As soon as my children were told not to go into school anymore, way back in March, everyone rallied around.
Some started making facemasks, some ran errands for the elderly, some cooked meals for others - what could I do?
I draw comics that go on the internet and into print, but no-one would be buying those for a while. I love playing drawing games with my girls and these can keep them busy for hours - hours that they are not stuck in front of the TV or iPad and not destroying the house or garden! So it struck me, if my kids are stuck at home then so are everyone's kids. Maybe I could entertain them too - or even teach them to entertain themselves?
Starting slowly, I thought up some of my favourite games and recalled the drawing techniques that children loved to learn - these would be the subjects of my first videos. I set up a camera in my office at home, in front of my bookcase full of graphic novels and comics and acted silly.
I thought that as my children enjoyed not only drawing but silly jokes and funny routines too, that I should add some of these into my videos. So every video starts with a funny intro - me acting the fool just as I do at home, but for everyone!
The reaction to my videos was as swift as it was wonderful - parents started tweeting me saying their children were on their eighth drawing of the afternoon and how they had been entertained for hours after watching just one episode! I was overwhelmed and felt enormously happy to have helped people when I thought I couldn't do anything. Satisfyingly these comments are still coming in and I now get to show the drawings that I get sent on the future episodes!
Now the videos are being sent around numerous schools by teachers who want to support their students with arts content, as well as the more academic content they supply - I never thought it would get that kind of seal of approval!
It just goes to show that with the right motivation anyone can create something to help!
New videos come out every Tuesday and Friday and are available at CaptainFishbeard.com
More info: CaptainFishbeard.com
Me, in my 'studio'
