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Hey Eric! I don't have any family members (well none that I know of at least) that were hobos but I did grow up in a small town in Mississippi that was founded because of the railroad. We have a festival every year and it draws a large crowd of hobos. There was one particular fella who came to the festival every year and was actually nominated "King of the Hobos" 5 times. His name was "Steamtrain" Maury Graham. He would always make a trip to our school to talk to the kids each time he'd come into town. His stories were amazing! Anyway, I haven't thought about Steamtrain until I saw your post. I did a quick Google search on him and there's quite a bit of info. He was even interviewed by David Letterman in 1982. Here's the link: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Maury+%22Steamtrain%22+Graham&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8.

JP

Great topic Eric! Are you going to work in come of the codes that were used to communicate dangers, opportunities, etc.?

http://www.horailroad.com/hobo/hobo_codes.shtml

Also Check out You Can't Win! by Jack Black if you haven't already. It was one of the books that inspired W.S. Burrough's ideas of the "Johnson Family" of honorable criminals!

This has absolutely nothing to do with hobos, but I've just purchased a few comics form your Flying Boat Shop!
I can't wait for them to arrive!
Also, what are the kinds of fine liner pens artists use when not using pen and ink?

Eric, I just love this character! There's so much sincerity in his eyes that makes me care about his story. The research you're doing is fascinating and eye opening about how real people lived.

I always liked the movie, "The Journey of Natty Gann" which was fictional, but related to that era.

This is wonderful. I love to see how other people redefine a character in their own style.

Man! I love the little frame!

Cute. Just like your drawings.

Wow. I love this. The only thing missing is the title and voilá you have the book cover. This images calls for a story.

I love this! And how fun to see one of your characters reinterpreted.

Lucky to u........................................

Ultimately, all stories are about death, because that's our story. So I guess my favorite themes are the ones involved on this life cycle: birth, coming of age, discovery of sex, learning, overcoming problems, and ultimately, dying. Many of my characters die in the end my movies, because, well, that's what people do in the end of their stories too.

A little Tolkine to spice up the discussion:

"There cannot be any story without a fall – all stories are ultimately about the fall"

The uncanny super-connection that exists between former lovers, old friends who have had no contact for years...

Being one with nature.

Interesting Daniel. I was just listening to an interview with Morrissey and he was saying the same thing. I'm not sure all stories are really about death though, I could see that being a consideration but I think there are other legitimate themes.

Yikes! That's the stuff in life I find more terrifying then death Lydia.Not the nature part...

I should add that the most meaningful themes to me are the complexities of love and family because that's what is really close to me.

Going the hard road alone. Race and feeling different, left out, ugly and walking your path anyway and finding your merits on your own terms, not other's. :)

I hope you'll still go nuts on your silly plots for your little short story publications. I like raw art as much as I like refined art, and you've got the stuff.

Thanks so much Julie! I just read The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead which was an astounding meditation on race. I've never read anything quite like it.I think that's a theme a lot of people approach hesitantly ( and a lot approach eagerly ) because they aren't certain how they should feel.

I almost put "feeling different" or alienation as my favorite theme because I felt on the outside for so long.

The journey with it's messes and misdirections that inevitably ends with love and good prevailing. Just like a Shakespeare comedy, "All's Well that Ends Well".

I love that too Madeline. In fact i actively search those books out.

@Daniel reading a Cormac McCarthy interview recently, I'd say he agrees with you.

Hard to choose 1, but I am particularly interested in issues of national / cultural identity. So Tigana was a pretty cool book for me to read!

themes that arise out of the Canadian character also appeal to me. the Canadian hero who sort of bumbles his way through things and who ends up neither ahead nor behind, but sort of sideways from where he thought he wanted to get to is my favorite. (In contrast to the American hero who wins by dint of his strength and character and timely action). The hero as observer rather than actor. E.g., Canadian hero is the guy who repairs the Canadarm rather than the handsome captain hero. North by 2000 is a great example of those types of stories.

Alienation is the great theme of 20th century literature, but I like the Canadian version best: The alienated outsider who decides being outside looking in is actually better.

Multiculturalism. Diversity. Karma.

Lots of other stuff. Indeed, I often seek out books precisely because they explore new themes, different areas than I've considered before.

Thanks for the thoughtful answer Robert! I have to laugh when you describe the Canadian hero. It's so true and familiar to me. I love what you said about exploring new themes. I hadn't thought of that but it is wonderful when you find a new theme or a new approach to a theme.

Parenting. Being a good one, being a bad one and your responsibility on the next generation. That's why Finding Nemo get's me as much as The Road.
Going to work on a comic next year on this theme.

Learning that much of the world is running on dreams. The reality of ghosts and monsters created thus, and finding the reason and courage to face them.

Good one, Paul. I can totally relate to that as well. It becomes an obsession after you have kids. Right now I'm reading Michael Chabon's book on parenting and manhood and it's full of resonant ideas for me.

Viviane, that's such a beautiful concept. I want to print it and crochet it and frame it for the studio. It's very close to how I see things, maybe even exactly how I see things.

I don't quite relate to this form of writing, though I can see how it works for some. It's important especially in allegory. but I find that theme evolves naturally from character and situations.

Sometimes spelling out the subtext or overanalyzing the story can make you see it too literally, and ends up sucking all the magic out of it. If the author had a didactic purpose they would write an essay not a story.

