New Yorker Rejects #4

In basketball, a "brick" is a shot that misses so thoroughly that it makes a "thud" sound. It's not as bad as an airball, which doesn't make contact with anything solid until it hits the ground. But I still cringe a bit when I remember my playground days and the stinging cry of "BRICK!" after my best effort clunked off the rim.

You tried. You lobbed up a shot, you did everything as well as you knew how to do it. It actually seemed like it might go in, that is, until it got a lot closer. But at the point of contact, you realized it never really had a chance.

But this is no sob story! I will take as many bricks as I can get. It means I'm still taking shots, and that's where I want to be. So far, the very best moments of the creative journey are self-discovery and self-improvement. Ralph Waldo Emerson would be proud, even if he wasn't a great cartoonist.

Anyway, here are my latest rejects!

I think there's a crayon-pencil spectrum in life, where the pencil-think is more concerned with getting the correct answers and will spend time methodically correcting mistakes. Whereas crayon-think just does its best and has fun. There are obviously times where it's more appropriate to be one way or the other. But I sure would like to see more people approach things like a kids menu than a scantron. Don't overthink it.

Speaking of menus, is there anything feeling more deflating than realizing how predictable you are as an orderer of food? Take a lesson from the animals, who don't get offended that they're boring. Except this bear.

One thing I'm realizing as I try to improve my cartoons is that you can have everything else right, but sometimes one little oversight can ruin the whole piece.

Speaking of mistakes, I completely over-rendered this image. It's way too busy and confusing, and I had way too much fun drawing it. I kind of like it, but it's not a good cartoon. In my brain somewhere there's a little, self sabotage crab trying to wrap a rope around my ankle.

This one's better, and will hopefully still be funny when my kids become legal adults.

This one's not as good. Inspired five months ago during pumpkin season, I understand why this one was rejected for the Valentine's Day issue. Probably time to take the rotten remains off the porch.

We're not always going to do a great job. Sometimes we just need to have enough strength to check our ego. This cartoon sucks, but at least it reminds me to be humble.

Until next time!