In 1977 12 year old Gary Blehm created PENMEN® while drawing a flip-page style animation in his English book in a one room school house near Aspen, Colorado. In 1980 Gary created his first "Find Two Identical Penmen" poster while trying to find a way to market a stick figure. In 1989 Gary published his first official PENMEN® poster and began distributing through various retailers and distributors. Within two years, this first poster was on display at the New York Art Expo. Between 1990 and 1994 eight Penmen posters were published and in distribution. A PENMEN® book was published by Harcourt Brace in 1995, and a PENMEN® comic strip was picked up by the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, and then syndicated nationally through Creators Syndicate by 1996. Gary bought his first computer and built penmen.com and created his online store. In 2005 PenWorld and Wine Enthusiast Magazines picked up the pantomime comic strip. In 2006, keeping warm by a wood stove in a mountain cabin, Gary completed a 6 episode animated adventure series entitled, "PENMEN®" for Jetix Europe, a Disney owned network. The files were sent to London by the internet satellite dish off the back deck.
PENMAN is "every man". - a simple, smiling, stick-figure mime with a great positive message.
Here are some excerpts from past publications.
Harcourt Brace Publishers and Harvest Books, 1995:
"Penman...manages to maintain a positive outlook even while he's in negative space."
Cheyenne Mountain Edition, 1996:
“I needed something simple and quick to draw,” he (Blehm) explains, “so I chose a stick-type figure. I wanted it to look cool, though, so I made an effort to jazz it up a little.”
Gazette Telegraph, 1996:
The strip, which began running on the Gazette Telegraph comics page last week, features what he (Blehm) calls "glorified stick men," and its genious lies in its simplicity.
"It's entertainment on a laid-back level."
Gazette Telegraph, 1997:
“He has a great message to give- and there's no sex, violence or misinterpretation. It's all positive.”
“Of course, that is part of the beauty of it. If Gary needs an idea, he can go to the airport or bus stop or mall and just watch people, because that's what Penman is all about. Penman is Everyman. It's the man and woman and child, all in one”.
Part of the appeal of “Penmen” is that it's a simple, quick read.
"What you think about and dream about when you're little kids
often comes true - if you work hard," he tells a group of 40
children and adults at Madison Elementary, one of five schools
where Blehm has presented Penman programs on behalf of
Children Come First, a local group that holds fund raising book
fairs.
“He's just so genuine,” says Olgy Gary of Children Come First, a local group that holds fundraising book fares. “What you see is what you get.”
What you get is a pretense-free fellow who takes the crowd on an enthralling trip into Penman's world. During his excursions to schools, Blehm is Penman - dressed in black from his beret to his shoes, like a cross between Zorro and Boris Badenov. He draws a few cartoon gags, tells his story, interacts with the students and drags out three homemade Penman marionettes - including a "Pessimistic Penman" who drags his head along behind him like a ball and chain. "He doesn't think he can do it - he's not using his head," Blehm says, handing the controls to a student. "Don't learn too much from this guy, 'cause he's a pretty negative dude."
On this night at Madison (school), after drawing hockey-playing Penmen, Rollerblading Penmen, Penmen drawing Penmen, and dozens more, the crowd has finally dwindled to one girl. She asks Blehm for advice on how to become a better artist.
Imagine the future, perhaps 20 years hence. Imagine a world overrun by the Penman: Puzzles. Greeting cards. Party plates. Coffee mugs. Pen sets. Board games. Animated cartoons. T-shirts. Baseball caps. Pajamas. Lunch boxes. Maybe more. How about a giant Penman at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, or “A Very Penman Christmas “ television special? Penmen, Penmen, everywhere…
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There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be. That's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down. But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.
constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are. So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be. Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.
showin yo page sum <3 and jus to remind u my new Mixtape "Remix Revolutionz" will be a Dual Disc (2 Cds!) Free Download Mixtape on Datt Piff This Thanksgiving 2009 so be sure and cop it aight!@ much love
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The turkey shot out of the oven and rocketed into the air, it knocked every plate off the table and partly demolished a chair.
It ricocheted into a corner and burst with a deafening boom, then splattered all over the kitchen, completely obscuring the room.
It stuck to the walls and the windows, it totally coated the floor, there was turkey attached to the ceiling, where there'd never been turkey before.
It blanketed every appliance, it smeared every saucer and bowl, there wasn't a way I could stop it, that turkey was out of control.
I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure, and thought with chagrin as I mopped, that I'd never again stuff a turkey with popcorn that hadn't been popped.
Friends answer your needs before their own. You come to them with your hunger, And they satisfy you with peace. That's how friends are. Friends let you speak your mind, Without worrying what their thoughts will be. Friends know when you are silent, They need to listen your heart. Friends share the joy and the pain. They know about desire and rejection. Friends allow you to be who you are, Without expectations of who you should be. Friends don't come with a purpose, They don't come with a plan. They come to enlighten your spirit, They come to brighten your heart. They come to give you a hand when needed And expect nothing in return. It is the little things that friends do. Like fill your heart with pleasure, hope and joy. AAHH... The Sweetness Of Friendsip There can be no price placed on Friendship It has once been told. For Friendships are worth far more than gold.
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"They say that everything we're seeking, is also looking for us and if we stay silent everything will be found".
May all your dreams come true.
I wish you many blessings for your continued success in all your aspirations. Let's remain very good friends now that we've found each other.
Thank you for sharing your space with me ~ I hope you enjoy some of my songs & other offerings on my page. I'd be very grateful if you can share our work with your friends also.
Peace. Life. Truth. Stay well, stay close. Always,
