…another place to see my work…

So, Into the Hill is publishing my cartoons now. The first installment of my series “Ruled Line Sequential” is up now. Of course, the whole concept of “Ruled Line” is to produce quick, “doodley” comics on lined paper, evoking the off the cuff honesty of folk music. This first installment is just another gag that you’ve seen here on my blog.

Nevertheless, I hope you check back at the Hill often to see work you CAN’T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE!

While there, go to the main page and check out the latest session. It’s my favorite yet.

Cheers!

Tyler

 

My Thoughts on the Election…

…are said best by my dear friend Andrew.

And also Derek Webb in the bonus track to the re-released Mockingbird.

Get it at NoiseTrade.

For some more of what I think about the election, read the latest Miracle Valley at the Hill.

Al Mohler said it well, too.

All hail King Jesus.

 

Michael Crichton, Dead at age 66.

I was shocked to just discover that Michael Crichton died from a “private battle with cancer” yesterday.

Crichton is not the type of writer I typically blog about here. His work was very commercial, very popular, and occasionally predictable. However, he was a great storyteller. When I was 12 years old he got my imagination running with Jurassic Park. When I read Sphere, I doubted I would ever find a more enthralling book. I read Crichton’s work voraciously, consuming most of what he had written up until Timeline. It was always riveting, always intellectual, and (despite his reputation) was about much more than rampaging dinosaurs and far-fetched sci-action plots. Like all great science-fiction writers, he warned of the danger of human beings meddling too much in the business of God. And he did so while entertaining the hell out of his readers.

I for one am thankful for his career. Though I haven’t read his work in many years, I am convinced that I would not be writing or creating today were it not for his influence. Perhaps it was his grasp of science and technology (or his incredible ability to fake it!) that influenced me the most. Though I have never tried to emulate that in my own writing, his ability to talk just enough over my head for it to seem believable, and just enough on my level for me to understand it, made me believe that the impossible is POSSIBLE.

You will be missed, sir.

 

I’m Getting Published!!!

First things first:

My condolences to those of you who see Obama as the downfall of our country. Equal condolences to those of you who think he can effect anymore than superficial change. Regardless, my prayers are with our new leader, as unideal as he may be.

But, I digress. I am here to impart two wonderful bits of news:

1) Check out my new column over at Into the Hill. Technically it was an election day special, but hopefully it’s still relevant the day after.

2) I am being published! Future Montgomery Magazine has bought this cartoon to be published in their latest issue. And it gets better! They have agreed to buy THREE CARTOONS each subsequent issue, IN ADDITION to an installment of my column MIRACLE VALLEY! I am truly thankful for the opportunity and look forward to working with these great people.

I haven’t been posting much lately, cartoons or otherwise. It’s been very busy this month for the ministry. What little time I have to devote to art I have been using to develop a webcomic. I hope to have some character sketches up sometime soon. Stay tuned.

God bless.

 

Stuff and Things 11/02/2008

1) Into the Hill version 2.0 has officially launched. I have two new features that will be appearing regularly at the Hill. Some of you may remember my old column featured in River Stages in Dubuque, IA. Well, I am pleased to announce that “Miracle Valley” is being relaunched under the auspices of Into the Hill. This time, MV will keep an eye on the arts, ever searching for redemption as it has in the past.

Also, ITH is launching “Ruled Line Sequential”, my art-themed comic series. Once the series gets going, I will be posting an archive on iblogodei.

2) Here is Overstreet linking to Roger Ebert on The Last Temptation of Christ. I weighed in a bit on the source material for the film here.

3) Check out what Spongebob might look like as envisioned by Charles Schultz and other great cartoonists of the past. (Courtesy of Drawn.ca).

4) Don’t you love what we Christians consider controversial?

5) Listen to Bon Iver. Immediately.

6) Did you forget about Noise Trade? Don’t.

7) I’ve been so busy lately I’ve fallen behind on my cartooning. I hope to have some new stuff up soon. I’m in talks with a local publication. I hope to have some exciting news soon!

 

Cartoon Caption Contest Winner!!!

After some careful deliberation involving a ceremonial killing, we the people do hereby ordain and establish this, the winning entry of our over-the-world-famous cartoon caption contest.

Drum roll, cymbal crash, et cetera.

"The real problem is when he pees."

Congratulations to our winner Jessica Kantrowitz! You will receive an email from me with your five dollar amazon.com gift certificate! Which is good because I owe you an email anyway. How are you sister?

Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking. How is it fair that I give the award to so dear a friend of mine. Well, let’s be honest. I knew everyone who made a submission, with the exception of two (I think).

But, because I love you so much, I am awarding two more prizes. (Gracious! Magnanimous!) Yes, I hereby award the auspicious honor of “Most Postmodern Submission” to…(opens envelope)…What’s this? A tie? Yes! A tie! The award goes to SD Smith and the mysterious “JP” for the following submissions:

“A cape, Kip? My dog flies and that’s the best you can come up with? We should get him a cape? Sometimes I wonder why I even bother with you.” (SD Smith)

“Dude why are you riding a tricycle? Aren’t you like thirty?” (JP)

Re: that last one. Yes. Yes. That child looks far too old to be riding a tricycle. But it just goes to show you why it is unfair to draw conclusions without really understanding a person. Whereas this “JP” person attributes the individual’s size to his age (30) he is sorely mistaken. This child isonly six years old, but is stricken with a rare disorder wherein his cartoonist is unable to realistically portray age. Coincidentally, the tricycle’s tire is stricken with a rare condition called “Cartoonistus-Unableus-to drawus-circleus”.

Congrats to our actual winner and to the other guys too, who are so postmodern they quote Brian McLaren like Plato quoted Socrates.

Look forward to some more of these in the future.

 

I’m on Twitter now! Follow me! tclairsmith
I’m actually posting this from Ping.Fm, a neat little social networking management site. Consider this a test.

 

LAST DAY FOR CARTOON CAPTION CONTEST!!

For the myriads of you who have been waiting till the last minute to post your cartoon caption contest submission, let it be known that comments will be closed as of 11.59 pm tonight! (How precise!) Be sure to post your attempt soon!

In other news, my beautiful fiancee is on her way to see me! You know what that means. Tyler’s a little distracted today.

 

Cartoon of the Day-10/23/2008

10/23/2008

This is just to provide proof that Obama can’t be the messiah. See? There’s Jesus.

Still looking for that proof that he hates America. Been struggling to find some…

 

Blasting the Past and Reminding old Friends.

Okay. Just a friendly little reminder that YOU COULD WIN FIVE(S) OF DOLLARS by trying our new anti-impotence drug and participating in and winning a little contest that I totally ripped off from the New Yorker in a shameless attempt to get people to read this blog. HERE is where to go. Follow the instructions and prepare for your FIVE FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS (or the equivalent thereof) if you win which you probably won’t but who knows a rolling stone catches no worm, early bird gathers the moss, necessity is the mother of a guy named Franklin, etc.

Speaking of random, almost indecipherable yet slightly humorous things, here is a blast from the past. My past. You can find this over at www.megazeenonline.com.

old-timey

This is quite a few years old and is very difficult to read. (That title panel reads “Machismo” in case you’re wondering.) I just rediscovered it the other day. Kind of nifty, huh? Hope to have so more alternative style comics like this one up on the iblogo soon.

To lunch!