Oh, Sweet Weariness!

spring.

2011-05-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

Professor Whalemouth

2010-11-16T22:39:00.004-06:00

This is a comic from a long, long, very long time ago. It is for Zac and the onerousness of professorhood. Otherwise, I only have apologies for the lack of interest I've taken in this blog. Seriously.

Time to Werk

2010-07-07T07:25:00.002-05:00

Time to Werk

2010-06-29T22:34:00.002-05:00

Time to Werk

2010-06-23T19:20:00.001-05:00

Time to Werk

2010-06-21T07:18:00.000-05:00

Time to Werk

2010-06-17T20:57:00.002-05:00

Time to Werk

2010-06-15T23:57:00.003-05:00

Time to Werk

2010-06-13T22:34:00.001-05:00

Circle gets a Square

2010-03-23T18:58:00.002-05:00

Life of the Squirrel in Winter

2010-02-18T01:41:00.007-06:00

Long ago now, Annie and I returned to these United States. I've then spent much of that time being about as lazy as a man can be. Staring out of windows, watching TV, thinking about this or that. I'm slowly looking for some proper work, a day job, if you will. Something to pass the time, keep me warm, keep food in the cupboard, drinks in my glass, money in my pocket. Something to give me more ideas for Time to Werk. Anyone with a bright idea, give a holler.

Anyway, I don't know that I'm being less lazy now than I've been, historically speaking (I've been quite lazy), it's just that somehow through this laziness a small amount of work accumulates, like a fine dust.

The other day, we were out back shoveling the driveway that comes in off the alley. At one of the far corners there's this big arthritic old tree with about half a dozen squirrels chasing all over it, chirping and swatting at each other, making a mess below them of bark and other bits of tree debris. Out in the German countryside, they don't really have squirrels and you'd be surprised how quick it is you don't miss them.

Something recently from my sketchbook. . . .

Life @ Home!

2009-11-11T05:45:00.003-06:00

One last post before we leave fair Europe. Why not some thoughts from our favorite married couple...

Skinny Girl w/ Super Soaker 50 (and Another Skinny Girl w/ Two Super Soaker 20s)

2009-11-06T16:44:00.013-06:00

Here's some water colors I've been working on (not comics, for those of you that might be confused. Also, every now and then Blogger doesn't like to put links on the images so that's why the big ones are down below). Anyway, some pin-ups....

Life @ Home!

2009-10-04T16:08:00.002-05:00

Life @ Home!

2009-09-30T14:09:00.002-05:00

Here's another new comic idea. Let me know what you think, internet.

Time to Werk

2009-09-16T09:42:00.002-05:00

Time to Werk

2009-09-10T04:31:00.000-05:00

More Time to Werk

2009-09-01T08:46:00.001-05:00

Time to Werk

2009-08-25T03:09:00.001-05:00

Werk Vacation

2009-08-23T10:53:00.003-05:00

Continuing the adventures of real life....

Loon

2009-08-15T09:28:00.004-05:00

I've been in Europe now for exactly one month, and so, like most of the posts here, I'll begin with an apology. I thought I could spend a couple days resting and then get back on the horse. That horse which involves me getting on with this life of the mind I've chosen. Or, more specifically a life of the mind on the couch. Not really. I haven't been completely lazy. I've been spending my time reading books I should've read long ago and writing incomplete poems and traveling. I've been to Paris now, and I'd like to go back. Maybe next time with less of a checklist of sights and more time dedicated to nothing but being in Paris. Germany, too has been explored to some degree. The Rhineland, anyway. Where all towns are fairytale towns, all roads are old roads, and all rivers are lazy ones.

This country life is nice. But I can't tell if it's beautiful here because there's something uniquely German about it, or because it looks like all countrysides. Rolling hills thick with trees and great expanses of farmfields, a deafening sense of solitude as the sun goes down. It's the sky that gives it away. The sky here is empty. There are no buildings taller than a tree and no planes fly overhead (all we get is the occasional distant thunder of a C-17 heading in or out of the American airbase east of here - O'Hare it is not). Yes, it's alright. Now, if I could only find something to do with my time. . .

Here is something from the notebook.

Cocktopus. . .in 3D!!!

2009-06-22T23:57:00.003-05:00

Put on yer glasses, it's comin' right at ya!*

*Results may vary.

Oaktapus

2009-06-20T19:16:00.007-05:00

In other news, will be in Germany starting July 15. Quitting job, life in Chicago, America &c. . . Ann leaves in a week, myself following on the aforementioned date. The town is Hütschenhausen, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate. Will return sometime in the new year.

I have two plans–

1: To get on with the life I thought I'd already have been living, artwise. Heretofore wasted with day jobs and making excuses,

And

2: To utilize this internetual medium for a better display of what's been in my brain for the last 30 years or so. Either on this site or a better one of my own design (re: this one).

Here is a drawing I made at work. (Tip- a pad of paper makes for a good mouse pad/sketch pad!) It concerns my two interests lately- fat, lazy birds and octopi, also lazy.

Furthermore, if anyone has any suggestions for things to see and/or do in Europe, give a holler. There will be some free time. Come visit.

