Let's go with text post
I prefer reading to video-ing.
I sometimes enjoy the prompts of things. Sometimes. When I sign in to Substack it will ask me “text” or “podcast”? I always put text otherwise all I’d post would be slow motion videos of steam rising from my coffee. I don’t mind it much because I like to think I will do “podcast” one of these times… but not this one. Facebook asks me “What’s on your mind?” which is cool. I’m flattered that FB is interested to find out what’s on my mind. The message part of Instagram TELLS me to “send a message to start a chat” also with a button that says “send message”. A little bossy but not too aggressive. I had to click to get to that point first so I might have already been considering doing that already. Most of the social media have a “suggested for you” section. I generally ignore those. Once in a while I check one or two out if my goal is to waste a little time. Bank machines do a pretty good job at sticking to business. Pin number, checking or savings? how much? end transaction? I like that.
My Substack letter, this Substack letter comes with little prompts to herd you around. Right at the beginning it offers you the option of unsubscribing. Followed by “Forwarded email? Subscribe here” and a link etc. Not as obnoxious as this one.
I like the subtleness of the newsletter version. There are a bunch of buttons to “heart” the post, “chat, forward, restack”, etc. Even a button to “read in APP”! It’s got it all. It has everything. I like it. They make me and my newsletter seem organized, almost thoughtful. There are categories. Tags. Has Fred ever written about Toxic Avenger in the past? Athens? Art? Picking someone’s nose?…
Here we go again. I understand that every day is different, but sometimes they aren’t THAT different. If you don’t look at the details too hard and pull back a little, they can look more similar. Like the news headline starts out with at least 2 Trump fiascos, followed by a weather event/fire/earthquake and then wraps with such and such a pop star has a new album. Do they call them albums now? I tapped out after “stacks of wax”.
I’m currently working on the first issue of Toxic Avenger, the monthly. I’m getting in to it even more this time. Matt Bors, the writer has great ideas and I always enjoy our conversations with him. I like that he likes to talk on the phone. The only problem for me is I usually don’t have a place to stop and write down notes when I’m out bopp’n around the city if he calls. I’m still not doing a page a day yet. I feel like I’m getting there. A few months ago I remembered a little more about my process and how I worked when I was doing a page or more a day. One of the “techniques” I used was not paying attention to details. That one will get you a long way! When I look back at some of the pages I did and seeing all the obvious things I drew badly or forgot to do, makes me wonder how I never died in a horrible revolving door/elevator accident because of my lack of attention.
So far everyone involved likes the pages I’ve turned in! One thing I’ve noticed about my work and thinking these days is how I feel about each page afterwards. It’s something I would feel as a kid making art. It was very juvenile. By 3rd or 4th grade, the whole elementary school I was in (K-6), the whole school knew I was the artist. At least everyone in my grade. I won all the art contests and even had some national recognition. Nobody came close to me and as adults do, the teachers encouraged me, my parents, my grandmother, and sometimes they might have made comparisons that went a bit too far. Call me Fred “the Picasso Kid” Harper. Erie, PA is no center for the arts, none of these well wishers really knew anything about Picasso, or art really. Picasso has a lot of name recognition even in the culturally starved wasteland of Erie. I started believing my press. I don’t think I became a jack ass about it, but it was more internal.
I think most artists experience this in varying degrees. I had been told I was in the tiptop part of the awesome zone! I was a wonder kid! You’re going to be famous! I got a huge ego about of course, not outwardly but internally I was all “that person’s art sucks. I’m so much better…” The other internal monologue going through my head was Ok Fred, you have to make this next drawing a master piece. On the level of the Mona Lisa! I had learned a few more artist’s names by then. Even if you have a giant ego about your work, I think you know that there is no way any pencil drawing you do is going to out shine the Mona Lisa. Unless you’re ten years old. I felt so much pressure to produce my masterpiece. Everyone continued to be happy with my art, but no one ever said “That’s your masterpiece!” I became disappointed with whatever I made because I didn’t think it was the best I could do. Let’s get started on that next one as soon as we can because this will be my masterpiece! So the madness of chasing that was on.
I’m getting that same urge and disappointment again with Toxic Avenger. I have had enough humbling experiences by now that this feeling isn’t ego driven any more. It’s from experience. I know what I’m capable of making. Everyone from the editor to the writer, to my friends, all think it’s some of my best work… but I know better! I critique the art for it’e flaws after I’m done with each page and I try to keep it in mind as I dive in to the next one. I think it’s a good attitude to be trying to make your best work every time. You would think that’s how every artist works, but after 40 years as a professional artist making thousands and thousands of illustrations, it’s hard to have the freshness of your original passion. I’m very happy about this old feeling.
Love Detective Toxie !!!