The New Comic Strips and Books are Cutting Edge

The intrinsic value of art is that it causes us to think and to question. A skilled composition reminds us of the best that is in us and sometimes the worst. The benefits an artist receives in creating are passed on to the viewer in a myriad of ways; many of which are intangible. There are times when all art does is bring us pleasure.

“In your Presence is fullness of joy” a Biblical phrase meaning the ultimate gift of light and goodness. When we experience something that is intrinsic and indescribable, it truly does bring us unfathomable joy.

When I was a child, I thought it odd that my parents read comic books. Even on Sunday we would fight over the comic section. I felt that the cartoons were for kids not grownups believing that there was something off about my parents. Later I discovered that many of the comic strips were designed specifically for adults.

My mother offered this advice to her all-to-serious little girl: “Never stop reading the comics. It will help you keep your sense of humor.”

I’ve come to believe that she was right. Sometimes we get so somber in our sojourn of life that we forget to laugh. We lose our sense of delight and our belief in surprises. We become all too gloomy and morose. We take ourselves far too seriously.

For people who love their pets, "Get Fuzzy" interprets what pets might think or feel (in a perverted sort of way)

Today I’m sharing my favorite comic strips. They not only offer a glimpse into our own lives, but they give us a chance to channel our frustrations through whimsy and laughter. Thanks to my mom and dad, I will read the comics until the day I die. Comedic art provides a window into the art of storytelling.

If you've ever been a parent of a teenager, Zits is a fun read for parent and child.

In this abbreviated environment, artistic ideas are also displayed in miniature. Beginning artists can learn much from this genre by experimenting with their own storytelling and illustration skills.

I get such a kick out of this cartoon which leans to the dark side, mainly because of rat.

Of course, my day and weekend would not be complete without reading Marmaduke, the most lovable and outrageous pooch of all time.

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Some people think Dennis the Menace is old hat, but millions of readers still enjoy his antics and the byproduct of his words and actions on the adults in his life.

Another adult comic for seniors is getting a little too close to home.

There is genius in these brief stories. The words say what the artwork can't, and sometimes the artwork says it all. Mastering this art form will help you as an artist tell a story in your own compositions and sharpen your ability to illustrate mood, facial expressions, humor and point of view.

Below is an illustration from "Inez Ibis Flies again; the story of a courageous ibis who never gave up. Perfect for any child who must deal with a disability.In the illustration, Inez is trying to take off and fly an injured leg, but she falls flat on her face.

Storybook and digital download are for sale on Etsy at:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/39419649/inez-ibis-flies-again-the-story-of-a?ref=shop_home_active_12 

Days of Long Ago and Far Away Come Back to the Present

(A Stereoptican card dated 1899; tinted in color) Anfinsen Arts on Etsy

I’ve always been a history buff. I'd like to go back in time and see what it was really like. How would I have reacted? Would I have been a lowly peasant or part of the aristocracy? Would my choices have affected generations to come or would I have silently “gone into that good night” unrecorded, unknown; “ashes to ashes, dust to dust?”

When my paternal grandfather left me his Stereopticon and cards, I had intentions of passing them on to my own children, but there seemed to be little interest. At a certain point, I decided to sell them to those who would prize them and use them.

I had no idea if the cards were valuable or not. I went on EBay to test the waters. This is always a good idea to see what the competition is doing. I had one card that I almost threw away. It was of an African American couple sitting on the grass eating watermelon. I was ashamed that it was even part of the collection. Then I discovered that people are paying quite a bit for “Black Americana” of any kind. A similar card has a missing corner, and will be given away with the sale of the first.

(I'm not endorsing this by any means!  Apparently "Black Americana" is a collectible item
copyright 1897)

Humorous pairs and trios, and the early tinted cards are more valuable than others. Military cards, war ships, and major cities showing how they have changed are also in demand. I’m amused at what people were interested in viewing in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

People collected cards the way we download apps. The dual photos on each card gives a three-dimensional appearance when viewed through the stereopticon. Unfortunately, those that were enjoyed the most are more worn which decreases the value.