Slow & Steady . . .

2009-05-21T00:04:00.003-05:00

Here's some more from the notebook. I've been sort of out of it for strips lately, there's no excuse, I've got a bunch of false starts and bad drawings to show for it. I started this stupid internet experiment so that I'd be more on top of it, but the real truth is I'm lazy and unfocused. Thanks for waiting.

Receipt Cocktopi

2009-04-14T12:36:00.004-05:00

Off to Seattle shortly, hoping for some good seafood, maybe eat an octopus. The receipt is from the Dylan Bootleg volume 6 purchased the other day. (thanks to Keith for the discount).

More excuses from my notebooks . . .

2009-04-13T18:32:00.003-05:00

Variations on a Scream, or . . .

2009-04-08T22:13:00.001-05:00

More Werk, again

2008-12-17T22:08:00.002-06:00

Weeks, repeat

2008-12-10T21:22:00.004-06:00

I'm pretty sure I've seen this joke before. It's a fairly common feeling that comes with doing the same thing everyday without producing anything worthwhile to show for the progress. Stacks of paper and migraines don't count.

Werk to the X

2008-12-03T23:34:00.008-06:00

I've gotten myself into another exciting day job. It's terribly exciting and I hope to tell all of you about it someday.

Werk

2008-11-30T16:26:00.002-06:00

A New Day

2008-11-05T23:54:00.002-06:00

Art Show, Again

2008-10-20T18:36:00.002-05:00

Art show this weekend (Saturday the 25th). Somewhere up in Rogers Park. Details, links. Same stuff as previous for those who couldn't make. There was one last weekend, too, apparently. I'd forgotten.

Paul Bunyan, Democrat

2008-10-05T19:09:00.008-05:00

In my effort to remain unfocused and abandon seemingly good ideas left and right, here is a new strip I've been working on. It's called 'Paul Bunyan, Democrat', and concerns the existential crisis of a man alone in a world wary of the progress and moral ambiguity he represents.

You know...

2008-10-03T01:34:00.004-05:00

We'll continue with more Werk for the time being.
In other news, the Art show went well. I saw, like, 6 or 7 people there. Not bad, really.

Art Show!!!!!!!

2008-09-19T20:30:00.036-05:00

I will be in an art show next weekend with some people I don't know (September the 26-28). Come on by if yer in Chicargo for some reason. It's just one piece (SPOILER ALERT: pictured) and it's all the way down in Pilsen in some alleyway in the back of a truck that some friends of mine own*. It's all pretty legitimate. Devotees will recognize this strip as a reworking of a previous- and much smaller- comic. Dimensionwise, this is 40 x 40 inches (or, two 20 x 40 inch boards (or, for our international friends: 101.6cm x 101.6cm). It is called "Small Talk" and concerns our man Billy Bughead and a cartoon representation of the artist as they discuss the important topics of the day.

Here it is on the bedroom floor:
A detail:

Another:
*read more about that here

Time to Werk

2008-09-07T17:01:00.002-05:00

True story:

And again, Werk...

2008-09-02T13:14:00.001-05:00

Werk, moreso

2008-08-29T11:30:00.003-05:00

Time to Werk

2008-08-27T00:05:00.014-05:00

I've recently quit my day job. The best thing anyone can do with their life is quit a pointless job. Werk, however, continues:

Where Have You Been, pt. 2

2008-08-01T14:06:00.001-05:00

Blah Blah...

2008-07-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

It's been one of those couple months or, The Rut

2008-07-18T00:27:00.006-05:00

Plus, our adventure continues!:

Werk, continued...

2008-07-16T23:54:00.002-05:00

Werk, continued...

2008-07-10T18:25:00.003-05:00

Werk, continued...

2008-07-08T00:48:00.001-05:00

Werk, continued...

2008-07-06T22:33:00.004-05:00

And...

A Bird Tableau

2008-04-20T16:06:00.002-05:00

This Clock's A Tickin' (or, Another Day Gone By)

2008-04-09T00:18:00.002-05:00

Those Chinese

2008-04-08T23:00:00.009-05:00

This was in my desert at lunch today:

We'll see.

What Do You Think?

2008-03-28T00:06:00.008-05:00

From a while ago, the man with the mustache is a famous German philosopher.

Time to Werk

2008-03-21T00:25:00.012-05:00

Here's some more Time to Werk, because why not?

Time to Werk, in three parts

2008-03-15T15:31:00.036-05:00

We will begin with a misunderstanding:
Followed by it's eventual outcome:

And also:

Epilogue:

The Sad Nazi

2008-02-19T23:40:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the delay. Now, some more from our good friend, Echmann...

Time to Werk, or...

2008-02-06T18:32:00.000-06:00

Our Daily Tragedy.

Billy Bughead in: "Lifetime Acheivement"!

2008-02-01T21:35:00.000-06:00

Drawn today while at work.

The Sad Nazi

2008-01-29T20:31:00.000-06:00

And now, the ongoing adventures of Echmann, the sad Nazi, and possibly his friend Dieter, too.

Time 4 Lunch

2008-01-23T22:38:00.000-06:00

Sadly, the following is based on a true story....

