Warm-Up: Childish
Monday, July 16, 2007 at 12:21PM 
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the desire to be very grown up."
C.S. Lewis said this when people asked him why he wrote books for children. This reminds me to keep in mind the origin of what I love most...drawing. Before I knew what Marvel or D.C. was, before I knew what a comic book, or super hero was, I drew pictures. I love drawing. I can't recall what I liked drawing the most, probably because I drew so much there is no way to remember. I drew all the time, with any tool that created a line on paper.
Amongst the contracts, negotiations, signings, failed projects, good and bad reviews, deadlines, tussles with editors and studio execs., 35 airports a year, the same convention halls over and over, and anything else that goes along with the professional artist label...it is easy for me to forget what I wanted to do this for. I love drawing. That's the end of it really. I love it. I love the kid that lives here no matter how many books I sell, or how much money I put in the bank. I need to remind myself to put away the childish "desire to be very grown up." and just put pencil to paper. I never used to need anyone to like what I drew. I didn't know to want it. I just wanted to turn a blank piece of paper into something, anything, just as long as it looked fun. An animal, a world that I have never seen, a twist on the world I have. Amongst all the things that have over shadowed that ideal, I have lost the child.
After hearing this quote, I wrote it down and pinned it on the bulletin board in front of my table. That's why these warm up drawings started happening. I always told myself I didn't have time to draw anything for fun, I had to work. But, like those parents who have kids and need to make time for them no matter what...I am reminding myself to do the same.
Enjoy.
s.
[updated] I added a color file that I made for my page header.
Reader Comments (31)
Great work!
Damn right Skottie, damn fucking right man, keep up the great work man, always inspiring.
Truer words and so on and so on. Keep at it Mr. Young
Love the quote... love the drawing... love your comments.
Thats what its all about mang, LOVE! I think this is one of my favorite drawings this decade man, and i think any artist needs to tell themselves this EVERYDAY! Dope stuff yo, and CS is the man, i mean anybody who's name is Clive Staples has to be amazing, lol. I'll call you later, PEACE!
I AM ACTUALLY AT A LOSS FOR WORDS AND ALL I CAN SAY IS....
ditto
btw i really liked AC epi 116, that one had some great insight as well
If you dont have the love for it you don't have much.
Thanks man, it's good to see one of the artists sites I check daily reminding me why I love to do what I do.
that was amazingly profound.
great insight.
Amen.
I know how you feel. It ets harder sometimes, because I know I have all these ideas in my head, and it seems less and less time.
wow, that was dead on bro... I have needed to hear that for awhile. It is time to make time for drawing agin.
HEY MEN THAT INSPIRES ME, I´M JUST A FAN OF YOUR WORK BUT NOW I SEE THE REASON OF YOU GOOD WORK
SUERTE
VA
YA SEE, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO TYPES BIG :)
You know, listening to you on Around Comics, one wouldn't expect such a sensitive and thgouth provoking posting from you. You continue to impress and amaze. And yes, you are effing awesome
Thank you all. I'm glad you enjoyed both the post and the drawing. Hopefully if any of you have had the same experience you might remind yourselves of the same thing.
And Beaumont. Yes, I know. I think people that hear me on Around Comics forget that I spend 3 hours a week recording the show, and about 60 hours a week at a table drawing. And the two are like night and day. At AC I get to be a fan, and here, it's all about me being alone and inside my own head. So from time to time, I have to get all sappy on ya!
thanks again everyone.
That is a GREAT quote and the color sketch you made of it for your header graphic is sweet!
Nice job, Skottie!
-JBeatty
YOU ROCK SKOTTIE.
well said, scottie.
well said.
very inspiring.
thanks for the reminder.
love the image you created for it as well.
so great.
:)
take care my friend,
mike . . .
i think anyone can learn from your wise words culled from the great c.s.
thanks for the insight and reminder.
Word!!!-T
WERD!!!-S :)
Lovely words and work!!
Nice post.I can relate. I quit doing art full time for work about 2 years ago. I was miserable...but alas, I couldn't stay gone, so I came back, but I had a different mentality. I told myself to not forget WHY I do this for a living. It's what I love...
I can remember the first thing I enjoyed drawing. I used to want to be a paleontologist, because I loved Dinosaur books. I bought a how to draw dinosaurs book, and I soon found out that I liked drawing more than the dinosaurs. Since then, I've never stopped drawing.
FANtastic! Both in word and in illo ~ simply fantastic! :)