It Never Fails

Back in me teens and 20's I had a dream to become a published and recognized cartoonist. I had even dated a popular cartoonist in the underground scene for almost a year. As time went on I knew I just didn't have the stuff to become a full time cartoonist and still keep eating and what not. I did a bunch of show fliers, ads and some strips; but real life called and those things had to give. I find myself doodling every now and again and even pop a few good ideas, but usually after a day of work, the desire to pull out the art supplies and actually do them is usually gone. It was really during the very short period that I had an actual drawing table set up that I cranked out so descent strips and work. I had been doing the majority of my drawing on a 3 X 2 piece of wood in my lap, as just about any artist can tell you this is really not the way to put out serious work, great for sketching or just dropping down ideas, bad for finished product.

Now drawing a piece in lead pencil or blue non photo pencil (best for animation)is all fine and well, but eventually your gonna want to ink that sucker for either print or just to finish the piece. This is where disaster usually strikes me, again most of the work I turned out was done without the aid of proper tools, ball pint and felt tip pens really have a bad way of screwing up what would have been a pretty good piece.

Right, so after a few failed runs of putting out a comix fanzine (a few actually made it out to the world)once I got to about the 3rd year of really trying to get my collective crap together, again the whole plan had to go to sleep so I could tend to real life.

All but forgotten until about 4 years ago when I ran across 'Something Positive' http://www.somethingpositive.net/

I came late to the series that had been underway it seemed for maybe 2 years prior but luckily all of the strips are archived. I started reading the archive and became instantly hooked. I never really fathomed that other people had a freaky circle of friends too. I guess through our teens and 20's we may all have had them. This is where The Little England Players and Def Con One came from.

Anyway Something Positive made me want to start up my comix again, the problem as I see it is the similarity of theme between Something Positive and my series 'It Never Fails'. While S.P. deals with life as a chain of events, I.N.F. is really just me and what I think is messed up in life.

So I started to research what it would take to launch I.N.F. on line, went back to my back catalog and figured out I had maybe 6 months (if I posted once a week)worth of stuff. now any good comix strip artist has 2 things before they launch. At least a years worth of product, and the discipline to keep creating to stay at least a few months ahead in case of a real life problem. Many on line artists aren't doing this, may are cranking out material the night before they post. For me I just can't do that, I've never been one for creation on demand; I have to feel like doing not, not having to do it.

I'm pretty sure that is why this medium (Blogging)has been good for me, I can spew my garbage and oddly enough there are people A. reading it and B. Encouraging me to spew more.

We all need an out let I guess, for me I've always really loved a well drawn comix and imitation is always the best form of flattery (so 'THEY' say). I'm sure I will always keep on drawing when the mood hits me, I will always have the secret dream of being recognized for my works. Hopefully, if nothing else; maybe someone will walk away with something that made them think about things.

(If this works you should see a copy of pretty much the last I.N.F. that I drew, a ton of sketches and ideas are there, just no ambition to get em done)