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(To see more detail, click on each image to enlarge)
Instead of posting one of my published cartoons today, I thought it might be fun to post a few random pages of sketch book stuff. Perhaps I am wrong.
These images are drawn without any plan or goal, just taking a pen to paper and drawing whatever comes to mind. There is no pencil sketch first or reference to draw from, just whatever comes out of the end of the pen. These are all about 5"x7".
These are my favorite kinds of drawings to do, but unfortunately there's no money in it.
One might be inclined to say, "Dan, wouldn't it be cool to put all of these in a book?" to which I would say, "Yes, cool, but I'd be lucky to sell enough to fill the glove box of a Smart Car."
Wouldn't it be great if we could all make a living just doing whatever what we want? I vote for that option.
P.S. I should also mention that these drawings have nothing to do with drugs or alcohol. I can only do this sort of thing when straight and sober.
Really love it, your mind must be a crazy place.
ReplyDeleteDan -- why not do the self-publish thing through one of the print-on-demand places on the web? Last I looked, all you (as the author) has to do is make the content; there are some that have you pay a fee, and some that don't. Then let your readers fill their Smart Car glove compartments!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these, Dan. Reminds me a bit of some of the the lead in graphics on your Sunday strips.
ReplyDeleteI think it might be slightly more interesting living inside your head than it is mine.
But Dan, can't you paint? Do you know how to paint? Wouldnt that make money f you sold them?
ReplyDelete_Monkeyboy
I love them! I especially like the windmill heads poking up out of the ground.Almost like giants relaxing in a lake.
ReplyDeleteThese sketch pages make me ANGRY!!!
ReplyDeleteThey remind me that my efforts at drawing look like the work of a stroke victim trying to regain the use of his hand.
I work with a few art directors who are good "wrists" and when I'm with them while they're sketching out an idea, I always feel like I'm watching a magic trick. I'm so envious.
Do you think Gladwell is right about his 10,000 hours to mastery theory of "talent"? Was this a knack you were born with? I don't think any amount of practice would enable me to do what you do.
@Dave Stratton...
ReplyDeleteI couldn't always draw this well, but my skill level was always years ahead of my peers as a kid.Drawing was always my favorite activity since before my earliest memories, so I've had well over 10,000 hours practice. I just got lucky with some random collision in the gene pool or something, then practiced daily for 50+ years (so far). I know how lucky I am and have never taken it for granted.
So glad you posted these! They're great! Would love to see them in a book, like in Createspace or Lulu.com.
ReplyDeleteLove watching your blog.
I'll bet it is scary inside your head. heheh.
Lynne
These would be ridiculously awesome postcards. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right about the money, but I'm sure you could easily sell out a limited edition offset print (1000~5000), break even, and having a bitching book to show for it (which of course will be re-sold for triple on eBay ;-D).
I second the print-on-demand idea... Or put these on merch via CafePress or something similar. I'd buy a TiVoBird t-shirt...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'm not the only one that loves the crap out of these.
ReplyDeleteI'd hang a signed original on my wall any day!
these are great, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeletePut 'em on eBay, a couple at a time (so as not to flood the market!) You WILL make $$$.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic and interesting and have suddenly given me the desire to grab a pencil and pad. I'm glad you decided to share them.
ReplyDeleteThese are super. There has to be some way to get them out there!
ReplyDeleteI see these and I think postcards, as in the quirky stuff published by inkognito in Berlin.
ReplyDeleteYou'd be in good company: Rudi Hurzlmeier, Gerhard Gluck, Michael Sowa . . .
When I saw your farmer feeding candy to the pinata animals, I wanted postcards. You make 'em, I'll buy 'em!
Colored (horribly time-consuming, I know), these would make amazing post cards.
ReplyDeleteWhiny child voice: Mooore sketches!
Reminds me of a Dali painting. Awesome. Dali a big influence?
ReplyDeleteI would SO buy a book of these!
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC!
Thanks for all the nice compliments and suggestions. If had more time and gumption, I'd self-publish a book of these for sure and/or postcards. I work 8-or-more hours a day, seven days a week as it is, though.And I'm a lousy businessman.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Dali was a big influence of mine when I was a kid. Still like much of his work.
ooooooooooh
ReplyDeletecouldn't your wife publish some of your stuff so you did not have to add the burden to your shoulders...she's got nice shoulderssss..
Would you be willing to sell any of the orginals?
ReplyDeleteI would call the second one, "Digitalis for a Broken Heart."
ReplyDeleteAnd somebody who IS a savvy businessperson should help you follow through on Marcello's suggestion. And I love your drawings official and unofficial. And people need reminders like these that sometimes it's best to proceed without a plan, to find out what's possible! Jean
" I know how lucky I am and have never taken it for granted."
ReplyDeleteMr Piraro, you are one very humble talent. i salute you. thank you for that one Bizarro book that i managed to find and purchase in this country. i have since never found another Bizarro book ever again. hence, i treasure it like a priceless ... erm, treasure.
I don't care what they say, you're a damn good artist.
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome, Dan. I love your sketches. They really would make good postcards.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic - you really should publish them.
ReplyDeleteI love just sitting down and doodling. It's very therapeutic... it keeps yer mind occupied... in a positive way.
ReplyDelete'Twas pleasing to see these, Dan. I like to doodle in the same way, just throwing things in as I go, with steadily decreasing conventionality. What a grand life it would be to have a career based solely on drawing pictures like these.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I hope to see a line of Bizarro note cards, like Far Side had it's own. You're up there in my favorite comics hall of fame with Far Side, Doonesbury and a few more. PS. I think the one with the wind generators is super and you should do a comic about those large monolithic wind farms. They are like giants in an army when you pass them.
ReplyDeletethese scetches are kind of a Shel Silverstein meets Salvador Dali. Very freaky, but in a "good, you wan to look at more", kind of way!
ReplyDelete