I Feel Really Sorry For This Guy

Over the weekend I read a few graphic novels. Two of which were created by cartoonist Jeffrey Brown, strangely enough yet another artist that I have featured here that has been published by Top Shelf Productions. The books that I read, Unlikely and Every Girl is the End of the World For Me, really hit close to home. Until I met my wife of nearly four years I was not at all popular with the ladies in a romantic sense. Sure, I had girlfriends here and there, but I was finally introduced to "the one," which is why I really truly felt for this guy. I know that I shouldn't, because I am certain that his books are not intended for the reader to feel the type of remorse that I did, but honestly, this guy pours his soul into these books.
The other day I was talking to someone, whom will remain anonymous, about his thoughts on Jeffrey Brown. His argument was that Mr. Brown's body of work was too pretentious. Next, this same gentleman proceeded to bash the entire line of Top Shelf books as being too intellectual. When asked if he had read any of the books, he nonsensically replied, "no." Of course after that, we argued, I lectured, and neither of us agreed with one another. As it is with simliar encounters I learned that not everybody has a heart, brain, or soul. The most amusing piece of information that I can divulge about this debate is that although this man decided to judge an entire library of books based merely on their cover art he also claims to be heavily endowed by spirituality through Christianity.
"Judge not, that ye be judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matthew 7:1-2. I guess it's a good thing that I'm not Christian, otherwise my judging others would get me in trouble.
In closing, although I felt bad for Jeffrey Brown by pouring his soul into each autobiographical book that he has released, I felt even worse for the judgemental Christian man, which happens to be the purest form of an oxymoron that I could ever dream to come up with, who decided that Mr. Brown's work and the entire catalog that Top Shelf Productions offers is too pretentious and intellectual without ever reading them.

Obsession With Trees

I really have no idea why I have a fascination with drawing trees. Maybe it stems from a certain need to experience the appeal of climbing them, similar to the encounters I had as a child. Maybe it stems from the limited time I actually spend outdoors and it is my attempt to reconnect with nature. Maybe it is my way of paying respect to the plant that allows me to practice my favorite form of meditation, drawing. Then again, maybe it is a perverted way of telling conservationists to bite me, which I hope it isn't.
Anyway, I know of another, more accomplished artist, than I who has a similar fascination. His name is Craig Thompson. He is an illustrator/cartoonist that is based out of Portland, Oregon. He is known for his books Blankets and Goodbye Chunky Rice. If you are a fan of comics, graphic novels, or stories at all, you need to read and own these books. Thompson does things with a brush and ink that I could only dream of creating.