Komik Strip Kartoonz: Social networking

ALL THE BORING DETAILS

My name is Tim Winstead and I've been drawing cartoons of one sort or the other for as long as I can recall. No formal training whatsoever and even less listened to advice just provided more of a reason for me to try and realize my goal of cartooning for a living, albeit....life itself did pose some hurdles...... which I stumbled over countless times. I still don't 'toon for a living, but strangely enough I have been very fortunate to encounter certain people who have left an indelible impression on me. First and foremost is Phil Yeh, a highly creative person with volumes of very colorful and imaginative illustrations and experiences that very few will ever know. This profoundly creative man has enough energy to light up a stadium and the kind of commitment to a craft that is rare by today's standards and it's HIS commitment to our craft ,which is a quality I have always admired.
I have also 'met' some other great artists as well via social networking. Off the top is a highly talented graphic artist, who by day .....dons the guise of a school teacher, Mr. Johnny Hamm. The work this man can produce is exceptional and though we have never met...I have known him for quite a long time.The kind of art he produces is unlike the mainstream stuff we all see. I call him a mixed media maestro. I am blown away by the composition of his work. Now, we shift to another exceptional cartoonist, Mr. Coleman York, who is the creator of HUGO comics. Outstanding in his own right, he has always struck me as someone of class and style. A very humble attitude mixed in with a little sage advice and a bit of ' We all gotta look out for one another' persona.Then there is Karl Zorowski, who is a devout priest....and a very exceptional person and..... just so happens to be the creator of ' Church Mice'. I have never met Karl, but he is another of the great people I know from the message board I mentioned earlier. And last but not least, there is Andrew Bos, who employs his cartoons in ways I hadn't seen before. A huge talent, of which I hope to see more of. In between all of the tiny little, gaps in my life, which are way way too many to try and list here....one thing has ALWAYS been a constant. That is I love to draw cartoons. Always have....always will, and chances are I may NEVER make a living drawing cartoons, but one thing is sure.....I will ALWAYS love my drawing cartoons and even though my life didn't exactly play out as planned, I'm very grateful that it took the direction it did. My life in ' toons has been....creative. But then again....aren't we ALL creative in our own way ? Please feel free to visit any time and should you have a question about cartoons/cartooning, or any of the topics you've seen on this blog.... please let me know at otb666tw@gmail.com and Ill post your question with an answer. If I can't answer it. I'll find somebody who can. If you have a topic of your own, I'll be more than happy to post it, and see what kind of responses we get. That's pretty much the crux of this blog. My aim is to provide a forum for anything and everything 'toon. Thanks and come back often.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Social networking

For whatever reason a person uses a social networking site, it is presumed that he or she does so with the intent on making a connection with those who share a common interest. Whether it be music, cars,hobbies in general,the expectation of communicating with others who are into the things you are is a very real need and practice. Albeit not a topic directly concerning cartoons or cartooning, it needs to be addressed. Years ago when I began my search for those who shared my interest in drawing, I found a site called 'Planet Cartoonist' message board. My very first visit opened my eyes to a plethora of like minded people , who loved to 'toon. This forum gave me confidence in my own abilities by way of conferring with other 'tooners. Some pro....most not. After each visit , I would come away with a little more knowledge....a little more insight into an industry I really knew nothing about. For the next few years, I would 'meet' others who ,like me needed that extra bit of help.Generally, most were only too happy to help with tips....do's and don'ts....critiques of posted work and just to be there if needed. That aspect alone was one I valued highly and sought it out every chance I got. Over time, I 'met' some really great artists, who were there for much the same reason and even though the site fell victim to hostile attitudes and poor administration,I did benefit positively from it. The site is still up, but will NEVER be what it once was and even though most of the artists who frequented the site are all off doing their thing, I do feel fortunate enough to have been a part of what I still consider the best site of it's kind to ever have graced the internet and will always be missed.It's a safe bet that had I not become a member of that board, I would not have 'met' my partner in crime at Komik Strip Kartoonz, Mr. Johnny Hamm, who went by J.L. in those days. And It would not have been likely that I'd 'meet' Karl Zoworski, who is the very successful creator of 'Church Mice'.Pastor Karl helped my craft in ways even he wouldn't understand. I also 'met' a very talented cartoonist who is the creator of a very popular web comic,HUGO.... Mr. Coleman York , who has graciously given me insight to what was otherwise a one sided view on the uses of tools I had been opposed to.I had an 'Old School' attitude about cartooning and still do to an extent, but Coleman opened my eyes to those opurtunities I would have ignored and in using that information, I have become better at my craft and for that, the support of Johnny Hamm and all the other cartoonists that I've been priveledged to 'meet' since then.....I say...Thank you.