This cartoon from July, 2002, was drawn during a period when I was using felt-tip pens. As I’ve stated before, I finally concluded that I don’t like to draw with felt-tips. My result, it seems to me, is always an uninteresting and bland line. It is possible to achieve a certain “sketchiness” with a felt-tip pen that can be aesthetically pleasing, but having never been a “sketchy” kind of cartoonist, this doesn’t seem to benefit me much. My pen work has never been great, and it concerns me more and more that my lines, now drawn with a pen nib and India ink, look cruder than ever alongside so much work that is being turned out on digital tablets these days. I’ll just have to live with it, because I cannot see myself ever going completely digital with my drawing.
160 responses to “Horizontal Pop”
..and just for grins and giggles, due to Mark’s link to ‘more’ cats on the internet…..
http://www.iizcat.com/post/4739/13-The-Far-Side-comic-strips-featuring-cats-
Debbe, domaucan is the Vet, in Baton Rouge. Glad you are enjoying that link. I haven’t looked at it much yet, but what I saw I liked.
Cute: http://www.iizcat.com/post/1458/15-adorable-adult-cats-with-their-insanely-cute-mini-me-counterparts
Jimmy:
Because I’m not an artist, I might be completely off base with this observation.
It seems to me that the best comics are those that have mastered the art of suggesting instead of drawing explicitly.
Speaking as a former teacher of literature, I compare it to Hemingway and how he endeavored to be an essentialist in his novels.
Your strip has achieved that, no matter what tool you use to draw.
Trucker Ron:
Thanks for the Cosby kidney stone link.
I’ve been there, done that, have the scars.
The first two put me in the hospital, and I experienced the painkilling properties of morphine.
I decided to handle the last two on my own with the generic version of several Excedrin PM.
The pain was intense but endurable.
I still think that anyone who claims that passing a kidney stone is worse than giving birth is deluded, though.
I’ve passed 4 or 5, lost count. No surgery necessary, but went to emergency room twice for heavy meds and observation. Rest eventually made it out without needing anything more than over the counter stuff. But I don’t look forward to the experience. The ER nurse told me that about rather giving birth than passing a stone. Either way, you are still passing something that is bigger than what normally goes through those passages, and the baby isn’t spiked like a cocklebur either!
Mark:
No surgery for me, either, thankfully.
I, too, had a woman tell me that a stone was worse than childbirth. She said that she had experienced both. I still think she’s deluded.
It is amazing to see how every great comic strip artist has improved over the years. I was just looking at Sparky’s early work. You have come a long way.
I saved it, but once you showed a sketch left handed and one right handed. That might be worth pulling out for a few giggles on the blog.
https://i.chzbgr.com/full/9052023296/h675978D8/
Well, I’ve given birth to an 8 lb 12 oz, 21″ long, bouncing baby boy 🙂 have had my gall bladder removed (gall stones are not fun either).
good night guys….
According to the Mayo Clinic website, to avoid kidney stones you should limit your intake of:
Spinach.
Bran flakes.
Rhubarb.
Beets.
Potato chips.
French fries.
Nuts and nut butters.
I’ve had to limit my intake of potato products because of my diabetes, but I really enjoy the rest of those foods.
My first child weighed 5 lbs and 10 ounces. Three years later I had another who stayed in an extra month and came out weighing 10 lbs and 5 ounces. She got stuck in birth canal and they ended up not knocking me out for fear of harming her. I ended up with lots of plastic surgery.
Late husband, both daughters and MIL all had kidney stones. Husband had hospitalizations and surgery and dozens of stones. Oldest daughter was hospitalized, as was MIL.
I have no actual idea which is worse, never had one.
I knowed it, I knowed it. Them beets is bad for you.
Actually, I wanted to send a nice fruit basket to Jackie’s plastic surgeon, but she tells me he is deceased.
Another thought about Horizontal Pop:
In that sense, men are like water.
They always sink to the lowest level.
In all things, of course.
I found this a couple of days ago on Damn Interesting.
It is.
http://www.thetenthwatch.com/
https://scontent-dft4-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20031587_1566485976752412_4584262561915182602_n.jpg?oh=bf757f208a69e24a28ac8b307e09db58&oe=59CF508F
Arlo, you make a good point, there…..
ta, Jimmy 🙂
I was always told to avoid carbonated beverages due to the possibility of kidney stones. I think that there is also a genetic disposition to kidney stones and gall bladder stones. At least two of my brothers have had their gall bladders removed and at least one or two have had kidney stones. So far, so good for me.
Jackie, here’s something you and Ghost might like: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/columnists/johnklein/john-klein-porter-peach-festival-preps-another-giant-cobbler-but/article_55427036-52aa-5ab1-bb4e-6b7a1f7dc2e4.html
Rick, my favorite version comparing men and water: “The path of least resistance makes all rivers, and some men, crooked.” — Napoleon Hill
just catching up …. another vote for pen and ink
Just curious, has JJ said anything recently about the A&J book for supporting the Manse renovation?
I have gallstones but have controlled them with diet
My first BIG (Had small one but did not know what they were) thought I was having
heart attack – at that time I had them so long that walls of gallbladder was thickening.
Pain killer they gave me did nothing. Aspirin did better.
I stay away from Peanuts, Kielbasa, and Bloomin’ Onions -that was what set the big one off.
(And the onion was not very good either).
Gallstones here, too. Had been having these attacks of intense pain every so often for a few years. Almost all lasted 45 minutes and then subsided. No idea of cause. Eventually, while undergoing surgery to resect my colon, I was found to have a bad gall bladder/duct/stone area. Surgeon stopped, cleaned up, and visited my MBH in the waiting area. He asked her if he ought remove that offending region. MBH cleverly asked whether or not such a removal would affect my quality of life. Quoth the surgeon, as relayed by my MBH later, “Lady, it ain’t working NOW!” My MBH gave permission, and I’ve had no more of those atrocious pain sessions. It has been 15 years, and I give thanks to the Almighty for sparing me further pain.
Blinky, just looked at the Kickstarter page and Jimmy hasn’t updated it since the campaign last year, so no information there. He hasn’t said anything here lately about it so guess it’s a slow work in progress.