Pointing That Out . . .
Diary of a Freelancer Redux
I want to encourage you. But give me a minute.
I'm an introvert, it turns out. I know you wouldn't think that, because I'm smirky and I'm a comic and I'm a redhead. But, turns out, I'd rather be drawing and writing than almost anything else on the planet. The three exceptions to this are:
- being on, or in, water
- traveling with my guys
- climbing Mayan temples
- eating Mexican* food
*Or, Indian food. Either one. Both magically delicious in their own amazing way!
I know, that's four!! And then, five, with the asterisk! Keep reading anyway!
I think you have to be pretty self-motivated, when you're a freelancer. And lately, I've been frustrated with what I am or am not getting done - that's a big piece of it too. In the last few months, I lost my dear Dad (very shaky still), and we've moved to a new city (this month), and I'm still staring at many unpacked boxes (intimidating, and where's my dang Martha White Corn Meal?). It's a (let's call it) challenging time of life. And I know "the West" gets it wrong, with grief, and how fast we should process things. But that's another bloggy wog. Sooooo, anytime I get down about my work, or my life, or my mood, I just pull out a sketchbook and my iPad . . . and I keep drawing, and I keep writing.
I talk to the Great Creator (which is a lot of what is in my head and on my pages) and I ask WHY? and WHY NOT? a lot. I think right now that God may be very bored with me, but somehow fascinated, like a now-jolly, now-angry kid watching a roly-poly on the sidewalk. And I ask God questions, and I think, hmmm. God is not answering, God is observing, or God is waiting, or God is binge-watching "Stranger Things" on Netflix, like everybody else. And I think about how small a word "God" is, for the Great Creator. And I want miracles for everyone with Parkinson's and Cancer. Right now.
I'm so glad to have my health, and mad that others don't.
And wondering why some people think they have to be mean to others. I'm horrified by what Leslie Jones has been going through, and proud of her for standing up to it. And mad about how that redirects her great, creative energy for a bit. Stealing her time (I'm always in a bad mood if you steal my time, even without all that hate attached.)
And then I'm back to me again, feeling inadequate, still, of all things! You would think that at this age, my middle-school insecurities would be wiped away, but nope, turns out, I'm human. Dammit. I keep trying to rise above that, but well, as you see.
And then I make a list of what I've done this year.
Which includes 300 drawings for two coloring books, plus comics and cartoons for Dirty Diamonds, The All-Girl Comics Anthology, an illustration for The Cartoonist, for the National Cartoonists Society, two comics and two ads for Magic Bullet (DC Conspiracy), my own work on Haint Blue, my it's-taking-forever graphic novel about the supernatural, and submitted my Fog of Worry panel comics to more than one syndicate (waiting on that). I've written and performed stories on stage with Story District DC and Storytalks NYC (Gotham Comedy Club), and performed my standup act at Comic Strip Live in NYC.
And I feel a little better, but cancer and Parkinson's are still attacking people I know and love, and their friends and family. I'm mad about that. I keep coming back to it.
And I spend a little time praying, and hoping prayer "works."
Back to drawing.
Hang in there, everybody, we are all on a journey no one else can really see. Because if they DID see, we would be embarrassed at how often we turn to brownies for solace, even if they ARE Fiber-One brownies, and so much better for you.
Right now I'm planning the fall cons - CreativeCon Panama City, and New York ComicCon. Well, I'm not the one planning them, who has time for that? (See: "Stranger Things".)
peace, love, and other things hippies say,
trl
Trench Coat
Pigs, Hell, & Warby Parker
Even MORE Awesome Band Names
Somewhere near Basalt, Colorado . . .
characters . . .
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MICAH six eight: 3x5 Challenge
You know that 3x5 Challenge going 'round? Where you post 3 pieces of art 5 days in a row? Here were two of mine yesterday. I love this Bible verse, and I think I've done about 5 art pieces of it so far (maybe more). these are art marker (Faber-Castell Artist Pens) and gouache and watercolor on Moleskine watercolor paper. Anyway, enjoy! I'm working on new ink pieces, and Magic Bullet 10 comes out soon! Be sure to follow DC Conspiracy on Twitter @MagicBulletDC; it's awesome comics by DC area cartoonists! Check it out! Meanwhile, I'm trying to live by Micah six eight. But I think it's hard to claim the humble part if you have a blog, and Twitter account, and . . . and a PLEASE Like ME PAGE . . . oh what a tangled web . . . I'm trying, anyhow. :) peace, trl
New Year, New Blog
Hey, y'all, Happy New Year, Prospero Año!
