, but I think this one was kind of perfect.

Kat: It was a gorgeous makeup.

Chad: The subtle scales painted on, that incredible wig.... It was sublime.

Kat: I couldn't stop looking at it. Every angle was enticing.

Chad: I really, really, really hope we see more looks like this from her. When she does more conventional drag make up, I just don't find it quite as compelling. But when she goes all out like this, it's genius.

Kat: I think she is more of a creature than a woman, and I live for that.

Chad: Exactly!

Kat: Drag shouldn't always be about gender, anyways.

Chad: Right! Speaking of drag and gender and breaking the mold, do you ever expect bioqueens to be on the Drag Race? (Is “bioqueens” the right term? “Faux queens?”)

Kat: I just say drag queen – but Bioqueen is the term I use when calling myself a drag queen makes people squirm. And, I hope we make it onto Drag Race. I think I have a shot someday if I keep busting my ass and growing as an artist, and my feet and ankles don't go! Drag is excruciating on the body... people don't realize that.

Chad: Are high heels what make it so excruciating? Or are they just one component -- corsets, wigs, makeup, etc?

Kat: Oh, well the back bruises from corsetry and the knee and ankle injuries and torn fingernails and so on... But as you go, you find solutions to allow yourself to do it quickly and often. And not get hurt. IT'S A TOUGH SPORT I TELL YOU

Chad: You're a WARRIOR, I have no doubt!

Kat: I don't even have to tuck my dick. Imagine what other queens go through!

Chad: I generally try not to!

Thanks so much to Kat Sass for joining me this week! You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!Some of Kat's upcoming Chicago gigs include Trannika's Most Wanted on April 6th at Berlin and Michelle L'Amour's Spectacle at Untitled at 10 pm on April 7th.

Kat is also co-producing a new Bioqueen show that premiered with a sold out show at Second City! Follow her on social media for future dates and cast announcements. And if you would like to be considered for booking, please e-mail her: ihatekatsass@gmail.com

(Photo of Kat by Shann Treadwell. Gown designed by Michael Buounincontro.)

As always, you can find my latest prints on Etsy, and support me on Patreon!

If you will be in Seattle next week, find me at Emerald City Comic Con!I'll be at Artist Alley table F-01!

RPDR8, Episode 3

March 22, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Chicago queen Lucy Stoole joins me this week to kvetch about the Drag Race! (Photos of Lucy by Erik M. Kommer Photography)

Chad: It's funny--I was looking back at when we chatted last season, and it was also for the third episode! Which also featured an awkward acting challenge! But also beards.

Lucy: That's awesome! 3 is one of my lucky numbers.

Chad: I'm sure Lucy loves her threesomes. Your favorite way to get lucky!

Lucy: HAHAHAH You know me so wellllllll

Chad: Ha! So, I've been stewing over last night's episode. To me, it felt like kind of a let down on a number of levels. But first of all, what did you think of Naysha's return?

Lucy: I would like to say that I'm surprised about the return, but it was the pretty obvious choice. It could have been cool to throw a real curve ball and have another girl appear from a previous season, but I think it made sense. I did want to see more from her, but I also kinda believe that if you go home first, you probably deserve to. That sounds so harsh, but it's how I feel!

Chad: Ha! Yeah, I had gone deep down the reddit rabbithole -- there were some really wild speculations, and I LOVED thinking through the different possibilities. My greatest hope was to have an entirely new queen show up and have to prove her worth. I think Naysha seems cool, and she definitely brings the beauty -- as she likes to keep reminding us -- but I was hoping for something a little more dramatic. Did you find the episode's main challenge as cringe-worthy as I did?

Lucy: ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh *insert biggest eyeroll ever* That main challenge was a snoozefest, and so were most of the looks that came across that stage.

Chad: I feel like I'd so much rather see the girls in the workroom than reciting some awkward lines and being directed to act more ratchet. There is so much more wit and warmth in their normal interactions than there ever is in these group acting challenges.

Lucy: I KNOW! And it's so hard to try to really bring your personality through with some of these awful characters the show is coming up with.

Chad: Yeah, I was especially bothered by the "multiple personality" character and the militant lesbian. They felt like they were antiquated stereotypes from an entirely different era.

Lucy: Also, I'm just really over people throwing ratchet around as the new "ghetto".

Chad: Ru coaching Kim on how to incorporate more tongue pops and head bobbing made me die a little. I really dislike seeing black queens being told to act more ratchet/ghetto. And I also really dislike seeing queens who aren't black being told the same.

Lucy: That was one of the most awkward moments for so many reasons. I get the Empire parallel they were trying to make there, but what happened to the intelligent humor and activism, Ru? I'm kind of frustrated with RuPaul on a few of these issues...

Chad: Dish, girl! DEEP dish!

Lucy: I really need for her to have her "Beyonce Awakening"

Chad: Oooh, that's a great way of putting it!

