When I first started seeing "ThothStudio" didn't know who it was. Then went to look at your profile (why your photo didn't clue me in, I don't know)...still getting used to your name change, but I do like it.
Thanks and thanks for pointing out the confusion. I don't engage too much yet on Substack but am doing so a little more every day, and especially with certain writers, so I should have made the name change more understandable (i.e., see above temporary change).
In case you are interested in my "origin story" here, I joined SS when Chris Paul from @ImYourModerator came over with his podcast (brilliant, btw). At the time, I had already been using a "JCM" monogram -- which are my initials -- on my artwork. That monogram actually ended up looking remarkably similar to the marketing logo used for the movie "John Carter" in 2012 so ever since then I started using JCofMars (John Carter was on Mars, in case you're not familiar with the movie). When I "discovered" and started following Postcards from Barsoom by John Carter I kind of figured there might eventually be some confusion. Anyway, fast forward to the other day, and someone did kind of wonder what was going on when I commented on a post and he thought it might be said John Carter. I figured I should make the change since he was here first and I in no way want to be seen as passing off. I've actually used Thothstudio for many years as my Instagram handle even though I haven't posted there in a very long time.
Okay. Wow. You are an artist! The kind my wife wants to be. She's going to look into your online offerings. Maybe do some of your tutorials. She's listened to a lot of people and knew some of the artists you had photos with. She is studying with Mandy Theis.... Anyway, great stuff. I'm no artist....but I know what I like and really like much of what you have on Instagram and also what I saw on your site. Thanks for sharing! I'm still a little stunned....not just by your art but some of the quotes you have on Instagram are ones we know and/or reflect sentiments about art that we hold.
That's wonderful to hear of your wife's interests. Mandy Theis seems to be very good and, although I do not know her personally, consider that she comes from a good "pedigree" of art and of artistic pedagogy. Juliette Aristedes is one of the masters in the field.
Thanks for your compliments, too. I'm currently trying to finish my first post for SS (on tap for a couple of months of procrastination now) and it is on this very subject area and its importance to us all, even if you're not an "artist" yourself.
I'm really looking forward to this essay. I'll make sure to push it to my subscribers....Just from your comments....I think you have a lot to offer. Funny, I started an essay on art from a non-artist viewpoint....but it's a long ways from being done.
Thanks for your comments on Mandy, my wife was really happy to hear that. She's in a unique situation with her health. Usually can't paint for more than an hour a day....she started with 10 minutes about a year ago and has been working up. Back in the 90s she studied for a couple of years with Sebastian Capella...I think that's how you spell it. But I'm hoping that finally pursuing her passion full-time will help her health....it does seem to be helping.
That's interesting. My wife is an artist....due to a long illness, is now just getting back into it. She's taking online lessons from a classically trained artist which she's really enjoying. Hopefully her health will to continue to improve.
I just recently, on the recommendation of my son, listened to all the John Carter books. Listened to Tarzan too. Enjoyed all of them....couldn't get into the Tarzan sequels though. So I did know what JCofMars stood for....or so I thought, and then I saw it stood for "Juan Carlos of Mars."
Anyway, I'll take a look at your Instagram. Do you make a living with your art? I ask because that's what my wife would like to be able to do...
I've read most of the John Carter books as well as Robert E. Howards "Conan". I just got the latter from Audible so am tickling into that a bit. When I was a young man -- well, 18 or so -- I read just about everything I could find that had a book cover by Frank Frazetta and found that I liked some of the content, too, after the fact. I now try to use Frazetta's work as often as I can in my teaching.
By the way, I do hope your wife's health comes around so she can fully enjoy her new pursuits. I'm currently in north Texas and trying to get some traction with a bit of an "atelier" type of school and possibly increase my online presence. These things take so much attention each of a different kind, which seems to make me very slow on both.
Yes, I do -- or at least I did -- make a living with art, both as a teacher and a painter, for the past 25 years or so until the covid attack and lockdown, etc., put an end to that in Canada. Long-ish story.
Well Sir, maybe someday with beers or wine in our hands we can talk about it.
So you're trying to start a school in Texas? We have considered moving there....also Missouri, Oklahoma...that area. We are in Southern California now and we're all getting tired of it.
That sounds great to me! I live only about 15 miles or so from the Oklahoma border. If I were to entertain any of the more, shall we say, elaborate theories out there about the future "changes", I think it might be a good idea to try and relocate. Not too close to the Mississippi valley, mind you. (See: Earth crust displacement theory. Charles Hapgood, "Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings", etc., etc., I look forward to chatting one day IRL.
Also, I have done quite a bit of coaching/mentoring online and IRL with artists so if your wife ever wants to bounce anything off me I would welcome the interaction very much. Cheers.
Thanks for your encouragement. Even though we don’t know each other really, it means a lot to me. I’d be interested in your essay, too. But maybe wait until mine is posted. 😜
Excellent Piece. Yes where in that type of trouble we are in and that is the problem.
Keep up the great work, Your writing style is really good.
I consent to this message. You (and I) may continue to provide medical advice.
