I have often heard it say that if artists want to progress – whether they are a visual or a performing artist – they sometimes have to step away from what they are comfortable doing and try new things. For me, that discomfort level lies in drawing animals. That may sound strange given the fact that I have a werewolf in my strip – a hybrid human/animal. But Roy is a fictionalized werewolf. He’s not based on any previous incarnation of other werewolves so I am free to be as cartoony as I want with him.
But this past Saturday, I agreed to step out of my comfort area of drawing funny superheros and caricatures of humans and, instead, agreed to spend the afternoon drawing caricatures of…BEAGLES.
Today’s filler strip displays those very same efforts to stepping away from what I am used to doing and trying something new and (admittedly) slightly uncomfortable. But after the first cartoon beagle I finished drawing, I started to loosen up and really enjoyed the day. It was a beautiful, sunny day. It was also the very first time I have ever displayed my Capes & babes stuff outdoors as well.
I want to thank everyone who ended up signing up for a cartoon beagle to be mailed to them I will be sending you all an e-mail shortly and will start working on your illustrations once I receive your e-mail photos of you and your beagles.
In the mean time though, I’d like to ask all of you… what have you done recently that goes above or beyond what you’re usually comfortable doing? And, if you have, what did you learn from it? I learned I shouldn’t be so intimidated by drawing animals. Maybe for my next trick, I should set up a booth at a car show… that way I won;t be so intimidated drawing vehicles as well. 
