144 days of penguin

DAYDREAMING

Having the penguin in my life has granted me greater permission to daydream; being inspired by the moments my reality bleeds into my subconscious. Like huh, what if a penguin tried to barbeque… The basis of a lot of humor is subverting expectations, but I think I like softly subverting reality the most.

As the days went on, I found it a shame to leave my fleeting thoughts on the cutting room floor. So emulating some of the great artists (including the amazing collaborators in our studio) I started a sketch book. Which was a sick errand to run, because I love buying notebooks at Muji (not a sponsor… yet?) so that was squared away quickly. In my hands I held a small 144 page notebook. I started on April 10, 2026. It was hard sticking to only one page on that first day.


SHOWCASE

Days went on and I would draw comic strips for show ideas, concepts for props, poses for the penguin, and more. For me, I didn’t need to be an excellent caricaturist, getting something down vaguely penguin shaped was good enough.

Regular practice was fun, and even on the longer more tiresome days, I knew I had scheduled a laugh. I was prideful in showing it off to my wife and family (who totally always got the joke without explanation). But, when Curtis asked me to present it at a collaborator event and watch-party for our principal productions, the fear and self-consciousness set in.

And on May 2, in a room filled with career and passion driven artists, I showcased my penguin shaped blobs and short narratives. I tried to think about how much I love to see others show off their work and how they sparkle. I pitched, they laughed and clapped, I sighed heavily with relief. God I was glad someone laughed. As I passed it on to the next presenter, I knew things had become just a bit more real. 

Unbeknownst to me, so real that within a week the penguin would take physical form…