Long John

I’m back (for a minute) in the video-making grind since I made a few recent drawings using the (terribly-named) app, Procreate, on the iPad, which allows me to export a time-lapse video of the drawings I make.

That being said, I’ve attempted to draw something for the holidays over the years (and one for the New Year), missing the occasion more than a few times. It’s tough because I don’t want them to be overtly specific to a holiday if only because I’m not particularly religious nor is the comic. If anything, these drawings are just meant to celebrate the season that embodies the idea of reflection, contentedness, and repose. Also, the idea of Long John tearing open a gift in his pajamas next to a Christmas tree is a bit too astray from the canon than I’m willing to go.

This year’s drawing all started with a photo I took of a dead tree a few years ago at Green Lake, a lake up in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. It was a hike to get up there, but it was one of the most serene places I’ve ever experienced (and very cold). Looking for inspiration to draw a holiday image, I set to scrolling through the photos on my phone of our many trips to the Sierra Nevada and, obviously, this tree stood out to me.

From there, I quickly drew a quick sketch of the tree which I took a picture of and used as the foundation to draw the rest on the iPad in Procreate.

I’ll admit that Long John doesn’t have many moments of levity––everybody is very serious all the time. So, it’s fun to draw these characters just, you know, enjoying a moment, no holiday needed (though it’s a good excuse).