I remember having a pretty huge collection of magazines when I was a kid. Not that kind of magazine, I’m talking about stacks of National Geographics, HOW, Modelers Resource, Star Log, Wizard, and Artist’s Magazine. I’d spend hours reading articles, looking at tiny, grainy pictures trying to figure out how they did it, and being inspired. NOW though. Now, we live in an amazing world now, where ideas and experiences can be shared in a way that I never thought would be possible.
I went to the Saint Louis Small Press Expo this weekend, and was talking to a girl who makes ‘zines the old fashioned way still. On a photocopier at Kinko’s. In a world of print on demand, that’s pretty cool, and it reminded me of the first time I did anything like a blog. In 2004, right after I’d moved to Saint Louis, I’d never heard of Live Journal, or blogger…I didn’t even know what a blog was. This was back when not everyone had the internet yet, AOL still existed, before Facebook, and even MYspace. I’d write a two page letter every Wednesday, then go up to Kinko’s and make photocopies of it along with that week’s sketchbook pages, and mail the whole package to four or five friends.
Often, if I’m going to practice something, it takes more than discipline. I tend to need a reason to practice. Friend’s make great accountability buddies, and writing letters was a way to keep in touch, stay focused, and build discipline.
Kid’s don’t know how good they have it. Today, I was able to hang out with a friend in Virginia on Periscope. We chatted while he worked on a watercolor sketch and I washed the dishes. There’s almost no way I would’ve even met him in 2004, much less formed any kind of friendship.
Then tonight, I chatted with another friend over messenger about a HUGE project idea. I’m half a state away, eating terrible fries in a diner and talking about ideas in real time. We’re able to share pictures, make lists, and look things up like we’re working in the same room. Pretty amazing.
Then, I’ll share all this with the world on Instagram, and Patreon. Kid’s really don’t know how good they have it. 🙂