Friday, May 06, 2005

Viva La Pizza!

Viva La Pizza!

[jimlee]

So our house remodel is nearly done. One of the centerpieces is this new fangled pizza oven in the kitchen. So Fridays we stoke up a big fire and roll, toss and create our own pies and top them with marinara sauce, arugola, salami, basil, prosciutto, roasted peppers, mozzarella, tuna fish, eggs (not all together!) ...whatever moves you really.

We eat while standing up, checking both on the creations we have already put in the oven and preparing the next pizza. They cook in about 3-4 minutes (the oven being 600+ degrees fahrenheit) and it's a lot of fun and of course, they taste fantastic, especially with a nice, cold ale. What I've learned is that it all comes down to 3 things--the dough, the wood and the toss.

The thing you take away with you is that a deeper appreciation for those professionals who make it all look so easy and who do it so well in the real pizzerias. Of course you could apply this to any profession, say comics. I think most readers who attempt to write or draw or create their own comics can either walk away thinking how great they are (if they happen to have some degree of meglomania) or feeling a bit humbled as they see the process of creating is not always as easy as it seems.

Words to eat by.

Buon appetito!

8 comments:

Jason said...

How cool is that, your own pizza oven at home! So what's your favorite topping Jim?

Ryan said...

Pretty cool...don't know of anyone who can say that they have a genuine pizza oven in their home. One of these days Jim, you're gonna have to give us the grand tour of your estate! For us comic book fans, that would be a wonderful episode of MTV Cribs...although it'd probably be awhile before I got to see that up here in Canada!

Ryan
Jim Lee come to the PCTC! PLEASE!

Trish said...

Missleman-
You're at SVA I assume, if Bob Schreck just paid a visit. Yes, good idea to listen to his advice
Jim I'll take a small pie with olives to go please :) Looks terrific - congrats!

Trish

david golbitz said...

That pizza looks so darn tasty. Makes me want to head out to the local New York-style joint and order a pie.

Once I become nice 'n wealthy, I've gotta get me a pizza oven in the kitchen. That is just freakin' cool.

antonio said...

I agree to what you said Rich, sometimes the odd and difficult part comes to really get in contact to a person (editor or client) that can really understand the subjetivity of art or to find the right Editor who really has emphaty,rapport and trust to what you do and understand that the artist has the right to change and evolve and of course gives you steady job (thing I need now :) )
I have seen that some people assume all your work would look the same for the rest of you life when In fact that is the worst that can happen to you in life to be and feel stuck.
As you said the rule is that are not rules at all!!
The only thing is to compete with Quality.
I am still amazed and shocked sometimes when I see people still receiving jobs knowing the are not the top.But I guess I learned my lesson some time ago, They are just at the right time and moment,They respect deadlines,They are really nice etc..and Well We have to respect that and hope good Karma goes to your and our way.
And also the other lesson is that Work always pays off and You eventually receive the benefits for sticking over it.
I wish sometimes people could see that this is also Fun but is a Passion to create!!!
As I say to people I do not imagine myself doing anything else only Comics.
Jim Pizza looks delicious!!:)

JESUS (waiting to find the right Editor :P ) ANTONIO

Gelatomettista said...

Cadam,

I realize you are paraphrasing Dave Sim's life philosophy but honestly, I am not up to date on that stuff so I can't give you a more informed opinion. Nor do I want to. The hardest thing about life is that it isn't replicable. In other words, everyone's mileage varies and frankly, no one wants to live life based on someone else's precepts.


In general, I try and walk the line between talking about my interests without coming off like a braggart. Interests being food, travel, foreign languages, and of course art and comics. I find it a bit dull to keep posting up sketches...there are already many sites which do that. Obviously, I am not 100% successful all the time.

I have had a tremendously lucky and successful career which I never (and never hope to) take for granted. In my short life, I've owned nothing and I've owned a lot. My passion for art and my job has remained a constant.

As far as my personal life, I knew my wife before she even knew I had any interest whatsoever in comics (we met in college nearly 24 years ago!). If I were single, I know that I would be an utter and complete wreck. Nothing and I mean absolutely nothing keeps me more grounded and inspired than my family.

/jim

Gelatomettista said...

Oh and hey Trish!

Welcome to the wonderful world of bloggin'. Check out her dazzling blog at http://trishm.blogspot.com/ and of course, her incredible work on 100 Bullets every month...

/jim

Mary E. Brickthrower said...

Brilliant Jim! Molto Bene indeed! My daddy worked in a pizza shop in Chi-Town while he went to college. You gotta try some Chicago style pizza up in that john! =o)
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