Sketch: In memory of Chris Al-Aswad

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Download Sketch for Chris Length: 1:23 (Right-click or control-click to save)

Thank-you Chris Day

I was deeply saddened yesterday to hear that Chris Al-Aswad had passed away. He created the online art journal Escape Into Life, which he called a tribute to his mother who was an artist. It has quickly developed into an inspired community.

I was working on this musical sketch a couple hours before I heard the news.

Two weeks ago, I messaged Chris a birthday greeting and we had this brief conversation:

	Happy birthday Chris, many thanks for providing a great site
	thanks, love your art btw, reminds me of: David Kramer (click for article)
	Hey thank you, and thanks for the link– I had not come across his stuff. Love it! Just bookmarked his sites.
	I like what he’s doing; and I see a major trend in this type of painting; very modern in the best sense of the word
	I’m drawn to this type of stuff as well– the various levels of communication is overwhelming. A lifetime isn’t long enough to exhaust it.
	yes, our journal will be exploring this trend/movement/whatever you want to call it more and more . . .here’s one of the latest articles we did that does just that: (click for A Humument article)
	Really enjoyed that article. Reminded me of @austinkleon, though I identify more with Tom Phillips than him. Just ordered the Humument. Reminds me of a preacher I met who asked a man sharpie-ing his bible. “I was blackening out the unnecessary bits” the man said.
	wow, so happy to hear it made a big impact on you . . . maybe we’re on the same wavelength
	Now off to read the new Alison Jardine article.
	EIL is a philosophy, an experiment, a dream to fuse the visual and the literary in the most spectacular way possible (for @writeasongtoday)

A Humument arrived in the mail a few days later, and I wanted to talk with him about it when I finished exploring its pages.

I wish my condolences to his family and friends. Meanwhile, there is quite a remembrance going on today on Twitter as people share their memories of Chris and talk about his writings. Search the tag #TYCHRIS.

The above drawing is inspired by a panel of his Novel of Life Las Vegas graphic novel.

Visit Escape Into Life for a wealth of articles on artists, writers, poets, and more. His friends will be carrying on with its publishing.

Read his writings and poetry at his Blog of Innocence.

Thanks Chris.