Thanks Claire! It really is, eh, and it's so strange. I felt kind of bummed drawing the first panel, and after I got through it and read it over, it was like, "Oh. That's not that bad." It didn't solve the issues but it put everything into perspective. Hug back!
YES. It's like I feel about writing. I spend a lot of time thinking "ugh this crap is never getting published why do I keep trying" and then I just write and it makes me feel better. So, yea, I guess it's just because we love it. It might not be exactly how we wanted and sometimes we feel insecure but we keep doing it. Because it's what we love and what we are good at. (Wow, I'm deep, see?) :D
Yeah, exactly! It's pretty great that we have something we enjoy doing, even if it haunts us from time to time. I think it's just being surrounded by amazing artists left and right (in and out of school) that is incredibly inspiring but at the same time makes me feel like, "But so-and-so is so young..and so amazing!" or "I'd never be able to achieve the quality of work that so-and-so produces" and so on. But I keep having to remind myself to stop comparing myself to other people. We do what we do because we love it...and hopefully we'll be able to make a living off of it...!
Thanks Valia! I agree...if I don't enjoy it, there's no point! Sometimes I think I was putting too much pressure on myself to come up with a comic every single day. I think I'll have to stop being so hard on myself...sometimes!
Your comics aren't mundane - they are putting the quirkiness of daily life into easy-to-associate-with little stories, which is not an easy task. A bus ride is mundane, but distilling the atmosphere of "the girl with a broccoli flower" into a drawing is not simple. Your style isn't unsophisticated either - it very well suits the intent of creating emotions in a casual way - going Caravaggio wouldn't be any help. If you feel that updating less often gives you more creative space though, give it a shot. Some of the great (imho) comic artists go through this: http://bigbigtruck.deviantart.com/art/my-own-worst-enemy-98258144
Wow. I don't know if I'm worthy of such praise...thanks Joa! That just blows me away. And YES the comic says it all...and holy crap she's amazing! And I have that feeling about the age thing too...what if I'm still where I am at 30?! Or older? But yes. This comment is taking me about 30 minutes to write because I keep reading hre "A Year in Waiting" comics....they're so good! ahhhhhh! amazing!
I have to agree with Joa and Gig Mike, it is just what i was about to tell you: your comic is not mundane, neither your style! How i wish to be able to express so many situations of my life with lines so simple, clean and honest; it takes a lot to be able to do what you do and if at the end of the last line in any given comic, you have a smile on your face... you're set!
I guess when you are the artist trapped in your own head interacting with all those fears, frustrations and much more that you have up there, it's not easy to see ALL THE GOOD YOU ARE. I get messages like this (and i'm not nearly as good as you are) and they make me smile but sometimes i forget about them, but when i see people like you feeling the way i use to and my only response is: DON'T STOP, you're awesome, i really look forward every now and then to see your stories, i admire you and your comic makes me happy is when i think: we are so hard on ourselves!
Just enjoy what you do,it looks like you do already, you don't have any deadline or set number of comics per week you MUST share, take your time and make changes as you go until you find a way that sets you, and most important of all, continue shaking those thoughts out! Pen and paper is cheaper than the shrink and you definitely make people happy along the way ;)
Fernanda, thanks so much for your kind comment. I'm just generally and TOTALLY blown away by all the kind words from you and all of my readers. It's true, I guess we are all hard on ourselves from time to time...but it's important to keep going. Thanks!! I'll keep trucking on as long as this is what I want and enjoy doing!!! :)
It is the best therapy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I get the inappropriate thing. It comes back to haunt me on a frequent basis. Autobio!
Hug!
Thanks Claire! It really is, eh, and it's so strange. I felt kind of bummed drawing the first panel, and after I got through it and read it over, it was like, "Oh. That's not that bad." It didn't solve the issues but it put everything into perspective. Hug back!
DeleteYES. It's like I feel about writing. I spend a lot of time thinking "ugh this crap is never getting published why do I keep trying" and then I just write and it makes me feel better. So, yea, I guess it's just because we love it. It might not be exactly how we wanted and sometimes we feel insecure but we keep doing it. Because it's what we love and what we are good at.
ReplyDelete(Wow, I'm deep, see?)
:D
Yeah, exactly! It's pretty great that we have something we enjoy doing, even if it haunts us from time to time. I think it's just being surrounded by amazing artists left and right (in and out of school) that is incredibly inspiring but at the same time makes me feel like, "But so-and-so is so young..and so amazing!" or "I'd never be able to achieve the quality of work that so-and-so produces" and so on. But I keep having to remind myself to stop comparing myself to other people. We do what we do because we love it...and hopefully we'll be able to make a living off of it...!
DeleteYes!!! all it matters is that you enjoy it! and when you enjoy it, you share the joy and the witt to others
ReplyDeleteThanks Valia! I agree...if I don't enjoy it, there's no point! Sometimes I think I was putting too much pressure on myself to come up with a comic every single day. I think I'll have to stop being so hard on myself...sometimes!
DeleteYour comics aren't mundane - they are putting the quirkiness of daily life into easy-to-associate-with little stories, which is not an easy task. A bus ride is mundane, but distilling the atmosphere of "the girl with a broccoli flower" into a drawing is not simple. Your style isn't unsophisticated either - it very well suits the intent of creating emotions in a casual way - going Caravaggio wouldn't be any help.
ReplyDeleteIf you feel that updating less often gives you more creative space though, give it a shot.
Some of the great (imho) comic artists go through this: http://bigbigtruck.deviantart.com/art/my-own-worst-enemy-98258144
Wow. I don't know if I'm worthy of such praise...thanks Joa! That just blows me away. And YES the comic says it all...and holy crap she's amazing! And I have that feeling about the age thing too...what if I'm still where I am at 30?! Or older? But yes. This comment is taking me about 30 minutes to write because I keep reading hre "A Year in Waiting" comics....they're so good! ahhhhhh! amazing!
DeleteI'll have to agree with Joa. Your comic is one of the fun things I look forward to each day. (besides my bride) Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteAnd I look forward to your comments everyday Big Mike! They seriously make my day. Thanks for your constant support and kind words!!! :)
DeleteI have to agree with Joa and Gig Mike, it is just what i was about to tell you: your comic is not mundane, neither your style! How i wish to be able to express so many situations of my life with lines so simple, clean and honest; it takes a lot to be able to do what you do and if at the end of the last line in any given comic, you have a smile on your face... you're set!
ReplyDeleteI guess when you are the artist trapped in your own head interacting with all those fears, frustrations and much more that you have up there, it's not easy to see ALL THE GOOD YOU ARE.
I get messages like this (and i'm not nearly as good as you are) and they make me smile but sometimes i forget about them, but when i see people like you feeling the way i use to and my only response is: DON'T STOP, you're awesome, i really look forward every now and then to see your stories, i admire you and your comic makes me happy is when i think: we are so hard on ourselves!
Just enjoy what you do,it looks like you do already, you don't have any deadline or set number of comics per week you MUST share, take your time and make changes as you go until you find a way that sets you, and most important of all, continue shaking those thoughts out! Pen and paper is cheaper than the shrink and you definitely make people happy along the way ;)
You are awesome, i mean it!
Fernanda, thanks so much for your kind comment. I'm just generally and TOTALLY blown away by all the kind words from you and all of my readers. It's true, I guess we are all hard on ourselves from time to time...but it's important to keep going. Thanks!! I'll keep trucking on as long as this is what I want and enjoy doing!!! :)
Delete