A cartoon is born. (Photo Credit: Jessilynn Wong Photography)
Light Absurd Clarity And Strange Exchanges At Middle Age
About three years ago, I made a silly remark to my artist partner, Gary, and we both burst out laughing.
“I don’t know what made me say that, but it’s f*$king funny. This would make a good cartoon,” I said.
“What would?” he said.
“This would,” I said.
Have you ever noticed how ideas pop up when you’re not even trying? It’s only a matter of time before something is said from strange exchanges in our not-so-regular conversations or just observing the ridiculous. And this begins a process that usually leads to a funny line and a quirky drawing. And then there it is. A cartoon.
We Call It HOWL
Gary Holme is a fantastically talented artist. He is also eccentric, hilarious, and utterly oblivious to how wonderfully unusual he is. We view the world entirely differently most of the time. We laugh at the same things, but probably for different reasons. And we have odd conversations. Somehow, it works.
It’s all about your frame of mind.
A Satirical Look At Middle Age
Our cartoons are like living organisms, adapting to the whims of culture and current events. The two of us have been at this living life thing long enough to have a world of absurdities to make fun of. Each time we work on a new one, it’s an experiment that brings a surprise ending. I love it. The journey is often far more entertaining than we’d ever anticipated.
We’ve teamed up and are creating a series of cartoons for RestlessUrban. It’s a satirical look at that ‘coming-of-middle-age story’ we all eventually get to, if we are fortunate enough. Each cartoon is based on the friction of the moment. We will never run out of commentary. It’s a balancing act of lifestyle changes, health issues, relationships, and all the antics that come with celebrating life’s next chapter.
Feeling the connection.
Five years ago, I would’ve laughed in your face if you told me I’d be a cartoonist. I mean, me? A cartoonist? But here we are—and by here, I mean Restless Urban. We’d love for you to come by, check us out, and have a laugh with us.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Check out this video from Marleah as she introduces her series with the humor and excitement that are the signature of her series on RestlessUrban.
Meet Marleah Stout
Hi. I am Marleah. I’ve been immersed in the world of storytelling and creativity for quite some time, and it has been a transformative journey. I’ve dabbled in publishing, film, entertainment, and retail, representing some seriously talented individuals. But then, something shifted.
During the pandemic, while in seclusion with my artist partner, we unexpectedly discovered joy in creating cartoons. It was a much-needed escape from the chaos, and the response was fantastic. Who would have thought? Well, I did.
I always knew the absurd conversations my partner and I had would crack people up. I enjoyed every moment of the creative process. It soon became clear that I needed a platform for our new cartoons, my partner’s art, my author’s works, my writing and even my dog’s Instagram page. And just like that, “Polygorgeous” was born—a platform dedicated to showcasing the talents of individuals, including myself.
Now, I am excited to join forces with Restless Urban as a Cultural Commentator, marking the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Restless Urban is a vibrant community and marketplace for midlife adults, focussed on storytelling, creativity, and self-expression.
Share this Article!
More Articles
