Just Another Tuesday
Doing some drawing projects for fun and mental health
I do things to keep myself out of Arkham. That could be as simple as petting one of my cats, building something out of LEGO bricks, or drawing. I learned a while ago that when something I like becomes work I tend to not like it as much, and avoid it. I work at the LEGO Store, but I don’t build as much as I used to. 🤔 I remember when I first started playing around with doing a comic strip- my mother’s only comment (that I recall) was “So, when are you going to start making money?” I was doing it so I wouldn’t scream at my students, or walk around depressed. Drawing was the joy I found in my day, even when I couldn’t always draw each day.
With retirement from teaching I’ve done a lot of different things (some of the interesting, most of them not). I always fall back on drawing as a way to relax. I’m no longer focused on doing the most amazing drawing possible, I find that I actually do my best work (or at least the stuff I like) when I am just playing. Moving the pencil across the paper to get whatever creature is in my head out. “Life! Give my creation… LIFE!”
When I retired I decided I would try to help out my Local Comic Shop where I could. There is part of me that would love to work there (Like Homer Simpson working at the bowling alley) but instead of pushing for that, I just make things for them. Using the skills I have and not having a strict time requirement. Usually it’s just some signs, graphics for use online, or flyers. This last week I was asked to come up with something for video (I think it’s for video). Fortunately, it wasn’t animation, because the relearning curve might be a bit much for me. Basically branded PowerPoint slides. I looked at what they had used in the past and just reworked those ideas. Mostly I just drew monkeys and put words with them.
Here’s what I came up with as I played around:
Some still need work, but it kept me focused and feeling like I accomplished something. Since I’m not exactly sure where these will be used, I don’t know what other ones I should work on, There were a few slides from the original set I didn’t update because after COVID some things have been cut back, but may return… only time will tell.
I’m right now testing out Substack to see if it can replace my actual website. Part of me is tired of trying to keep up with updates, a security stuff and not being able to really update while on Whimventures®. I know it’s possible, but I just don’t want to deal with what I need to do on the backend to make it all work. Even after being the source of technological wisdom at an elementary school for almost my entire career, I just want things to be easy… after my last Wordpress update things on that front just seem to be more frustrating. I’m still concerned about longevity and other things, but since I’m doing this for myself, it really doesn’t matter, does it?