Donny's Blog

I took some time to step back and "re-conceptualize my work routines" instead of "doing the work," which I think is necessary but makes me feel less productive. I guess in the long run though, it will make me more productive since I will be able to work in a more purposeful way.

Just started it, but it seems fascinating already. 

One of the best parts of PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds) is walking around the world map. It's really quite beautiful at times. Though, it makes me wonder if perhaps I could / should just take a walk IRL.  I'm usually reluctant to because I try to stay on task and get work done. I consider an hour or so of unproductive walking is not worth it, but paradoxically I'm willing to sit down and play a little PUBG (or any game for that matter) to unwind which often turns into 1 or 2 hours. While going for a walk outside is not as exciting as playing video games or experiencing video game worlds, it can be quite beautiful and the graphics resolution is unbeatable. Going for a walk might clear my mind and is probably a good time to catch up on an audiobook, get a little exercise or hit the grocery store. I also like to take screenshots of the beautiful landscape in games. I can also do that IRL, with a camera or my phone. So, the next time I feel the urg...

Just finished Road to Perdition, written by Max Allan Collins with art by Richard Piers Rayner, in one sitting last night. It's a Midwest gangster story set during 1930's prohibition heavily influenced by Lone Wolf and Cub. Here is my narrative structure analysis: Act 1 Setup Son narrates in written flashback, describing the setting and introducing the Looney Gang, old man John and his crazy son Connor, and Michael O'Sullivan and his family. plot point 1  Michael Jr. hides in father's car and is witness to murder of Gabel and his gang. Act 2 Confrontation  Michael is sent to Lococo to be killed and Connor kills O'Sullivan's wife and other son. Michael declares war on Looney and goes on the run with Michael Jr. plot point 2 Michael burns down Quinlan Ferryboat, leading to Capone relinquishing protection of Connor. Act 3 Resolution Michael kills Connor, but is later killed in Perdition, leaving Michael Jr alone. Great story. My only proble...

This is straight up the coolest shit I've heard and seen all year. The music is just super sick and the kids dancing. some kind of mix of bboy / hardcore / footwork / taekwondo. wow.

Found three great articles from silver lining psychology from  https://silverliningpsychology.com/2014/09/15/8-essential-characteristics-accountability-partner/ Essential characteristics of an accountability partner An accountability partner is an ally who helps you work toward your goals. 1. Encouraging 2. Challenging ... gave me a sense of pride when I completed it successfully. 3. Compassionate 4. But not too compassionate ... Find someone who can help you to “suck it up” when necessary so that you can be quicker to dust yourself off and bounce back when you are struggling. 5. Emotionally resilient ... An accountability partner who can provide a safe space for you to vent is critical to your growth. 6. Willing to give constructive feedback 7. Sees great potential in you ... your accountability partner should be able to see the person you are able to become, not just who you are now. 8. Gives you a break ... Your accountability partner should understand when you n...

I have a goal of becoming a professional comics artist. The problem is that the people around me and the world in general is indifferent to my aspirations, if not actively conspiring to thwart my plans (aka haters). So, to help I'm enlisting the services of an accountability buddy. According to: https://wealthpilgrim.com/what-is-an-accountability-partner-and-why-you-need-one/ Quite simply, your accountability partner is a person who will do three things: 1. Help you identify exactly what you want to accomplish in precise detail. 2. Help verify the steps you need to take in order to achieve your goal. 3. Make sure you stay on track.  You’ll talk with your accountability partner about your plans, get feedback, commit to taking action and then check in to make sure you’ve done what you said you’d do. There is something magical that happens for most people when we commit to another human being – we get “it” done. The wealthpilgrim article is about financial goals, so I...

The US comic industry is structured differently than the Japanese manga industry. There really isn't a US historical precedent for an auteur in comics, like say Osamu Tezuka in Japan. Though, the US industry does have a tradition of writer / artists for comic strips and perhaps explains why the term cartoonist can imply writing and drawing (and artistic ownership). Since in the US, the writing and drawing duties are usually separated so I guess that explains why there isn't a single term for a single person that does both (and has artistic ownership like an auteur). So, when someone does both, wikipedia just says comic book writer / artist. I like the idea of "comic book auteur" because it does imply writing, drawing and creative ownership, but it's also more of a subjective recognition than a job title... Hideo Kojima (小島 秀夫 Kojima Hideo, born August 24, 1963) is a Japanese video game designer, screenwriter, director, and game producer. Regarded as an au...

