i got some great news yesterday, ralph carney is interested in having me work possibly on the cover for his next solo album. although that will be someday, and he has plenty of time to change his mind until then, but he says he really likes my style and that alone makes me feel pretty good. i’m also just happy i had the chance to meet him (by way of computer), he seems like a really cool, open-minded, nice guy, and he keeps posting those really interesting thought-provoking videos on facebook. if you don’t know about him, ralph carney has worked with Tom Waits and the Black Keys among other things…

this sketch above was drawn right after ralph left a nice comment on my myspace, which says “i really like those gosh durn cartoons!!!”. i was listening to his music for a while and really got into it and this is what i came up with. i think she dropped her trumpet because the music makes her want to move her limbs.

i also sent a submission to the publisher drawn & quaterly last night, we’ll see what happens… ralph’s compliment kind of boosted my confidence, because to be honest i don’t feel like much of an artist. i can draw but i never went to art school and i don’t even know how to paint. also my drawings are quite simple, i don’t do really complex stuff like a lot of artists. anyway, i’m just starting out, i still have time to learn i guess. but i think i have my own style and maybe that’s more important. obviously there’s some really complex art out there that must have taken forever to complete that kind of sucks. i think simple art is often better, i even prefer my sketches to the more polished ones. obviously with a sketch the line is more spontaneous and it’s hard to replicate when inking. often i think people make things more complex with the intention to impress rather than to create something nice. but also i’m not into that modern polished Illustratory look, in my opinion there’s way too many artists doing it, and it’s a little soulless.

about that upcoming e-book, we decided to set the cost as whatever people want to pay. since it will be an e-book, it won’t cost us money, just time. although time is money. first off we’ll be working on a promotional video before launching the project on kickstarter.com.