I've been artistic all my life. It's never anything that I learned in a class or anything like that. I just liked to draw & was good at it. Up until my later teens, I chalked it up to a hobby. You know, no different than my friends who liked to play sports, skateboard, ski or act. I liked to draw...
As I got closer to becoming an adult, I realized that it really was more than a "hobby", it was becoming my passion.. something in me... a part of who I was, not what I liked to do. Unfortunately, I ignored that direction & followed something a little more expected of me. I joined the military & spent 4 years in the United States Navy, serving in Desert Storm. I also spent time in other places, spreading peace...ya right. I hate war! Not because I served in one, resulting in time lost with my family, but because I Just don't believe in it. Beyond that, I don't & will not discuss it.
Once I finished my term in the military, I went to school. I studied in graphic design. Now mind you, this was the very early 90's & so graphic design was all that was really seriously offered in school. So I went for it! Even though it wasn't my interest.. time past & I graduated. I landed a job in graphic design, married, quit my job & moved out of state, all in a two year period. Once in Washington State, I started working corporate jobs...nothing that had to do with art or graphic design. It took little or no time for me to get lost in the ties & latte's. I put down my pencil, and wouldn't pick it up again for 8 years. In 2005, I divorced and found myself kinda just standing still in time...wondering what I was gonna do. I had this moment, where I realized, I'm on my own. There's no one to tell me that my desire to draw & be somebody was cute, but a waste of time as a responsible man. I could actually do what I wanted...I could prioritize how ever I'd like. If I wanted to draw and not work for food or home, then so be it! I was so scared... but excited. I had been out of the loop for so long. I had no idea how far the industry had advanced. I mean, I remained a friend of the graphic novels & comic art. I kept tabs on the careers of my heroes, old and new. Like Robert Crumb, Jim Lee, Jack Kirby & Jim Mahfood. But if asked what my plans were to make myself successfully known like these guys with my own art?...I had no answer. My only plan was to dust off the art supplies, buy a WACOM, a new art table, an easle, some pens, pencils, erasers, paper & computer with scanner and work at reconnecting with an old friend, myself.
Today is the first step towards putting myself out there. I've brushed up... I've learned a few things. It's amazing what you find when you attend Comicon's. I've talked with artists, both internationally known and locally. I've decided to start slow. I'm starting this blog & adding my thoughts and experiences on this journey. I'm going to share with whoever wants to see.
G
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