97. CHARLES BUKOWSKI: Air and light and time and space
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) was an American writer and poet. Despite the motivational element of this poem, Bukowski was definitely not an uplifting or inspirational writer. His work focused on the mundane and depraved aspects of society with employment, alcohol and sex featuring prominently.
After minor success in his mid-twenties, Bukowski quit writing and spent 10 years wandering the country, working crappy jobs and drinking a hell of a lot. After he blew out his ulcer from alcohol abuse, Bukowski took up writing again when he was 35 while continuing to work menial jobs. He finally quit his job as a postal clerk and became a full-time writer at the age of 49.
Bukowski definitely lived by the words of this particular poem – he’s had over 60 volumes of work published including thousands of poems and hundreds of stories and there continues to be new material of his published posthumously.
- Thanks to Kelly and Sophie for submitting this.
- Zen Pencils is going on a two-week hiatus over the holiday period. See you on January 8th!
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Great job on this one. Oftentimes, the limits life give us are the ones that push us to creating. Keep it up, Gav!
This is amazing….thanks for inspiring us as always with your work Gavin.
Totally true and impactful as always!
Thank you once again for such a great work.
Have a great holiday ^^
Thanks for another awesome comic !
life has taught me the only thing needed for creation is embracing the question with your hearth. tools do not lead to creation as a super car does not make you a super driver
This is awesome and inspiring… Thanks :’)
Wow. . . . .
This is now one of my new faves, Gav!! Sweet job on making this quote come to life.
Amazing!
That is really cool! This comic influenced me the most. Question: isn’t that a little bit contrary with what you did? I mean, you’ve sold the house and got yourself a blog?
Good point. The time away from a real job has helped, but I’ve always been drawing something
Exactly. You didn’t wait until ‘the moment was right’ before starting.
It makes me feel guilty because i’m trying, for the first time in my life, to set up my room and turning it into a very comfortably studio to start to make cartoons “for real”. I’m saving for a new computer, for a “light box”, and for a printer. But i dont want to end up like that guy! he he, i know i will not end up like that guy! if I see that i’m turning into something that idle, i will sell away everything and i will keep drawing with a couple of pens like i have always been doing. Hope not! ooooh gavin, thanks for make me think about my choices again! :’(
I don’t think it’s supposed to make anyone feel guilty about anything. Unless I’m mistaken [not knowing the original context of the Bukowski quote], it seems like its a reminder to always question yourself–your wants and desires and your goals. And to help you never forget that feeling that set you on that path.
Well done Gavin & Thanks!!
Thanks for creating this one! It’s always been one of my favorite poems!
This is fantastic and just what I need right now. No excuses for not creating!
Thanks Gav, you just literally saved me a $1,000.
I expect a kickback. What were you planning to buy?
A Cintiq?
where’s the cat??
The cat is possibly on the floor of that mine, just as dead as the poor canary in the cage! =O silly Sylvester
The cat is on the back of the man next to the on the side car.
I do like the comic-style stuff.
Or was that his hair not that cat?
Thanks for this great art man!
Love your work. This one is especially inspiring. It’s almost like the Neil Gaiman bit, “Make Good Art”.
ANOTHER INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE MY FRIEND…. YOU KEEP ME UP AND I REALLY NEEDED THIS ONE TO KEEP GOING ON MY BOOK… THANKS GAV
Bukowski is one of my favourite poets because he doesn’t blanket his thoughts into meandering words. It tells it to you like it is. Ugly. Painful. Often monotonous. Often breathtakingly simple. I was a little tentative when I saw you attempted to take up his poem, but thanks for a(nother) great comic. Wishing you a wonderful holiday!
I’m not sure if it’s part of the poem or not, but there’s a missing comma of address in the big blue “NO BABY” part of the poem. It should be “NO, BABY”. Otherwise you’re talking about a lack of babies, which in this context is actually quite confusing.
I know, that’s how Bukowski wrote it
I knew it was Bukowski, although I have never heard the quote before. In conclusion: great art.