(copyright 1906)

These and other Stereopticon cards and collectibles are in my shop:  Anfinsen Arts on Etsy

I started collecting Popeye memorabilia for almost the same reasons. My grandson, Dane, did a pretty good imitation of Popeye when he was about six and that sparked my interest. I noticed that Popeye was still reasonably priced so I started building my collection. Many pieces have been sold on my Etsy site.

Antiques tell a story. They also seem to hold traces of the people who owned them. Sometimes you can feel their warmth and spirit radiate. At other times, an ominous cold feeling of dread emanates from the wood or the living material an object is made from.

(Bridget copyright 1906) A second card shows her on the table, afraid of a mouse!

Vintage shops draw me in compelling ways. I like to browse and stay, waiting for that certain something that urges me to buy. Sensing another time, another era and the hovering spirits of those who may have used each item gives me pause. The smell of old relics mingled with today’s dust hangs heavy in the air. I want to take it all in. I sit down in an old wooden rocker and listen for the whisperings of the past. A pendulum swings in cadence with a fly buzz-bombing in the window. A ticking clock reeks of old wax; its tinny bellow announces the hour.

I bask in old-fashioned comfort and linger for one last look around. A pair of tea spoons catches my eye. Small screened containers in the bowls are for holding loose leaves. I’ll take them home and reminisce about the long-ago teas I have missed and the friends I never knew.

(These are two different spoons. One opens from the side,
the other has a small lever that snaps open)

Check out my shop for artwork, Popeye collectibles and Vintage items:  Anfinsen Arts on Etsy

Strike a Match, Burn a Candle, Light up the World

"Moonshines" 18x24 mixed media on canvas

Ideas are fragile. They come and go. If you don’t lock them down, they can disappear forever.

I used to keep a small notebook in my car for jotting down ideas driving to and from work. The only problem was, I could only write while I was sitting at a stoplight. So I thought I’d get a recorder and verbalize my thoughts, only I’m not a verbal person. I have to digest ideas and chew on them before writing them down in order to give them expression.

Fleeting thoughts are sometimes incoherent, nonsensical gibberish; but the gems within may grow and multiply, whereas the losers fester for awhile and then dead-end into Never Never Land.

"First Daffodil" 16x20 acrylic on canvas

When I lived alone, I burned candles in the bath, in my bedroom, and anywhere else I needed a glimmer of hope and light. Even with dinner, I’d fix myself something special and light a candle to make the dining experience last. 

Then one day, I became dangerous. I struck a match in the bathroom and the tip of it broke off landing on my nightgown. The flames were frightening. Luckily the sink was near enough to douse myself with water and put the flames out.

I decided either I was getting flighty or the matches were being manufactured differently from before. A few days later, I struck a match in the bedroom to light my bedtime candle, and again the match tip broke off landing on my dresser scarf. The flames ignited instantly, swallowing up everything in sight before I could smother it with a wet towel.

From that point on, I eliminated candles and matches from my bath and boudoir routine. Whether it was the cheapness of the match sticks or my own clumsiness made no difference. I couldn’t afford to burn myself up over anything as silly as a candle.

That experience has come back to haunt me again and again. How fragile and unpredictable that tiny light became once it was ignited. Ideas are like that. They shine but for a moment and then like gossamer wings they fly away unless we kindle the flames that brought them in the first place.

Where do my ideas come from? Some are inspired by past experiences. Others by books I’ve read or movies I’ve seen, or simply by the way light shines on a certain object in a new way.

Nature also inspires me. When a roseate spoonbill comes in for a landing, it looks like it's almost sitting. I couldn't resist the humor of putting one in harness in a parasail; hence, "parasailing spoonbill!"

I have a vivid imagination and always think I see something different in my ordinary surroundings: an ugly face created by the scar of a cut limb or the bark of a tree, a small bush that looks like a huge spider; I’m weird, I know. Artists do see things differently. We see in shapes and color and because of this, the ordinary turns into the grotesque, the scary, or the fantastic in a blink.

Some of my ideas are so clear I can see them come to life in my mind. Others are mere hints or suggestions that require coaxing and fuel to keep them going. Like the end of a lighted match, I never know where my ideas will end up.