J.P.Ulmen Bio: Nothing you want to know about anything.

Nothing you want to know about J.P.Ulmen

Nothing you want to know about How this strip is made (coming soon)

Number of Times Author has been mistaken for Robbie Benson: 12

Copyright (c) 1999-2004 By J.P.Ulmen. All Rights Reserved.

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For some reason, people feel it nessecary to forego any rights of privacy our forefathers fought and died
for and continuously slap their entire lives, every intricate detail, on this new-fangled internet thing for all the
world to see. . . . Apparently I'm no exception.
          I was born about .01 seconds ago cosmically speaking. I'll die eons from now as far as a fly is
concerned. Pretty darn good set up if you ask me.
          I started drawing when I was old enough to eat crayons (a dietary nessecity for any toddler). My drawing
started looking like the things they look like after a rigorous training under the tutelage of my Elementary
school pricipal. She quite possibly affected my life more profoundly than anyone else and I don't even
remember her name. How's that for gratitude? UPDATE!! Her name was Mrs. Butler. Thanks Nick.
          I studied the fine art of cartooning for years, diligently examining the styles of Neo-Saturday Morning
Cartoonism  and the Classic Sunday Paper style, which saw its renaissance under such masters as Larson,
Watterson and the late great Shultz.
          I was first published in a Religious Education Text back in, oh probably 1995. A total of maybe six or
seven illustrations were sold for about ten dollars. I didn't see the significance at the time and so I never
bought a copy. Today the book is no longer in print. So sad.
          I graduated from high school, bought my first pair of jeans in nearly four years, and fell into the duldrums
that is college life in a relatively small town.
          Two years ago, give or take, my father and his lackeys asked if I would start a comic for their little
railroading newsletter.
          I said, "Sure, what's for dinner?" and started the single panel cartoon Basic Training about a family rather
similar to my own and a spider that lived in their railroad. I fell in love with the characters. Sure, they were
my family with large bulging eyes, so it may not seem all that odd but I had no intention of becoming so
connected to these characters. A single panel four times every year does not lend itself to character growth
or story development.
          So I was surprised to find how much I wanted to expand this thing. So I did. With the encouragement of
the Purple Sage's Henry Schmidt, an artistic genius, I started Lemun Drops. The originals were sporatic at
best. I couldn't make up my mind about a format, the legibilty of my handwriting is still questionable. But I
kept at it. Every spare moment I could find I sketeched out a new strip. I had no idea what a well of
inspiration my family had always presented me with.
          Then, on new years eve 2000, when the whole world was either drunk or in my Mom's basement playing
pool, a miracle happened. Monthes earlier my dad convinced me to submit Basic Training to the national
model railroading magazine, Model Railroader. On that day when the 9's finally rolled back I was sent a
contract. A simple one to be sure, but a contract none-the-less. The magazine bought my first Basic
Training. It appeared nationwide two monthes later. Don't try and find a copy. My dad has them all.
          That's all the encouragement I needed. I may end up poor and starving in the streets, but I will not stop
this comic. Its just too much fun! O.K. enough babbling.

J.P.Ulmen, April 2000