Le Dôme Café in Paris, Els Quatre Gats in Barcelona, and Café de la Rotonde in New York have more than just coffee in common. These cafes were common gathering spaces of the greatest artists and intellectuals of the 20th century.
Creatives like Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Henri Matisse gathered with like-minded artists to discuss matters of political, literary, and artistic significance, looking to each other for ideas that would later inspire their greatest work. Across generations, in different worlds riddled with their own complexity and turmoil, one thing remained constant — people coming together to share ideas.
In an already solitary profession, worsened by the new norm of a digitized lifestyle, today’s artists crave inspiration that can only be found in human engagement. Masha Zhdanova, a 25-year-old artist from Plainsboro, felt a similar dilemma when she found no in-person groups for comic makers in New Jersey. Earlier this year, she started her own.
“I reached out to my two friends, Christina Castro and Suyang Gong, who didn’t know each other at the time. I was like, ‘hey, are you guys free on Monday morning? Do you wanna go to a cafe and draw together?’” Zhdanova said.
Inspired by meeting an artist friend who kickstarted a comic community in his small South Korean town, Zhdanova decided to replicate the idea in New Jersey. The casual cafe meetups between the three artists became a weekly ritual, a designated time to discuss their work, share inspiration and collaborate on projects. During their weekly hangouts, the trio brainstormed ways to expand their small group of artists and connect with more like-minded comic enthusiasts.
What emerged was the Princeton Comic Makers, a group for artists in the Central Jersey area that hosts weekly gatherings to collaborate on projects and network with fellow creatives.
After scouting local artist communities in the tri-state area, Castro visited the Princeton Makes Cooperative — a group of local artists who share a dedicated studio space at Princeton Shopping Center. There she met Ronah Harris, the current artist-in-residence at the Arts Council of Princeton. She was put in touch with the program director, with whom she negotiated a weekly meeting space there starting in January.
“We’re basically a nonprofit,” said Castro. “We wanted to make something for the community because we thought it would be valuable for everyone in this area.”
Expanding its reach, the group aims to provide a platform for artists in the tri-state area to network, collaborate, and promote their work. The co-runners host weekly J.A.M.s (Jersey Art Meetups) at the Arts Council of Princeton, with attendees of all ages hailing from near and far to connect and create. In addition to comic artists, the group hosts creators in a variety of media including animators, oil painters, and creative writers. There are no fees to attend meetings or to be considered a member; the only requirements are enthusiasm and art supplies.
“There are people who drive like 30-40 minutes away to attend meetings sometimes, which is really sweet and humbling because that’s when you realize what we’re doing is important to people,” said Castro.
Starting with just five to six weekly attendees, the group has grown to host up to 30 participants consistently each week. The majority of members are college students or recent graduates, with some more seasoned members who serve as mentors. Some pursue art as a full-time job, while others attend the meetings as a creative outlet. Experienced attendees offer professional guidance, resources, and conduct mini-workshops. The group also has a Discord server that provides resources, links to job opportunities, and events that might be of interest to members.
“It’s interesting to talk about the work you’ve been doing with people, and that’s why we keep drawing such a big crowd of regulars,” said Zhdanova. “Because everyone wants to talk about what they’re making.”
Zhdanova’s artistic passion lies in comic creation. Born in Moscow, Russia, Zhdanova moved to Plainsboro in the first grade. She studied sequential art and storyboarding at Savannah College of Art and Design, and cartooning at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont. She’s currently a freelance comics reviewer for publications like Women Write About Comics and contributes her unique skill as a graphic designer for Princeton’s Labyrinth Books. She has been involved in organizing comics-related events in the area, such as Zinefest, where local artists showcased their self-published work.
“I get a lot of ideas from hearing people talk about their process, and it’s very inspiring and motivational in the way that scrolling through social media feeds just isn’t,” said Zhdanova.
Typical meetings begin with a 10-30 minute announcement on new events and opportunities, followed by an hour of open studio. Here, attendees can work on whatever they wish freely, with the opportunity to network with other artists and share their projects. At the end, the co-runners encourage people to share their work, with the option of receiving feedback or critique.
“It’s nice to find people who are genuinely excited to see you grow and encourage you to do better,” said Castro. “We try to facilitate a space that doesn’t have a lot of ego in it, just because it’s already hard being an artist.”
Born in New York City to parents from the Philippines, Castro, 28, was raised in South Brunswick, where she currently resides. The artist went back to New York to attend the Pratt Institute where she studied 2D animation and creative writing. After graduating, she worked as a freelance illustrator and storyboard artist for animation; when the pandemic hit, she became increasingly involved in community engagement.
“I wanted to help make something for the community because we thought it would be valuable for us and for everybody else in this area,” said Castro.
One of the most rewarding aspects since founding the group is witnessing how people regain their artistic drive once they become part of it. The community meetings have become something members eagerly anticipate, and many actively seek collaborators for their animated projects. The gratitude expressed by attendees who have been impacted by the group is what keeps the trio motivated to grow.
“Hearing other people talking about their artistic journeys or their day-to-day lives is one of the biggest draws and charms to me,” Gong said. “It’s so nice to talk to people outside of work and family, to talk about art and things outside our own small little daily life orbits.”
With a talent in fine arts, Gong, 27, from Plainsboro, attended the Mason Gross art school at Rutgers University. She is skilled in fine art using traditional media such as pencil in black and white. After graduating and starting a full-time job at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton Township, Gong says she never realized how difficult it would be to continue making art outside of an academic setting. She credits Castro and Zhdanova as the driving forces behind the Comic Makers Club, and she appreciates the opportunity to take advantage of the local community to continue growing as an artist.
“What I’ve noticed is that, being an established group, companies that want submissions can come looking to us, which is extremely helpful, especially being connected to recognized organizations like the Princeton Arts Council,” Gong said.
At the meetings, members engage in diverse creative mediums, from practicing special FX makeup to developing video games and even videography. Some of their best memories came unexpectedly, like the time they helped a member with their short film, or the time an attendee brought their pet moth.
In addition to making friends and lasting memories, new members can look forward to exciting events in the coming months. These include the Princeton Arts Council Sketchbook Club, where participants fill a blank sketchbook, which is then displayed in a public exhibition. The group also plans to organize more educational workshops and participate in major art events like the MoCCA Arts Fest in New York City to showcase their work.
Having just started in January, the co-runners feel overwhelmed by the tremendous support and praise the group has garnered in such a short time. They never anticipated having such a large number of regular attendees, let alone witnessing the profound impact their group has had on individuals who were beginning to lose hope in their artistic pursuits.
“At the beginning it was like, ‘oh we’re just hiding in the woodwork, maybe this will be a good thing,’” Castro said. “Slowly seeing it come together, it’s been really nice to learn how passionate local communities can still be even in a social media-driven age.”
“In order to succeed or achieve in such a solitary type of profession or activity, you have to actually need the help of a community,” said Castro. “It’s nice to be able to provide that and sort of share in that.”
Jersey Art Meetups take place on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street.
For more information and updates, visit buttondown.email/princeton_comic_makers. Stay connected with the Princeton Comic Makers on Instagram and Discord. For inquiries, contact princetoncomicmakers@gmail.com or xtinariaa@gmail.com.
Comic Makers art meetup group co-founders Suyang Gong, left, Christina Castro, and Masha Zhdanova. JAM sessions take place every Wednesday at the Arts Council of Princeton.,
