Portrait of the Fanboy as a Young Artist

[randy_byers]

Courtesy of Carl-sub-e, a photo from an underrepresented era: the college years. This was taken in 1982 in Eugene in the house on High Street where he and I both lived for a year, along with my girlfriend, Molly, and her friend, Lisa. I loved that manual Olympia typewriter. Our friend David described typing on it as like sticking your fingers into a blender. I thought I was going to be a serious science fiction writer in those days, even though I was already almost totally blocked when it came to writing fiction. It took me nearly another twenty years to finally get a clue that I didn't have what it takes, helped along by the realization that fanzines could work for me as a niche for personal and non-fiction writing.

Carl also sent some pictures from the Carl Combine's trip to Seattle for the Norwescon in 1979, and I may post some of those later.

Comments

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

That looks so rustic, it's practically a gas lamp you're typing by.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Molly was actually in a Japanese phase at that point, so the room had a very spare feel, with a tatami mat on the floor. We slept on a futon. Lots of windows in that room, too, so there was great light.

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

I think "antiquated" is a more aaccurate word than rustic. Or maybe the Steampunk anthology I've been reading has just colored my thoughts.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose that David would have considered a steam-driven typewriter an improvement.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

It's the tones: brown on brown on brown (on brown on brown on brown) with golden and green highlights and accents. And the way the light illuminates face and hands. Renaissance feel in a more modern but still classic setting.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Hm, I can see what you mean. Almost sepia tone, except for the green.