30 Comments

This is when you find out that one of those students took your lessons to heart and went into video games. Their big hit? Super Seducer.

Expand full comment

Thanks for the tip about SKCHED. Until I read that you were the "busiest man in comics," I was unaware that I was dead.

Expand full comment
Dec 22, 2022Liked by Chip Zdarsky

BEST! ADVICE! EVER! (can also be applied to those seeking an acting career as my lovely normally employed wife just pointed out)

Expand full comment
Dec 21, 2022Liked by Chip Zdarsky

As someone who works at a post-secondary school in Toronto, the Sheridan goss is going straight to my veins.

Expand full comment
Dec 24, 2022Liked by Chip Zdarsky

HA my artsy spouse married me and now he never has to worry about health insurance (‘merica!!) actually we got married specifically so he’d have health insurance (‘mericaaaaa!) and because during the peak pandemic you could do it over zoom. how can you say no to a 15 minute wedding done over microsoft teams! romance!

Expand full comment

dear chip,

thank you for this message! lots of good information here!

in addition to the information, thank you for funny jokes like this fun one:

"Basically, sleep your way to the top. And by “top,” I mean a roof over your head."

it's also basically sleeping your way to a place where you can sleep.

sleep so you can sleep.

zzzzzzz,

myq

Expand full comment

Brutal! But true. My partner has to know how important it is that she figures out this finance thing because I sure as shit don't understand it. I can't imagine somebody going into comics because they think it's a great way to make money!

In all seriousness, art school needs more sobering lessons around the business of creativity. My graphic design degree was like "spend 3 weeks coming up with an album artwork" as if the timeline, the client or even the purpose behind the work was going to be anything like that in the real world.

Expand full comment

Hey Chip, this was really helpful to read.I want to draw comics more than anything, truly, and this reality check you gave is seriously super helpful in this weird and trying time in my life. It’s nice to have more realism of saying, “it can be done, it’ll just be hard as hell, and I need you to know that.” I just really wanted to say thanks for the insight and help.

Expand full comment

OK, personal question: is not Allison, editor of Public Domain and co-star of Chip Class, your wife? Did you miserably fail to take your own life/dating advice?

Expand full comment

I think I missed a step somewhere. You said *like* "desperate perverted flashers"? I only subscribed to Substack for the real dea...what's that? OnlyFans, you say? Well, this newsletter is pretty amusing. Guess I'll stick around to keep supporting that #illustrationlife.

Also, that 8-bit Mister Rogers-esque Christmas sweater is amazing. Just saying.

Expand full comment

Honestly, I want to hear more about illustrating for Christian magazines that pay out after 120 days.

Expand full comment