This is the weekly dispatch from Bizarro Studios North, where I have been writing and drawing the Monday through Saturday Bizarro comics since 2018. My partner and friend Dan Piraro created Bizarro in the late twentieth century and continues to do the Sunday comic from Rancho Bizarro in Mexico.
Wayno
Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.
Pablo Picasso
The internet being what it is, I can't confidently state that Picasso actually said or wrote these words, but let's assume he may have said something similar, and move on.
Whoever said it, this quote elegantly demythologizes the notion that artists are visited by a benevolent goddess who drops art fully formed onto their canvas/paper/keyboard, etc.
The mythical place where one can "get ideas" is equally absurd.
In truth, the only way to create art of any value is to work at it constantly. Part of that work is developing an ability to recognize images, phrases, or situations that might be turned into something. It's a skill that can be learned and improved, and it involves making a lot of stuff that gets discarded.
I thought about this over recent days, for a couple of reasons. Each time I complete another 150 Bizarro gags, I place the original art in an archival storage box and take a moment to observe the body of work as it grows. This month, I filled the fourteenth boxful of Bizarro art, bringing the total to 2,100 gags since I took over the daily panels in 2018.
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| The Bizarro pile o' art, July 2024 |
A few days ago, I also answered some questions for a King Features blog post, including, "What advice do you have for aspiring comic artists?" Naturally, I mentioned the importance of doing the work consistently, over and over.
Knowing that the best art is the product of human determination makes me admire my favorites even more. Believing that artists have a mystical creature giving them "ideas" dismisses what they actually do, and makes them nothing more than lottery winners, worthy of jealousy perhaps, but certainly not respect.
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| Don't Be That Guy Pencil, Micron marker, & rubber stamp on 3" x 5" index card, 2024 |
After that near-rant, I must mention that Dan and I are fortunate to have so many readers who appreciate and understand how art comes to be (even lowly gag cartoons!) and we're beyond grateful for your support and readership.
When the King Features blog post is up, I'll be sure to share it. It includes a photo of my cluttered but beloved workspace.
Before we review this week's comics, we'll cleanse our palates with a simian pipe pic.
I looted this seafaring primate from my friend Timothy P's Facebook page. Here's his comment on it:
Spotted this a few weeks ago in the atrium of where my parents live. I'm sure there's an explanation for it, but I don't know it.
Maybe it's best to leave it as an intriguing mystery.
Thanks to Tim for being on the ball and taking the photo!
It's finally time to check out the most recent Bizarro gags. (I thought he'd never shut up!)
Some soups can be scary at first.
The defendant will have time to think about what they've done.
Poe was known to give public readings of his stories and was said to be a fan of theater. He was the Balti-most!
Note: The caption refers to Tales of Mystery & Imagination, a compilation of the author's suspenseful and strange stories, which was published posthumously.
Are the bookshelves in a Little Free Library called the short stacks?
I tried cryotherapy once, and felt great afterwards, but that could have been because the exposure to extreme cold had ended.
This was one of those gags that called for a vertical strip. Readers of printed newspapers had to rotate the page ninety degrees, but through the magic of the blog, you can read it here with no additional effort.
Note 1: I was quite pleased with the character's satisfied facial expression.
Note 2: Although there are no plans to offer Bizarro Inverted Penguin polo shirts, we're still waiting for Irön Bunnies öf Dööm t-shirts. As soon as they're available, we'll hype them everywhere we can.
I did image research to draw a likeness of Pavlov but failed on the Secret Symbol count. There are four Secret Symbols in this panel, not three.
The error was duplicated in the strip layout. At least it includes an additional pooch.
Please drop by again next week for more of this sort of stuff.
Bonus Track
The Kirby Stone Four: "Raven"
Cadence Records single, 1957
Two consecutive weeks of Kirby Stone Four bonus tracks? With the Edgar Allan Poe gag this week, I had to feature their hilarious "Raven." I've shared it in the past, but it's always worth a listen. For some reason, this excellent number did not appear on their Cadence Records LP.
Additional Bizarro Resources
If you like what we do and appreciate that it comes to you free of charge, we encourage you to explore the following links.
Many thanks!
Wayno's Tip Jar (One-time or recurring)
Dan's Tip Jar (One-time or recurring)
Dan Piraro's Weekly Bizarro Blog
Subscribe to The Naked Cartoonist
Dan "Diego" Piraro's Peyote Cowboy Graphic Novel
King Features Subscription & Archive Access
Daily Email Subscription to Bizarro
Around here trash is picked up on Thursdays, so Wednesday is known as Trash Wednesday. Hmm...
ReplyDeleteThe fourth secret symbol on Pavlov took a few scans of the toon to find it. Thanks for bringing a bit of humor into our lives regardless of the day of the week.
Yes, I'd go with Trash Wednesday in that case, too.
DeleteI hate it when I get the symbol count wrong, but I guess that means one's just well-hidden, even from me!
Re Poe:
ReplyDeleteI love the album Tales of Mystery and Imagination by the Alan Parsons Project.
Somewhere in a box in my storage unit is an old Mad paperback that includes the poem "The Spaniel", whose catchphrase is NOT "nevermore", but rather "drink Blatz beer".
I forgot about that one! Now I need to find it!
DeleteThere was also a MAD parody using beatnik slang called "The Hip Raven," illustrated by Mort Drucker.
Congrats on 2100 gags!!! many, many more.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly!
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