Do you guys remember these strips ( ONE, TWO, THREE ), where Arthur and Sheldon talk about the real surname Crapo?

Of course you do...because it generated one of the funnier discussions in the Sheldon forums.

Well, Sheldonista Gail K. Just sent this political sign in, with the addendum "I like the way the stars highlight the word 'Crapo'". That is awesome...thanks, Gail!

When I was speaking at Ohio State a few weeks back, the curators of the school's (excellent) Cartoon Museum indulged my request and pulled out some original art from Bill Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes. Aside from being amazed at how small they were, I was struck by how gorgeous his brush-work was.

And it got me thinking...that after a decade of drawing Sheldon by more modern means (read: archival pens), I should give it a go with good ol' brush-and-inkwell, and see how I do.

So! While lecturing at Savannah's SCAD last week, I ponied up for some brush supplies, and gave it a go in a park. This first attempt, below, is more than a tad overdrawn (I was experimentin' with line weights and brush techniques), but it let me know I was at least passable at it.

(Click HERE for a larger version.)

Cut to: Today's strip. This'll be the first one I've ever drawn by brush-and-inkwell. And it came out pretty OK! So it's something I'll be trying more and more of. I figure if I bust out the ol' brush 2-3 times a week, I'll be pretty fair at it in five years or so.

So...let's check back in five years and see whether that's true. :)