I am an artist and illustrator. And these “episodes” are quick sketches of and stories about people that I meet or have met over the years. I do the drawings first, keeping them simple and spontaneous but (hopefully) sophisticated. They are with perhaps one or two exceptions, line drawings done with a fine-line pen. I started doing these drawings in business meetings. That expanded to doing them in waiting rooms or while traveling, as a way to remember the people I met, worked with, or just observed from afar. Once I’d done a number of these sketches, I began to wonder about the people they depict. What might they be really like on the inside? What are their dreams? Their fears? Their secrets? Since I did not know the people I was drawing (or because I did not know them well), I felt ill-at-ease about asking personal questions. And so, I began to create stories about these people, based on what I imagine their life is like. That way, each drawing became a kind of psychological adventure; I never knew, when I sat down to write, what I was going to find. Like the drawings themselves, the stories are not to scale or photographic. If there is any prevailing theme, it is this: people keep their inner world well-hidden and probably for damn good reason. A secondary theme: making stuff up is much more fun than reality. And in a way, that is the real truth in all this. If you would like to learn more about me or my work please send a note. Our email: myron.gilbert@att.net
Norm has always been a nervous person. He worries that, somehow, he just doesn’t measure up. He is bright enough, although no genius. And he is conscientious at work and at home. He has a good job. He has a wife who loves and appreciates him and a happy and healthy two-year-old daughter. On the surface, everything is great. The trouble is that he feels trapped and failing. His father owns the business. So, Norm’s job is secure. But he senses that, no matter how hard he works, people will never think much of him. He once overheard someone say: “The old man is smart but the kid just ain’t got it.” While he’s been on vacation, he’s thought about leaving and taking a job with another company. And the truth is, he dreads going back to work. It’s ruining his vacation and has his wife wondering.