I have to say, the recent and terrible events in France punched me hard, right in the gut. Mainly because 5 of the 12 victims in the vicious attack against Charlie Hedbo were CARTOONISTS.
Soak it in: Cartoonists are getting killed in the first month of 2015. And why? Because of the offense taken by their satirical depictions of the world around us, it’s people, and it’s people’s gods. Well, that just takes the wind out of my sails. I mean, where the hell are we suppose to go from here?
“…political cartoons engage and enrage more than articles do because they are visual and transcend language barriers…” – Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes
Listen, I used to self-deprecatingly refer to myself as a “wannabe cartoonist” because I didn’t believe I was allowed to certify myself as an “official” cartoonist unless I was actually getting PAID to draw. Well, that was absolute horseshit. I’ve been paid COUNTLESS times to draw. I just felt insecure. But now? Today? At this moment? I proudly declare myself, officially, a cartoonist. Because I WANT to be known as that. Because I now aspire to be as brave and hilarious and biting as those who lost their lives at Charlie Hedbo. I am inspired by them more than I initially realized.
Why, just this morning I drafted a fairly unnerving portrait of this pretty horrifying woman I saw at the Vons supermarket this morning:
And can I tell you? It felt GREAT to draw her out and free her the hell away from that huge, angsty space in my head where so much of my artistic suffering dwells.
Here’s a few other cartoons of mine from the past (as I’ve been sort of re-assessing my so-called “work” today…):
Yeah. 2015 is the year I get back to my cartooning. It’s a cathartic thing for me. And it helps me deal with my frustrations against the world…and it’s people. I feel kinda…re-born.
Oh, and here’s a Buzzfeed article you should check out called “23 Heartbreaking Cartoons From Artists Responding To The Charlie Hebdo Shooting”. I was especially moved by number 22.
WINE PAIRING: In honor of the fallen cartoonists in Paris, let’s open something from the region of France. I think that would be most appropriate…
Santé!
Á votre santé!
Á la votre!