10/01/99

Night Lights and Pillow Fights

The web master at SNET, Jeff Schult, recently sent me to a website he likes, the creation of CT native and cartoonist, Guy Gilchrist: Gilchrist Studios.

"Oh no, not a graphic-intensive site," I thought. "I'll have to wait forever while it downloads." I fetched some snacks and a drink before making my first visit.

Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long and the wait was totally worth it. Bright colors, whimsical cartoon characters, java games and instant drawing lessons absorbed my attention and drew me back to the site over and over again.

The drawing lessons captivated me first, because I can't draw. I can copy, but take away the model and I'm lost. Yet, after one lesson from Guy, I was able to draw a cute "Sombrero" character. I took a few more lessons (there's a new one every week), before moving on to explore other parts of this dynamic and interactive site.

Guy Gilchrist creates a daily comic strip called "Mudpie," and a comic feature called "Night Lights and Pillow Fights," (in the Hartford Courant Sunday comics section). These and other comic strips, including a revival of the Nancy and Sluggo characters made famous many years ago by cartoonist Ernie Bushmiller, appear on the website.

Other sections introduce new, untested comic strips (for reader critique), an online shop to purchase autographed copies of Guy's dozens of children's books or other gifts, a detailed biography about the artist, a giveaway contest and important information about Guy's workshops for children of all ages.

"For twenty years, I have traveled all over the world performing poems and drawing for children and adults," Guy says. "I pass along to them my proactive philosophy of "dreaming, then doing" that Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss) passed along to me when I was an elementary school student in Connecticut over 30 years ago. Ted Geisel told me that "to dream and then do" was the formula for creating any kind of life I wanted. The life I chose as an author, illustrator and cartoonist has been more richly rewarding than I ever imagined."

Guy presents his workshops in two parts. In part one he performs poems and stories from "Night Lights and Pillow Fights" collections. Each poem is accompanied by corresponding illustrations from his books. Along the way, Guy describes his career, how he got started, book authoring and the creative writing process. In part two participants learn some of Guy's artistic secrets to drawing anything! By the end, they've all learned so many great drawing techniques, they are sworn into Guy's "Creative Genius Club."

This remarkable website continues to improve every day because of the synergy between Guy and his audience. He involves visitors in the site by welcoming their comments and asking for reactions to new story lines, characters or other ideas. I didn't realize until now that cartooning could be such a living, breathing art form.

Guy told me that the person responsible for the warmth and family friendliness of the site is Angie, his wife, business partner and closest friend. "We receive email from around the world," he said. "Sometimes it may take awhile, but we do answer every letter."

A grandfather from the Midwest wrote to thank them for posting "Tiny Dinos" and "Just Imagine" on the website, popular storybooks of Guy's that are sometimes hard to find in the bookstores. "My grandchildren and I gathered around the computer and read the stories, complete with illustrations, of course, right off the screen. The kids loved it."

A boy wrote, via regular mail, about his hopes of becoming an artist someday and sent Guy some samples of his drawings. "What do I do when people tell me I stink?" the boy asked. "If people tell you that you stink, you probably do," Guy wrote back. "So go home and keep on practicing until no one can say you stink anymore." Years later the boy (of college age by then) sent Guy a copy of his first published book of cartoons, thanking him profusely for his encouragement.

"What a great blessing ... to do what I love to do and years later see it coming back because of the kids I've taught," Guy commented. "That's amazingly cool."

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.