Just popping in to share a new comic project that I'm updating weekly. Happy reading!
And that's it! You want the backstory?
About a year ago I was looking for something to help give me a creative kickstart. I'd been more than a little infatuated with graphic novels for awhile -- reading Flight my last semester of design school made my head explode (in a good way). That said, I'd always hesitated at making my own comics. There were a myriad of excuses: I didn't understand the format, my storytelling experience was minimal, I lacked the time and I was, to be brutally honest, terrified to try (and fail) at a new form of art.
My workaround was this: a diary comic would allow me to try sequential art in a small, bite-sized way. Also, by pulling material from my day to day life, the storytelling aspect would be a bit easier. Finally, by making the whole crazy thing a New Year's Resolution, the ensuing guilt would eat me alive if I didn't finish. If you think I'm lying about this, I should probably explain that I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about overdue book library fines.
So I dove in head first January of 2011. Was every entry perfect? Nope. In fact, I look at quite a few now and wince, thinking how differently I'd tackle things. But each week I finished a comic and in the process learned more than I could have imagined, had a whole ton of fun and did something that a year ago wasn't even on my radar. And besides the artistic side of things, I also learned to look differently at life. Like John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I didn't win the Powerball this year or learn Cantonese or take up hang gliding. Instead I spent the year worrying about the zombie apocalypse, eating glitter cookies, obsessing over life-sized plastic dinosaurs and and attempting to find humor and goodness in the little things. And as a I read back through this comic, I think I like life best that way.
And some thank you's -- I owe Erik Evensen BIG TIME for his advice about diary comics. Erik kept a way awesome daily comic a few years back, so he had some great pointers. And when I tweeted early on about my trouble coming up with material, John Lechner made the excellent observation that hopes and dreams are as much a part of daily life as actions. Also, thank you to friends and family who lended their faces, feedback and foibles to this comic. You guys all rock, for reals.
So, thanks for reading and commenting and letting me test the comic waters. I'm hooked, without a doubt. Happy 2012!
(for now)
"Alien" has never really creeped me out that much; I think I now know why. Also, I should probably specify that this was more a case of my parents going to see "Alien" with me in tow (sleeping), not them thinking, "Hey, I bet the baby wants to see Sigourney Weaver kick intergalactic behind!"
And sorry about the lack of punctuality with these comics. Life's been busy as of late and finding random snippets of time is taking MacGyver-like levels of creativity. Also, occasionally I do like to sleep.
Quite frankly, if I never hear another thing about a particular Hollywood socialite's failed marriage, it will be too soon.
In light of that, the elderly couple sitting near me at the library was a poignant reminder of what love really looks like. The wife appeared to have had a stroke (based on her speech and movements) and the endless patience her husband possessed was incredibly moving. And since they'll never make the cover of a national magazine anytime soon, here's their 15 minutes.
Friday night I went to see Andrew Bird play at the Capitol Center. When he began "Tables and Chairs," I may have started hyperventilating in the mezzanine, because that's my favorite song in the entire universe.
Also, I had the pleasure of attending said concert with the terrifically talented Pixels and Pulp team -- if you're not familiar with their work, get a move on over here.
If you're within driving distance, the Children's Book Illustrator show at the University of New England is phenomenal. And if you're in the vicinity, you might as well swing over to the Big Sky Bread Company because they make apple turnovers that are kind of awesome.
I just totaled up the weeks left in the year; only 12 to go! Also, I should probably figure out just how many cups of coffee I've drank up until this point.
I wish I could take credit for the "Abigail, Belle of Kilronan" remark above, but someone actually asked me that years ago. Since I typically get asked, "Abbie, like 'Dear Abby'?" the random Magnetic Fields reference was a welcome departure.
Two Things:
1) If you haven't seen it, here's the trailer for "The Tree of Life."
2) In reference to the awesomeness of dinosaurs, I took this picture in O'Hare a few years back. I almost missed my flight. But I got a flippin' sweet Brachiosaurus pic.
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