Maybe I'm Just A Big Kid

For the last few months I've been visiting schools with the author, Una Belle Townsend, talking about our book, Scanner. Then, in front of an eager audience I get to share one of the most fulfilling activities of my life that, up to now, has also been one of my most private experiences.

In other words, no one has ever cared about the pictures I sit and draw when I just want to relax. Most of the images I've placed on this blog come from that experience. I get up in front of a group of kindergartners or third graders and do a couple of quick, sloppy, silly sketches and they applaud.

They APPLAUD!

The point I always try to make is the thing they like to do when no one is telling them to do it can become their life's work. That is, if they are willing to believe in it and push to learn how to do it well ... all while no one else is pushing them to learn.

Think about it. Right now, I'm a point where I am experiencing a lot of things that should be discouraging me from pursuing my art. They have discouraged me in the past. I've given up again and again only to return to it eventually because I just can't stop drawing silly pictures. But a group of little kids who don't know any better clap for me, hug me and tell me they are going to be illustrators also and I know I am finally doing what I was created to do.

Take that, world!

(By the way, this picture was taken by the Communications Director at Prairie View Elementary in Mustang, OK. It's on the header of their district website.)

This Is My Look

This is how I look and I'm proud of it.

Yeah, that's all I'm going to say about that.

It's My Job. Someone Has To Do It.

All throughout history there has always been the job no one wants to do. But if the great monuments of this world are to be built there has to be the unsung hero who sweeps up the gravel, goes out for lunch and there has to be that guy who cleans out the nostrils. It's in the history books. Look it up.

In my world, I'm that guy. I am only of use to people if I am doing something that helps them satisfy their momentary whims. Solving the big questions of life is not even under consideration.

What you are seeing here in my art is the fact that a whole new world is opening up to me in which I can do the things I love to do, practice the skills I've trained myself to do all my life and actually receive recognition for it (kids seem to love my pictures). The only down side is I can't make money doing it. Am I pursuing a path without any real value? Is it really more useful to spend my time satisfying someone else's momentary itches than to be inspiring kids to have an imagination and to develop their talents?

By this worlds standards I am currently of no value to my society (because I haven't found a way to make money off of my images). But in my little corner I am contributing a positive, humorous and uplifting view of this world and still believe I can and fully engaging the skills and talents I was born with. I should be able to make a living off of that.

I don't understand this world. That's all there is to it. I do know that this wasn't anywhere close to what I thought I would write here, but then again maybe that's what's on this guys mind, too.