What if you had a special 24 hours to lift up your creative spirit? That’s how I feel about the annual 24-Hour Comics Day. It is observed around the world by a multitude of diehard fans and seasoned cartoonists.
This last weekend, October 7-8, was 24-Hour Comics Day. It all began on a dare back in 1990 when two cartoonists entered into sort of a duel: Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) challenged Stephen Bissette (Swamp Thing) to complete a comics narrative within the span of 24 hours. Since then, countless others have taken up the freaky fight. It has become a personal quest for me too! This year, I took up the challenge in my room at the Kimpton Palladian Hotel.
These kind of activities that pull us out of our everyday existence are essential. I cannot help but seek them out. I need to be placed out of my element from time to time, as often as possible, when you get down to it. I have my methods. And the 24HCD is one of them! I hope you enjoy the movie I created. Yes, I put together a movie while I was also creating comics while I was also intoxicated by wine, coffee, and the overall luxurious experience of the Palladian. Also, it was quite nice being just walking distance from Pike Place Market. By the way, I got to meet the legendary Pike Place Market busker, Jonny Hahn!
And this will not be the last of this sort of thing! More on its way. I welcome any feedback you may have. You can leave a comment here or you know how you can reach me too.
Great idea! An intensive writing retreat. You’re so right that writers/artists need that sort of timeout from the everyday. Even if a 24 hour marathon in a hotel isn’t possible, we can be quite creative in finding some solitary oasis here and there. I do the occasional do- not-disturb day in my writing den. Or if the mister is away on biking weekend, I do an at home retreat. But you definitely can’t beat the real thing. A week at Moniack Mhor in the north of Scotland would be my ideal.
Moniack Mhor looks wonderful! Yes, I need at least a week or more of intensive work like this!
How have I never heard of this? I need to get out more, if only I could stop painting to learn more about painting….
Thanks for your comments, Jonathan! Yeah, 24HCD is fun and a real workout worth doing. There are all sorts of ways to approach it. I happen to have my own way of doing it.