December 25, 2008
a love letter to god
["Worship Ye". Drawn in 2006 etc.]
Merry Christmas!
A lot has happened in the last year. Here are some random notes:
1. The two biggest events that happened for me in the last year were [A] moving from London, England to Alpine, Texas and [B] starting my art business. The Alpine thing has been far more successful than I could ever have predicted. The art thing is still in its early days, so watch this space. And, of course, Thanks for the support!
2. I’m not claiming that Texas is Paradise, but it’s always been good to me here. Really good. I liked the Texans since the first day I moved here with my parents, aged ten.
3. My business is really based in New York City, my second-favorite place in the USA, after Texas. I go there once a month to take care of stuff; the rest of the time I’m here in the high West Texas desert, drawing and working [cartooning really isn’t work for me, he said, somewhat embarrassed].
4. My overheads in Alpine are about one fifth of what I was paying in London. I get a LOT more bang for the buck here.
5. Freedom is expensive. I found that out the hard way. Though it's not as expensive as Slavery. I learned that the hard way, too.
6. The creative life is uneven. You have a few short bursts of genius now and then, the rest of the time you’re trying SOMEHOW to get the magic back again, mostly without success. It’s exhausting. I am exhausted, often.
7. My cartoons are what they are. I’m never going to get better, I’m never going to get worse. If you don’t like them, fuck off.
8. I never competed with other cartoonists. Musicians have always been my real competition. Make of that what you will.
9. I’m going to be dead in x number of years. So are you. What do we do in the meantime? Me? I try to love. I try to draw. I try to find the people and the work that inspires me. I try to stay grateful. I try to take care of business. You?
10. Dear God, I just want to say "Thanks" for this brief life you have given me. I tried to do something meaningful with it. I really did. Thank You. Merry Christmas! Seriously.
Merry Christmas, Dude.
huge merry xmas hugh
Posted by: Arindam at December 25, 2008 3:18 AMMerry Christmas to you too, Hugh. Thanks for all the interesting posts that never fail to amaze me for their insight and crystalline intelligence.
Just a quick remark: in the second last line there is a curious inversion of letters...hope it is not a (revealing) Freudian slip...:-)
Bye,
Barbara, from Bologna, Italy
Hugh, sounds more like an end of year post, but like the sentiments expressed anyway. All the best, merry chrimbo and all that
Posted by: john rutter at December 25, 2008 3:23 AMFull Power Hugh!
Keep your cartoons the way it is. Keep things the way that is. Stay beautiful. Look up to 2009.
Cheers!
Posted by: kiran at December 25, 2008 3:26 AMHugh, merry xmas to you and yours.
I love number 9 and think it would make a great card/toon. reminds me of the people who I call the happy whens. You know those people who are always saying they will finally be happy when they can drive, then when they graduate, then finally when they get married then it's when they have a kid etc. They forget to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Posted by: Steve Robillard at December 25, 2008 3:37 AMMerry Christmas from London. Nothing changes its still expensive :) dt
Posted by: dailytwitter at December 25, 2008 3:41 AMThanks for sharing your creativity with us. All the best for 2009.
Posted by: Kate Carruthers at December 25, 2008 4:06 AMHappy Christmas Hugh! (Your honesty, as usual, is illuminating :) Thanks mate.) Linda
Posted by: ponor at December 25, 2008 4:13 AMThanks for bringing up g-d today.
Posted by: Loren Feldman at December 25, 2008 7:12 AMMerry Christmas! Great share.
Posted by: Todd Jordan at December 25, 2008 7:17 AMThanks,Hugh ..all the best to you too, along with a ton of
inspiration, creativity, and humour (always humour!)...
Stay curious too
Merry Christmas
Tis true. This life is brief. But our spirit lives on. I am looking forward to our conversations on the "other" side.
Many blessings in Jesus who is first.
I am second. http://www.iamsecond.com
Ben Wardlaw
ALMOST PARADISE
Hilton Head Island, SC USA
Psalm 150:6
PS Please send me informaton regarding your art business. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Ben Wardlaw at December 25, 2008 7:58 AMIt was a very good year...merry Christmas!
Posted by: Austin Kleon at December 25, 2008 8:45 AMMerry Christmas, Hugh. Beautiful thoughts on this day...continued success, and may the Muse visit you as often as she already does. Great, great work, man.
Posted by: Frank at December 25, 2008 9:41 AMMerry Christmas, Hugh! Thanks for sharing it in your own way - it put a smile on my face.
Posted by: Douglas Karr at December 25, 2008 9:44 AMCheers to your American Experience! Congratulations and good luck in 2009!
Posted by: Scott Wilson at December 25, 2008 9:53 AM"If you don't like [my cartoons] then fuck off."
Gosh this sounds almost like a Bushism... we're either with you or against you?
As it happens, I don't really like your cartoons. But that's the only time I've ever said so, I don't bitch and whine about you or your art, and I appreciate that many people DO like your cartoons, and I very much admire your approach to life and your other creative output such as your writing. I'm just ambivalent about the squiggles. If you can't handle that, then fuck off yourself.
Posted by: Neil at December 25, 2008 10:25 AMWonderful post and remembrance of the things that are important. As an artist, I have found Texas to be inexpensive, big, friendly and surprisingly inspirational. Moved here 18 months ago, kicking and screaming, and now I love it.
Posted by: Deborah Paris at December 25, 2008 12:03 PMmerry christmas hugh.
i too, somewhat bizarrely, favor new york and texas. just instinctively like em. and they live up to their reputations IMHO.
looking forward to the book. and getting the print.
cheers.
Posted by: vinny warren at December 25, 2008 3:55 PMThis post--and especially the drawing--was worth sitting down during Christmas to see what was in my inbox. Many blessings to you, Hugh.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Candi at December 25, 2008 11:47 PMHappy Christmas Hugh! (Your honesty, as usual, is illuminating :) Thanks mate.) Linda
Posted by: ponor at December 26, 2008 3:41 AMHugh,
You've got it right all way round. You inspire me. Please keep on keepin' on. Thanks, Rod
Posted by: Rod Roth at December 26, 2008 4:45 AMWhat a great post - I really get so much of your work.
My boyfriend has some friends in Alpine... John Karges and James King (he's in Fort Davis)... and I sat next to some really nice people who live there on a plane recently... how's that for vague?
Posted by: Jennifer Louden at December 26, 2008 6:53 PMYou know those people who are always saying they will finally be happy when they can drive, then when they graduate, then finally when they get married then it's when they have a kid etc. They forget to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Posted by: Peter at December 28, 2008 11:59 AMRealizing #6 and finding a way to productively deal with it is what separates the pros from the amateurs.
Posted by: Dan at December 28, 2008 12:48 PMHappy Holidays! Texas huh?
Posted by: sally at December 28, 2008 8:10 PMMerry Christmas Hugh. You are delightful.
Have a tipsy New Year. Cheers!
Love, from a fan out West.
Posted by: France at December 28, 2008 10:50 PMHugh,
All the best over the silly season. Got a release date for the book?
Best,
Michael
More than a few bursts of genius in your work, sir. Please keep going the way.
Marc, an admirer from Paris, France
Posted by: Marc at January 3, 2009 12:03 PMEnjoyed your post (and your blog) immensely. Keep it up!
Posted by: brut at January 3, 2009 12:34 PM