I don't subscribe to the idea that's often sold to you in English lit classes, that there are deliberate symbols and subtext in all great literature, as if each author has a theme or point to get across that is preconceived.

With my own strip, The Blue Kid, people tend to read a lot into it because it has an unconventional structure, but I'm always trying to tell them that what they see on the surface is really what it's about. That any subtext is unconscious, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a subtext. I just wouldn't search too hard for it. Better to just absorb it and enjoy it.

Thanks Jed, I don't think anyone's suggesting that people write with the theme considered before the story. In fact I think it's irrelevant when you realize what the theme is.When I say theme I mean a unifying element,idea etc.(paraphrasing Wikipedia here) suggested by the text. Nothing directly to do with symbols but more to do with what interests or obsessions of the writer.I actually don't think people would read books if there were no themes, I don't think you can write without them.I think all stories have a subtext whether we know it or not. Even the most abstract, surreal stories are concerned with something.

it always boils down to love & life for me. life is struggle pain hardship death, but within that its incredible, the small moments of kindness, or love, of living. I need a story to affirm, that no matter what, love & life prevails.

Thanks Vickie~I find those things some of the most moving as well. I love the way you put it "small moments of kindness" It's really wonderful that big,universal themes can be expressed in the smallest, gentlest moments.

Hmmm... I don't know if it counts as a theme, but often the stories that tend to resonate with me are those that create a sense of nostalgia, bittersweet or otherwise.

The ones that manage to capture the exhilaration and terror of first love, the frustrations and strange joys of childhood; the ones that feel like they are a window into your dreams, or nightmares. The stories that are as evocative as the smell of your grandfather's jacket.

Even if it's about something you've never experienced, these stories feel like tales told about the memories you've lost.




... but like I said, I don't think this really qualifies as a theme per se.

Thanks Thornae! I'm sure that a theme of that nature could be articulated.Perhaps our relationship to the past.

Hi!!! so cuteeeeeeee^^
That bunnybatslike are cools!!!

永遠支持你呀!!!謝謝格主..................................................

Thinking about it, yes, our relationship with the past, but also our relationship with dreams, and the way they impinge on our waking life.

I rather think those two things (dreams and the past) are more intertwined in our memories than we sometimes realise.


Anyway, best of luck with finding a theme. You've definitely got plenty to work with!

That's an interesting question. I like inspiration themes of triumphing over odds. The reward doesn't have to be huge but a self recognition of worth and being accepted despite being different is another theme I enjoy. There are a few more themes I enjoy to do with life and death and finding that inner peace. I also love a good comedy that shows you can laugh inspite of what's going on around you.

it's getting better and better ;). Love the tentacles and the fish inside. Awesome work mate ^_^

Thanks Anne! This is from issue 5 of the minicomic.

too cool. It is no wonder you have a massive following

Thanks Tim! "Massive following" ? Where? Should i be concerned?

Oh I wish I could draw like you.

Thanks Fearless! And I wish I could draw better!

Nice man :o)

This is very cool. Oh, how I wish I had your artistic ability.

Nice work ! I really like the atmosphere of this one

Totally agree with Anne StarsAndRoots. Great and nice to see it over and over again.

Thanks Rhyhope!

Thanks Ashton! That's really kind of you to say.

Thanks Ryan!

Thanks Thomas! I'm hoping comic readers don't mind a comic like that.

you've got good work of art, i admire your drawings it's cool

Thanks Allison!

I love the goldfish in the rocket ship's belly! Great work, yet again!

lovely layouts:)

Thanks Abhishek!

Love it! how unique!

Thanks so much Leah-Mae!

good sketches. I think you can publish story books for children!

keep it up...

thank! Great article

They're really nice! Illness inspires you (or was it boredom?) ;-)

if u should draw so extemporaneous, i think your works will be more strong!!

Thanks Ann!
Thanks Simona!

beautiful drawings, sweet yet dark (in a good way!) :)

I love your drawings, and I have a technical question: how did you recreate them digitally to post them? Do you scan them into your computer, do you photograph them and upload them, how do you do it?
Thanks.

Thanks teenager !

Thanks Michelle! I scan almost all of my images with a Brother scanner. I used to use a camera but everyone complained that my pictures were too blurry so I started using a scanner instead. A lot of painters use cameras for their big paintings but they use a tripod to get a steady shot. Hope that helps!

great ideas!

Eric, thank you for responding! I have one more question -- I'm not a stalker, I just have a hundred drfawings I'm having a devil of a time reproducing properly -- do you alter your images once they're scanned in, with a photoshop program or something, or do they scan just the way you want them to? And do you right-click protect your images somehow?
Okay -- I'll leave you to your healing -- hope you feel 100% soon and thank you for your time!

Thanks Olendariwin!

No problem Michelle! I sometimes alter them, these I only used Photoshop to turn them into jpegs and flip them. I don't protect my images, people are welcome to print them off, colour them whatever as long as they aren't making a profit at my expense. Art directors want to be able to save your work from your site so I'm not crazy about watermarks or secured images. Problems arise but not often enough.

That's good to know -- thank you!

Hi I am new to your blog and love your sketches! Your characters are awesome. Sorry to hear you have been sick. May you get better and have good health soon!

Thanks so much Rae! I'm having some good ideas as I get better!

simple but yet marvelous..

Thanks so much!