Hello, hi! It's been a long while since I've written on here. Typically I'm not a huge social media guy, or really a social guy for that matter! But... I have been checking in on instagram and such. Just operating in the background really.
I've been busy. Recently I moved home and for the first time I have a garden - my previous homes were a flat and an extremely old house with two feet worth of a "yard." Essentially enough room to fit some bins in. But now I have grass, a shed, fancy french doors! More importantly, I can now do my own barbeque! Something you really miss when there's lack of space. And with the British weather actually being half decent for once, now's the time! (Although my wife jokingly said I'd likely still BBQ in winter...)
Since my last blog on here, I've also attended two comic cons in London, not as a would-be comic maker unfortunately (maybe one day), but as a member of the general public. It's great seeing all the indie artists and comic makers, both in terms of original work and in advice in breaking into the world of freelance comic making - but I have a small confession. The main allure for myself at a comic con is the guest announcements. Meeting the famous people who were involved in the things that inspired me in the first place, be that films, tv shows or even established artists and writers.
My wife and myself both attend these conventions usually once a year (way before I started to think about seriously making my own comics) and between us, we love to collect autographs from various famous people. This has the distinct drawback that most of the day can be spent queuing to meet someone, and then having little to no time meeting indie comic makers. Something I actually feel guilty about... afterall, it IS a comic con. Right? In that sense, I tend to humor myself thinking "well, when I eventually get a stall to show off my comics. It will be my turn to get ignored over the guy who plays the real characters, and karmic fate will be justly balanced 😜"
To be blunt, I actually need to finish my comic before that fate becomes reality.
And so, while I've been moving home, shifting a thousand boxes of books and personal belongings. Trying to figure out what should go where, I open the box of the autograph collection. And all of this train of thought hits like an epiphany; I need to focus more on what I'm doing. Yes I like meeting people, yes I like collecting. But I also like comics. I like storytelling. World crafting. And once all the dust settles on moving, comic cons and going through a mountain of backlogged games. I should focus more on making comics. Being that happily ignored stall, happy because I've at least made something. And that's what's important to me. It's been a childhood fantasy that one day I'd walk into my local bookstore and notice out of the corner of my eye, this one particular book that just stands out to me. My own book.
You're probably thinking "all this by opening a box?" - and yeah. I'm a deep thinker. I've started to put those autographs in nice frames, and they will be placed along the wall by the stairs leading to the upstairs landing, our own personal "Hall of Fame." Not just because they have sentimental value, or bring back fun memories with my wife. But because they are a reminder that I have my own dreams to chase.
So. Once I've eventually framed to rest of the twenty-odd autographs and placed them all the wall. I'm going to make some barbeque. And I'm going to make some comics. And very likely... I'll continue to collect autographs. And barbeque. And then maybe read the comic I've made.