Lucy: As a queer black performer in this community, I know a fraction of what she's been faced with when it comes to being all three of those roles at once. It's not easy. We're basically brought up thinking that we have to hide or dim down our Blackness to be taken seriously and valued as a creator and intelligent mind. And a lot of people will still try to say "well, that's not true. look at where she is!"

But we've seen just how much of herself she had to tailor to the whims of her audience/America to become sellable. Ru back in the day was my kind of lady: A filthy, outspoken, gogo dancing, gender-bending loudmouth with drive and focus.

Chad: God, I'm so turned on by that description.

Lucy: hahahahahah right?!?!? Like, that's my inspiration!

Chad: Absolutely, I can definitely see that!

Lucy: That's why it's so important to me that no matter how much I grow and change as an artist, that Lucy stays the girl that everyone fell in love with. I'd be lying if I said that I don't want to be popular and a spokesperson of sorts BUT I'm not willing to change fundamental parts of myself to obtain it. I've been asked many times about shaving my beard and dropping the Stoole off my name.

Chad: UNTHINKABLE

Lucy: And I never would!!! Exactly!

Chad: So, in an ideal world, what do you see Ru doing on the show to embrace, as you said, a new "Beyonce Awakening"?

Lucy: Well, first off, killing off some of these tired stereotype tropes she seems to fill every season with. Also, maybe the way they edit some of these POC girls' conversations. I'd also love to see a spectrum of POC performers on that show. The inclusion of Bob on this season is def a step in the right direction. I feel like a lot of Black girls in the drag scene are still used as a death dropping, booty shaking prop, and not seen as artists and creators like a lot of these other queens get promoted as. I mean, I still have moments myself, as one of the hardest working queens in this city, where I feel under-appreciated and not seen as on the same level of some of the people who work half as hard and without any real intent behind it.

Chad: I see, that makes sense. Do you feel like Chi Chi has been characterized in that way?

Lucy: I feel like Chi Chi has been characterized that way a bit. This backwoods black Barbie came into the room on her first day wearing a trash bag for God's sake.

Chad: Yeah, they reeeeeally play up her poor, Southern upbringing.

Lucy: Like allllllllll the time. And I get it, there's a lot of people that came from that, and I do like to see representation on TV for all walks of life.

Chad: I really, really respect Chi Chi, but I do think that they make her the butt of the joke far too often.

Lucy: WAY TOO OFTEN. But why make this hard working, badass Southern gal be the butt of the joke? If anything, she should be the one to look up to!

Chad: What did you make of Bob this episode?

Lucy: I think we all knew that this was her moment. Girl was born with "it" and is such a skilled performer/actress! I'm just so glad they stepped out of the way and let her have that role in the performance. And really, I could see her on Empire!

Chad: Yeah, I think Bob has no problem hamming it up and demanding your attention. I would be shocked if she doesn't make it to the final three. Now, be honest, what did you make of her runway look?

Lucy: First of all, I love you to death, Bob. That being said, I did not love that Party City robot look. I mean, I saw where she was going...

Chad: I thought she was going more for "Cyborg Storm," keeping Dax's cosplay spirit alive. I truly would have liked to see her crazy "Transformer" idea come to fruition -- my feeling was that what we saw was just part of the outfit she had planned. But what we saw was, well, probably one of the most ridiculous runway looks I've ever seen on this show. I will say, however, that I thought her herky jerky robot movements were a pretty hilarious way to conceal her complete inexperience with skates!

Lucy: hahahhahahahaha I did like that. You better Kim Chi that roller skate, Bob. But that's just how awesome Bob is – she can get away with that shit!

Chad: You mentioned before that you weren't into the runway this week -- I felt like some of the girls really tried to channel that 70's disco theme, and the others had no idea what the "roller girl" theme even meant. Were there any standouts for you?

Lucy: HAHAHAH Some of those poor girls were so lost. It was another moment that I had to check my age while watching this show. I forget some stuff that seems so commonplace and iconic to me is so generational.

Lucy: Although they said Thorgy was a bit basic, I thought she really nailed it! (could have thrown on some jewelry or something but whatever)

Chad: Yeah, the overall palette of Thorgy's outfit was just absolutely gorgeous!

Lucy: She knows what she is doing! Her editing and choice of lqqks is so spot on. Acid nailed that Mad Max inspired roller derby look. I loved Derrick's look, but mostly because it looks like something I would wear.

Chad: I thought she looked really gorgeous! I lovvvvved Kim Chi's parrot outfit.

Lucy: OMG Kimmmmmmmmm

Chad: Even though I didn't quite understand how it fit the runway theme. Is it like... she would be flying/gliding along on those skates? Like... a bird?

Lucy: hahahahahah yea it wasn't really where I would have gone with that, but it was a phenomenal lqqk.Why didn't someone do a lqqk that hid the skates so it gave the illusion they were gliding/hovering?!??! cum on queens

Chad: Oh yeah! Probably out of fear that a skirt would get caught in the wheels, right?

Lucy: Had to be, but I would had taken the chance to pull off a cute levitation lqqk. Bitches were falling anyway, might as well look cool while doing it.