Now, when people doesn’t want to work, will find any excuse to avoid it, even with the “right” conditions. There isn’t such thing like writer’s block is just plain laziness.
Sorry for the porr english. Greetings form México.
I agree with you. Personally I think that if a writer gets a “writer’s block”, he either is lazy OR he really doesn’t want to write any more.
Well, thank you for this one.
Another motivational kick in the butt, however, I’m still gonna tidy my closet and my hard drive, it’s been bugging me forever.
But I know it’s not a prerequisite to get working, and thanks to this reminder I’ll keep working now and clean up in the breaks.
Kinda reminds me of the Oswald Chambers quote some time ago( #71).
Man, I just love the little warrior, so brave and fierce.
So, happy holidays everyone. I hope you can all be with your families.
And Gav, HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS TIME OFF WORK for the first time in like ever, I think everybody agrees you’ve worked hard and fought valiantly these first 10 months, you deserve it, thank you. I’ll be thinking about you for next two tuesdays checking the site and missing the comic^^.
It is awesome because it is so true!!! It is hard, really hard, but it is a spark we cannot fight
where is the cat? great work – gavin!
As he’s my favorite writer, I’ve been waiting for a Bukowski for ages! Amazing work! I would love to request one for the future as well, a poem titled “So You Want to be a Writer”. When I was working a shitty job at a copy shop, I printed out the words to that poem on huge sheets of paper and hung them all over my apartment. Would be lovely to see them in print…
Thanks very inspiring i have to admit. I do that alot, create excuses. Awesome comic and just the inspiration i need these holidays to get some personal projects up and running. Happy Holidays!
Ah, Charles, you found me out! And Gavin, you drew me out. Very timely reminder, with holiday gifts to still be made. Love your art and your many Bukowskis (well, the blown-up one is a tad much).
My father has always said, “when my list is done, then I will be free to play.” He’s 80 and his lists are getting longer.
When thinking of doing something in the future, that’s where it will stay–in the future–because there is no thought of putting it in a today.
Happy Holidays!
Always inspiring. Thank you again for making these.
No baby,air and light and time and space have nothing to do with it.’
In India we had a freedom fighter who was held as a prisoner for a long time. He turned out to be a great poem- and one of the best poems he wrote was ‘shravanmaas’ that is ‘spring season’. He lived as if he were in an eternal dungeon, with all uncertainties but his poems speak otherwise of spectacular things a life can give us. Yes baby, it is true- air and light and time and space have nothing to do with it.
true..true…
damn excuses
Gav,
Another nice one….
Thanks folks, glad you like it – hope it helps light a fire under some of you …
Yah.. the fire is under my pants now. Thanks for yet another inspiring work. You have achieved your life’s purpose Gav!
This cartoon changed my day.
; )
I’ve always seen Bukowski’s life as a cautionary tale.
Good thing all my excuses are legit, right?
this was like a wake up call
I have been buying lots of stuff over time, a good computer, mandatory large wacom tablet and so, but the truth is that it’s been a while since the last time I entered a design contest or created anything for no reason at all.
And I used to do that a lot.
Thank you Gav.
I need this one on print.
Will you make this available as a poster to buY/
Man… You are really good (I’m not gonna say “Amazing” cause of the other day text) !! I’m Brazillian and a big fan of you..
And I know that you only use famous texts but it would be very nice if you use the spech of Captain Price of Call of Duty (“The healthy human mind doesn’t wake up in the morning thinking that it is this last day on earth…”)
But thats just an idea.. bye! o/
Read this, went out and got me a part time-job. Thanks now i have extra money to come up with excuses.
I’m Brazziilian and i love your site in general. But this particular comic hit me right in my ego. My dream always was and still is to be a succesful writer because i love reading exciting books and i wanted to be responsible for exciting other people too. But I’ve always procrastinated at least until now.
wow……..
Reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0JvdL0bq9pQ#!
What a great post, really makes me think about all the wasted time
Excellent. I don’t know Bukowski, but he clearly spoke the truth. This poem reminds me of Steven Pressfield.
