My sister will be happy to know that I’ve been subjected to dude nudity for the last two classes, but today’s class was unusual because it featured two models, one of each gender, alternating poses. The teacher lectured on the structural differences between men and women.

I’ve signed on to this class for another quarter. I think it’s really helped me out, even with my cartoons; I’m no longer apprehensive about drawing a person in motion. Luckily cartoons don’t have to be anatomically perfect, but the important thing is, I don’t need a reference to, say, draw Mary reaching excitedly for her UPS box.  In the past, I might have scoured the internet for someone in the exact pose I wanted to draw, or just picked an easier pose.

Ack! Only two toons in, and my elderly hand is already cramping up. Of course, in this particular strip, the character is reading a letter, which I’ve written by hand instead of using my usual custom font.

Quick initial sketch of Mary Rae’s Uncle. Got any good Uncle names?

One comic down, nine to go. According to the rules, I can’t post them here until the contest is over, but I can give you this brief glimpse. Any idea what’s in that box?

I find drawing comic strips to be a lot of fun. Writing’s a bit tougher–still fun, but I haven’t really been able to rein it in. By that I mean, I can’t schedule it as a task; ideas only pop in to my head when I’m doing something else and my mind wanders. Running seems to work best.

So, here’s hoping my next few runs are very inspiring. 10 strips due February 1st. “Nothing like the last minute,” a certain slacker was fond of saying in the `90s.

Thanks, Grandpa!

And yes, my hair really does look like that right now. Jealous?