Hometown Weekly Staff
Hometown talent converged last month when long time Hometown cartoonist Tim Jones and up-and-coming Hometown artist Carter Witham met for the first time at Comic Con’s “ConTropolis” convention at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough. Jones as a featured guest artist at the convention and Witham as a spectator and long time comics convention fan.
The two Hometown Weekly comics artists each share a common interest as both Jones and Witham each contribute a weekly comic strip in the comics and games page of the Hometown Weekly Newspaper. Jones with “Sour Grapes” and 14 year-old Witham with “Brace Yourself: The Bracy Stacy Chronicles”. Meeting for the first time, they discussed everything; from the process it takes of putting together a weekly comic strip, their favorite and most influential artists to their types of pens and coloring pens they prefer. The Hometown Weekly is so fortunate to have not one, but two talented local artist contribute to the paper each and every week.
Tim Jones, a nationally recognized cartoonist and writer for his comic strip “Sour Grapes” was one of the featured artists headlining ConTropolis at this year’s convention His notoriety and long standing commitment to the comic world, made him an easy choice to be a convention headliner. The Rhode Island native is a regular at these conventions, including the Rhode Island ComicCon, one of the premier comic and artist’s conventions in the North East. His self-syndicated comic can be found in over 40 cities and towns all across the country from Texas to Massachusetts. His weekly comic “Sour Grapes” featuring the lovable but miserable flying dog “Aesop”, his pet cloud “Ominous” and his problematic family can be seen each week in the Hometown Weekly Newspaper.
The Hometown Weekly sat down with Jones, Here’s what he had to say in his “Hometown Ten”.
1) What is the best book you’ve ever read and why?
"Curious George Goes to the Hospital". I was 5 years old and I had to get my tonsils taken out. I remember the book helping me not to be scared.
2) What is your claim to fame?
When it's my turn to make dinner, I order pizza. A win every time!
3) Besides your home, what's your favorite spot in our area?
Any gas station with cheap prices.
4) Give me a good recommendation.
Any Marvel Movie/TV show.
5) What advice would you give to your past self?
"You can't win if you don't play".
6) If you had to spend a million dollars in a day, how would you do it?
I would open a huge candy store and eat all the profits.
7) Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
Jim Davis, Garfield creator. He had a hard time starting out and was turned down with Garfield for years, but never gave up and the rest is history.
8) How do you spend your free time?
Day dreaming of the next SOUR GRAPES episode.
9) Describe your perfect day (where you’d go, who you’d be with, what you’d do)?
I'd go with my family back to Ireland to visit my other daughter.
10) WILD CARD: When did you begin creating comic style art?
I started drawing in a comic/sequential style (frame by frame) over 25 years ago.