Thanks for the kick!
Please sell this print!
So true, I’m sending this off to a friend, not me, no way.
I really want to thank you because I have never been so inspired in my life.
Man, I love Bukowski and I haven’t heard this before. You did a wonderful job illustrating this. Your illustrations really complement his words, and I really like the typography you used to emphasize certain phrases and sections. I can almost hear him speaking it to me.
And I love the message behind it, of course. I think that if you want to create, you’re going to make the time to do it even if you sacrifice sleep or relationships or whatever you have to. Having a nice room and the time for it certainly helps, but it’s not all you need to get things done. It’s nice to know Bukowski, and you, feel the same way!
i love this
Heh. Heinrich Karl Bukowski, is it? The guy was born less than 20 km from the place I was born and raised, and trust me when I say you don’t really expect this area to produce that many great authors.
I really like this one. Picasso (I think it was him, anyway, though I can’t find a source) gave the complement to this one:
“If they take away my oils, I’ll use my pastels, if they take away my pastels, I’ll use my colouring pencils, and if they strip me down and stick me in a jail cell, I’ll spit on my finger and write on the wall. If that isn’t you, this job isn’t for you.”
Art will out, no matter what, and you can’t suppress it any more than you can force it when it’s not there in the first place.
I love this quote–distraction is a state of mind that the creative have to battle regardless of how conducive we make the external environment; the struggle always comes from within ourselves. Love your illustration and choice of quote!
Hey mate!
They call you GAV it seems.
I don’t where you are and I don’t care though I feel we’re far away.
Just want to tell you that you are doing a fantabloodistic job! Congrats!
& I’m in Iran
Actions speak louder than words and you’re really speaking loud.
Keep going to rock lives and thank you ever so much for the nice works
*I don’t know where you are and I don’t care though …
WOW!
& U’re in Down Under, Perth!
OOPS!
Melbourne now!
Specially while “demented”!!!
lol how hillarious http://google.com
reminds me of what I saw on http://everywherenigeria.com
Totally 1000% agree with this. No matter how busy or inconvenient one’s life or circumstances is a person never makes that an excuse to stop writing or creating visual representations of their imagination. Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles became famous despite being blind. Shakespeare is widely admired despite having no more than an elementary education. Inspiration and creativity is the gravity to art; it never stops existing.
You are giving a new life to these quotes!
It’s better with cartoons to make everything clear. Creativity is just a dream for many, no matter what they do.
I love your stuff. I look at it daily…comics to inspire and lift the mood…Thank you so much for your sharing your talent and time.
Just what I needed to see. I constantly make excuses. Thinking that one day I’ll have the ideal circumstances to create something. I know it’s all bullshit though. Kicking myself up the arse as I speak.
I just started my “creations” again. I’ve been doing stream of consciousness writings with a starting point. Zenpencils are often helping me start though. I still love the “Buy the ticket. Take the ride” comic. This one also had me writing right after I read it, because even if I would like to have a nice studio apartment to live in I still want to be making my art and such. But this one scared me a bit. I really want to do video games and I haven’t even started yet. I don’t want to keep making excuses for why I can’t make them either. Gah, I really need to find a better place to gush dangit.
So fantastic. I would buy a print of this in a heartbeat, and then several more for my friends. Well done, made me re-evaluate my priorities.
Wow. Wonderful site. I just discovered it and enjoying every one of these. This is great work and the messages really come to life. Great to see quotes I’ve read before take on a new and richer meaning!
Wow. Wonderful site. Just discovered it and enjoying every one of these. This is great work and the messages really come to life. Great to see quotes I’ve read before take on a new, and richer, meaning!
Hi!
I just wanted to write a message of appreciation towards your spectacular comic strips.
You have no idea how much you have inspired me to work harder in life so I too can grow up to work on something I love.
Thank you
You’re welcome Rufy!
