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A Year of Thanks
Posted byMike Pascale	 December 31, 2010 November 4, 2013
7 Comments on A Year of Thanks
Every morning for the last couple years, I have written down three things for which I'm thankful. I keep a pad and pen next to the bed and write them immediately upon waking, so I begin the day in a grateful mood. They can range from the specific and self-focused (finding a great deal on comics at a garage sale) to the general and altruistic (rain for farmers after a drought), from the physical (a successful recovery) to the metaphysical (support from God). So in that spirit, I would like to make my 25th column a thankful one to keep with the season and ending of the year–and decade. (Whoa! Where did the "0s" go?). Here are a half-dozen art-related things for which I am very grateful:
1. Meeting those who've inspired and influenced me. I've been blessed and fortunate to meet some of the greatest artists of our time as well as my childhood. Everyone from mentors like Joe Kubert (my storytelling instructor), Gene Colan (my friend) and Dean Armstrong (my classmate/pal) to "encouragers" like Frank Frazetta and Jack Kirby, to quick handshake-thanks-anecdotes-autographs from Stan Lee, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Bill Elder and far too many others to mention (unless I was Mark Evanier–heh, heh–whom I've also met and whose work I've enjoyed). They've inspired and influenced my work, entertained and enriched my childhood, and given me immeasurable memories of laughter, joy, excitement, awe, teary-eyed wonder, passion and all range of human emotion. One of these days I plan to make a definitive list for myself so I never forget those I've met. But for now, I just want to thank them.
That's Will Eisner and some Italian guy with more hair on his head than his chest. (See next photo.) From one of my first San Diego cons, circa 1995 (long before they gave out free lanyards). Photo ©1995 Jim Johnson.
Genial and Generous Gene Colan and the guy from the previous photo after Father Time kicked me in the face. Gene won the Charles Schulz award at his one-man Cartoon Art Museum show/exhibit. I was, err, holding it for him. Yeah, that's it! Photo ©2008 Pascale.
2. My original art and print collection. While I'm no heavyweight/big-time collector with pieces in the five- or six-figure range (and only a handful in the four-figure realm), I still consider myself incredibly fortunate to have picked up what I have along the way over the years. Perusing the wonder in my plastic-paged portfolios and our home's walls has inspired and entertained me in the best and worst of times. There's a pride of ownership as well as a humility of respect that comes with such ownership and I consider it a rare blessing that not many others have or can even understand.
I acquired my very first piece of art by winning a raffle at one of Todd Loren(aka Stu Shapiro)'s monthly "Fantasticons" back in metro Detroit when I was a teen. It was a page from OUR FIGHTING FORCES #119 and till about a month ago I still had no idea who drew it! (Usually forgot to look for the comic, and when I have, it was either missing or overpriced. At WonderCon, in fact, I frequently came across the issues before and after but not that one!) Or maybe I found out decades ago and just forgot. Anyway, thanks to the Grand Comic Book Database (and Felix Lu), however, I finally found out–after 30 years–that the art is by Art Saaf. Cool pun, I say. And also, I just found out there's a four-pager by Gene Colan in the same issue! So now my mission to find it is even more purposeful.
I still have that page (below) and the first two I ever purchased–THOR pages by Kirby and Bill Everett. (Thanks to Albert Moy), which I originally bought to use in trading for a Kirby Captain America page. I ended up holding onto them for 24 years…yet I may finally be trading one or both soon…IF I can part with them!
My first piece of OA. Art by Art! (Saaf, that is.) Copyright 1969 DC.
3. My artistic ability/experience/"talent". While never a believer in what most think of as "talent" (which is another column), I realize I would not be where or what I am today without my Dad's genes and his encouragement, education and support (and my Mom's generous support and encouragement). When a 3rd grade teacher complained to my Mom that I was always "drawing dinosaurs and cavemen on my papers" while she was teaching, my Mom asked her how I was doing. "Very well," she replied. "And when you call on him in class, does he know the answers?" inquired Mom. "Yes, always," answered the teacher. "Then leave him alone!" came the reply. Cool.
4. The fans, pros, peers and others in the hobby/industry. I cannot begin to list all the amazing, funny, considerate, talented, intelligent, passionate, crazy, philosophical, goofy, bizarre, generous, friendly, compassionate, literate, tough, resourceful, quick-witted, motivated, humble and just plain AMAZING people I've met over the years at conventions and online. (Especially my long-time pal and Schism cover artist, Dean "No human draws like that" Armstrong.) You all should know who you are. Thanks for making the often grueling cons and bank-breaking ventures worthwhile.
My best-selling title. Can you guess why? (Hint: not because it's the first appearance of Nasti: Monster Hunter™ inside!) Art ©1995 Dean Armstrong. Book is ™ and ©1995 Schism Comics.