Chad: HA! I felt like Robbie was really treated like shit this week, but it was probably just so she'd be in the bottom two and show us all her skills! So... I have mixed feelings about that. But I unabashedly loved seeing her skate!

Lucy: OHHH I AGREE! It was nasty, and I love me some Robbie.

Chad: Yeah, I really adore Robbie as a friend, though her depiction on the show is proving quite unpredictable.

Lucy: I was just thinking that! She's been tossed back and forth between being the headstrong, confident and kinda bitchy queen...

Chad: But in the workroom, she often comes across as really sweet and sensitive, right? Like, she's often the one the others are confiding in during their most heartfelt moments.

Lucy: Exactly! It's like, is she a fake bitch or America's sweetheart?

Chad: We'll have to tune in to find out!

Chad: That's all the main stuff I wanted to ask about for this episode -- did you have other thoughts you wanted to share?

Lucy: Can we talk about RuPaul's new album? How she gonna have a album called “Butch Queen" and not be booking any?!?!? It's like she's almost jumping on trend. Actually, no almost about it.

Chad: Well, that's sort of what you felt last year with the bearded queen runway, right?

Lucy: YES! And now it's a step further, but I still don't really see her supporting her butch queens/gender non-conforming queens/etc. Yet another moment I feel like she has a chance to really say something and isn't.

Chad: I feel like Acid Betty is somewhat non-conforming, at least in her looks. But I do agree -- I would love to see the casting pushing the boundaries more!

Lucy: Yea, they've def stepped out of the box this year! But I want it to go much further.

Chad: Let's hope so! With you leading the way!

Lucy: We can only hope! #stoolefordragpresident

Chad: Do you have any event plugs you'd like me to include in this lovely interview? I know you've been busier than ever!

Lucy: My baby Fabitatis still going strong and coming up on our third anniversary! Super excited about my new party Deep Dish at Berlin every other Monday. It's a body positive pizza party with gogo dancers of all shapes, sizes and genders. It's just a love filled, body/sex affirming dance party that's going really well! Biggest gig, yet, happening April 2nd! I'll be MCing the Divas of Drag Tour at House of Blues!

Season 8 prints will be available very, very soon at my Etsy store! I recommend going there immediately and just refreshing the website until you see things and buy all of them.

RPDR8, Episode 2

March 15, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Hi there! Usually I would be introducing an auspicious guest and chatting about this week's episode of the Drag Race, but we had some technical difficulties. I have plenty of art to share, but I won't be able to feature a drag discussion this week. But that's fine by me, because I'm having a crazy busy time preparing for C2E2, a giant comics convention this weekend in Chicago! If you're in the area, you should consider coming -- it will be your first chance to buy my new Season 8 art, and I'll have tons of other goodies! Even if you can't make it to C2E2, you can come to the queer afterparty that All Geeks is hosting, featuring a bunch of amazing performers, including Dax! So, that's pretty cool.

Okay! Let's get on to the drag queens.

So, yes, Naomi's runway look was stunning. But this is the look I wanted to draw this week. I lived for the attitude she brought to the challenge, and those tiny little jean shorts are my new favorite thing. (Expect to see me in similar ones once it gets a bit warmer.)

Acid Betty continues to bring drama to both the workroom and the runway -- But despite her prickly personality, I can't stop drawing this queen.

You might have seen me posting sketches like these on social media, lately. They're part of my Patreon campaign, where I send out a bunch of custom postcard sketches every month to my supporters! This afternoon, I took a break from my digital illustrations to do these two sketches of Bob and Thorgy -- I thought they both looked tremendous this week, despite not getting a ton of time on screen.

I felt like this week's episode shifted focus a bit -- I was glad to see Chi Chi and Cynthia made leaders of their respective groups. They're both queens I like a lot, but they tend to get drowned out by the other personalities in the workroom. It was especially rewarding to learn more about Chi Chi and to see her shine in the challenge!

It was also a relief to see some different sides of Robbie this week -- I consider her a friend, so it was disheartening to see her get such a negative edit last week. Although she wasn't featured that prominently in this episode, I thought she came across much more positively, and I lovvvved that gown!

It's been entirely fabulous to see so much of Kim's story over the last two weeks, and I'm excited that she seems to be such a prominent contender this season. My only worry is that it's a little suspicious for the show to focus on her so intently so early in the season -- is it a fake out? Will there be a shocking twist? Will some other queen usurp her? I really don't know, but I do know that I'll draw her every step of the way.

Thanks so much for joining me this week! I'll plan to have an interview for the next episode, and I'll also be posting my first Season 8 artwork for sale sometime next week! Until then, you can check out my work from past seasons on my Etsy store or sign up for your own monthly postcard sketches at my Patreon page!

RPDR8, Episode 1

March 08, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Hello, and welcome to my first illustration and discussion post about Season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race! Every week, I'll be chatting with interesting people about each episode and sharing depictions of my favorite looks. Given that this first episode focused on the greatest fashion challenges of the past 100 episodes, I sought out Tiger Lily, one of Chicago's most accomplished stylists, to give me ALL of the T.

