Buy Now! Cottonseeds: The Killer and the Eternal Child

It's here! Buy it now in Lily's Online Store. More retailers coming soon. Red the preview. Buy or the sex. Just saying.

 

http://lilyauthor.com/graphicnovels/kilerandchild/

Stardust

I've been trying to put how I feel about David Bowie's death in words since I woke up and saw the shocking news of David Bowie's death all over Facebook. But I kept failing. I've seen a lot of articles, tributes, memes, and comments today, but most felt empty to me. I didn't see anything rude or disrespectful, a bunch were cute, but nothing epitomized how I feel. There was something missing.

Then I watched the Lazarus video (for the hundredth time) and it just suddenly hit me. You can't memorize death.

That's half the problem of what's missing. In this day and age, where almost half the world's population is connected to the Internet, everyone's dependent on Wikipedia, and idiotic top ten lists are considered good conversation instead of using your own experience, the incredibly sad announcement of David Bowie's death is being chewed up and spat out like another online forgettable trend. You just can't memorize death. You experience death.

For those of us who grew up in 70's and 80's underground subcultures, Bowie made everything okay. You didn't have to love him. You didn't have to like him. It didn't matter. There was, and still is, no possible way anyone could be weirder than Bowie. He set the bar high. No one could fail. Perhaps not as successful, but not a failure. So many of us have been using our influences in our own art while battling the politically correct 21^st century tidal wave of mindless trolls threatening to devour us whole for daring to share art with the world. Maybe none of us are creative geniuses in the same way Bowie was, but, dammit, it's worth trying. It's worth the effort. The bar was already set.

The other half of the problem is this. Although it's been reported that Bowie's last album is a gift to fans, and it is, he also left a powerful message that no one seems to be getting yet. Watch the Lazarus video. He isn't just saying, accept his death or remember the gift he left to the world. He's saying, here, pass on my gift. Because that's what you do with heroes who have died.

If you happen to be someone who didn't grow up in the same personality exploding era, don't feel bad. Just know some of us are still around and we're doing our best to pass it on. Think someone's art is weird? Good. We did our job. Now pass it on.

The Art of Art

I'm having the most fun designing my own comic books/graphic novels than I've ever had in my entire life. At the same time, while I muddle through one panel at a time, I'm learning hard lessons.

It just took me a solid week to figure out what I was missing from three whole pages. There needed to be a shadow behind the tree. Sigh...

The main reason I decided to delve into the world of independent comic books is because of my work experience. I've been a computer graphic designer professionaly since 1997. I remember when Photoshop didn't have filters and it took about ten steps to create a drop shadow. So, I figured, with my years of experience, I can totally do this.

This past week I have been seriously considering giving up. Things were dragging. I kept bitterly complaining to friends. I can't do this! It's taking way too long just to draw one panel! What's holding me back?!

Answer: experience.

There are fantastic advantages to a lot of experience: strong work ethic, following schedules, meeting deadlines, meeting client's demands perfectly, getting it right the first time, etc, etc.

Experience can also become an incredibly bad habit. In this past week, I've been chipping away at all my experience and going back to basics. I'm working for myself, not for any clients' specific instructions. No boss, no one to work for but myself. No steady paycheck, but that's a topic for another blog post.

On a side note, people who get jealous of experience and independence, and try to drag others down to their level are fools. Moving on...

It's about art. My art. The lesson I keep learning. Stick with the art and forget everything else. Then, it's a smooth ride from there. I'm still learning though. Thank you for your patience.

P.S. Three pages finished for Cottonseeds, Issue No. 2, and I hope to have a 5 - 8 page preview available soon.

Ash Garden video #3

Latest video for the Ash Garden graphic novel. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHaXk3fDod8&feature=youtu.be

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Update and cool art!

I made tweaks to the website so it's now more compatiable with mobile devices. I had to completely redesign the art gallery as a result. So, I figured, while I'm at it, I'll set up a section for pin up art from my new defunct shop.

See it all here!

New main page for the art gallery.

Fine Art.

Pin Up Art.

Enjoy!

How to Make Money from Art

You don't.

Art itself doesn't sell. Never has, never will. All forms of art, whether it's a novel, a poem or a painting, is in the eye of the beholder, and it's impossible to put a price tag on that. Art will never sell.

Products sell. A hardcover book, an anthology of poems, a framed painting of a prairie landscape, these are all products, tangible, real, and they are things you put a price tag on.

The question isn't, How do I make money from my art? In fact, it's not a question at all. It's a matter of refining your art so it can be turned into a tangible product with a price tag.

Do I feel my writing has reached that point where it can be turned into a hardcover novel at the bookstore for 29.99? I honestly don't know. Time will tell, I guess. I do feel 100% ready to move on to the next level, go from simply sharing my art to selling products. Like any artist, I hope for the best and the day I can reap the rewards of my hard work.

Long story short, I still have things to refine in my writing, pesky little details for the most part, and it might be awhile yet before you see my face in a bookstore. But if you're willing to stick with me, hard work always pays off eventually, and we'll see the rewards together.