mark thisse thinks

I watched him struggle through the forest of hair, fighting with every step to cross the vast terrain. He, the brave forager, and I, the golem. His powerful limbs stretched and strained as he forced the branches aside, in search of new territory.

It is a new season and he must face the difficult terrain with perserverance as he seeks out suitable means of life for his comrades. In the distance he spots a fellow worker, seeking his own path within the grimy earth, and both press on. I, the golem, move about, shifting my weight and spinning the terrain beneath his feet. He grips and climbs, unimpeded, with a focused determination. His single-mindedness is a force of power in it's own right and he wields it with precision and calculation.

What he is seeking, even he may not know until he finds it. The golem shakes it's heavy limbs, watching as the forager falls and falls and falls to the rocky terrain below.

And yet he continues. Without so much as a pause in his step, he finds his footing once again and continues his perilous ascent. He does not care that he may be flung to the rocky earth once more. He knows what he must do and he does it with steadfastness.

And I, in my vast state, look upon this creature with wonder. This forager who tackles such a vast world with greater abandon than I know. He seeks when I cower. He perseveres where I reroute. He struggles while I seek comfort.

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I've been reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, on loan from my good friend, Sam.

I feel that, while reading this book, I have never taken into account the writing of my comics enough. While writing is clearly important, I find myself writing in such a vastly different style for comics, and I feel that the richness of characters and places takes a back seat to the methodology and pattern of the comic.

This is not to say that all comics are like this; I speak merely of my realizations of my own comic writing style. Writing - purely writing - is something that I lose when I begin to comic. I was stunned to realize this about myself as I have always loved to write poetry and have felt that comics and poetry were akin to each other.

Poetry was the serious, emotional, artistic cousin that wore turtlenecks and thick glasses and came to Christmas parties telling all of the family that their lives were just metaphors for something greater.

Comics were the cousin that sat in a seat in the midst of the family,  playing with food and attempting to get those sitting around to imagine what it would be like to be riding on a covered wagon through the countryside when vampires asked for directions and how they would feel and what they would do.

Upon saying this, the two seem so different, but both beckon the reader to fill their minds with vast images, deep feelings and intense emotions. They ask the reader to fill in someones shoes, or to look deeper into their own being to discover their story. They entreat the reader to take a step into something much greater than the ordinary, and to embrace the extraordinary.

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I feel that many people believe that creating something is about scaling the golem, and fighting through it's snares to get to the top and reveal the golem for what it is; to show the world this bigger picture they've been missing. This is definitely true in some cases.

More often than not, however, I believe that creating something beautiful is about being the golem, digging through the stones and pebbles and dirt and sand, finding that detail that ignites the mind and quietly whispering, "A-ha."

I've recently been listening to a lot of Ben Folds (Five) and Barenaked Ladies. We all know that love and relationships are a major theme of most music these bands are no exception to the rule.

Thanks to my recent repetition of these bands' music, you get a double dose of songs for your Song Sunday!

First up is a song about a relationship that didn't work out.

Enid by BNL

The second song is about someone who realizes that they are in a wonderful relationship.

The Luckiest by BF(5)

Interesting, isn't it, how music is so versatile. Music, with or without words, can cover a vast array of emotions, thoughts and stories, and yet it is all the same basic concept; sounds arranged in a pattern and words spoken with various pitch. Some variations of these patterns are pleasing to some, while others find those same variations annoying or unpleasant.

No matter what, however, we all can share an enjoyment of music, and feel the power of music.

Guys! Are you keeping up on my Wordpress blog!? I've put up, like, four posts since the last one here! Mark Thisse Thinks! Here, for your enjoyment, are a couple of sketches to enjoy!

First up, we have Horsey Potter. Special thanks to Sam & Elliot for being part of some fairly ridiculous conversations, one of which brought this up!

I also was trying to work on drawing more dynamic poses. Here's a soccer player.

I recently watched the movie adaptation of the musical "Rent" for the first time.

I have had several friends recommend it to me, and I was never against it, but I have select friends who would enjoy such a movie. Musicals always take a special breed of person in our current generation to appreciate this medium.

I watched this, as well as some of the documentary about the writer/composer, Jonathan Larson, as well as spending time talking of following dreams and pursuing goals and destinies with Sam. While I can never say that I've ever lived a life like "Rent," these events reminded me of why I do what I do; why I create. It reminded me that all that is important is doing what you love and pursuing your goals and dreams and passions with fervor.

I sometimes weigh myself down with my financial burdens and societal pressure, and who doesn't? We bow to what is expected of us. I have several friends who are doing what I dream of, and sometimes seeing their success in following their dreams makes me feel as though I can never attain what I believe they have obtained. And, who am I to make that decision? Who am I to place a barrier on myself to my future?

La Vie Boheme.

Have you guys noticed this crazy thing where people are making all sorts of comic book movies? It's crazy!! I totally just noticed this.

And here's a doodle I did of my friend, Sam, while we were Skyping!

Here's a random sketch for all you great folks out there.

This past Saturday was Free Comic Book day, and if you don't know what that is...shame on you. As the name implies, comic shops the world over give away free comics to entice new readers, and some shops go all out for the event.

Beside costumed patrons and employees, there was an artist alley setup inside the shop. A few local artists and writers had their booths and were doing sketches and selling their wares; something that I've been missing out on for a while now.

I was with a couple of my friends, and one of them mentioned how "normal" he felt being in the store. He said, "Now, I don't say 'normal' like I fit in, but...'normal.'" This was coming from a huge Trekkie.

I told him that this was what it was like at the conventions. People who are dedicated to comics. It reminded me that, at the same time, hundreds of people were participating in TCAF, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. A lot of people I knew were there, and some that I didn't, but it reminded me just how out of the loop I've been over the last few years. I wondered, "When I get back on to the convention circuit and have things to sell...will I feel 'normal?'"

You guys, it's Mother's Day, and that means a very special Song Sunday.

Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother! by Sufjan Stevens

I've been reading To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time and everyone thinks it's amazing that I didn't read it in school. I saw the movie when I was kid with Gregory Peck, but I didn't really understand a lot of it. I was younger than Scout, I'm sure, when I saw it.

If you've never read it, it's a great book that is first and foremost about the perspectives of kids growing up and how those perspectives change, but it's also about how we as adults get so stuck in our own perspectives, and how those affect our lives and those around us.

Here's a portrait I did of the Finch family.

Also, last night I watched one of my favorite documentaries again; Confessions of a Superhero.

This documentary is about four people who dress as superheroes in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre, working for nothing but tips taking photos with tourists. All four of these people have given up things to try and follow their dreams to be actors. Somewhere between the dreams and tights I find myself identifying with these people.

Sometimes, you feel like you're doing something ridiculous, in the hopes that one day you'll be able to make a living doing the thing you love, and that the ridiculous thing you do can become a part of what you love.

Why do we put common sense behind us when we follow these dreams? Why does society deem that some things are "normal" to do and others are "fringe?" How interesting is it that we are naturally drawn to other, like people with similar ideas about these kinds of dreams?