Revelation

I making prints now; I've always known about this. My ex-girlfriend Beth and I had talked about this for years, and she had been working on that process for a long time. How to sell other works in tandem with a passive revenue stream from T-shirts, posters, and prints based upon original pieces of work.

Sady Starkiss Sticker “Blast Off!” on external memory drive.

My friend, the tattooist, had given me some information about a printer down in downtown Portland that I might want to get a hold of for making prints looking into that so I can see if I can make cheaper prints than where I'm going out right now. I need to get the cost of those prints down so I can make more of the artwork. Suppose I get more of my prints made out over social media. In that case, I can start swinging other ways from having to actually work out a 9-to-5 job and actually start making money off of passive income rather than active income. That was the most significant point that was a revelation to me. I've been fighting it and fighting it and fighting it for a long while now. I realize I could actually make more money off of making prints off of my work and making original pieces all the time, and then I can spend more time making original pieces there for making prints and then go from there.

The biggest thing that my friend also pointed out to me at the show was that they were the other artists I didn't see there at the opening. I was the only one there.

In the process, my artwork also stood out from the others on the wall, knowing this was his description, not mine. But massive black-and-white pieces have a tendency to stand out amongst most of the color stuff, so they definitely stood out.

At the same time, a lot of extra work was done on each one of these pieces, whether it be an 8 x 8, a 12 x 16, or an 18 x 24.

Baby Blue Escape. 8”x8” Scratchboard.

People can see the effort that's done in these individual pieces of work. That's the reason why my stuff has a tendency to grab people's attention. My friend had also mentioned to me that if you're doing the work just to crank stuff out, that's one thing. Still, if you're doing it because you're driven to it, which I know I am, I love working on the artwork; it makes me feel creative and whole and gets a lot of ideas out of my head on the paper or on the board in this case.

A whole mess of 8”x8” pieces being prepped for work.

Remember, I have often talked about in previous posts how some artists are stuck in the creative mode and are not trying so much to work on figuring out how to sell themselves. That's where I've been. I need to branch out if I'm ever going to make it as a successful artist. I need to branch out and start focusing on how to not only crank stuff out, putting great ideas out there but allowing pieces to breathe, and that means making prints, T-shirts, posters, and stickers.

Blue The Bulldog Sticker.

Focus. Stay on Target.

Hey there Sports Fans, Al here with the latest:

What is a creative issue that prevents work from being done?

Fear is usually the first one that comes to mind. Real or imagined can cripple the creative spark within all of us.

Misdirection is another. This one is tricky because real life doesn't always run parallel with the creative flow. In fact, sometimes I have found myself falling into this problem because you don't want something to end other times you fall for ... wait for it...

lack of enthusiasm for a project.

I think that this happens all the time to creative people. Probably the best well-known person is Geroge R.R. Martin and the "Game of Thrones" books. It has been shown that he has been busy writing other stories and scripts for tv and buying a ton of stuff that most nerdy collectors would kill for. But he can't bring himself to finish the books. But down deep in the heart of the creative when you are bored of working on a project. Like you would be working at a restaurant in the dish pit and you are doing the same job over and over again your body just goes through the motions and your mind shuts down. It's like that returning to any art project.

HOWEVER, there are times when a renewed vigor comes in like a long-awaited tide to cover the rough edges that you had so many issues with, and then you are left with a self-question "why did I stop doing this?"

What has this to do with anything? Well, funny you should ask the metaphorical question. In my case when I was cranking out a bunch of Richard Parker stuff before the Pandemic lockdown I had a major hard-on for getting my Robot Monster story completed and written and drawn. At the time I wanted to prove to myself that I still could make a regular comic book that I would be into as a kid. And when the lockdown happened I had remarked to my girlfriend at the time, "Well at least now I can finish Robot Monster."

But what of Parker? He rolled out to sea like the morning tide. But with so many things in life like the lockdown, the civil unrest, the break-up from a long relationship, a move, a wildfire threat, rehired, move again, "Last Monster on Earth!" finished and sent off to my editor, and the recent election Parker rolled back in.

And as I had mentioned before - FOCUS.

A large explosion of creativity burst forth - where do I need to fill in the visual gaps to make sense to the reader? If I were picking this up for the first time would it make sense? I will admit that sometimes the burden to see things through is tough because you do sit down at an art table day after day using the same techniques to flesh out a character or general idea. But focus to sit down just to start is a good beginning. And unlike those dishes being stacked there is an end to the story.

Focus.

Blog for July

Blog for July

After a long break again and real life constantly throwing you a curve you gotta wonder what the “F!”
But for me the artist inside is loving the fact that I have been able to work on many old projects and finish finally the last couple panels of the Richard Parker saga. I swear to God that has been conspiring against (at first glance) me but as I have had the time to look back and re examine what has come before and maybe this was all the way things were supposed to happen.
With the free time of being furloughed but money still coming in art has jumped to the forefront to be completed. In this case a comic book graphic novel that had placed Richard Parker on hold is nearing completion and being prepped to be “handed off” to my editor leaving me free for time to re focus on Richard Parker. This makes me very excited! In a way we’re Richard Parker stated will be finished in the same household. That to me is great and a great accomplishment. The story and art of “Last Monster on EARTH!” was drawn and completed in the same household before I had move again so having Parker finished will be fantastic! Of course I will reference back to the earlier work to bring myself mentally up speed with where my head is at with the story. Once completed with that then it is back to comic book layouts and transfers for the the bookend series for Corpse Cop. Another project that started out as scratchboard and will finish with scratchboard.
AS A SIDE NOTE: the state of the comic book industry has taken some serious hits over the last couple months with the shut down over everything. Unfortunately at times like like in times of war, art and entertainment has always taken a backseat to the world at large. But as the major giants in that industry (that also spurred one of the greatest franchises in cinema history) find themselves scrambling for ways to infuse they books with personal politics and ostracizing other for having differing viewpoints, individuals with creativity have a prime objective in making their work known. This is the best time to strike with new ideas and styles of artwork that have not been seen by the mainstream public. Art should of all things be fun. And that to me is what completely lacking in books being produced currently.
I have a plan and where I want to go with that.
END OF SIDE NOTE.

So there you have it a new path is being forged and

Plotted. So watch here as new worlds unfold!
And I am outta here!