Friday Thoughts (August 21, 2026)

Looking around at this world is enough to drive anyone into the mental equivalent of Death Valley. Everything is terrible. The job market and the economy in general is collapsing around our ears. The climate crisis is accelerating as parts of the world that have remained untouched are starting to be touched HARD. Europe has been on fire for a couple of months. The rapid implementation of the surveillance state in just the last year is horrifying. The abuse of that technology started almost immediately and has not slowed down. The party in charge of every part of the United States government is just a naked kleptocracy.

Depression is freaking weird. Especially as an artist. My brain is equal parts crushing sadness at what is happening, murderous rage at what is happening, and also…laughing maniacally at what is happening? The oddest thing that is occurring within my head though? I am remarkably full of ideas. I have cartoons pouring out of me. Ideas for another book. The desire to just paint animals as a way of relaxing. I have this unbounded desire to create…while half of my brain is just screaming “WHAT IS THE POINT?!?!”.

Maybe the creation is the point. Maybe the creation to make others happy is the point. I’ve just gone through the roughest few years of my entire life. I’ve lost friends and family. I’ve lost belief in things I used to hold on to dearly. I still laugh and find joy with loved ones and even with the process OF creating art. But there is always an undercurrent of profound sadness. I guess for now the work will have to be enough to get me through all the rest.

Be safe over the weekend, everybody. The world is better with you in it.

-The Paintmonkey

A quick Paintmonkey note…a very happy birthday to my little brother! I’ve given him credit before for all of my digital art-ing knowledge (like being able to “ink” today’s illustration) and is a remarkably funny human, as well. I’m very glad he’s my brother and I hope he has a great day!