Chad: So, Tiger Lily, I was curious to hear from someone with your expertise about your take on the new Season 8 queens. First of all, can you explain how you're involved in the Chicago drag scene?

Tiger Lily: I am friends with a lot of the queens in Chicago just personally. I also costume and style a handful of them as well. Before I styled them, though, I was just a fan going to the shows, tipping dollars to performers who happened to also be my friends.

Chad: You've worked quite a bit with Kim Chi, right?

Tiger Lily: Yep, I love love love coming up with looks for Kim! We really understand one another. Like Kim says on the episode, she is like an anime superhero that is also a super model--like ideally, pretty much everything I love.

Chad: Ha! Yeah, Kim was one of the first queens I met in Chicago when I moved here two years ago, and I was instantly smitten. Is it weird to watch a season where you KNOW some of the queens already?

Tiger Lily: Definitely! It was surreal yesterday watching Kim on TV at Roscoes and seeing everyone there rooting for her. Like, to see one of your dear friends living their dreams and being a part of it all... just really couldn't contain my excitement last night! I know myself and all of Chicago has already fallen in love with Kim, and then you see the way she translates to television and she's just goddamn delightful! So kawaii! Like, I can just see all of America falling in love with her.

Chad: Yeah, I've been really excited to see how she's coming across as a character on the show -- both super talented and also VERY lowkey and quirky.

Tiger Lily: I love how Michelle calls her out for being a big ol' dork, because Kim totally is. I love someone who is so stunning that is actually just a peach. Because you'd think they'd be all high-strung and rude. (Acid Betty)

Chad: Absolutely! You worry that the "nice" ones won't make for good television, but Kim had some of the best lines this week! From what you've seen so far, who else would you be excited to work with?

Tiger Lily: I have styled and shot with Naomi Smalls before, and she is definitely beyond a drag queen, that bitch is a M-O-D-E-L! I definitely will be working with her in the future.

Chad: I think she is a complete and utter glamazon.

Tiger Lily: And so goofy!!! I love that.

Chad: But I'm wondering what kind of variety we'll see from her on the runway.

Tiger Lily: I'd also love to work with Thorgy. I feel like our styles would mesh well, and we would turn something out that was very over the top.

Chad: I don't really have the expertise to describe Thorgy's style. The best I can come up with is "Brooklyn Bohemian." Can you better encapsulate Thorgy's particular aesthetic?

Tiger Lily: You know, going through Thorgy's IG, I really can't pinpoint a certain running theme aesthetic, which I really enjoy -- her style actually reminds me of my own personal style. Which is a little vintage-inspired, colorful, definitely some street thrown in there, but above everything -- VERY drag. Her tagline says 'fashion clown,' and I think it's pretty accurate.

Chad: HA! Yeah, I think Thorgy has a personality and style that's VERY hard to pin down, but that makes her really interesting and compelling. She can't easily be pigeonholed as a pageant queen, goth queen, etc.

Tiger Lily: I would love to work with Bob, just because she is hilarious, and I would love to do a dumb/fabulous campy look for her.

Chad: I LOVE her, and I could absolutely see her running away with this competition, but I get the feeling that she's not a very fashion focused queen. It's much more about the comedy for her. If you worked with her, what kind of styling would you want to do with Bob?

Tiger Lily: I would definitely go the more playful route with Bob, because she can definitely pull it off. Like, I have this huge, ridiculous shark costume that I would love to reconstruct into something more 'fashion' and put her in it.

Chad: HA! God, that would be great.

Tiger Lily: Or do something, like, really really haute couture. Like a Dolce & Gabbana-inspired print gown that read a little clownish.

Chad: See, now I just want to climb into your head and see your mind at work!

Chad: Are there any queens who could use some additional help from a good stylist?

Tiger Lily: A LOT of the queens on the season need a good stylist! All T, all shade. Chi Chi.... oh dear.

Chad: You didn't like her trashbag dress or disco outfit?

Tiger Lily: By the grace of god, she pulled it together for the runway, but she was saved by that fabric. I just don't like how unfinished it is, just overall SLOPPY! Like, you are on RUPAUL's Drag Race!

Chad: Ha! But I feel like part of her charm is seeing how much talent she has, despite her limited resources.

Tiger Lily: I mean, that's great and good for her, but I feel like you need to be at a certain level of polish just to be considered for the show. But you know they needed to cast that role--they need that drama for television.

Tiger Lily: I thought the judges read Laila really hard for her look.

Chad: Yeah, agreed.

Tiger Lily: I actually really like that coat she made!!

Chad: I liked the artistry behind that crazy ash and those spikes!

Tiger Lily: You can tell there's some good construction in there. Loved the ash idea and the gradient read really nice on the runway.Yes, the bottom was basic, but she clearly put all the time into that jacket. I thought Derrick Barry should have been lipsyncing, but I think she's too much of a celebrity to embarrass like that in the first episode. Because her look was weak for me.

