Okay, so last week I left you with the fact I that didn’t make it as a musician. Once I realized that it wasn’t going to happen, I had to make it as a something so that I could make a living somehow. So I took a four month course at a local college, and eventually ended up working as a graphic artist for a Label Printing Company. One of the best things about that job, was that I proved to myself that I could hold down a job. Prior to that, I really thought I was some kind of musician bum who couldn’t do that. But I found out if you actually like your job, it’s not that hard to go every day. And I did that for eleven years.
One of the best things about the job was that there was a variety of duties, so no two days were ever really the same. Very different from dish washing, which was my first job in high school that make me think I just hated working in general. The very best days were days that I got to do design work, or better yet, when I got to draw! I remember being excited like a little kid the first time one of my little cartoon drawings ended up on a printed label for a food product. I think it was a little chicken or maybe a turkey. If you recall, cartoonist was on my list of childhood pipe dreams–er–ambitions.
So the drawing led me to start to take drawing courses, although when the band re-formed for a few years, that once again got sidelined. But back in 2002 when we decided to finally end the band for good (or did we?), I decided I wanted to do some cartooning. And I needed to improve my skills since I hadn’t practiced enough to get really good. So back to the drawing board, I mean courses. In 2005 I thought maybe it would be a good idea to take a drawing course at the University of Manitoba School of Art. And I loved it! So the next year, I took a huge risk and quit my job to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
During my years at the U of Manitoba, I did editorial cartoons for the school paper and after graduating with a double major in Drawing and Video, I was immediately accepted in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Ottawa and since my wife was working as a civil servant with Canada’s Federal Government, we were able to move across the country. I won’t lie. The MFA was a struggle for me because I don’t see myself as an ‘academic artist.’ I truly believe that art can be fun and entertaining and still engage with big ideas.
Although the MFA wasn’t easy, in some ways it was extremely rewarding. During the program I created what I came to call a “musical/comedy/performance art” alter ego named Stan Dickie. This is where all the things I love to do came together. I had never gotten up the nerve to do Stand-Up Comedy, or to do any acting, but with Stan I brought those ambitions together. with my musical ability, my new found songwriting ability and cut-out animation I created a character that satirized men, of which for good or bad, I am one! Although I haven’t written any new Stan songs for a few years, I consider the project to be ongoing and have expanded the scope of the character to satirize whatever the hell I want. Have a look at standickie.com to see what I’ve done.
Next week I’ll talk about my painting career and how Cubo-Weirdism came to be. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this Cubo-Weirdist portrait of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation.
Originally published on May 25th, 2021.