Well, the Finding Bob show went off without a hitch. It far exceeded my expectations in both attendance and reaction. And, yes… I was finally able to enjoy it.
Here’s a video of the pre-opening walk thru. Please forgive the iPhone shakiness.
Dedication is a special thing. I can’t even believe that I’m doing this, but after all it is the internet.
You will notice I posted two pages from my sketchbook. There are a lot of squirrels there. New squirrels. They’re not anything of museum quality, but there they are.
For those of you not aware, I post 3-4 extra one off sketches of Bob to Facebook and Twitter throughout the day (Monday thru Friday). They are quick little things. I got into the habit of it from that Instagram Bob 365 challenge I completed last year.
This is in addition to the daily strip and three installments of SQUIRRELOSOPHY. 17 (avg.) sketches, 7 strips, 3 Squirrelosophy panels = 27 new Bob the Squirrel drawings/panels per week. That’s nearly a month’s worth of original work in a single week.
It has been alleged that the sketches of Bob that I post throughout the day are rehashed drawings I merely change the words to. Translation: I’m stealing from myself and rehashing content.
I DO NOT re-hash stuff I post. That kind of thing, while tempting on those late days I’m not feeling even 30%, turns my stomach. I didn’t get into this to re-hash anything. If I can’t be original, there’s just no point.
I don’t have to post all this extra stuff. I WANT to post all this extra stuff. I like having people see something new from me on their daily feeds. I’ve gotten to the point where I can draw 20-30 squirrels in one day for the following week. I suppose my dedication could be misconstrued as crazy. I’m totally cool with that.
Go ahead… Call me any name in the book.
Hell, get creative and make up a few… makes no difference to me.
But three things you can NEVER call me: undisciplined, undedicated and a re-hasher. If I post something from the past, I’ll let it be known it’s from the past. I will NEVER take a squirrel, throw a new coat of paint on it and pass it off as new. Never.
I get “I don’t like this” emails all the time. Sometimes there’s genuine constructive criticism, sometimes it’s just crap. I just couldn’t let this one go. Readers of Bob know I’m in this strip blood, sweat, ink and tears. It only takes one cruddy email… one cruddy email.
I’m not the type of person to call someone out…so I’m not going to post the allegation originator. Think what you want… I’ve wasted enough energy on this.
Reason #1,247,487 why I have the best fans in the world. Super Bob the Squirrel fan KimMarie Wny sent the WHOLE CAST of the strip holiday gifts!
Treats for the dogs, wildflower seeds for Lezley, a beautiful star ornament for Lauren, a squirrel for me (believe it or not, I DIDN’T have this one) a mini sunflower calendar for Bob and some AMAZING peanut/sunflower vegan cookies. I just have to say… wow. Thank you so much…
I know I sound like I’m stuck on repeat, but I have to say it again. Each and every time someone sends ANYTHING to me and/or my family because of the strip I get emotional. After all these years and all these strips, I’m continually amazed someone would go out of their way to do something so great. Each gift I receive from a fan is special beyond special. I’m happy that people read my strip… this just ads icing on top of the cherry on top of the whipped cream, on top of the hot fudge, on top of the icing, on top of the cake.
Thank you.
I do this every year.
I think about what I’ve done and what I may want to do in the next year.
Sometimes, I even entertain the notion of ending the strip… as I did in 2012, the tenth year of Bob. Come to think about it, I think about ending the strip (albeit in a non-serious way) damn near every year.
Except this one. Not once in 2014 did I consider the ending. I came close on a couple of bad, rejection laden days, but as soon as I sensed them coming up the driveway I shut the windows and locked the door to any of those thoughts.
The state of the squirrel is strong… stronger than I think it has ever been. I try not to question why, but I fail.
Maybe my age?
Maybe familiarity?
Maybe my own stubbornness?
Maybe an overwhelming belief that what I do is good?
Maybe the continued support of readers all over the world?
Maybe it’s all of the above.
2014 was a roller-coaster year. We lost some very dear friends and loved ones. We narrowly missed becoming a disaster statistic. I experienced one of the happiest days of my life.
I can honestly say that I have everything. Everything. I knew it before, but now I REALLY know it.
I may not be there in a professional sense yet, but I’ll get there.
That being said, why should I change what I do in 2015? Simple. Because I can.
I want to explore new creative endeavors with Bob. I can see that the world is changing, and if I don’t want to become a trivia question, I have to adapt to the change. I could resist, I could protest… but who would listen? There has to be a balance between the old and the new. You don’t burn down the house because the color of the walls stinks… you adapt.
What I see for 2015:
1. I will most likely be ending Squirrelosophy, in its current incarnation, sometime this year. I started it way back (ha!) in 2012 thinking that it would gain a sizeable popularity over time. That popularity never really materialized… in terms of the website traffic. The panels have been very well received… via social media: Facebook especially. Frankly, I enjoy doing the single panels. Sometimes, they’re just tiny drawings out of my sketchbook. Those will not be going away. Just adapting.
2. I will be amping up my video presence. I’ve merely dabbled in video. I’ve always been so damn busy drawing and doing other things that I never gave it much attention. It’s funny how a squirrel puppet from Barnes and Noble and an iPhone can make you see things in a different light. I don’t want to spill all of my ideas just yet… in case something happens to prevent me from bringing them all to life. Just know, if I can get it to breathe, you’ll love it.
3. More great stories, more squirrel goodness and the same reliability and quality you’ve come to expect of the strip and what I’ve come to demand of myself.
4. Instagram Bob 365. In March 2015, the Instagram Bob 365 project will be complete. The entire year will be made available as a downloadable eComic. It my also be available as a full color print book.
5. Other stuff. Tweaks and twists that will pop up over the course of the year. I’m going to try a lot. If even half of it works, whoa… watch out.
So, thank you one and all that have been reading the strip for days, weeks, months and years… some of you a decade or more. I appreciate and revere every single one of you. You’ve always showed me and my family the greatest of respect, support and kindness. Believe me when I say you all give me much more that I could EVER give to you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.Now, let’s get back to work.