Chad: I was thinking the touch of comedy with that wreath helped save her.

Tiger Lily: Yeah, it was 'cute' in the way that an elementary school's Christmas pageant is cute ... like awwww this is fucking awful.

Chad: What do you think about Dax? Are you at all interested in her cosplay aesthetic, or not so much?

Tiger Lily: I do think it's so dope that cosplayers are being represented in drag. Because there are some really really cool looks these queens and cosplayers come up with. That being said, I think her point of view is strong, but i think her execution is a little basic! Like, I follow some really extraordinary cosplayers on Instagram, and Dax doesn't even come close.

Chad: I think Dax is gorgeous, and I love how much she's embraced Storm -- as a comics geek, it's tons of fun to see what she comes up with -- but I do agree (somewhat) with your assessment. She's a gorgeous queen, and I'd love to see some avant garde high fashion looks from her -- she could totally pull them off.

Tiger Lily: I do think she's gorgeous. Just a lil' boring for me.

Chad: What did you think about this week's main challenge -- was it fun to see queens re-interpret past runway looks, or was it a hollow rehashing of drag herstory?

Tiger Lily: Oh, I was so excited when I heard this challenge!

Chad: I was excited, but then I was a little underwhelmed with the results.

Tiger Lily: Exactly! Besides Kim, honestly, I don't think anyone really turned it that hard.

Chad: Yeah, there were a lot of perfectly acceptable looks, but few that really gobsmacked me. As someone who actually KNOWS fashion (unlike myself), do you think the judges are often on point with their critiques, or not?

Tiger Lily: I would say, like 4 times out of 5, I agree with them. Sometimes they let people get away with stuff I feel is unforgivable, but I feel like that's editing, too.

Chad: Right, because I've heard the critiques can actually last quite a while! So a lot of their points are probably lost on the cutting room floor.

Tiger Lily: Exactly.

Chad: Whose runways are you most excited to see this season?

Tiger Lily: Naomi I can watch walk all day. I'm excited to see what Robbie Turner comes up with. And actually, Derrick Barry -- if we ever see something that is not Britney.

Chad: Yeah, I'm actually pretty interested to see Derrick's journey this season. I don't know if she'll end up being a particularly inventive queen, but she's supremely talented and engaging.

Tiger Lily: I'm excited to see Acid Betty and Thorgy, too. Curious to see if Acid brings something that isn't completely 80s fashion inspired. Because I've heard all this n' that about how great she is, and like yeah, it's colorful, but somehow always the same.

Chad: Yeah, I agree. It seems limited to the same basic era of fashion. Or something.

Tiger Lily: OBVI, Kim.

Chad: Because she'll be wearing some of your work?

Tiger Lily: I sure hope so!

In fact, you might have already seen Kim wearing an amazing kimono that Tiger Lily made for one of the RPDR premiere parties over the past few weeks!

Tiger Lily also styles for film, television, theatre, and entertainment all over the country. She works with a number of Chicago queens and is Soho House Chicago's go-to stylist! Find her on Twitter and Instagram!

As always, you can find previous seasons' prints of my work on Etsy, and you can support me directly through Patreon!

coloring-logo

COLORING WITH QUEENS -- The Winners!

February 27, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

Okay, I have to come clean about something: I hate art contests. I hate the idea that art can be objectively judged or ranked. It's ridiculous.

However, one of my very favorite things about the internet is the sense of community and collaboration that can emerge from creative people with common interests. I see it as kind of magical: that I can post some simple drawings of drag queens and watch people transform them into CRAZY AMAZING MASTERPIECES. That was my hope for this contest, and all of you absolutely exceeded all my expectations!

And so I am choosing a small selection of the pieces that totally floored me. These are the ones that I found the most irreverent, or inventive, or inspiring. But I loved ALL of the entries, and I'm SO APPRECIATIVE to everyone who participated! If you don't see your work below, please don't feel bad, and certainly don't be jealous--all the prizes I'm sending out are extremely ridiculous, tacky, and entirely worthless. (I'm going to keep the prize packages secret until the recipients get them, because I don't want to ruin any surprises.)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

I wanted to give special shout-outs to a handful of contributors -- I won't be able to send out prizes to them, but hopefully they'll be sufficiently rewarded by the fame and glory that will inevitably result from their exposure here.

FIRST UP! Honorable Mention for: SHE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON

The Fab Hattersknow what's going on! I LOVED this rendering of Ru (so many Easter eggs, can you find them all?) My ABSOLUTE favorite element of this masterful collage is the imagery used for Ru's skin tone. I hope you ain't allergic, because it's PEANUT-PEANUT-PEANUT BUTTER! The Fab Hatters also sent in this DELICIOUS collage of Kim Chi, utilizing food from (mostly) Korean cuisine:

Next up, two Honorable Mentions for: GIMME THE DOUGH!

Eric Ginsberg molded this masterpiece!

And I have NO IDEA how Lucas Eller created this, but I am all kinds of impressed.