5. Publication. Speaking of bank-breaking, I am still grateful for having my work published by others and myself. While I was concerned about a Bru-Hed "curse" at one point (people reviewing him suffering misfortune, magazines reviewing him going under–again, another column), over the years there have been a lot more outlets than I initially figured for my fevered mind's masochistic machinations. Being able to afford to publish my stuff the way I wanted to, for the most part, was a benefit and joy that some of the greatest creators of our field never got to experience–the freedom to say, write and draw whatever you want without editorial interference or alteration is something others have spent decades pursuing, yet it's about all I've experienced since I was 12! (A direct contrast to my advertising and commercial work, of course. Even though several million people have viewed my anonymous work at once on the Super Bowl ®, NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL playoffs, primetime network & cable TV, plus ROLLING STONE, PEOPLE, TIME, LIFE, FORBES magazines and THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, I still get a bigger thrill out of seeing my name on something with a print run of 1,000.) At the same time, I've not yet had that blockbuster Diamond Top 25 (or even 100) book either, or the thrill of being published by "the big two", so it goes both ways. But I'm still glad–and grateful–I started on my own. I hope–nah, let's say plan–to do more next year. (For which I have to thank my lovely, funny, bright and saintly-tolerant wife Lisa–without her, I'd be stocking shelves at KMart or selling bad caricatures (or "favors") to tourists at the Wharf. Love ya, babe!)
One of the first pinups of ol' beer-brain, which became the first T-shirt design. Little did I know that 20 years later, he's show up in a Dodge Caravan catalog! (What kind of parents would let their kid read that trash anyway?) Art by Mike Pascale, ©1993 and 1995 Schism Comics; Bru-Hed is ™ Schism. Photo ©2007 Dodge/Chrysler.
6. This forum and YOU. Despite my criticisms of certain aspects, I am tickled to have this forum to share whatever I can of value with you, and that there are people who take valuable time from their crazy-busy days to read my little ramblings. I wish more would share their opinions and comments, but I do know you're out there from what I hear and read, and it means a LOT. Of course, being on the same site with guys like Dave, Eric, Richard, Joe and–DA MAN hisself–Captain Craig "Runnin'-the-show" Rogers, is an honor which I did not think I deserved. Hopefully I can live up to it next year. Thanks, Craig! And everyone else: Take a bow and raise a glass, or piece of toast, in toast to YOU!
Have a safe, happy, healthy and hilarious New Year: May your best day of 2010 be your worst of 2011!
See you next decade,
Art ©1993 Mike Pascale. Cap is © and ™ Marvel.
P.S.: Start the year and decade off right! Order a commission from Craig here. And we'll both have something even more to be thankful for next year!
Posted byMike Pascale December 31, 2010 November 4, 2013 Posted inA Picture's Worth, Blog, Featured ColumnsTags: Bru-Hed, Captain America, dave gutierrez, Eric W. Meador, gene colan, Joe Rubinstein, Mike Pascale, Richard Cox, Will Eisner, wolverine
Published by Mike Pascale
Mike is a freelance storyboardist, artist, writer, comic book/web comic creator, graphic designer, award-winning senior art director/copywriter, Kubert School alumnus, Spectrum Fantasy Art award-winner, guitarist/songwriter, future novelist and full-time, life-long comics fan, pop culture collector, and book hoarder. His creations include Bru-Hed™ (America's favorite Blockhead™), The Game Buzz!™ weekly webcomic, Nasti: Monster Hunter™, Mikey Moo-Moo™ and more "™s" waiting to be unleashed from his crazy cranium.	View more posts
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Mike Pascale says:
Also, I wanted to specifically mention my gratitude for knowing Adrienne Colan, whom we so tragically lost this year. Way more than just "Gene's wife", she really touched my and my wife's lives, and made us better people because of it. Thanks to her humor, wit, wisdom, incredible generosity and loving support, we will miss her more than she ever imagined. If not for her, I doubt there would even be much Gene Colan art to inspire me.
I wish her eternal peace and serenity.
Amen to that. As I've said before, this website wouldn't exist if it weren't for her. We all must raise a glass to Adrienne tonight!
Just received an email from Art Saaf's son! "Hi Craig-
I was glad to see that you found out that my dad did the OFF119 story.
If you want more info go to
http://www.artsaaf.com.
Wow! That is wonderful…Loved the link. Though I was very saddened to see Mr. Saaf passed away just a few years ago. (I would have LOVED to have had him sign my page.) But very happy to see his son appreciates his Dad's wonderful work!
A thank you to his son, Craig, and of course, the "art" man himself for being a great part of my childhood, and fostering my love for collecting and fascination with original art!
Wow, it's so cool that you have actually made a list out like that. We have so much to be thankful for, but most of us are ungrateful pigs. You have a lot to be thankful for, thanks for sharing 😉
You say, "I was always "drawing dinosaurs and cavemen" well in my view that shows imagination at least. I seem to remember in my days as a youngster emulating the cartoons I had a fixation on drawing battleships, mostly because anything animal or human was much too hard to draw!
Thanks, Steve!
You're one up on me. Battleships are five times harder for me to draw than people! I have a tremendous admiration for those with the patience and chops for more technical stuff.
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