The obligatory self-reflective/self-indulgent end of the year/decade blog post... (Cue the Doogie Howser music)
In my personal life, 2010 was a strange, stressful, difficult year that was punctuated by a tragic loss of a good friend. But rather than focusing on the sadness of that loss, I've used it to reflect on all the good things in life, and to move forward focusing on the positives and not letting depression or stress get the best of me. As the fog of 2010 clears, I can now look back and see it as a very good year. And it's been an incredible decade...
2010 was my tenth year of self-publishing my comics and art books. And despite a terrible economy and countless reports that both comic books and print media are dying, I produced four new comic books and a mini-art book: Neely Covers Comics to Give You the Creeps, Bound & Gagged, Doppelgänger and War Paint. Meanwhile, The Igloo Tornado's Henry & Glenn Forever has quickly become a best-selling, mini-comics phenomenon. I made an album cover for one of my all-time favorite bands, designed an awesome shirt for one of my favorite vegan organizations, and made a Henry & Glenn X-mas cartoon that has spread like a mild head-cold on the internet.
2010 is also a small personal achievement because a little more than ten years ago, I was at my art school graduation listening to someone give a speech that included the old cliche: "9 out of 10 of you will not be making art 10 years from now..." I looked around at my fellow MFA graduates and felt determined to be that one out of ten who was still making art. 10 years and 28 books later, I'm still here and I feel like I'm just getting started...
(not including a dozen or so anthologies and books published by others)So, here's to a new decade in which I plan to move forward with less stress, more productivity, and with a greater appreciation for what I have and what I can achieve. 2011 will finally see the release of my second graphic novel The Wolf. I also have some anthology and short stories planned for release later in the year. I hope to release the first IWDY comic, Aminals #1 from 2000, as my first web-comic very soon. And the Igloo Tornado will possibly have some more Henry & Glenn stuff coming up as well. I'll be heading out to several comic festivals and other events this year including Stumptown, TCAF and hopefully some new shows in cities I've never been to.
To the people who read my comics and enjoy my art, I can't thank you enough. Being an independent, self-publishing artist can be difficult and a seemingly thankless job at times. Making art and comics is a very personal process and releasing it into the world is always a bit scary. But when that art makes a connection with someone, it is very meaningful to me. I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to look at what I do. Thank you for being a part of what has kept me going for the last 10+ years.
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