Honorable Mention for: FEELING VERY POINTED RIGHT NOW

Anthony Zero sent in this glorious depiction of Acid Betty looking her most terrifying. Just imagine the papercuts!

Two Honorable Mentions for: QUEENS OF COLLAGE

I adore this depiction of Thorgy by Pop it on Studio -- the collaged textures give it so much energy! My favorite touch: yak hair.

Matteo Neri-Lindfors sent in a number of cleverly collaged queens. My favorite was his depiction of Naomi -- since she's so tall and leggy, he gave her giraffe skin.

Honorable Mention for: FACE PAINTING

Ariel painted this lovely (and surprisingly naturalistic) rendering of Acid Betty using only makeup!

Honorable Mention for: TOURING THE UNCANNY VALLEY

Jean Pierre utilized some outrageous photo-bending skills to shape the queens' publicity photos into the configurations of my drawings! It is unnerving and crazy impressive.

Honorable Mention for: LUSCIOUSNESS

Johnny Morphine shared a TON of gorgeous work with some of the absolutely most luscious shading I've ever seen.

Honorable Mention for: BITCH DOESN'T SLEEP

Bryttany sent in SEVEN gorgeously rendered submissions. I love the clever combination of traditional coloring with digital background and typography!

THE TOP TEN (OR TWELVE OR WHATEVER)

Can you tell that I had a REALLY hard time picking just a few favorites? These top picks will each get a special little something from me in the mail. Here they are, in no particular order:

Caesar Turbuck's entry had me gagging on the floor. He essentially redrew the original line drawing and gave it this eerie and amazing simplicity. I LOVE the flat fields of color, and the greenish palette just feels right.

I told Lisa that her rendering of Robbie totally improved upon the original drawing. The tiny details beautifully suggest Robbie's distinctive features, and the linework masterfully evokes the classic Pop aesthetic.

Casi Maggio Kristant also employed a Lichtenstein-ian style with jaw-dropping effects. I LIVE for the vibrant use of the halftone dots, not to mention the PERFECT reproduction of the "Pop" graphic in Ru's bow, the sickening leopard spots, and the hair's linework.

Michael Walters (@DameEdnaShow) also used some gorgeous halftone patterning to give both a pop sensibility and a very subtle sense of shading to his piece. The palette is simple, but striking, and that yellow is such a lovely accent!

Hannah Stanwayshared this entirely gorgeous digital painting of Thorgy. Something about the contouring is so tactile and sculptural -- I was immediately struck by this piece.

Next up, two renditions of Acid Betty that are both eerily similar, but hauntingly beautiful:

Melina Varela created a shimmering and smooth illustration that feels so real you can taste that Acid on your tongue!

Meanwhile, @deadandfab used a fascinating pointillist style that's both a little trippy and utterly convincing.

I love how warm and organic Justin Averill's depiction of Kim is. He used some incredibly subtle texturing and a limited color palette to really set himself apart!

Brittney Elizabeth's rendering of Thorgy is such a delight! I love the playful colors, the glasses, and those freckles! It's all so fun and unexpected and THORGY.

I'm in love with @pearlliaison's minimal color palette and glitchy textures. Absolutely perfect for Acid Betty!

Megan Lara is a SICKENINGLY talented illustrator, and I was so thrilled to see her depiction of Kim! The colors are so, so soft and buttery and blissful. Go check out Megan's other work, and you will literally make yourself sick with envy at her skills.

I love the sumptuous and surreal feel of this piece by Jonna Suuntala. Seriously, just the deepest, dreamiest eyes of any piece in this contest. Just... wow.

I loved these two pieces from Edgar Fierce. He brought such a playful and bold style to both of them! I love that the textures and color choices are just a little jarring, giving them an energy and unexpected vibrancy.

THE FINAL FOUR

Ha! Did you think I was done? No, there are FOUR MORE favorites that stood out for being especially inventive and outrageous. These four artists will receive my DUMB DRAG GRAB BAGS full of weird, glittery crap!

So, in no particular order...

Don't stare at it too long! Is it too late? Can you even read this right now? I LOVE hun-tea's contribution (from reddit). Is it weird and horrifying and headache-inducing? Absolutely. But it's so perfect.

Elena Corona's collages (@lenalouwho on Instagram) are so meticulous and masterful. The color choices, the shapes, the perfect use of the blank paper -- I found these pieces to be so distinctive from everything else in the contest. Now I want to see them in person!

I cannot BELIEVE how gorgeous this piece by Tom Christophersen is! The shading of Bob's cheekbones conveys such a complexity of form and color-- Tom's skills with colored pencils astound me. The piece has an almost sculptural feel to me, there's such a solidity and a sheen to it! Every time I look at it, I discover something new to marvel over. Plus, GLITTER!

And finally, there's this BEAUTIFUL (and electrifying) animation of Dax!

(Unfortunately, because of my move to Squarespace, I don't have an easy way of sharing this video!)

I don't know what unholy magic Lazaro used to create this, but he clearly wields magnificent power. It is just. so. beautiful.

