Hi my name is Josh and I make Welcome to Pixelton.

Thanks for swinging by my swanky blog,

A few weeks back I gave away an old-timey wheel barrow full of free stuff as a "thank you" to the early subscribers. But since then so many cool new folks have stopped by, and it is strictly unfair to jip them of their free crap. So, I'm opening up the gates one more time. By taking close to five minutes of your time I will send you the items below:

1. My last 216 page Graphic Novel: Nothing Left to Lose
2. An autographed copy of a real NES game with Kirby or Fil artwork
3. A limited edition print of a Pixelton comic signed and numbered by the talented artists (aka. um...me)
4. An original sketch!
5. My sincere appreciation for your time reading comics


Not too shabby for reading an RSS feed, eh? It totals over $40 in prizes! To get your free swag please click THIS ENCHANTED BLUE TEXT. Once within this magnificent land send me your name, full shipping info, and email (in case the US mail hates me). Magic bunnies will take of the rest. If you'd like to receive the odd message from my mailing list please just say so and I'd be happy to add you.

Now, I know what you are thinking - I would be too, but honest-to-God there are no strings attached. The info will be used once to give you some cool stuff, and then burned. I'm completely doing this as a thanks so I wouldn't want to sour it by being a jerk. Oh, and to everyone who took me up on this the first go-round, your packages are hitting the mail this week. Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy!

Finally, if you enjoy Welcome to Pixelton please tell a friend or post a link on your blog. All of the support has been amazing and each effort truly does make my day. (Yes I really am that lame)

All the best,
Josh


* Tiny Text: I'm not independently wealthy, so if I hit 50 I will need to stop. I'd love to give more away though. Stay tuned to the RSS feed for more free prizes in the coming weeks.

Simple and elegant visual depiction of the difference between Marketing, Advertising, PR, and Branding. Stolen with love from: Ads of the World

Click here to download the free Welcome to Pixelton widget for Mac OS X.

This little tool will allow you to see the latest updates from my online webcomic Welcome to Pixelton without you having to do a damn thing. Enjoy!

-Josh

Blogging? Meh!
Diaries? Bah.
Updates...um...bork?

I feel like a sitcom character as of late, running from one wacky set to the next. Dodging and weaving while doing my best to solve the problem before 30-minutes pass by. In the last 2 weeks I've:

- Watched my stunning wife receive her Masters degree.
- Participated in a Caricature Fundraising event with LaSalle Bank.
- Photographed the immigration march that was held in Chicago's Loop.
- Judged student portfolios at my old college.
- Bought a Wii and housed mini-bowling tournaments every hour on the hour.
- Made a bunch of new Pixelton strips (a bunch now equals 3).
- Started pricing a new book (which I have never mentioned here) that will be out possibly this year.
- Killed a start-up project very close to my heart.
- Wrote from a place I've been searching for since I found words.

But the one I am most shocked over:
- Finished pencilling the Welcome to Pixelton graphic novel. And the inks are well under way.

Big good, warm, fuzzy stuff. Who knows what the next two weeks may bring! (More lists? We can only dream.)

-Josh

So I'm back from stumbling through Indiana at 90 mph and the effects of smearing through multiple states are a lot like visiting a comic book show. You drain massive amounts of time in the hopes your journey has a purpose, but the end result is simply a very sore back-side.

I sold enough to pay for my trip. I may have been one of the few that can say this.

SPACE, the small press and alternative comic expo, which caused the state transfigurations was the first comic convention I'd ever been to. At that time the idea of creating unique story based art (and getting paid for it in any meaningful way) was a pipe dream. And the truth is for almost everyone in the room this weekend it was still far from possible. I'd like to believe that comics are the root of the lack of funds but I know better: Publishing is hard for a reason. The endurance and dedication weeds out the masses in a cruel ode to the epic fictions of the thousands of books on the show floor. Mix comics with indy street cred and the situation goes from bad to worse.

My initial reactions:

1. Thanks to everyone who took the time to chat or pick up a copy of Nothing Left to Lose. The next thing will be better. I promise. But I hope it was worth your time.

2. I should cease to be amazed by the fact I learn to love every place I visit. Columbus is an enthralling town. I hope I have the pleasure of going back soon. The Book Loft alone would be worth a move. (Side note a: Their website has music, scrolling text, and a creepy soul devouring owl...and yet it matches the feel of the location. There are times I wish I knew nothing of design and this is one.)

3. Comic readers and publishers are water for the thirsty soul. I can't even count on one hand the nice folks I met. I do hope some big things should come out of the nice bonds formed.

