Kevin And The Light Of Destiny

First and foremost I want to say thank you all so much.  You’re encouragement and support of Kevin even when I have been on break has been humbling and reminded me that I am creating something people enjoy and made me so anxious to get back to it.  I have been a busy busy bee since I signed off in December as many of you have seen from my production updates and I have really relished hearing your feedback and comments on all that has been going on in my life.  I wanted to share with you all how great this break as been mentally, creatively and personally.

I have been steadily creating one project or another for the last five years of my life…  It’s been really rewarding and exhausting, but hey, that’s what we signed up for right?  No guts no glory.  First off this time off has reminded me how much I love art and comics and really at its heart, storytelling.  I spent the first month or so just writing.  I wrote the next two issues of Kevin and made substantial changes to the approach the book would be taking.  This was a lot of fun.  I realized that the whole process for me has to begin in this phase.  I used to write as I went and it was not a good fit for the way I do things.  I’m a thinker, I need to know what happens three steps from now.

It also became apparent to me that I had really suffered from lack of growth in my art.  Looking at my art over the last year or two kinda felt like the same frustrated person fighting to break out, so I used this time to really stop and think through my process.  And think whether there was a better way to approach this comic and my art in general, something you lose sight of when you are busy keeping a schedule.  So I did two things, I created a print shop and I plunged myself into trying anything and everything to make Kevin look better.  Much of which you guys got to see, lol, sorry about that, I get excited and like sharing.  But the print shop allowed me to think about just the artist part of my brain mainly and grow as an artist in a way I haven’t been able to do when creating a comic that needs to have consistency.

I learned that I need to pursue business differently.  Comics is a tricky place to try and make your head way in business.  It’s hard and finding your way is even harder.  There has been a lot of great council thrown my way by other cartoonists, either by interview or direct conversation, my wife, pastors and friends.  All of them echoing one sentiment: slow down and finish the book.  You see before I went about this process in a way that probably seems much more reasonable and, honestly, appealing. It was:  Make a sample, put together a pitch, get an agent and go hunt down a publisher that will give my untested, no name artist and incomlete work a chance.  That may sound harsh, but is it not true?  What have i done to prove to anyone I can do this on a professional level…  Just saying.  And I think that’s good council for everyone…  just focus on your work.  Make good books, grow as an artist and when the product is done, think of how you will try and get out there.

I also learned I can’t be superman.  I have the tendency  to  let ambition get the better of my judgement.  Even over the break, I was thinking of second comics projects and how I could do some crazy number like four pages a week of Kevin and so on.  Just not realistic.  I have a family, friends, church, and whole slew of other things that need, deserve and want my attention.  And I want to give them it as well.  So I had to spend a lot of time coming up witha reasonable update schedule and work load so that I can consistently put out work.

Which leads me to my next thing.  I have awesome friends.  Nick Perkins and Ryan Hoffman have come alongside of me and started helping out with the production Kevin.  These guys have been life savers and I can’t thank you all enough for the work, and effort you’ve already brought into the project.  It’s a lot of fun making this book with you guys.  Please know your efforts are truly appreciated and I hope you’re enjoying it as well.  And any of you other readers want to come along and help as well, please email me.

Lastly, I never announced it here, BUT!  My wife and I are expecting our second daughter, Journey Agape Regina, this August!  We’re so excited and it always adds perspective ni life.  So fun all around!  And with that…  Now we’re at the end of my life lessons.  On to making new comics!  See you guys next week!