Guest journal - Chris Ware
January 7, 2004
| I have been re-studying one of my favorite objects of 2003, Chris Ware’s The Acme Novelty Date Book. Ware publishes a magazine called the Acme Novelty Library which has been primarily devoted to a long and spectacularly drawn story called “Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth.” The story is very cinematic and deeply depressing and Ware draws it with enormous restraint and feeling. Much as I admire Ware’s work in his magazine, it is hard to learn much from it because the drawing is so perfect, so polished. The Day Book is another matter. |
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| Its pages are more or less ripped out of a decade of personal |  |
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| sketchbooks and the work is much rawer and more energetic. He draws in many different styles and media; sometimes very art school, other times based on 1940s advertising art or 1930s comics or really good versions of the | |||||||||||||||
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| sort of everyday still life stuff I do. He works on layout and drawing problems and you can see his ideas evolve. |
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| What strikes me the most about this book is that despite Ware’s enormous talent and years of hard work, he is a relentless and ruthless self-critic. | |||||||||||||||
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Time and again his pages feature drawings and watercolors I’d give my left nut to have made and it’ll be adjoined by some some | ||||||||||||||
| scathing caption that rips it to shreds. In his comics, his marginalia is always funny and self-deprecating | |||||||||||||||
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I sent Chris Ware a copy of Everyday Matters but his publisher returned it. If you have any other address for him, please let me know. Thanks!
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but seeing how loud his inner critic is in private can be scary. | ||||||||||||||
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| Anyone who doubts that they can draw well will be blown away by Ware’s sketchbook. But instead of envying what he is doing, his constant self- flagellation leaves you shaking your head. |
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| The moral: work hard, do your best, but for Christ’s sake — be your own fan. |
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A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
I do believe I have found myself a new favorite weblog. I can't wait to get your book. Your artwork makes me want to continue pursuing my art. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself on these pages.
Posted by: rain | January 7, 2004 02:51 AM
Thank you, another book on my wishlist. I'm happy the Dollar is low for us, haha :o)
Posted by: Marloes | January 7, 2004 03:01 AM
Came across your site yesterday, and have fallen in love. I also just purchased Chris Ware's book a few weeks ago, and not a day has gone by when I haven't looked in it and found something new.
Posted by: Robot Johnny | January 7, 2004 10:51 AM
Love your weblog!!! It is really great, will be visiting often!
Posted by: Kathy in Kansas | January 7, 2004 04:53 PM
Pretty stuff! I think you can find Ware's address in any old back issue of Acme Novelty Library. In fact, I might as well just look for it instead of forcing you to:
1112 North Hoyne Street
Chicago, Illinois, 60622
(that's from 1995 so I don't know how accurate it is)
Good luck!
Posted by: Ken Chen | January 9, 2004 10:43 AM
I think that address is still good, at least as of last year -- it's listed in the Chicago phone book. Really nice blog, btw. :)
Posted by: john | January 9, 2004 01:43 PM