4. 90% of comics make my mind want to give up this life gig. I'd prefer a life of sweet vegetation then read another horrid anti-hero tale or micro-slice of life. In some ways I've learned to ignore the unending copy-cat nature that you'll see in these stuffy rooms, but the artists as writers crap must change. It is clear artists make very bad writers, and until we purposely think of ourselves as writers first, comics deserve their fate.

5. The 10% I love are the least polished of the show. These guys still remember why they started - and they have the giant balls to stand in a room and try to sell it. Even when they can't make a dime they act like warm, passionate gentlemen. I'm humbled by the whole damn package and wish their heart would infect me by sheer proximity.

6. The most important thing for any of the publishers (or writer/artists) who displayed at SPACE should be to get our books in comic readers hands. This fact was largely overlooked. It is astonishing how little publishers care about making people happy. At nearly every turn I found another publisher gouging the very audience they hope to enthrall. Here is a note to you: GOOD FUCKIN LUCK. If you really need that $100 then you shouldn't have started this in the first place. I'm sorry but we both know this is true.

7. I need to put out smaller books at a greater pace. Then find a distributor. I'm very close to contacting real publishers and hanging up the self-pub hat for some time. I'm obsessed with the idea of epic graphic novels at no cost, but I need a larger audience to make this happen. (I can't say I will ever do this though as it contradicts most of my beliefs regarding publishing)

8. Now is the first time I have been online in days and yet the world did not end. I worked almost 20 hour days for three days straight before the show with about two meals in between to be ready for the show, and yet the world did not end. I need to unplug and draw endlessly each and every day. I'm stuck in a feedback loop of useless internet bullshit and I will die here alone and without merit if I keep this up.

9. Someone defaced my art at SPACE and my first reaction was pride. They defaced a mask featuring one of my characters and taped it to the art jam openly for all artists to see. I must be insane, because I thought "My art must be worth defacing".

10. Twelve hours in a car is an ideal way to cook up a new story.

11. Most opinions are worth their weight in protons. If I had a penny for every piece of negative advice I'd received at a show (or anywhere else: website, friends, family, etc.) coupled with the phrase "keep up the great work" I could defy the earth's gravity and start my own colony with the amount mass they'd provided. Complaining is easy, and the structure and form of a weak mind bent on mastery through false ownership. Creating is the act of deciding which of these bits has some element of truth and discarding the rest with a smile.

12. There is always "THAT" guy at a comic show. He is drawing books about insanity through insanity. His stories make no sense, his art is like breathing coal, and his mom drove him to the show and waits outside to pick him up. He is also 30 years old. I'd like to adopt this little guy and carry him in some sort of duffel bag. Anytime I hear another yuppie complain they don't have time to create, I'd pull him out of his protective sheath and remind them that if this guy can be a success they are the worst failures of humanity.

13. Idols are great to have, but the crashing realization that they are human eventually hits (and like the dethroning our parents before) the shock of this moment moves worlds. My world was moved this weekend. It has been a slow and trying process but I've killed my last God. I see a path ahead where I am in control and the only limits are those that I set.


-Josh

Why are you reading this and not creating? Solid question I find myself asking as well. Wired's Lore Sjöberg jumps in and describes your life as it unfolds in front of you. Dare to watch?

I am sooo happily busy right now. Not that bullshit "wow, I'm happy" but 100% cocaine, loving life, squeezing puppies into dust happy. The reason; response to Welcome to Pixelton has been way more positive then I hoped. Right now I'm averaging closer to 2,000 hits a day and that is screwing with my mind. I've tried to stop logging in to check the stats but I can't. The neat thing is the graphic novel is similar but almost completely different, so I'm always hoping the good vibes will continue.

Publishing online sincerely rules. Don't tell print but I'm becomming a convert. Now if only there was a good way to sift the good from the bad so folks wouldn't waste their time...

Press the big CONTINUED button below for the remainder of this action packed posting.

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I'm as shocked as most other Watterson fans, but the creator of Calvin & Hobbes has sat down for a few questions for what appears to be his third interview. Yes, only two others exist.

It shocks me that someone as intelligent and exponentially popular as Mr. Watterson could have pushed interviews back. He simply defined the funny pages for me as a kid, and as an adult his works resonates with the best sequential art has to offer. I'd love to hear his thoughts on art, story, life...if only he cared to share. But he retired early for a reason. Today he paints and studies the masters. It sounds from the random questions that he has gotten more cynical about life, and how he chose to portray the optimistic Calvin.

Hit CONTINUED below for the full interview!

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