...Such is the duty of the artist.

"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts...
...Such is the duty of the artist!"
Robert Schumann

As most of you know by now, I do a LOT of random 'joy scattering'.

It even resulted in a doco being made about me ("Scatter Joy") 

- thanks, Amy Hoogenboom!!

https://vimeo.com/114459898

So, even on a quiet day, I might give away 2-3 cartoons or caricatures!!

Usually to completely random people, and I don't usually hang around

to see people's reactions. I just do it to make a stranger's day or to 

(hopefully) make them smile...

I like doing it for people that work very hard,

and sometimes (in their jobs) don't always get thanked for it.

I have drawn a lot of cartoons for waitresses. And flight crews

(when I'm lucky enough to be flying somewhere)...

Sometimes, I'm rewarded for these random acts of cartooning kindness, too.

The crew sometimes gives me gifts of First Class chocolates & wine.

But most of the time, I do it and never really hang around to witness the 
magic or reaction or what may happen next.

I do this a lot. I enjoy doing it. If i am having a tough day for some reason, I go out and 

make someone elses day. My Mum taught me that lesson when I was very young.

And sometimes, I admit it freely here. I might take for granted

how this affects other people.

That kind of happens when you do something all the time, I guess...?

Anyway.

A month or two back, I was out busking in one of the streets

in my new hometown in Dunedin (NZ)...

A young person walked past,

made a comment about how cool it was to see me drawing.

As they walked away, I randomly handed them a (pre-drawn) cartoon.

And just as quickly, they were gone.

However.

A few minutes later they came back.

And handed me this...

I was suddenly very touched!
And reminded (from the generosity of a complete stranger)

what it must feel like to receive

a random cartoon drawing from me!!

It was timely.

And it has (since) gone on to become one of my fave possessions.

I even found a little frame for it:

(c) Whina Pomana, 2017.

Thank you, Whina!!

For reminding me why I do what I do.

You're awesome!!!

PS.

(Footnote, of sorts...)

Whina has gone on to become my new designer.

They has just finished designing my brand NEW business card...

I have decided that
 Blue is the New Black!!

Whina has done a superb job! 

Here's what it looks like...

 

 

You can see more of Whina's wonderful work here:

 https://www.facebook.com/deathhairball

Kia ora!

Thanks for reading...

PPS

"The Paradoxical Commandments."

 (c) Kent M. Keith.

 
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be

shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have

and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.