Monday, March 30, 2009

To Tweet or not to Tweet that is the Question

Well the task of getting the word out continues. Does it ever really end???? Probably not, so I am making a point to keep this blog active as possible. I just activated a twitter account and I still can't get my head around it. Keeping people posted about events, trip, etc. I can see. Slowly though I am finding that through a sea of  so called " Tweets " I rarely find anything of worth. Talking about how you want to gain followers to increase some sort of self worth is, well........pathetic!!!!!!  Also sorry but nobody really cares that you took a pooh and that you had to use other means than toilet paper to wipe. Maybe I am flowing the wrong people. Though Face book is not much different. I mean I can't count how many times I am being poked by something or being invited to a jolly good game of ham tossing. Does anybody just e-mail anymore???????

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Stumptown comicfest

Well the show is getting closer. Looking at the forums you would think I was the only one excited about the show. I guess it makes sense since this will be my first show as an exhibitor. I have no idea what to expect.  Everyone that has seen the book love it and can't say enough good about it. Still not a true test I think, since these are all friends/co-workers. I am not discounting their praise, in fact no matter what this is all a humbling experience. Watching them smile and laugh at different times while they read. Very amazing to say the least. I just hope that I don't let you guys down. I hope to be more active on here, and I can't believe it but I might even start using twitter ugggghhh. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Promoting

Well this was the part not explained in the book making process. Getting the word out, much less getting anyone to look at your work is tougher than I thought. Granted I have not been to my first show as an exhibitor yet, so I hope that will clear some of the clouds. This is not a sign of packing it in NO SIR!!!!! I am in it for the long haul. There are way to many stories and to many characters that still have yet to be shown. This is just all new and unfamiliar waters, but we march on. Some friends in this industry like Javier Hernandez and Richard Dominguez have been great mentors. These guys have been at it a long time and I am sure I could here them saying in the back ground "Si se puede" . So I will, and as long as my health allows me I will continue to try and make people laugh.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

About Me

I've been artistic all my life.  It's never anything that I learned in a class.  I just liked to draw & was good at it.  Up until my later teens, I chalked it up to a hobby.  You know, no different than my friends who liked to play sports, skateboard, ski or act.  I liked to draw.... As I got closer to becoming an adult, I realized that it really was more than a "hobby".  It was quickly becoming my passion...something in me...a part of who I was, not just a pass time.  Unfortunately, I ignored that direction & followed something a little more expected of me.  I joined the military and spent 4 years in the United States Navy, serving in Desert Storm.  I also spent time in other places, spreading peace....ya right.  I hate war!  Not because I serviced in them, resulting in time loss with my family, but because I just don't believe in it.  Beyond that, I don't and will not discuss it.
     Once I finished my term in the Navy, I went to school to study in graphic design.  Now mind you, this was the very early 90's &  graphic design was all that was really seriously offered in school.  So I went for it!  Even though it wasn't my interest....time passed and I graduated.  I landed a job in graphic design, married, quit my job & moved to Washington state in less than 2 years.  Once in Washington state, I started working corporate jobs..nothing that had to do with graphic design.  It took little or no time for me to get lost in the ties and latte's.  I put down my pencil, and wouldn't pick it up again for 8 years.  In 2005, I divorced and found myself kinda just standing still in time...wondering what I was gonna do now?  I had this moment, where I realized, "I'm on my own".  There is no one to tell me that my desire to draw & be somebody was "cute, but a "waste of time"as a responsible man.  I could actually do what I wanted...I could prioritize how ever I'd like.  If I wanted to draw and not work for food or home, then so be it!  I was so scared...but in a good way.  I had been out of the loop for so long.  I had no idea how far the industry had advanced.  I mean, I remained a friend of the graphic novels & comic art.  I kept tabs on the careers of my heroes, old and new.  Heroes like, Robert Crumb, Jim Lee, Jack Kirby & Jim Mahfood (to name a few).  But if asked what my plans were to make myself successfully known like these guys...I had no answer.  My only plan was to dust off the art supplies, buy a WACOM, a new art table, an easle, some pens, pencils, erasers, paper & computer with a scanner and work at reconnecting with an old friend...myself.