Super X

2008-01-15T23:45:00.001-06:00

Where Have You Been?

2008-01-04T00:18:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the new year. Here's our man Billy Bughead.
Bonus:

Time To Werk

2007-12-15T17:54:00.000-06:00

I apologize to everyone patiently awaiting the next installment of our seemingly endless saga. So, let's get to it then....

Super X

2007-12-07T18:37:00.000-06:00

Here's some old superhero comics.

Snow, etc...

2007-12-02T15:42:00.000-06:00

Bonus:I don't know why, but blogger seems to want me to download these instead of just linking them to another page. If anyone has that problem as well, I apologize. I don't have the patience right now to figure out why it's being stupid. But, it's usually being stupid, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Murder Mystery

2007-11-28T22:14:00.000-06:00

Here's something hot off the press. I promise I'll get around to doing something worthwhile one of these days...
BONUS:

Birds

2007-11-24T11:47:00.000-06:00

Back before talking birds were all the rage. An interesting side note: unlike Minneapolis, there are no crows in Chicago. Well, I've seen a few, and lately there's been two big fuckers that sit up on a streetlight hollering at the people walking to and from work downtown. But otherwise, this is pigeon town, mister. Rock doves; gutter birds; the flying rat; filthy, filthy pigeons.

Time to Werk

2007-11-21T00:02:00.000-06:00

Isn't This Fun!

2007-11-19T00:00:00.001-06:00

Because you demand it, more comics, more blog, more.

In Space

2007-11-14T23:34:00.001-06:00

Time to Werk

2007-11-12T15:44:00.001-06:00

In Which I Have a Series of Dreams

2007-11-10T12:07:00.000-06:00

Two Lumberjacks

2007-11-07T01:09:00.000-06:00

Perhaps I'll try and corner the market on forestry humor.

Never See It Coming

2007-11-04T12:30:00.001-06:00

Some more from way back...

Time to Werk Double Feature

2007-11-01T23:41:00.000-05:00

Here we have some strips drawn while at work. They have rooms there filled with paper and nice little pens just for you to take! Amazing!

So, anything you see from here on out drawn on this high quality yellow legal pad was probably made during the busy workday in a small windowless room. Or rather, someone was paying me to do something and I did this instead. This or solitaire. Being a Mac user I'd long forgotten the joys and boredom of solitaire.

Small Talk is What Keeps Us Together

2007-10-31T00:43:00.000-05:00

In effort to throw off any grasp of chronology, here is something that might almost be considered recent. Sometime from May 2007, anyhow. Maybe I'll go back and figure out the dates for some of these things. Maybe not, that might be too depressing. Or how's this, if you're really curious and need the dates- for a biography that you may be working on or something- feel free to ask.

Time to Werk!

2007-10-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

Our international sensation continues....

Billy Bughead goes for a walk.

2007-10-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

Time to Werk

2007-10-27T19:09:00.001-05:00

Time To Werk

2007-10-25T00:50:00.001-05:00

Time To Werk

2007-10-24T22:49:00.000-05:00

I made some office-themed humor strips a long (long) while back, which were based solely on my experiences reading other office-themed comic strips, having never worked in an office by that point and hoping I never would. Now that I've been working temporarily in an office, I've discovered that there are absolutely no life lessons to be learned from it and everything I thought funny in these old strips at the time of making them has now become prophecy. A sad, sad prophecy.

Untitled strip concerning a constantly expanding nostalgia (w/ portrait of Ann sleeping and hidden Bughead)

2007-10-24T00:44:00.000-05:00

These trees (part two).

2007-10-21T21:43:00.000-05:00

Another strip about nothing, just some trees, some vague house type things.

These trees (part one).

2007-10-21T20:52:00.000-05:00

Autumn is in full effect, and thus the best time of year to sit at a window and draw, or just stare out and enjoy the light. I have yet to find a place in Chicago that's good for doing that (other than my dining room, that is). There don't seem to be enough comics about nothing, if you ask me (I know you were going to). Or rather, there are too many comics with the illusion of being about something, but amounting to not much of anything. Being about nothing on purpose, and being about nothing by accident are quite different. Is that right? Anyway, I'll try and get some more things up with the illusion of being about something and let you decide.

Our thrilling adventure continues....

2007-10-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

This is another strip from a couple years ago, based on the date in the title, you might even say 3 years ago. Note the political undertones, it's about as political as I'm ever going to get, being that I could ultimately care less. I believe I did, in fact, vote. Ann pressured me into it.

Also, like most things, I drew this in my sketchbook, thus the crookedness of the panels and ease in which I went about making it. The sketchbook holds no magical powers over me like a clean, expensive piece of paper does. It doesn't paralyze me with doubt and over-thinking. It allows me no good excuses for procrastination.

The "oops" in the last panel is because it's where I spilled a bit of coffee.

Foray Into The Wilderness

2007-10-19T00:34:00.000-05:00

Here we are, on the internet (we'll see how long I can keep this up). Until I get a scanner, you'll have to settle with some old comics, like this one starring our man Billy Bughead*....

*pictured