So The Banana Factory Arts Center in Bethlehem, PA had this open call for a juried exhibition. The theme was self-portrait. I figured, what the heck. I never submit to these things. Plus, the entire BEDLAM series is basically all self-portrait work. So I dug through the archives to find three strips among hundreds that might be acceptable enough to submit.

I did have this idea for a single panel, possibly color Sunday strip in the BEDLAM cannon. Problem was it was only a few days until the deadline to submit to the show. I scratched out some ideas but wasn’t able to get the inks on it until too late. Forget about color (I’m not winning over any artists reps or art directors here, I know). I sent off the three selections I had picked earlier.

There wasn’t a lot of support for the arts in my house growing up. Art was generally treated as a distraction at best. At some point I’d have to get my head out of the clouds and focus on getting a real job. Which I did. Repeatedly.

I did apply to art schools. And got accepted to a few. That seemed to add a little more clout to this idea that art could be turned into some sort of real job. But when it came time to apply for financial aid, scholarships, grants, loans, etc. I was only able to come up with about half of the tuition. My pop didn’t have that kind of money and his credit was shot and I couldn’t get a loan like that on my own. So I was off to community college. Great place to learn the fine arts, huh? Well, at least I could get some transferable credits under my belt while I figured out what the heck I was going to do next.

There were a few teachers there that didn’t get along with. I quickly learned to hate school all over again.

Fortunately this community college had just started a new fine arts program with The Baum School in Allentown. When I found out I switched over to that. I think I had two evening classes once or twice a week down there. I only liked one of them. That being the illustration class taught by David Gothard. Overall I wasn’t very interested in that place either.

These are all stories I can expound upon later. This wasn’t meant to be an addition to the “My formal art training” series. Getting carried away here.

To get back on track… throughout my adventures, I have found that a lot of people out there do not see the creation of art as work. It is even looked down on some places. Like you are just lazy or something.

Anyway, enjoy this “self-portrait” piece. Ernie’s good natured ribbing is something I miss when I stay away too long. Keeps you honest.