One of the last comics I made
Insider #106 with a blast from the past.
Dear Insider,
I only ever wanted to write stories. Then, I learned how funny it was to tell jokes. Later, I discovered it was also funny to draw jokes. At some point, I figured I could become a cartoonist slash writer. Or writer slash cartoonist. But just because you want to do a thing does not make it easy to do. I sometimes procrastinated on the writing by drawing more, and on the drawing by writing more. For a while, I managed. During one of these phases of not-writing, I started drawing outdoors from observation. And everything changed. Accidentally, I became an artist. It was not part of the plan. This publication began in part as a way to bring writing back into my life. Here we are.
At some point, comics left me. Or I left comics. (And also just the business of being funny all the time.) There were good reasons. Deep in Space is the first of the last comics I made, in early 2017. It is the story of an astronaut sent to find a new home for his people.
I am faintly embarrassed by it but also amused. Maybe you will feel the same way?
The SneakyArt (Insider) Post is the special Sunday email to supporters and patrons of SneakyArt.
Today’s post is a day early so that I can remind you about the Insider Hangout taking place in just a few hours. At this month’s Insider Hangout, I want to see your sketchbook. Grab a seat!
🎤 The video from my talk at PechaKucha Night Vancouver is now available to watch on Vimeo! Please tell me how it is in the comments because I can’t bring myself to watch it.
The patronage of SneakyArt Insiders allows me to dive deeply into the subjects of my life. Some of my most popular writing has come from being able to do this:
📕 Why I self-published my first book, and why you should too
🌎 The universe has other plans, besides me, and that is frustrating (to me)
🎯 The resolutions of 2023 and my decision to live in a positive-sum world
🤳🏼 The panopticon of social media and my best efforts to break out of this prison.
Thank you for your support, dear Insider. I am glad to have a space in your inbox.
Love the comics!
Wow that comic 👍. I wanted to illustrate children's books. Got put off by a published artist. It's amazing a bit of nastiness can affect one for years. I also started a comic a bit before the days of the interwebs. So many ideas so little time. I spend so long earning money to do what I like, time to do what I like and earn money from it! But familial pressure is high, you can't make money as an artist or an academic apparently. But my brother proved them wrong. Although I might not necessarily go as far as he does, letting his PhD students write his research...love your emails, I watch out for them ☺️