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Whelp. This was my submission to TokyoPop's fourth Rising Stars of Manga Competition. It was rejected, but that just means you all get to see it right here on DA Aintchu special!?

Oh well, there's always next time.

On this one I didn't have as much time, cause I only decided to start developing it a bit after I heard about the contest. And looking at it, even though I was proud of it in June and July... I've already gotten better at comic work.

So with a longer span of time (as in starting now) I'll develop something else for the next contest. And a different genre.

With "The Inspiration Thief" I was attempting to make a sweet, simple, all-ages story with universal appeal. It was REALLY hard to think of a short story comic, even harder to write it (it had to be self-contained and between 15 and 20 pages) didn't wanna get too complicated or stay too simple. Perhaps on this I stayed too simple, however.

But, I still like it, and I still think its cute and worth something, so here it is for you all to enjoy. The story of The Artist and The Inspiration Thief.

And to wrap it all up, my own inspiration FOR The Inspiration Thief, taken from my Journal when I first announced I was submitting work to Rising Stars:

"I realized I had been thinking about people I know. Other artists. And how every now and then an artist has problems, they have self-doubt, they have a lack of motivation.

I realized at the time I was thinking of *astrima when she was unable to draw for two months straight. Or *pu-sama who is afraid to show original art for fear of theft of her beloved characters. Or *ktcoope who is unduely judged today for an opprotunity she took in the past. Or ~hpk-the-great when he was struggling to find himself, do his art as he wanted to, and develop innovative techniques.

I was thinking of ~anystar as she boldly went forth to learn through application. Of *reidavidson who was continually torn between writing and drawing. Of *mayshing who's modesty sometimes sells herself short. I was thinking of ~sketchsanchez who copes with being a traditional artist in an increasingly digital world.

In my mind was *darkburraki and her bouts of frustration and doubt. ~ d3vilcat2004 as I watched her improve every day. ~Marcio as he strove to warm hearts with his imagination. *baka-chan as she explored her knack for traditional realism.

So whether it wins first or last or wins nothing at all, in the end this comic was a dedication to my friends, and to any artist out there who ever had even a moment of self-doubt or feeling of worthlessness.

And I'm nervous. I'm nervous as hell. But hey, if it wins, I'll drink to it. If it loses..... I'll drink to it.

-Sai"

And as promised, I will be drinking in celebration of my spectacular failures as well as my succeses. Tomorrow I break out the Schnappes. Cheers!

India Ink on Bristol Board
Digital Text and Screentones