I’m actually using this quote as part of my New Year’s Resolution pact (“The Year of No Excuses”). You should definitely put this up as a print (even if it’s a two part print), because I would buy at least two since my pact partner is moving to Ohio soon and we would both need the extra inspiration.
hey where are you man???????
eagerly waiting for your comics for the last two weeks
Back next Tuesday (8th Jan) – you should read the blurb under the comics
So inspiring =] Thanks Gav
I love your interpretation of the quote here. Often I’ve found myself doing the same thing, waiting for the “right” moment, or place, or time, or purchase to get back into the creative flow. Its all excuses and procrastination in the end. The last frame struck a nerve with me and is exactly why I read your comics – the creativity and inspiration you channel through them.
Dear friend ,This is nice and informative post Thanks.I like your writing style.This post really attract and inspiring me.
My new favourite! Love your work, Gavin!
Hope that you had a great break and are all set for a happy, healthy and wonderful 2013!
Creation comes from our heart, from our soul! We do not really need perfect external conditions!
I create whenever and wherever. However I did find more time to create once I had alienated myself from my friends, kicked out the girlfriend and my family emigrated. Ok now I write sad songs and melancholy poems but loads of them.
My pool, darts and football is better too!
What great and creative ideas. I can’t wait to try some. Thanks for sharing
After more than 25 years, my husband left. He said, “I can’t take it anymore. You are holding me back,” as he left me and the three children, the oldest disabled with a potentially fatal condition. He said he couldn’t concentrate on his art or his writing and needed his freedom to be able to do so. About a year later, I asked him how his artwork and his writing were coming along. He said he hadn’t had the inspiration. I told him, an artist is an artist is and artist no matter what. It’s either in the blood and you must create, or it just isn’t there.
I love this and, in spite of being a professional writer for over a decade, find myself guilty of reasoning similarly in other areas of my life. This is a good reminder to not fall for this trap.
My father always told me something that basically boils down to a very condensed version of this: “Those who want find a way, those who don’t find a reason.”
Thanks for your ever inspiring work!
Gav, PLEASE make a wallpaper version out of this!!
Bukowski is definitely one of the funniest badass drunks of all time: http://site.daftgadgets.com/blog1/the-5-funniest-badass-drunks-of-all-time/
As well, I think I should place my vote for Barfly over factotum (although I liked both)
Gav — I just wanted a quote to share with someone from this very poem and found your awesome illustration. LOVE IT!
I love how happy this guy looks to be leaving his wife.
I’m not sure i’m 100% with this one. I get the message and agree with that part – you can create anywhere, but it’s a bit damming to say if you’ve freed time to concentrate on your passion you’ll smash beers all day.
My animation has got to a point where i have no choice to put off uni for a year – mid course – to be able to focus on it.
I can’t split my energies on 2 things, i’m totally single minded. I put everything into one thing at a time. I can’t do 5 hours of this, then jump into 5 hours of something else. I was literally failing my degree because of my animation. And the animation was becoming poor because of the degree.
I think take this message with a pinch of salt. Maybe get creating, whatever it is, and focus on that. even with a job. and then if you can get to a point where you need to focus take it.
And just to add, i’ve none many talented individuals come from uni and become totally consumed in the draining aspects of 9-5. 5 years on they’ve forgotten what it was.
But maybe the point is, don’t put off creating, don’t make excuses. Just do it. don’t let the fear get you.
I’m still posting this as i’ve invest ten minutes writing it. My opinion must be heard!! (lol)
You know what, it’s fucking true. The bitterest pill….
Thanks man! I kept seeing this and this is really what got me back into writing, and I’m doing better than I’ve done in a while. Thanks so much!
I want to give this comic as a print for a gift so badly. I didn’t see it in your prints
WHERE IS THE CAT CRAWLING UP THE BACK???
Loved the comics! And it’s true: if you want to create something, if it’s in your blood head heart and soul then it doesn’t matter where you are. Trust me, I live in Romania and I still write!
absolutely adriana! Romania?
I’d love to visit there someday!
I found this very motivational, though I do question whether he actually did much creation as a single parent!
Amazing!
very good ………….
amazing…………….