I’ve been drawing comics about being a dad on and off for a few years. Let’s face it: being a dad takes up a big chunk of my time. It all started when I was literally carrying everyone’s luggage through the airport. I said, “As a dad, you are a Sherpa,” and that’s how my comic began.
My kids are my inspirations, along with observing how other dads interact with their children. Almost all of my comics are based on real-life experiences. As the kids get older, more ideas come flooding in. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy.
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“Dads Are” started one day when I was schlepping ALL of my family's luggage through the airport. I was traveling with two kids and a wife. Then it occurred to me... as a dad, I’m a sherpa. From that moment forward I started looking at being a dad a little different.
I started writing ideas while driving to work, or seeing something out in public that sparked an idea. I found myself smiling a lot.
My shoe size compared to my mom and dad's shoe size is similar, lol! Probably because my height difference is not that different from them.
I didn’t start drawing the characters right away. I hadn’t really drawn anything since high school and was a little self-conscious about starting a comic. One day, while perusing books in a second hand book store, I discovered an old book from the 1940s by Andrew Loomis. The title of the book was “Figure Drawing For All It’s Worth”. I bought it, took it home and started practicing. While my comics are pretty basic, I think they are good enough to get my point across.
My own experience with my kids inspires a lot of my ideas, along with some of my own memories with my own dad. Some ideas come from friends, family, and now fans. One in particular was from a photograph of a friend and his newborn baby falling asleep on his chest. That photo sparked the idea of the “Memory Foam” comic. Some of us dads are kind of squishy and comfortable to sleep on.
Now that my kids are 13 and 16, I’ve started to incorporate new ways my kids view me, like an ATM, or driving instructor, but I’ll still go back and draw memories of when they were little.
My kids help me with my comics. My youngest will occasionally do the coloring after I get it inked and my oldest will give ideas along with critiquing the actual drawing. My sixteen-year-old is a better artist than I am. I appreciate their feedback on what could make the drawings better. They also have a similar sense of humor, so if I run an idea past them and they roll their eyes, I know it's kind of dorky. But sometimes I intend them to be dorky.
I remember when I was a little kid my dad would have to carry me up the stairs. It was fun.
That would actually be me in our family, though me and my hubby are both book worms.
When I started drawing the “Dads Are” comic, I was going for chuckles. As the comic grew a little, I’ve started getting some really nice comments. One dad said he works 3 jobs and seeing my comics is the highlight of his day. Another dad said he was looking for a new idea for a tattoo and one of my comics was at the top of his list. That really warms my heart. I like helping dads enjoy being a dad a little bit more. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with other dads and parents.
Thanks for taking a look at my comics, I hope you get a chuckle or two and feel free to share them with others. I try to post consistently, but as any parent knows, time is tough to come by. I’m currently working on another round of comics and will be posting them soon.
Awww the little bitty baby playing catch. My oldest likes catch our youngest just likes to wrestle and drool on things.
These moments are very special and sometimes... the most difficult of roles!
And tow-truck driver, pull car out of the mud, charge my battery, and bring gas cuz I ran out guy. My poor Dad.
This is so true! Shout-out to my dad for being able to balance work and still take us to the cabin <3
Love to see the dad get recognized like this. All too often they are represented as being the problem while the mom demands all the atta girls.
I know this is just a comic panel. but if you saw someone actually doing this, wouldn't you be appalled and wanted to say something. Both for the boy and the girl.
Love that they show father and daughter rather than something more stereotypical...
My dad was a diesel mechanic, so fixing/maintaining my car was about it. (Other than teaching me how to fish.)
Yup, at the beach when he was pumping air into the floaties.
That one kid: You guys have nets on your trampolines? My dad just catches me.
Teehee My daughter just did this today while fishing with Papa (granddad.)
Note: this post originally had 48 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
Thank you for comment. That's what I love to hear.
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This is a shout out to all the single mums who do all this and more!!!!!!
Thank you for comment. That's what I love to hear.
Load More Replies... This is a shout out to all the single mums who do all this and more!!!!!!
