Action Speaks Louder than Pictures

 

    Chris Ware, born in Nebraska 1967, is a well known comic artist in his profession. For his graphic background within his art career, his work tells stories, as well as the character he makes within his own world. His purpose in creating these comic strips was to portray characters within their own scenarios, no matter what life he or she lived in within the stories Chris makes for them; the characters within each strip would represent a non-fictional story they would be in. A collection of comic strips Chris made was known as Building Stories. Within Building Stories, these comic book strips were found within books, newspapers, magazines, or any other forms of editorials you can find in bookstores or libraries. These Comic book strips would remind you of some of the comic strips we would see on a daily basis, such as the Garfield comic strips we'd be used to seeing in newspapers. 

    What also stood out within his work is that each of the scenes and characters Chris Ware has produced seemed simple and went straight to the point on the subject they are portrayed in. As graphic as it seems, these comic strips meant something to the artist, as well as the viewers who are reading it. One point in Chris's life, when he was at art school, his art professor and a few other peers criticized that he could not draw women, that he was inefficient in that area of expertise. At that point forward, Chris uses that motivation to further make his work better. Hence, this was how Chris managed to create simplicity towards his comic strips; no matter how simplistic it is, they would at least be presentable enough to make it in the papers. 

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     One interesting thing that I have also learned when looking at Chris Ware's art, is how he portrays his characters; he portrays his characters through his imagination. During his interview, he did mention that other comic book artists had audiences have collective feelings towards the characters in the story as well. For instance, Charles Shultz, author and illustrator of Charlie Brown, made sure that his characters like the main character, had life-like characteristics that audiences can relate to. It wasn't just scenes that people can enjoy comedically, but something that they can deeply relate to as well. This was a similar direction that I believe Chris Ware has went as well when creating his comics; Charles Shultz was probably an inspiration within his works thanks to his principles.

    According to Art21’s artist, Chris Ware, he mentions that, "What art is about is trying to figure out if the feelings that you're having are the same that I'm having" (Chris Ware, Art21). Out of all of the comic strips that Ware has produced, one collection of work that he has recently produced was called Rusty Brown. Rusty Brown was another collection of comic strips that revolved around a story of an African American Women who is teaching within the 1970s; Chris made sure that her story was well written, and that the readers who would read her strips would understand her story, her background. Instead about writing about the artist interest, he decided to write about everything that pertains to everyday life, and Rusty Brown was a prime example of what Chris usually likes to create. It wasn't just pictures that the artists would see and pass by, but it had meaning and purpose for viewers, whether it would have a deeper connection that someone can relate to or a person someone would see and feel well for that character. 

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