To the reader,
How are you? Oh, you can't respond.
What's been happening with me? Well, I have to be quick as I have a sleeping baby that will very soon awaken from his slumber. Then the dishes need washing, I must also make sure the boy does not eat any small dangerous items left lying about the place. Then it will probably be stinky poo cleaning time and lunch (Not to be done at the same time.)
It's a new career. But very rewarding. Not in a monetary sense, no, it's the opposite of that really. But fulfilling none the less. My partner is very good, we work as a team and while there may be struggles, we are a loving household. This here is a very important point.
That aside, I noticed I have never mentioned probably the biggest project I have ever embarked on in this blog. That may be because I just don't use the blog much, I just get on with it.
But if you do keep up with me, you'll know I ran a comic strip called 'Walpole Kids' for local Australian newspapers, 'Walpole Weekly', 'Great Southern Weekender' and 'The Extra.' This began in 2020 and ended (somewhat) during 2022 due to baby stuff. While the comic was voluntary, it gave me some chances to produce some paid work featuring the characters. The pay was never anything additional to my regular pay so no amazing outcome there, but it was and has been creatively fulfilling. That and my comic addition to 2021's 'Neighbourhood Press' book really gave me that sense that what I do is not all for waste.
The Walpole Community Resource Centre hired to me to help with grant writing, article writing (newspaper) customer support and a variety of other tasks.
Through them I have run two kids comic making workshops, made a Art Documentary with Regional Arts WA and most recently, a 4 page comic guidebook for Keep Australia Beautiful. The kid characters have certainly been around.
I also presented a talk at 2021's Perth Comic Arts Festival and have appeared in multiple newspapers in relation to my comic books and documentary. Incredible! Walpole Kids Comics is officially my most successful project, though the monetary outcome will continue to lack. You don't get anything from nothing. The truth is, volunteering helps a lot in my experience. In the arts, you have to work hard for free and in your own time. Because your passion is your passion. No ones going to appreciate it until you've worked your unpaid butt off. This is the truth.
I still hope one day to have an animated series of Walpole Kids, or even (more likely maybe) a live action adaptation. Perhaps that will come. I'd like to produce a Walpole Kids graphic novel, without money or time? Hmm.
I want to write more, write films, plays, comic stories, no time. One day there may be time, I'm not dead yet. At the moment I am trying to cherish the beautiful little boy that is my son who changes and grows every day. Once day he'll be big, and off on his own journeys. He's only a baby once after all.
But time management and keeping dreams from rocking the system can be difficult. My whole life and the kitchen sink revolved around projects in the past. Whether it be a short animated film (parody or original) or amateur live action film, or a simple drawing or lonely old script or awkward song. Now things are a bit different.
I am mostly going to work to pay for family stuff, but I don't earn enough to even do that. Constantly in a struggle I will never have the time to pursue a project 100%. The most I give a project these days is 2% if it's in my own time.
Luckily, with the documentary and the Keep Australia Beautiful project, I was able to get paid for my time, but even then I worked over hours for my own creative fulfillment. Art can't be held back for a budget, well it can, but it shouldn't.
Even saying that, much of my work for the last few years has been cut to budget and time, even the voluntary stuff.
The biggest project and one I am most proud of what the Doctor Who Goes Gangsta short parody film I made in 2015. I had no work at the time and no family. But I would not want to relive that, as I was not in the best of places. I am much happier now. But creatively it can be difficult.
No one is going to give me a pot of gold and tell me to make an animated film or comic book. Grants have come to mind. But even the time to compile a project properly and write a grant takes time I don't really have.
Anyway.
I miss the George project, but I am proud of what I achieved.
Please find some of my projects you may have missed below.
