I thought of adding this from another blog I use to have a year ago. It is about my favorite cartoonist, Bill Watterson and his run on Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin and Hobbes is by far my favorite comic strip and in my opinion was one of the best strips ever published.

There is a certain magic in that strip. Just reading a litte can make me think, laugh or just chase the blues away. You see whenever I really feel bad inside reading a little Calvin and Hobbes always brightens my day and gets me back into motion. If I am down, having the blues, nervous about something, upset or even afraid Calvin and Hobbes is the one thing that can really change my entire mood and outlook. It can cheer me up and get me to move on to whatever I need to face.

I really believe that Bill Watterson is one of the most brilliant cartoonists of all time. His run on that strip was remarkable, full of humor, sight gags, observations of daily life, philosophical musings and delvings into the world of a little boy full of imagination, mischievousness and possessed of an intelligent, independent streak. His strip could often operate on two levels. One level that even the average kid could laugh at, while at another level it could elicit thought in even the most learned adult. This allowed the strip to appeal to a diverse array of people. As a kid, Bill Watterson was always surprising me each time I sat down to read Calvin and Hobbes.

There was so much in that strip that I love. I love his work with the various snowmen Calvin would create and how these were often used to illustrate some grander point or observation. I loved the close camaraderie and love Calvin holds towards his imaginary tiger friend Hobbes. I love the frustration and love Calvin’s mom shows towards her son as she puts up with one problem after another from him. When he drifts off and daydreams in class it reminds me of myself in elementary school, how I would often out of boredom drift off into daydreams while the teacher continued with one more lesson. I love the skewed, dysfunctional crush between Calvin and Susie.

I could go and on, I’m sure, about how wonderful I think that strip is, but, hey, maybe if you get a chance you could pick up one of the numerous collections of the series run and take a look for yourself. There is a wonderful three volume compilation of the entire strip that I highly recommend, but I know it may be a bit pricey for some. No fear, there are plenty of other smaller collections of the strip and they are all wonderful.

Being an artist isn’t about how many books you’ve published, how many works you’ve sold, how many commissions you have nor is it about how much money you’ve made from your work nor how well known you are. No, what defines an artist is your passion to your craft. It is how you define yourself. It is how you live your life in accordance with your art. It is that commitment that you put into your art, that passion to create that defines you as an artist.

The creative process defines me. It is an intrinsic part of who I am. I can try and step away from it, but like a junkie I find myself going on edge craving the need to be creative- to write, to film, to explore the creative process. I can’t really get away from it. It is a personal addiction, yet so much more. Without it I feel hollow. Within it there is the struggle to give birth to an idea crudely formulated, sometimes not even known as I open myself up to the medium and let flow.

 Through the struggle there is the joy of seeing something you had a part in come to life. It is something that holds forth its own life, its own breath. Although my name may hover around the creation it speaks for itself. It invites others in to meet it, to show what it has to say, or to try to unlock some part of another, opening them to something new-a new world, a new idea, different way of seeing something, challenging one’s own closely held perceptions or simply opening the mind in some small way.

 If I were left in a room with nothing I would still find something to work with. Stories would build in my head. I would look at my situation and find new ways of looking at it which would only elicit new ideas to work with. I would stare at the blank walls and use them as my canvas, perhaps using my own blood if need be. But, alas I am not one of those violent artists who would conduct violence upon themselves to unleash their art.

 Nevertheless my art is not just something I live for it is a vital part of me. It is there in the day to day. Living within. Allowing me to see things in different ways or calling forth an idea from the most mundane of things I may come across.

This creative force I value within my life and believe that within all of us there is a creative force that is breathing there within our souls and calling out to all of us to awaken, to create, to explore, to play…

i’m sitting here sipping a cup of cappuccino, which is good and relaxing, but my favorite hot drink is a spiced chai. the sunshine is illuminating the world around me. it is such a beautiful day and i wonder why everyday can’t be spent simply enjoying the day rather than rushing off to work or endless errands. it seems like so much of our day is taken up by the various activities that allow us to have just a few moments to spare to enjoy ourselves or to follow our true passions. we compromise so much of our time, but it seems at times we have little choice, unless we are independently wealthy and have “people” who worry about the problems of our everyday life. unfortunately, that isn’t most of us. so what are we to do? nothing i guess. just do what we can, work to give ourselves the few moments in which we can slow down, sit and take in the world. so i take another sip, relax into my chair and relish the beauty of this day.

Hello and welcome to d. w. moody’s site for his writing, art and thoughts.