When I first started seeing "ThothStudio" didn't know who it was. Then went to look at your profile (why your photo didn't clue me in, I don't know)...still getting used to your name change, but I do like it.
Thanks and thanks for pointing out the confusion. I don't engage too much yet on Substack but am doing so a little more every day, and especially with certain writers, so I should have made the name change more understandable (i.e., see above temporary change).
In case you are interested in my "origin story" here, I joined SS when Chris Paul from @ImYourModerator came over with his podcast (brilliant, btw). At the time, I had already been using a "JCM" monogram -- which are my initials -- on my artwork. That monogram actually ended up looking remarkably similar to the marketing logo used for the movie "John Carter" in 2012 so ever since then I started using JCofMars (John Carter was on Mars, in case you're not familiar with the movie). When I "discovered" and started following Postcards from Barsoom by John Carter I kind of figured there might eventually be some confusion. Anyway, fast forward to the other day, and someone did kind of wonder what was going on when I commented on a post and he thought it might be said John Carter. I figured I should make the change since he was here first and I in no way want to be seen as passing off. I've actually used Thothstudio for many years as my Instagram handle even though I haven't posted there in a very long time.
Sorry for the TLDR.
Okay. Wow. You are an artist! The kind my wife wants to be. She's going to look into your online offerings. Maybe do some of your tutorials. She's listened to a lot of people and knew some of the artists you had photos with. She is studying with Mandy Theis.... Anyway, great stuff. I'm no artist....but I know what I like and really like much of what you have on Instagram and also what I saw on your site. Thanks for sharing! I'm still a little stunned....not just by your art but some of the quotes you have on Instagram are ones we know and/or reflect sentiments about art that we hold.
That's wonderful to hear of your wife's interests. Mandy Theis seems to be very good and, although I do not know her personally, consider that she comes from a good "pedigree" of art and of artistic pedagogy. Juliette Aristedes is one of the masters in the field.
Thanks for your compliments, too. I'm currently trying to finish my first post for SS (on tap for a couple of months of procrastination now) and it is on this very subject area and its importance to us all, even if you're not an "artist" yourself.
I'm really looking forward to this essay. I'll make sure to push it to my subscribers....Just from your comments....I think you have a lot to offer. Funny, I started an essay on art from a non-artist viewpoint....but it's a long ways from being done.
Thanks for your comments on Mandy, my wife was really happy to hear that. She's in a unique situation with her health. Usually can't paint for more than an hour a day....she started with 10 minutes about a year ago and has been working up. Back in the 90s she studied for a couple of years with Sebastian Capella...I think that's how you spell it. But I'm hoping that finally pursuing her passion full-time will help her health....it does seem to be helping.
That's interesting. My wife is an artist....due to a long illness, is now just getting back into it. She's taking online lessons from a classically trained artist which she's really enjoying. Hopefully her health will to continue to improve.
I just recently, on the recommendation of my son, listened to all the John Carter books. Listened to Tarzan too. Enjoyed all of them....couldn't get into the Tarzan sequels though. So I did know what JCofMars stood for....or so I thought, and then I saw it stood for "Juan Carlos of Mars."
Anyway, I'll take a look at your Instagram. Do you make a living with your art? I ask because that's what my wife would like to be able to do...
I've read most of the John Carter books as well as Robert E. Howards "Conan". I just got the latter from Audible so am tickling into that a bit. When I was a young man -- well, 18 or so -- I read just about everything I could find that had a book cover by Frank Frazetta and found that I liked some of the content, too, after the fact. I now try to use Frazetta's work as often as I can in my teaching.
By the way, I do hope your wife's health comes around so she can fully enjoy her new pursuits. I'm currently in north Texas and trying to get some traction with a bit of an "atelier" type of school and possibly increase my online presence. These things take so much attention each of a different kind, which seems to make me very slow on both.
Yes, I do -- or at least I did -- make a living with art, both as a teacher and a painter, for the past 25 years or so until the covid attack and lockdown, etc., put an end to that in Canada. Long-ish story.
Well Sir, maybe someday with beers or wine in our hands we can talk about it.
So you're trying to start a school in Texas? We have considered moving there....also Missouri, Oklahoma...that area. We are in Southern California now and we're all getting tired of it.
That sounds great to me! I live only about 15 miles or so from the Oklahoma border. If I were to entertain any of the more, shall we say, elaborate theories out there about the future "changes", I think it might be a good idea to try and relocate. Not too close to the Mississippi valley, mind you. (See: Earth crust displacement theory. Charles Hapgood, "Maps of the Ancient Sea Kings", etc., etc., I look forward to chatting one day IRL.
Also, I have done quite a bit of coaching/mentoring online and IRL with artists so if your wife ever wants to bounce anything off me I would welcome the interaction very much. Cheers.
Thanks for your encouragement. Even though we don’t know each other really, it means a lot to me. I’d be interested in your essay, too. But maybe wait until mine is posted. 😜
Literally, that's exactly what I was thinking....seriously!
We don't need no stinking truth, amigos - BAHAHAHAHA