I know that it may be a little early to begin talking about my year in review, but if I wait until later in the month, I probably won’t get it done. So, here goes.
The year opened with me sweating the creation of my thesis project for the Center for Cartoon Studies. I hadn’t finished the creative center pieces “Scraps” and “Scribbles” from These Things Happen #3…I didn’t know what These Things Happen #4 would look like…and I didn’t think I would graduate in May. The darkness of early winter in Vermont didn’t give me any cozy feelings, and Lord knows, Kristin had to put up with my snow-drift blues. With the only light being my first book illustration gig for Nomad Press, which would take me 7 months to finish.
After finishing These Things Happen #3 in late February I submitted my ideas for These Things Happen #4 to my thesis advisor, Kevin Huizenga. I didn’t expect the response I got back. It took the wind out of my sails and made me want to stop cartooning all together. I knew that he doesn’t enjoy many autobiographic comics, but I felt that the main story within These Things Happen #4 needed to be told. I took Kevin’s comments to heart, however reluctantly, and as the year has gone by I understand better the advice he gave then. I’m still doing journal comics, but they aren’t meant to be published in a mass-market way and the mission of them is to explore comics and to complete Alec Longstreth’s mantra “Make Comics Everyday!”
Colored by Kristin, drawn by Sam
Working through the rough waters of doubt with the support of friends, family, and teachers, I completed These Things Happen #4 in late April and put my complete Thesis together; and, less than a month later, I passed and was a member of the Third graduating class from the Center for Cartoon Studies. I was also elected to be the graduation speaker for our class before I knew that I would be the opening act for Jeff Smith’s keynote commencement speech. What I wild ride it was in the middle of the year.
When the summer arrived I attended the MOCCA convention in New York City to sell a few copies of my completed thesis work and was surprised to sell out of the work I brought. The enthusiasm of the independent comic fans and the collection of all the different camps of cartoonists was intoxicating and still lasts a treasured memory of this year. I can’t wait to go again next year with some new zines and comics.
June and July saw me cleaning like a zombie. I had moved into a shared studio space at the Tip Top Building in White River Junction, but I didn’t use it much. Mostly, I worked my day job, illustrated a little, and cartooned NOT AT ALL. I guess I needed the time off to think about my next move. Two seeds were being planted in my mind and germinated until August: One my good friend Jason Week began working on his webcomic Billy the Dunce and encouraged me to do the same AND Two I listened to the Audiobook version of Chris Anderson’s Free: The new economy of zero. Both seeds were pointing me toward the light of doing a serious webcomic while keeping an eye on the new economic trends of 21st century for creative content and distribution.
More comics, content and looking back to come.
For your viewing pleasure, TWO old comics. The first was a part of my original portfolio to CCS, and the second was a part of my final work for my first year at CCS.
Sorry about the pixel quality. I couldn't find the original to rescan. I did this in January 2007.
This didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to, but it does give you an earlier incarnation of Harry. Drawn in the late fall of 2007.
