~Authors moment with readers~
Before I begin explaining the importance or motivation behind my present art piece, I would like to pull you all aside for a moment and reaffirm the purpose of this continuous blogging ritual of mine. For those unaware, this is a publication set to allow me to explain myself, while I have the time. To tell stories rarely heard or would not be heard under normal circumstances and to express opinions that in the generalized public would only cause confusion and anger. I call myself an advantageous voice because it is much better than suggesting I am an aggravating one. Though I point out the inconsistencies in our current society, I do not do so to cause strife or turmoil, only to guide and propose a better outlook. I am no politician, nor am I a financial adviser, or claim to be the all-in-all in matters of the spirit. What I do know is those three issues when off kilter serve to create the language our present global society finds itself in. I began these journals with the sole intent of not being drowned out in history by those that have access to more money and a better public relations representative, that can supply larger venues to those that feel as I do, people need help in their lives, ‘politically,’ ‘financially,’ and ‘spiritually.’
I am a firm believer that as a Comic Illustrator, my trade is the answer to all the worlds issues. So as not to be left behind by years of poverty, social hindrance, and the mantra of those older than me that American’s my age or younger will not amount to anything or have the opportunity to do so because we are not as smart as our foreign counterparts, I have created this wonderful blog.
I hope this newest article pleases you as much as it pleased me to create the art, edit the prose, and devise the backdrop of this story for you. Without further a due, I am happy to present Vanessa Mae!
How can you tell you’ve struck gold as an artist?
When an Asian comes to you, and your an American, and asks you to draw one of their favorite Icons.
It has been understood from youth that the Eastern style of art was far superior to that of the work of the Western illustrator. In regards to crowd pulling appeal and spectacular use of colors, I am a firm believer this is why Pokemon, Digimon, and Card Captors grossed a far superior following to that of Angel and the Ape or Archie comics, upon the global stage.
So, when someone like: https://www.deviantart.com/sigunagun9 ( On twitter her works is presented under the name @PowJoyish22 Allahu Discordia ) from the Philippines asks me to draw something for them, I am excited and flattered.
I am the American who watched his world cry against the influence of the Orient. The boy of Christians who decried the industriousness and talent of Tokyo Pop, Viz Comics, Shonen Jump, and the brainwashing of AniNation. Who had to hide his NewType collections in his closet, lest his Christian counterparts accused him of condoning the ideals of the Communist and adhering to the seductive touch of China’s demands for world domination, through tech firms and the art of entertainment.
There were times when the constant mantras of pastors in pulpits, praising the achievements of Asian children and sand-blasting their own children because they were not producing Conservative Christian cartoons or converting their neighborhoods to the law of God and loosing them to sex, drugs, and anime, annoyed me to no end. As much as listening to Obama (the former President) praise the nation of Japan for it’s singular achievement in passing on this tradition of manga comics onto the world and the bookstores of America.
I am the man that now listens to Presidents and Congress members continue to use the entertainment industry as a wedge against the solidarity, video games, comics and the illustrative arts can achieve when creative minds come together. A mass shooting occurs and it is not the fault of the gunmen, but of those that make video games because he or she with their vibrant talent can make grown men cry. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/violent-video-games-kevin-mccarthy-trump-blame-video-game-makers-backlash-after-el-paso-shooting-2019-08-06/
As a teenager the intelligence of an Asian student by all accounts would never be touched by an American, this is what they wanted us to believe and most of us did, that is why we never sought to compete on the animated stage, or join the ‘Socialist’ of Hollywood, or have our names among the stars on that boulevard of broken dreams. Cemented next to John Travolta. The American child sat in his place and watched as foreigners provided shoes for him, make up for her, grills to cook steaks for him, hair dryers for her, coffee pots for him, can opener for her. Chinese later supplied Walmart for years, still does probably and not a single American desired to compete on the world stage or was encouraged to do so and when he or she did, if they were no drawing for Turner, Hanna Barbera, Toonami, or Adultswim, they would not be published. Now the tables seem to be turning. For a South China Sea citizen has asked me to produce Vanessa Mae for her collection of art. How interesting.
Those close to me are well aware that Asia is a massive span of people groups from the woes of Indian’s Congress, to the Kkondae of South Korea, and the new leadership of the PNG. We are aware that Japan’s overall population has been on the decline since the 1990’s and makes the incentive to have a government of municipalities in 2045 rather bleak. We who follow the experiences of the Asian are well aware that they are more than the Lantau Row. We are aware that China is more than Tienanmen Square. Due to my interaction with Asian culture, I do not hold with the views of the world in the same black and white lens of the Economist Magazine that would suggest ‘A serenely unified Nationalist Chinese autocracy backed by it’s own people would terrorize the world.’ No the West’s approval of manga and Asian entertainment has made them indispensable to the American culture.
The Asian regions of the world have won the battles of the mind, where most wars are concluded, not with space technology, economic prowess, saving the starving with humanitarian aid, but with propaganda as innocent as Hamtaro and Hello Kitty, which in my youth served to entertain the West above Tank Girl and Canteen Kate.
Sanford North Carolina and the surrounding area is one in wanton need of art, any art, that will move the imagination of the people. It is a forty five minute drive from my home. The biggest store is Walmart and the people, like most American’s, simply have little conception of the power and joy of art and so my brand of work, won’t sell here. On Main Street, there is one tattoo shop, one store that sells adult products and they have no night life, they drive an hour south or to another state to hear the latest music. Nothing comes to Sanford and nothing has come from there. What they are known for is being a doorstep away from the PGA Captiol of Pinehurst.
They are not completely backward mind you. The local library LCL is hosting a Cosplay, Comic Creators, Planetarium event for kids, come August 24 from 10 am to 4 pm. Featuring Dean & Starr Jones and Dan Johnson. All three deal in Horror venues. I am not really sure why they did not wait until October to pull this event off, but to each there own. I won’t be there, even though ice cream, star cars, and a NASA ambassador all sounds interesting. The LCL is at least doing more for the youth than what they offered me as a child. Had I not been the industrious reporter that I am, I would not have known. Zero advertising means few will show on that hot summer day to be wowed by cemetery plots.
I hope my point has been made and I can continue discussing how thrilled I am to be noticed by my Asian counter parts.
Review the fields of art classes offered in American universities and local art communities and let me know which ones promote the industriousness found in what comes out of Asia and is used to create most of the popular video games of today. To save me from repeating myself, art like my Vanessa Mae piece is a foreign object in my town and has little hope of selling but this same style and development is what my elders, teachers, parents, every game magazine and the millions of manga’s used to keep the American artist imprisoned in the underground of devaluement and obscurity. Can you imagine, I, an African American, has beaten back obscurity by showing the world, race, nationality, nor one’s lack of money or one’s plenty can be used to define where you will be in the world. That is only determined by one’s application of talent. It’s because of this realization I can see why my new commission: Ashleia Goloran (Professional Digital Artist and Founder of https://www.deviantart.com/fortunehottest ) enjoys Vanessa Mae so much, She can bring the sabers that dice up the competition.
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