Just a short strip this month, since I was working on longer projects. I’m now working on a third comic in this same vein (the first one is here) and they all feel…off somehow. Like I’m missing the mark. Not sure what I mean beyond that, or how to fix it. I’ll have to think about this more.
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The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O’Connor, ed. Sally Fitzgerald
The Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor – Worth reading through this entire book in a relatively small period of time to notice some interesting patterns in these stories. For example, many of the best O’Connor stories end in death or some other great tragedy. So at a certain point each new story becomes imbued with a sense of dread and foreboding, even before she establishes that tone (or doesn’t) in the text of a story itself.
A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney, Martin Gayford – Very inspired by Hockney’s ability to evolve and make interesting art into his 70s. Also his Polaroid work is definitely comics.
We Told You So: Comics as Art, Tom Spurgeon and Michael Dean
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Don’t feel like I have much to say this month. No notable insights, no interesting anecdotes…
I made a concerted effort to stay off social media in the past several weeks. In part just because I felt that I needed a break, in part because I was detoxing in preparation for a Kickstarter I’m co-launching on Monday. I did…alright in terms of staying off. Not as well as I’d hope but a noticeable decrease. It was nice. It’s always nice when I do this, though of course being online is nice too.
The Kickstarter will be interesting. It’s for Warmer, an anthology of comics about climate change that I coedited with Madeleine Witt. For my own work I make a conscious effort to be very minimal and unobtrusive in self-promoting – maybe not a good decision but my preference for various reasons. That’s not feasible for a Kickstarter where my coeditor and the contributors are relying on me. So the promotion will be a bit of a learning experience. It’s much easier when you have a co-editor who holds your feet to the fire. Encouraging each other to step outside our comfort zones. Protecting ourselves from easy or lazy decisions.
Editing the anthology was a real pleasure. I felt bad in many cases about asking people for edits on a book that paid very little, but it’s also clear that changes to individual pieces as well as careful sequencing of the final book both made a big difference. Everyone was extremely nice and accommodating about the edits as well, which was flattering. I enjoyed this problem-solving aspect of the process very much. Ideally any finesse or cleverness in our editing should be invisible on the first read, but become clear in subsequent readings.
In terms of my own work, I now have two big projects done, or almost done. They both could be printed books, maybe, but I’m being careful not to rush towards that decision. Not everything deserves to exist in print, especially if I’m printing it myself. Drafts of two short stories finished as well, both drawn in a day or two.
I also visited some galleries this month, which I should do more often. I’m just far more used to engaging with art in a book from the comfort of my home than in a public space. As a result I’m always on the lookout for cheap art books and/or art books with minimal text. Largely without success on both fronts. Anyways, on these visits I brought a sketchbook with me and made sure to take photos, both aimed at getting more out of the experience. I enjoyed it, definitely benefitted As An Artist, though I can’t help but feel self-conscious drawing or even taking notes in public. Maybe that will go away if I make myself do it more often. Also, Sturgeon’s law definitely applies here…
Lots of reading this month as I try to build up my creative energy. Careful, initial thoughts about my next big projects. Though not many thoughts about my reading that I feel like writing down at the moment! It does seem to be working, though – doing a short comic based on an O’Connor story. She’s a complicated and interesting woman.