I’ve been yammering about the blog every day and ignoring the elephant in my studio. The big news is, after two years of experimenting and learning and struggling, I have thrown in the towel. I have given up on using a stylus and a tablet as my main instruments for drawing the comic strip Arlo & Janis. I have gone back to India ink and Bristol board to produce my basic artwork.
There are many, mostly younger artists who use digital means exclusively to produce outstanding illustrations, gorgeous comic books and striking comic strips. I couldn’t master it.
I turned out passable drawings with a digital pen, but I found it intimidating and limiting. I increasingly was reluctant to attempt an intricate concept. I had no feel for it as I do with pen and paper; it just didn’t seem like the same thing. As a result, I turned out simple panels and way too many talking heads, things that ordinarily are hard enough to avoid in my confined domestic tableaux. I detect this in other comic strips, many of them well known. I won’t name names, but they look as if they’re being produced by modestly talented high school art students. I could see that happening in my work.
Never the best draftsman, I have thrown off what I increasingly regarded as a handicap. I do still use a Frankenstein mash-up of old and new technology to produce a living, breathing comic, but I’ll tell you about that later.
Speaking of the blog, I have made some significant changes that will be visible only on desktops and laptops. I’ll see what I can do for the rest of you when I have a little time. I’m finally doing what I said I wanted to do, having fun rearranging stuff.
21 responses to “2024, A Blank-Space Odyssey”
JJ,
I’m glad you stopped trying to keep up with the young kids and reverted back to the medium you are best at.
Don’t knock you efforts- I think you are one of the best cartoonists working today; not only funny and poignant strips but you are also a master of draftsmanship. The world you create looks lived in and you convey ideas and portray objects with just a subtle line in the perfect place.
Thank you for the hard work you put into the strip, Jimmy. Do what works best for you and satisfies your creative urge. Instead of saying you threw in the towel on the new, say you reverted to the tools of the masters. Over 100 years of the world’s best comics were created that way, and there’s nothing wrong with sticking with what works best for you. For the rest of us to understand what Jimmy’s talking about, think of how your signature looks when you have to use the electronic pen or your finger to sign on modern checkout devices. Terrible. No wonder identity theft has gotten so common when a scribbled line has replaced an actual signature!
Symply keep looking in all our windows, the microcosm that is us tickles my Fargone funnybone. You have that art mastered no matter the medium. The gray matter matters.
Seems to me that you were having trouble finding the stylus you preferred. I think they were no longer made. Have you solved that? Anyway, I like old school in all kinds of things (Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn!), and have always liked your artwork.
As the proud owner of several A&J originals, I would like to applaud your change back to the physical medium, particularly in the hope that it means more sales of strips :).
Love that panel at the top – I can hear Strauss now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdziw4tI9o
I was a graphic designer up until a few years ago when I switched to project management. Only ever used the mouse or laptop touchpad. Someone said that’s like drawing with a bar of soap or finger-painting.
It’s your [sometimes philosophical] content as well as the endearing way you portray A&J [and Ludwig] which draws and keeps your fans. Use whichever medium suits you.
Along with James, above, I also own two originals including the famous “sunset/thousand times” item. Glad the funds went to help Katrina victims.
Here’s a vote for keeping A&J living wherever they are, thus not moving close to Gene, et. al. Were that move to occur with consequent greater involvement of Gene & family, there’d be danger of becoming merely a soap opera instead of an insightful strip. IMHO, naturally.
Nancy Beiman (“Furbabies,” on GoComics) is using pen and ink, too . .
Hey… kudos to you JJ for giving it a try! But in the end, go with what works the best!!
I never thought about how hard it could be to use a stylus, ~until~ I tried a painting program on a friend’s iPad. YIKES! As someone else said above, it was akin to signing my name on those credit card pads… totally unrecognizable!
It occurs to me now that this could be the reason I am frustrated at a different comic I follow. It has been taken over by a new young artist and I find it hard to recognize the characters. I blamed the artist, but perhaps the medium is partly at fault!
Follow your bliss!
Just a report: While the text was readable on my iPhone, the comments were not; they stretched off the right side of the screen, even when I rotated the ‘phone.
Thank you for your work, Mr. Johnson, both on the comic and on the blog.
I actually think A&J has some of the best comic artwork available. The lines are simple, but the faces convey the perfect amount of emotion. Even Ludwig.
Your work and judgement have made Arlo and Janis #1. No need to fix what ain’t broke.
As an aficionado of fountain pens ( and all their problems), I heartily approve. Yes, I can type on a keyboard and print out things on my laser printer that can even mimic handwriting, but it’s not the same.
I have been reading a few stories about the last year that Charles “Sparky” Schultz penned Peanuts. It became harder and harder to create and he died shortly before the last original Sunday strip was published. He instructed his family to not have anyone else carry on the strip and I am glad that they honored his wishes.
Yes! Agreed! Sparky Schulz also never used an assistant. He reasoned, Arnold Palmer doesn’t hire anyone to do his chip shots. His first job was lettering (in Spanish) for a Catholic periodical, and his lettering is still among the best in the business. You can always read clearly everything he penned.
I’m grateful or your often ironic, almost always humorous, apolitical content. I’ve been reading your panel since I noticed it in the Tampa newspapers I used to read. I could have sworn Gus lived in Tarpon Springs. Many of your panels, especially those featuring Ludwig, have adorned our refrigerator from time-to-time. I used to clip them but now I print them. Now that I know you have a blog, I’ll try to remember to visit it. Thanks for being an anticipated part of my morning routine.
I am so glad to see your blog is back! I look forward to hearing more from you and other Arlo & Janis fans.
The comments are now readable on my ‘phone. Thank you. 🙂