Hey all!
The quarter is finally done and I feel that I can breathe again. So, I thought I'd start off by posting something fun before I got to the news and other stuff.
Here's a photo from Halloween 2006 where four of my students dressed as "Tom Lyle" for Halloween. I am pretty scary.
The bottles of Diet Mountain Dew were a great touch as, until near the end of this current quarter, I always had one in class.
I'm now caffeine free.
News and Updates:
I've contacted both DC and Marvel in the past 10 weeks and been reminded how odd this business is. If I expect to get any real buzz in my possibly resurrected superhero career, I probably really need to go to New York and see these people in person. Face to face contact has always gotten me more respect than phone calls or emails.
Marvel set a page rate back in the summer, but has not come through with any work yet. I blame no one for their lack of job offers. I'm just not the best at waiting.
DC editor Mike Carlin and Mike Marts have both chatted with me briefly, but nothing happened on those fronts yet, either. By the way, both of these men are professional and return calls and emails. I respect them both, though I've worked for neither.
I will finally start my personal graphic novel project by January if I have no concrete offers from the big two by then. I would still definitely be open to work even if I start my own project, but I have to be doing something (I've just barely drawn any published work this last year).
I lost a pet a week ago and that was hard, but a good deal of the pressure and toughness of the fall 2007 quarter at SCAD came from personal stuff. My mother has been in and out of the hospital and it looks bad (she's not young, so don't get all worried - it's just tough to see your parent near the end of their life, early or late.)
My dad is getting older and more feeble all the time. Again, he's no youngster (he's 93!!!), but he played golf up until he was 90 and the decline of his health in the three years since he quit playing is dramatic. He's using a walker now.
So, life has it's pressures. WHAT A WUSS, LYLE!
;-)
I think I've mostly missed working on something that made me feel good. Teaching makes me feel great, but I'm not working on Projects for me. I need that creative flow.
I'll let you guys know about my personal project in late December after I've started writing it more concretely. I've started making notes and "seeing" the chapters in my head. I write visually. I pace it in my head and try to visualize the whole thing so that it makes sense and feels right as a story. I will tell you that the project I want to do is based on autobiographical tales, but I will definitely change details and names to protect the innocent!!
Hope everyone is fine. Feel free to leave a message. Thanks to Matthew and Joe for letting me know they dropped by this blog recently. Happy Holiday everyone!
Later-
Tom
t.lyle,
ReplyDeleteyou posted at 5:15 am? you're hardcore lyle, hardcore!
I heard the superhero class is a go, and I wish I could take it, but I'm all out of electives and ready to graduate. You need a break from my hijinx anyway.
I'm anxious to hear about this personal project of yours. I'm also sorry to hear about your mother and father. 93 is quite an accomplishment though. I hope your mother gets to feeling better, and you about that as well.
You need to brush up on those guitar skills, so we can jam in the future.
Have a good Thanksgiving, playa, and some good time off.
Brandon-
ReplyDeleteDon't be too bad over the holidays.
Yeah, I want to play some more guitar and get my chops back up, but you know a lot more finger stuff than I ever did. I could play rhythm behind you, but that's about it.
Hijinx. Yeah.
I hope you have the best of luck with your music and your art. Don't give up on either.
Have a good break.
Tom
Hi, Tom. Hope you are doing well. I have two commissions by you from back in the Comic Art Warehouse days. Any chance you'll be accepting them again in the new year? I'd love to get another one from you.
ReplyDeleteHey Tom! I, too, am glad the quarter is over. I can sleep and clean again! And do non-class stuff!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your pet. My dog's getting rather old, and I know that time's probably coming soon... I'm really not looking forward to it. Good luck on the parent front, and with getting work and/or doing your own project. *cheerleader dance* Go Tom go!
Also, those Tom costumes are great. : )
Damano-
ReplyDeleteFor right now, I think the answer will probably be ... not in the near future, but never say never.
Thanks for the interest and support.
I really appreciate it.
Charles-
WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Good to hear from you.
Things are goofy right now, but I'm okay.
I was really amused when they dressed up as ME. It cracks me up.
Everyone have a fun and safe Holiday Season.
Take care.
Tom
Hey, Tom -- Its okay, I know your plate is probably full right now. I was just looking at some of your art on display at the Comic Art Fans website and got nostalgic. Hope you have a safe and happy holiday season.
ReplyDeleteDamon-
ReplyDeleteWell thanks for the understanding.
My mom did die and things are busy as heck and I'm spending a lot of time with my dad (without internet access - arrggghhhh! I hate that I am so connected).
I will let you know if I change my mind. I might. I'm known to be erratic!!
;-)
Have a safe and happy Holiday Season!!
Tom