Thanks again for sending in your art, for sharing your favorites, and just sharing in my excitement about all these amazing pieces! You can find all the original "coloring book" drawings here -- although the contest may be over, you can still download them and share your creations!

COLORING WITH QUEENS

February 15, 2016 by Chad Sell in Blogging the Drag Race, The Sellout

C'mon Season 8! Let's get COLORING! That's right, I'm having a COLORING CONTEST to celebrate the start of RuPaul's Drag Race, Season 8! I'll pick winners from multiple categories who will receive DUMB DRAG GRAB BAGS full of stupid stuff.

Click here to download the high-quality files to get started! Share them on Instagram, Tumblr, or Twitter and tag them with #coloringwithqueens by 5pm (Central Time Zone) Thursday, February 25th to enter!

HE-RA: Masters of the Everything

December 08, 2015 by Chad Sell in The Sellout

Tongue I had a major revelation on Thanksgiving. While rooting through an old closet at my parents' house, I dug up my old HE-MAN toys. And I realized, "Wow, these are everything."

It's fair to say that HE-MAN has had a major impact on my artistic inclinations throughout my career.

The original line of HE-MAN figures all shared the same ridiculously muscular torso and weirdly small, bow-legged feet. The heroes all had absurd, homoerotic harnesses and skimpy armor, but I was obsessed with the villains. They're the beastly ones with freakish tongues and appendages, but with that same delicious torso.

Snake-guy

(I have no idea what this guy's actual name is, but I call him Randy Reacharound.)

I loved the bizarre variations on the same basic template, the bold colors, and the utter weirdness of them all. Other toy lines, like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, had their share of fun characters, but HE-MAN always had the greatest hold on me.

I wanted to create my own character designs, inspired by the original spirit of HE-MAN, but playing more with gender and sexuality. Thus was born HE-RA: Masters of the Everything!

He-ra

Here's the hero HE-RA, who clearly isn't based on any pre-existing characters at all.

Skelletra

And here's SKELLETRA, the wickedest bitch in the land.

Klor

This is KLOR, HE-RA's greatest rival.

Boltt BOLTT, one of my favorites.

Cobrella

This is COBRELLA, lookin' pretty in pink.

Karol

And.... KAROL.

Ziefgang

ZIEFGANG is not intended to bear any resemblance to any sexy bear characters from any videogames whatsoever.

Whiskrz

He is fast, he is deadly, he is... WHISKRZ.

Glorzok

Obviously, I played around with the same basic pose and ridiculous musculature throughout all these, but with GLORZOK, I wanted to show a gloopy, formless character who literally molds himself into shape with his armor.

As you might guess, I have prints of all these lovely creatures available on Etsy! Just in case you want to add some hunks to your wall.

he-ra-animated2

PATREON TUTORIAL #5: Keeping it Real

November 30, 2015 by Chad Sell in The Sellout

As an art student, you can spend countless hours learning to draw models and still lives as realistically as possible, mastering the subtleties of shading, form, and anatomy. But as a cartoonist, if you try to convey that same level of detail and accuracy in each panel, you'll probably go mad, and you'll miss a lot of what makes cartooning so magical. It's taken me a long time to learn that lesson, and I often need reminders.

Maybe there are times when you need to sink whatever amount of time is necessary into an illustration to show off everything you can do. The cover illustration of your book? Sure. But as I've developed a career in art and illustration, I've learned the importance of doing more with less. There are deadlines to meet, hours to bill, priorities to make. Do you want to sink more time into fewer pieces, or get a lot done in a simpler style?

comparison

Which of these drawings is better? I don't know, that's a complicated question. But I can tell you that the goofy drawing on the right took me a lot less time, and I like it a lot more.

When I was first diving into my own comics after college, I was trying to make every single page as gorgeous as it could be. But I had a hard time making any progress, because I would keep going back, fixing any perceived mistakes, doubting every step.

A good cartoonist is quick. They develop a set of tools and tricks that get the job done: they're efficient, effective, and they're fun.

Spideyhop-1 One of my very favorite artists working in superhero comics today is Chris Samnee. He manages to capture a sense of solidity and life with minimal details, clever compositions, and simple use of shadow. (Seriously, check out that gorgeous work on the left! He's great.)

All of us develop our own style, one that involves our own ways of simplifying the world – whether it's through playful abstraction of the human body, whimsical linework, or whatever. That's the magic of cartooning!

So what are some ways to simplify?

Stop worrying about what looks "real" and concern yourself with what works.
Don't just copy. Or don't ONLY copy from other people's work. You can definitely learn a lot from other artists, but you'll only develop your own distinctive style experimenting on your own!
Draw small! I love doodling in a tiny sketchbook to keep myself from getting too detailed.
Set time limits! When I drew my comic MANTA-DAD, I limited myself to 2 hours a page. It wasn't always pretty, but it got done. Plus, I learned a lot and drew so many hunky men.
Give yourself deadlines! I send out dozens of original drawings to my Patreon supporters every month, so I keep them quick, and I keep them fun.
Doodle when you're tired and don't care! Weird stuff will happen.
If you're working digitally, don't let yourself zoom in past a certain point. And zoom all the way out every few minutes to make sure that the full page looks amazing.
If you're not working digitally, take frequent breaks to step back from your desk and see how it looks from afar.
Use the biggest, thickest line you can. Don't get hung up on fine lines, hatching, all that small stuff. Try using thick Sharpies and see what happens.
Insert some chaos into your process. I like to use a rough, textured drawing tool when working digitally.

