PUSZ
R
The mirror had an icy glare to it as
I stared into the reflecting image of
myself. The eyes were blue and pale,
dark circles sunk deep below the
sockets, wrinkled skin showed signs
of insomnia that had persisted for
days, and my vision was out of focus.
I sunk my fingers deep into my
tangled hair, trying desperately to
undo the rats and mats lodged in my
skull. The pain was sharp. Some hair
fell to the sink. I walked back to the
90
room where I had existed for the last
few days. My stomach growled for
food. I pulled back the chair at the
white table and glanced at the pad
of paper positioned directly in front
of me. It seemed to laugh at me. It
was white, unblemished perfection.
Maybe I was laughing at myself,
maybe it was all a joke. For days 1
have watched this white sheet, deter-
mined to violate it. Black brush in
hand, dripping with India ink, I had
been trying to create, forcing myself
to think. It was all blank, my mind.
the time lost, the thoughts floating by.
No images, just delusions. Maybe I
was stale. How could I fail? It was
hard. I wanted to succeed. "The music
sung out over and over in the
background. I had watched the sun
rise and fall, 1 had felt the cold of
night. I had experienced so much.
And yet, the paper was still white,
untouched, perfect, taunting me.
What was my goal? Why was it so
important. The frustration dominated
my soul. I wanted to shred the white
sheet and end this misery. I didn't
know if I'd do it today, but soon my
creative image would be put to paper,
and that Frantic Scratching from
within my mind, I hoped it would
someday appear in the Puszone.
The joys and pitfalls of an artist.
Frantic Scratchings was created to
show that imagination, that spirit.
And when the call was put out, those
scratchers went to work and the flood
began. And after months of
collecting, hero is a sampling of
some of that promising talent, as well
as a listing of some of those who sent
work in. Keep up the good work!
Frantic Scratchings ob Puszone, PO.
Box 701, S.F, CA 94101 US.A.
Frantic Scratchers
Preston Silox
Marc Burlile
Jason Lee
Kenneth Hicks
John Trendler
Matt Dyck
Gret Gleason
Jerry Cadieux
Mario Gonzalez-
George Braley
Gret Danylyshyn
Mad Dog
David Corbett
Kevin Lehnert
Stephen Schmidt
Kirk Alberts
Errik Stevens
Far Left: A fine example of talent in
the works, young Joel Orbeta,
seventeen, once again gets the title
page with his decaying Batman and
Robin. (1988 DC Comics)
Left: From a movie that haunts many
minds, Mustrations of Freddy are
plentiful. Mark Sikora of West
Germany stipples his way into a
likeable pose, from his self-made
"Raging Violence" portfolio.
And Below: On the humorous side,
Marc "Mr. X" McNott sketches a
classic piece, "A Nightmare on
Sesame Street." Things might never
be the same for Oscar
Night ON
SESAME STREET
IMR.X