I have often said that if I were not in a technological field, I would be in graphic design or something similarly art-related. One of the benefits of the internet is that it allows people to realize these what-ifs in a very small way. You want to be a cartoonist? Start a . Musician? Release some MP3s for download.
A week ago I printed posters of my two favorite drawings. I wanted hang them in the dorm, so I burned some s onto a CD and made a trip to the print shop on the other side of town. It was strange to hold tangible copies of pictures that were only ones and zeroes up to that point.
I printed the posters for my own use, but they turned out so well that I thought, "Maybe someone else would like one, too." I put a note on the front page offering both posters for sale. It surpassed my expectations: I have two orders in the pipe. An old high school friend ordered the centurion, and wants a copy of my favorite panorama. Today I expanded the note into a buy stuff page. (Update 8/06: I took down the page when I rebuilt the website. It may come back eventually.) I do not expect to make much, if any, money off of it, but who knows? Maybe someone out there wants to paper his or her walls with signed Brett Daniel originals.
I have a portfolio, customers, and a means of distribution. Does that make me a professional artist? On the internet, I think it does.