Uncle Sam & the Pendulum
I drew this when I was working in Texas in the late 1950s, doing public-relations work and teaching myself cartooning at night.
The Cold War was everywhere in the air. I was young, opinionated, and trying to understand the political divisions. This reflected the company’s stand, and I appreciated my job. No revolutionary I!
Later, I was.
Into America’s Business World
I wanted to be a pro, so I married, moved to NYC and entolled in Columbia University’s Journalism School.
When I was graduated (and divorced) I entered the job market. Worked for several companies and found subject matter for cartoons in corporate life. Married again, had 2 darling girls.
Cartoons
Because I learned to read by looking at the “Funny papers” in the Sunday newspaper, I decided to try a comic strip…(Peanuts was my fave) and drew a parable for our church newsletter. Took a few classes at School of Visual Arts..
JACK, a narrative strip
Because I learned to read by looking at the “Funny papers” in the Sunday newspaper, I decided to try a comic strip…(Peanuts was my fave) and drew a parable for our church newsletter. Took a few classes at School of Visual Arts.
Then realized that I wanted length, maybe more depth. Jack emerged. I almost wish I’d carried on with his adventures, but I began to dream of doing children’s books.
SCBW
It all started to come together. I joined the Society for Children’s Books Writers (later added Illustrators) and worked my up to Regional Advisor in NJ.
Yay! I talked with agents and editors and held conferences where they could meet members, I felt I had unlocked the magic box to success. So…
Write and Illustrate a Children’s Book!
WONDERFUL!
I had a picture book called Jack’s Dog. It was true to my experience and drawn in my distinctive style!
Then I had to sell it to someone who would publish it and I would be set for life with a marvelous career…
A Great Dream
I knew from my travels with the SCBWI that I wasn’t the person who had a picture book to sell. It’s a hard lesson to experience.
But I am a writer with stories to tell, so I would write stories that would sell and then I could publish my picture books as well!
I’ve always loved books that combine words and images. Although I had been writing fiction most of my life, I wanted to illustrate my stories as well.
At first I used my own drawings. Later I experimented with computer programs that allowed me to build and pose scenes and characters. It worked — but it was expensive and limiting. If I imagined a scene I couldn’t find, I couldn’t create it. A simple detail — a hairstyle, a piece of clothing — could require buying more assets. And often they still didn’t quite fit.
My wife preferred my drawings as I did them for our Christmas messages.
Then I discovered AI. With careful direction, I could bring scenes to life in minutes — and finally illustrate the stories the way I imagined them.
