I can only speak for myself, but I suspect others can relate to what I've got to say.
"Normal" people might wonder why we do what we do? It's great for the little tykes to grab chunks of paper and go crazy with pens, pencils and markers, but what sane adult would take it so far as to literally spend hours creating something that only takes a few seconds to read? Especially when half the readers shrug and tell themselves, "I could draw that." (Yeah, sure you could. Just try it.)
It's too bad I can't provide these "normal" people with an answer worth engraving onto my headstone. The truth is, I really don't know exactly WHY I do it. Humans wouldn't be humans if they didn't have that need to create planted so deeply within. Some folks compose music, some paint, a few get it all wrong and seek fulfillment through destruction, but that's a different subject. Anyway, I choose to combine my ability to draw and write to create comics, and it's very clear to me that I am not alone here. There's no one reason "why" I do it. I just do it. And you just do it, too. Sure, hearing people, both "normal" and otherwise express pleasure at seeing what I've managed makes me want to do it even more. Even the not-so-glowing reviews of my work make me want to keep going, if only to make someone laugh out of the other side of his/her mouth. But I drew comics when there were literally only 4 people (myself included) who ever saw them. I kept drawing, and had no interest in whether this hobby of mine would lead anywhere. Currently, this hobby costs me a lot more money than it brings in. I can just imagine the reaction of some billionaire: "Why on Earth would you keep doing something that doesn't net any returns????? It's crazy!" Of COURSE it's crazy! I love what I do! To me, love comes in countless different forms, and there is no way to intellectually rationalize ANY of those forms. When I incurred a thumb injury this past year, the first thought in my mind was, "Will I be able to continue drawing?" (The answer was yes, thank goodness).
Anyway, that's me, and I think that's you, too. I REALLY hope that what I draw continues to grow. Whether I someday actually earn back all the loot I've blown, I don't know, and I don't care. What's most important to me is that I keep going, and that I reach as many readers as possible.
Well, thanks for reading! If you want to see what I've got going on here on Tapastic, here's the link. I hope to see you there:
https://tapastic.com/series/Candace-n-Company
And if you enjoy my work, please like it!
https://www.facebook.com/candaceandcompanystrip/
Jordan Smith
Creator of Candace 'n' Company
