Where to draw your artistic influence from....(should be different for every artist)

My influences didn't start off just anime and manga like it is with a whole bunch kids these days. My influences started off much more diverse and well rounded. You should always try to keep your influences well rounded. Never use anime or manga exclusively as a crutch. I've been thinking of getting back to my American indie comics, superhero, cinematic, animation, and fine art influences. 

Dear Japan,

Dear Japan,

Could you slow down a bit in your comics department? You're tiring us dumb yanks out.

Thanks,

Da States...

Me? A "Famous Blogger"? Get outta town!

I don't know. I have a couple hundred dollars in savings, not much, and certainly not from blog earnings. I don't know why I said that.

Good News: J.M. Returns to the Internet

After a Half-Year-Long Hiatus, J.M. Matthews returns to active status on the medium that made him powerful and famous (but not wealthy of course)...

Patience and the Importance of Waiting in the Millennial Generation of Success

Late bloomer and young prodigy are relative terms. America values Youth, as do Europe and Asian culture, more so now than they used to. However in the age of the Millennial app entrepreneur, online streaming broadcast engineer, and Self-publishing indie DIY comics manga authors, there can still be modern day Claud Monets and Dr. Seusses. i.e. myself.

I know society has become impatient, and likes to watch and survey it's success stories and projects, but it isn't that simple. Patience is still rewarded. Am I an overachieving millennial and one of the first of my kind: In some ways, yes, but that does not mean I also don't have to wait for many things. I do. 

My Tumblr is Up and Active Again 

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/jm-matthews

2016 - The Year J.M. Buckled Down

OKAY, peeps. 2016 is officially here. I'd been waiting for this year as I have all sorts of comics drawing plans for this year. 2016 is the year I WON'T be lounging, and will indeed be working hard and applying myself for the first time in my career. The Learning Period is over, and the Adjustment and Trauma Period is over. Now it's time to put my foot to the grindstone, buckle down, and produce new comics material that isn't just being recycled 1,000 times. My time spent publishing has taught me it's important not to recycle the distribution of your own work too much unless there is a lot of demand for that kind of thing...

So 2016 = Me Buckling Down and Working / Drawing New Manga Material

Up till this point, it wasn't so much lack of draftsmanship holding me back as it has been procrastination / avoidance toward Buckling Down and just working at it on the page with a pencil.