I've been on deadlines, sick, cooking, and traveling . . . what have YOU been up to?
ALSO, I've seen some GREAT TV and MOVIES: I highly recommend BOYHOOD, THE IMITATION GAME, and THE COMEBACK, as the most recent stuff I've watched - also I rewatched (because they never get old) ALL of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries I could find: SPINAL TAP, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, A MIGHTY WIND, BEST IN SHOW, etc.
I'm working on inking my latest submission to MAGIC BULLET, DC's comics newspaper, which we distribute at bookstores and comiccons all across the country.
I am working towards making my blog the most efficient thing it can be, work-wise for me, and communication-wise for you - I have 3800 followers on Pinterest (not really sure how that happened, but glad :) ), and about 2500 as Facebook friends, and about 800 followers on Twitter and a coupla hundred on Instagram, and about 500 LIKERS on my Facebook Laughing Redhead Studio page . . . I'd like to get all connected and . . . oh, also a coupla hundred on ETSY? And my ZAZZLE store, too, that needs to be updated (though there is lotsa good stuff going on in my Zazzle store already, according to my mom, who is my biggest fan!) gotta doublecheck that one. So, my goal this year is to get my site to where I want it to be. I'd like all my art to be in one very navigable place, and I've been so busy with deadlines and holidays that I haven't been posting much here lately. Soooo, you will see some weird reconfigurations and appearances on here - as I try to make sure I'm finding the most efficient designs for my needs as a writer/storyteller/artist. I have enlisted two interns to help me get my work loaded and ready for viewing/sale/discussion/whatev. I'm not a big fan of "buying" followers, or following folks just to get followed, so it's a slow, but genuine build, and I hope you'll be patient with me! I love Twitter and INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST, and I post a lot of pix of works-in-progress, as well as finished work, on all three of those, so if that interests you, check it out! Right now, I'm trying to figure out the best way to publish my horror stories and my "storytalks;" these are short true stories which I've "performed" in NYC at Gotham Comedy Club and the Metropolitan Room. Some have been published by big publishers, but I own them, so I'm thinking of publishing them here, and also printing them up to sell at the trade shows. What say you? Feel free to leave me a PM here, on Facebook, Tweet me, or message me on INSTAGRAM. Whew.
The safest bet is to follow me on Twitter and INSTAGRAM (is that showing up here? It was before I changed "themes"), and to LIKE my Facebook "Laughing Redhead Studio" page. I post there regularly. My TWITTER and my INSTAGRAM are both @LaughingRedhead. You would also probably really like my PINTEREST boards, I'm obsessed with them. Besides drawing and writing every day, the only other thing I do every day (besides drink Diet Coke and wear trifocals) is that I pin to my PINTEREST boards. Every. Single. Day.
I am also working on teaching a good bit of art this spring, summer, and fall, in addition to writing horror short stories and working on two horror/spooky graphic novels. May take up RED BULL.
peace y paz,
trl
Art Journal pages: Noodle Doodle
FOG OF WORRY: PROTEIN
FOG OF WORRY: WOMEN'S MAGAZINES
INKTOBER DAY 21
INKTOBER DAY 16
NEW YORK COMICCON, here we come!
It's New York ComicCon week! Woohoo!
We are booth #1162 in the Small Press section:
Curls Studio/Carolyn Belefski, and Laughing Redhead Studio (me).
I will be selling my Minis - these are all one-of-a-kind originals ($10 each) of all sorts of spooky beings . . . skulls, vampires, zombies, creepy lil' kids . . . you get the picture. I have hundreds (thousands?) of these on hand, and I'm creating more all the time. I will be selling my Volumes 1 and 2 of Fog of Worry, as well as prints, greeting cards, and postcards, too. ALSO, I will be signing and selling art and product at the National Cartoonists Society booth on Thursday from 3-5, and on Sunday from 10-1. Carolyn Belefski will be doing signings as well, please follow us on Twitter for all updates and details! @CarolynBelefski and @LaughingRedhead (or just click on the button here on the site).
So much funness! Please stop by and say hey! And, if you ask very very nicely, we might even give you a FREE copy of the awesome comics paper created by DC CONSPIRACY, MAGIC BULLET (the WESTERN edition!)
Hope to see you there!
peace, trl, aka Laughing Redhead