[“Worship Ye”. Drawn in 2006 etc.]
Merry Christmas!
A lot has happened in the last year. Here are some random notes:
1. The two biggest events that happened for me in the last year were [A] moving from London, England to Alpine, Texas and [B] starting my art business. The Alpine thing has been far more successful than I could ever have predicted. The art thing is still in its early days, so watch this space. And, of course, Thanks for the support!
2. I’m not claiming that Texas is Paradise, but it’s always been good to me here. Really good. I liked the Texans since the first day I moved here with my parents, aged ten.
3. My business is really based in New York City, my second-favorite place in the USA, after Texas. I go there once a month to take care of stuff; the rest of the time I’m here in the high West Texas desert, drawing and working [cartooning really isn’t work for me, he said, somewhat embarrassed].
4. My overheads in Alpine are about one fifth of what I was paying in London. I get a LOT more bang for the buck here.
5. Freedom is expensive. I found that out the hard way. Though it’s not as expensive as Slavery. I learned that the hard way, too.
6. The creative life is uneven. You have a few short bursts of genius now and then, the rest of the time you’re trying SOMEHOW to get the magic back again, mostly without success. It’s exhausting. I am exhausted, often.
7. My cartoons are what they are. I’m never going to get better, I’m never going to get worse. If you don’t like them, fuck off.
8. I never competed with other cartoonists. Musicians have always been my real competition. Make of that what you will.
9. I’m going to be dead in x number of years. So are you. What do we do in the meantime? Me? I try to love. I try to draw. I try to find the people and the work that inspires me. I try to stay grateful. I try to take care of business. You?
10. Dear God, I just want to say “Thanks” for this brief life you have given me. I tried to do something meaningful with it. I really did. Thank You. Merry Christmas! Seriously.