Jean Graton (born 10 August 1923) is a comic book author and cartoonist of French nationality. Marcel Honoree Nestor, ridder[note 1] Neels (30 December 1922 – 6 November 2016), known as Marc Sleen, was a Belgian cartoonist. Jacques Martin (25 September 1921 – 21 January 2010) was a French comics artist and comic book creator. Jacques Tardi (French: [taʁdi]; born 1946) is a French comics artist. Benoît Sokal (born 28 June 1954 in Brussels) is a Belgian comic artistand video game developer, Yves Swolfs (born 25 April 1955) is a Belgian comic book writer and artist. Midam (born 16 May 1963) is the pseudonym of Michel Ledent, the Belgian comics author best known for Kid Paddle. Dave Sim (born 17 May 1956) is a Canadian cartoonist and publisher Bruno Blum (born October 4, 1960, Vichy, France) is a French singer songwriter, guitar player, music producer and musicologist sometimes nicknamed "Doc Reggae." He is mostly known for his work in the reggae, rock music and African musics f...

In Japan, they have a term Mangaka, but I've never found a satisfactory word for it in the US industry. The closest ones I've found are Comic Creator, Comic Artist and Cartoonist. I guess you can just say comic book artist and writer too. Cartoonist seems the best because it somewhat implies writing and drawing, but it has the animation and gag cartooning connotation that confuses it. Here's what wikipedia has to say: Sometimes all aspects of a comics production down to the editing, publishing and distribution are done by a single person; in such cases the term "comic book creator" (also "comics creator") is employed (occasionally the term "graphic novelist" is also employed, but ambiguity may arise because the same term is also used to refer to the person who only writes the script). The sophisticated term "graphic narrator" is also found in the academic literature on art education. A cartoonist (also comic strip creator) ...

So, I found a comic art that does music! Naoki Urasawa (Japanese: 浦沢 直樹 Hepburn: Urasawa Naoki, born January 2, 1960 in Fuchū, Tokyo) is a Japanese manga artist and musician. Urasawa is also a musician.   ... He started playing guitar in junior high school inspired by folk rock singer-songwriters Takuro Yoshida and Bob Dylan.[22] Under the stage name "Bob Lennon", he wrote and performed the song "Kenji no Uta" ("Kenji's Song)" that was on a CD included in the 2002 first pressing of volume 11 of 20th Century Boys.[23] He released his debut single "Tsuki ga Tottemo..." (月がとっても…) on June 4, 2008,[23] and his debut album Hanseiki no Otoko (半世紀の男, "Half Century Man") in 2009. In 2012 he performed a Japanese cover of Bob Dylan's "Girl from the North Country" and "Guta lala suda lala" from his series 20th Century Boys at the Japan Expo, and the following day he joined rock band Hemenway on stage.[12] Uras...

Resistance... turning professional Stephen King... "I try to get 6 pages a day. 3, 4 hours."

*Main dish business with one side dish business... what about banchan businesses? or perhaps I shouldn't push this analogy too far.

So I'm reaching a self imposed crunch time for establishing a brand for my art / music. The conclusions I'm reaching is that it is impossible to be successful at both with two different identities. No one has done it before, not saying that I couldn't be the first, but the odds are against me. The most any one person can do is to do really well at music and bring the art along (or vice versa). One has to be the primary focus. I think because of issues of craft. To be good, to develop craft at a professional level takes a lot of work. And there are multiple roles involved with say being a musician or comic artist already. For example, most musicians must perform and create music. To do just one or the other is not enough to make a star. For a comic artist, there is writing and drawing. So, maybe I can be a great comic artist and bring my music along. The music wouldn't be enough to stand on its own, but my comics would be and my music would help inform / enrich my ...

So, I'm jealous that Grimes is so successful. She's dating Elon Musk (or should I say Elon Musk is dating her, which I'm probably more jealous of), making cool videos, getting featured on magazines and has become almost a mainstream celebrity. I remember when she was just breaking. It's weird I know, but all too human. And also slightly jealous that Michael DeForge has sculptures in art galleries. Why don't I have sculptures in art galleries. And here I am posting to my blog / website no one even reads except me. Which leads me to the question, why am I jealous? Do I want fame, and if so why do I want it and what kind of fame exactly do I want? What kind of fame would I want? Do I even care about fame? Should I care? what is fame?  the condition of being known or talked about by many people, especially on account of notable achievements. widespread reputation, especially of a favorable character; renown;public eminence common estimation or opinion ...

here's the dictionary definition: 1: a network of individuals (such as friends, acquaintances, and coworkers) connected by interpersonal relationships 2: an online service or site through which people create and maintain interpersonal relationships And millions of people have become comfortable using smart-phones to share information about themselves, via mobile apps that access social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. I've been contemplating this today and by definition 2, I'd say dA is primarily a portfolio platform, since creating and maintaining interpersonal relationships is secondary here.