I have finally decided to take the plunge and stop using my back pain as an excuse to stop drawing. My inspiration came from my oldest son's favorite stuffed animal, the ubiquitous Mr. Black Kitty. When he was about 3, he and my wife attended a bbq and a kid there had this stuffed cat that just blew his mind. Always a calm kid who did what he was told and could be counted on to behave in public - he went absolutely ballistic over this cat. He had a screaming match with the kid when he had to give it back and it was quite a scene I hear - I was still recovering from my back surgery at the time and was in no state for public displays of my pain. Shortly afterwards my wife's wonderful Aunt (who had hosted the bbq) found an identical cat at a store and sent it to us and the two are still inseparable. Almost to a strange degree. Still on the bed at night, although no longer clutched in a kung-fu grip, and usually to be found somewhere in the house. During the ensuing years we would go on our picnics together (a tradition we had) and Black Kitty came along, we'd go to the pool and he would have to come, etc. Parents know full well what I am talking about and it just became synonymous - Richie & Black Kitty.
Now, almost 7 years later, Black has certainly seen better days, but is still in remarkable condition. No tears or rips - just brown smudges on what were once white paws and such. I was always regaled with stories of their adventures whenever I happened to leave the room and never ceased to be amazed by them. I am old, indeed - but certainly not so old that I don't recall the wonderful imaginative vistas open to a little boy (or girls, for that matter) mind. So I was always encouraging this and we'd draw pictures and make up stories of Black's adventures in the real world. So, it should come as no surprise that when I was tossing around ideas about finally dusting off the drawing table (which was becoming the sewing table - women work quickly) that Richie comes in with Black in tow and WHAM! A boy and his stuffed animal friend. It seemed all a bit too "Calvin & Hobbes" at first but it doesn't have to be a copycat work of that great, seminal strip. Besides I am not a cartoonist and despise the idea of having to try and be funny on a daily basis.
So, I decided I would attmept a childrens book - much less illustrative work and more time-friendly for a full-time Dad than my beloved comic books would be. Someday I may make the attempt at a comic, I have been thinking for so long on doing a self-published work and just may be a step closer upon completion of this. I will be posting sketches with whch I hope to bore you all into a nice state of sleep, kind of like this long-assed introduction. Thanks for coming by.
