takes one to know one

Yesterday, after standing in the same place on a three foot by four foot matte, eight exhausting hours a day, for a year, I went to meet Karina, the owner of  PUNCHKISS PRESS to make proofs of some greeting cards I have been designing for some time. To be clear, I’ve been writing constantly since my Mom passed away in 2019, trying to come up with some charming thing the publishing world’s eye couldn’t miss to pivot into the children’s lit world after the animation industry’s sad slow death rattle. My brain has not slept a wink. I’ve filled sketchbook page after page, refining, rebuilding, amassing a library of so many different titles and things to share with the world, feeling my promises. Single paintings of drunk cartoon idiots just doesn’t do it for me anymore. I have LOVED leaning back into creation, it’s a healing and hopeful act to dream. The open pages of my moleskin sketchbook offer vital magically expansive space for imagination. This year was the dreamiest year I’ve ever known, EVER! My momentum was on the rise like never before, but fatigue drained my body, as my brain pressed on. I explored the idea of experimenting in textile design, customizing vintage patchwork cushions, designed clothing, and finally found my way to the possibility of print on paper guided by the love of a true genius partner, an incredible woman. Without creative PRODUCTION, and in a static job, my depression grew unbearable, and beneath the stress of work I finally snapped. The relationship that was more inspiring for me than any other I’ve ever shared was suddenly over. Here I am, with a broken heart, a fried brain, a pile of ideas, clinging to hope in anxiety. 

I asked my boss for a transfer into another department where I can be more active, and to continue my education in health and wellness. Help is on the way to becoming a reality. Thank GOD! I get to move my body again! 

I found Punchkiss Press online, their color library is the largest in the country for Risograph printing. This medium is relatively eco friendly and offers very ardent saturation which blends into incredible luminescent tertiary compliments, because it’s silkscreen technology. It dates back to the 80s, and is totally superior to RGB to CMYK conversion of inkjet printers. The process requires disciplined color separations. The first few images I worked up actually became files with hundreds of layers which I am still separating and plan to print, but thankfully I had worked up two card designs so I could test some duotone color combinations before moving into three and four color blends. Big ambitions. Practice isn’t a choice in creativity, It’s PLEASURE! 

I was a few minutes late to my appointment, when I walked into the studio I was pleasantly surprised at it’s immaculate order. I noticed a small tightly bound graphic novel on the first desk. A book, a very bright beautiful book, I immediately tingled. 

“Did you print that?” I asked.

“I printed it, and bound it.” Karina answered, hands folded neatly together, smiling. 

My brain screamed, “THIS IS THE PLACE! My books will be born HERE! ” I smiled.

We chopped it up, then did the technical anatomy of ‘Valentine’ - the printer. We ran some proofs, then talked practical shop. Who needs a publisher? I got more options WITHOUT the gatekeepers than I could ever possibly exhaust! A dozen books to make in small form for small humans, and more than a couple dozen card designs to bring to life in full color this year. 

There is so much goodness to come. And that gives me hope, a lot. More soon. 

Struggle is everywhere. In the heart, mind, hands and feet, on every face. Life, like marriage, or drawing is never perfect. All ends in surrender, compromise, and acceptance.  It is not a win/lose deal. Though the end seems endless, and forms vary, it concludes. Is it worth all the weary woe? 

Ask a quitter, no. Ask an artist, whatever it takes.

Tiny pink nubs mounted atop pencils sit there for the reasoning, the graphite point at the other end is there for your courage, trust, and patient conjuring. Both ends need each other, in measure. Who's on top? Who wins?

                                                                  Cartoon

"The original meaning of "cartoon" is a full-scale preparatory drawing or sketch made by artists on strong, heavy paper (or pasteboard) for projects like frescoes, tapestries, or paintings. Originating from the Italian word cartone ("large paper" or "cardboard"), it designated the material, not a humorous drawing. "

                                                           "PREPARATORY" 

What is funny about struggling to illuminate an idea? Execution must accommodate the expansive imaginations of all beholders with impressions that leave details to our interpretation, or they lack trust. What's NOT there, ghosts, wait to be known, felt, never seen. What is UNdone, concludes between ears in an instant, gracefully concealing the trials of creation. This wide world needs more than it can scrape together alone. This is the essential gap Art fills in us all, and it's partially empty so we can exist within it, to COLLABORATE! 

"Art" that attempts to close the gap hoping to leave a lasting impression is sure to abbreviate it's value and lifetime. AI ramrods pixels down throats, and the sea's scrolls roll on just at they did five thousand years ago, it suffocates.

Worry less, do more, and share. It's not about you, it's not about being perfectly alone, or shining, it's about all of us. Stick it out, weather the storm. You either have it in you to find out what you are made of at both ends, or are running, trying to escape what you already know. That's it. 

2 minutes

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pencil on paper

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What is a hard skill?

I saw an incredible animated film this week, 12 minutes, one human being's singular hand drawn effort. No editor needed, just a self expression session, digging so deep. SO layered with love, patience, just humbling to witness. Crushing BRAVADO! When you are making a sandwhich you don't let anyone take things OFF as you are composing your delicacy. Dostoevsky was paid by the word, imagine how he'd react if an editor chopped his words like liver. Humans, really do not need someone holding their hand 24/7 to make sure they don't fall, what they need is to learn how to get up alone. Hard skill. Lighting a fire, hard skill. Starting a business, hard skill. Staying the course without complaint, discipline, never easy. But it's worth the hardship for more than one reason. There is more to life than safety rails, Roald Dahl agrees. Soft skills seem simple, but to some, it's all pops clicks and greek whisltes, it can be convenience to stay misunderstood. That's a choice, like hate. Art requires responsibility, all that comes with creation comes from a conscious mind.

I am exploring printing techniques for some independent publishing currently, and I could not be more excited to share these results. Soon. New blood. 

I love to look at art, almost as much as I love making things. Anything. Creation is an invitation to play, be young, to grow. Progress lives in change. Undo commands undid the strength of individual creators. Something from nothing is only born from someone who said YES to choice, chance, and stuck it to modesty. Digital media reduced human desire to rubbery regret. We're expert shoppers, but need free delivery. Land and sea don't just pour out of a click. Both live within you, they wait. Sketchbooks are spacecraft, all an explorer has to do is get in, hit the ignition, and roll with the ride.

No risk, no reward. No fight, no might. We have got to adopt a giant's force to create or defeat one. Change is not a choice, indifference inherits self defeat. MISTAKES REMAKE US! 

Go with PATIENCE,. The surest way to find your singular self is to GET LOST!