So I'm getting an itch...

I've been getting the itch to draw some comics lately. Naturally, what I'm wanting to draw is some Jet-Pack Jenny. I didn't leave her where I wanted her to end up, so I really feel a weird guilt about stopping where I did. However, I do not relish the thought of getting back into a schedule of drawing strips, then trying to collect them, feeling the pressure to take it to conventions and try to sell it to people really just there to buy Batman stuff.

Fortunately, this weekend, Brian Churilla posted an analysis of what he made drawing comics last year, which was followed by Bleeding Cool posting a photo of average page rates for all of the various roles that go into producing a comic, with mainstream work only netting about twice of what Mr. Churilla made working on comics that he didn't own.

If I do this, I'm doing it for me. I will share it when it's done, and not a second before. I am not going to post previews and teasers on DeviantArt or Facebook, or Twitter. I'm doing the story that I want to do and then I'll throw it up online. I don't care to print it, so I probably never will.

I'm Quitting.

(taken from my Facebook page)

So, I've decided to stop pursuing any type of career as an artist. I won't be sitting behind tables anymore, I won't be publishing any more comics, and I won't be selling any more artwork or merchandise. In the next few days, maybe weeks, I'll be shutting down all of my online stores, including Etsy, DeviantArt, Zazzle, Printfection, etc. I'll post links if anyone wants one last shot at getting something.

Why am I doing this? It has stopped being fun. I'm tired of getting ignored both online and at shows, I'm tired of drawing and being frustrated at what I do, especially since stuff I have thought is awesome doesn't get looked at. I'm not going to worry over trying to produce stuff that people will look at, just to have stuff that I really care about get ignored, either by fans or other "professionals."

I'm spending my spare time working on Needless Essentials Online and making it a place where the really great work in comics gets recognized. I'll be travelling a little for that, first stop will be at SC Comicon next weekend, although I'll only make one day. After that, I'm not sure what the next con I attend will be, but I'll be there walking around, not rooted behind a table.

NOTE: This was posted about a week ago, and I already went to SC Comicon in my Needless Essentials capacity. This blog will remain up but will change in appearance as I need to refocus it away from artwork and more towards my work elsewhere online.