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This post was made possible by my supporters on Patreon! Click here to find out more and support my work!

PATREON TUTORIAL #4: Gettin' Sketchy

October 18, 2015 by Chad Sell in The Sellout

Although the vast majority of my work is done digitally, sometimes I need to set aside the screen and draw on some paper. Although digital illustration gives you a tremendous amount of versatility and options for your work, those endless possibilities can prove creatively daunting. With so many tools at hand, I sometimes find myself losing my way – whether that's because I'm on week 10 of my Drag Race season, and I've been drawing the same damn thing for too long, or because I'm struggling to find the right style for an entirely new project. There's a set of tools and techniques I reliably turn to when I need to relax, loosen up, and let the ink fly.

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My favorite tool for doodling lately has been my trusty old Pentel Brush Pen. It has enormous brush bristles, so it provides an extreme variety of line widths. And the dry brushing! Oh, such TEXTURE! You can squeeze the handle to send more ink into the brush, but sometimes it pays to exploit the gorgeous textural stuff that the Pentel provides as it's going dry. strokes

The Pentel is one of the most popular brush pens around, and it's also quite affordable. You'll probably see it at a fair number of art supply stores, and you can find them and their refills online. The one I use is probably about 10 years old, and it's still serving up its delicious, thick inks.

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I should warn you of a few peculiarities about the Pentel. The extreme variation of line width it offers also makes it difficult to be too precise or delicate with your linework. That can prove frustrating until you learn to embrace the Pentel's extremes and utilize that unpredictability to loosen yourself up.

Also, the ink is weird. Like, you'll find yourself smudging it and making a mess unless you learn to leave it alone until you're absolutely sure it's dry and will behave. The ink is water soluble*, so don't plan on using any ink washes or watercolors with it, unless you want things to get very runny. (*In my previous tests, the ink was water soluble, but apparently some refills are not? So, you should check for yourself!) I use Copic markers extensively with my Pentel doodles and don't have any problems.

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You might have a lot of fun just going to town with the Pentel and some paper, but I prefer to lay out rough sketches before inking up a page. My favorite tool for that sketching phase is the Prismacolor non-photo blue pencil.

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If you've ever stepped into an art supply store, you know that Prismacolor pencils are expensive. But they're also extraordinary. Their leads are soft and buttery, which is great for big, loose sketching that suits the linework you'll ink later with the Pentel.

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Alternatively, I also really love using non-photo blue leads in a mechanical pencil holder. You might not have realized it, but you can buy replacements leads for mechanical pencils at high quantities for low prices. And better yet, you can buy them in different colors or densities, just so long as you make sure the lead width matches the pencil holder you're putting them in! I use these Pentel non-photo blue leads, which offer a very delicate, precise line.

If you're wondering what “non-photo blue” pencils are, they're a holdover from old school design techniques. This particular shade of blue is designed so that it doesn't show up in black and white photography or old Xeroxes. Which sounds like a super cool magic trick, except that it will absolutely show up in your digital photos or scans. However! This color, because it's light and bright, is easy to Photoshop out of your work. There are a number of methods that will work, but I go to the “channels” section of Photoshop, select the Blue one, then copy and paste it into a new document! That should largely get rid of the blue sketch underneath your inked art, and then using some level adjustment will get rid of the rest!

blue-lines pen-sketches2 In the spirit of loosening yourself up, sometimes keeping things tiny will help, too. I really enjoy sketching in my tiny Moleskine book, because the little pages will keep you from getting too precious or detailed with your work. I find myself using a simple Bic pen in my Moleskine, because I can get incredibly delicate lines that work perfectly at that small size.

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When sketching in a larger sketchbook, I find myself using either the Pentel or an Ebony pencil. I find that the Ebony gives me a soft, chunky line that's perfect when I'm doing character designs for The Cardboard Kingdom, the giant new comics project I've been working on the past few months!

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postcard3 I really look forward to my monthly postcard sketches for my Patreon supporters, because they're fun little doodles where I can experiment and let the weirdness flow. Like I said, I use Copic markers for these, specifically different gray tones that work well for shading. They don't seem to mess up the Pentel ink, and they add a great sense of solidity to the final work. I should note that I avoid Prismacolor markers, because their fumes give me massive headaches. Copics smell a bit, but they don't seem to have the same effect on my poor brain.

I hope some of these pointers have proven useful! Let me know if you have any questions about the materials or techniques! My monthly tutorials and process peeks are made possible by my amazing supporters on PATREON!

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