I know, be specific! What do I mean by a “few thoughts”? The random images kind of makes sense by looking at what’s there. My thoughts are random in addition to being a few. The “Hire Me” section of my illustration site is still one of my favorite sections, (aside from being critically important!), because of the narrative showing the process of a good back and forth between a guy who wants a portrait and a guy who makes portraits… and a cat.
In 2016 I went to an Irish pub to see a UFC fight. I saw the attempted comeback of Ronda Rousey. Spoiler alert, she failed. I started out with the intention of experiencing a sporting event and then doing some drawings and writing some comments about what I drew. I wasn’t as good at hustling who would want to print or display these in time to make it relevant but it was a fun exercise. I would still like to try this out at live events.
The UFC fights didn’t interest me at first. I didn’t know the rules, the people, or anyone in my friend group that liked it. Then I met a guy named Garnette. He was a fitness trainer, in fantastic shape, and was about to start training at Renzo Gracie Academy in jiu jitsu. I didn’t know anything about jiu jitsu. Even how to spell it! Garnette got them to let me sit off to the side to observe and draw. I realized most of their moves were familiar to me because my high school wrestling experience was all those moves but the safe version. Jiu jitsu moves are basically the unfiltered complete and unsafe moves designed to neutralize an opponent.
Sort of related. My first workout (not jiu jitsu) was when I was four years old or around there. My dad was a high school gym teacher and wrestling coach. His son was going to be a wrestling state champ and in great shape. I was in pretty good shape. I was in the Pennsylvania State finals in freestyle wrestling at 16. I lost, but it was the kind of loss that I think my opponent knew I would win if we ever wrestled again. He had gotten ahead by one point and then proceeded to lay on his belly for the last minute of the match and not wrestle. I retired after that at the ripe old age of 16. I felt I had learned all the things I needed to learn from wrestling after 10 years of competition. Jiu jitsu looks like it would be a great workout.