Style; (definition) a manner or mode of expression

All of us have our own identity…our own personality…our own fingerprint, and likes and dis-likes, etc. Style, therefore, is who we are, and what makes us happy!

Some people are comfortable wearing a cowboy hat and boots, and they look good! But, I’m not comfortable wearing a cowboy hat and boots…it’s not my style!

Some men are happy and comfortable wearing their hair long, and some men look good. But, I don’t have long hair, because my hair is fine…and blows all over the place in the slightest breeze…it’s not my style!

I’ve been in the humor business for over 50 years. When I started carving wood many years ago, I liked to carve the cartoon-like characters, because I’ve always liked to make people laugh. But, when I took a few of the wood pieces to a gallery to sell, the gallery owner rejected them. She wanted more serious and southwestern things (I live in Albuquerque, N.M.), like cowboys and Indians; roadrunners; and bulls, etc.

Well…I had no intention of carving cowboys and Indians the rest of my life just to make a buck! It’s not my style! I had to do then…as I do now…make the things that make ME happy FIRST, whether I sell it or not. Silly things like the following: Parents running away from home; Flu-bug sick in bed with the flu; a black bear cub sitting in a red and white high-chair (my best seller); a lion sitting in a bath tub; a VW with two front ends; a caterpillar wearing a brown derby; a basket case; a worm wearing a football helmet out on the golf course; and a apple for the teacher with a worm in it, wearing a cowboy hat…THIS WAS MY STYLE! (With over 200 original figures, I sold almost everything I made!)

But, then I came up with the idea to caption my wood carved figures. Most of the wood carved figures were small, measuring about 6-8 inches tall. The caption was placed on a piece of white poster board, measuring about 2″ X 4″, and it would be set next to the figure. At the over 40 arts and crafts I participated in over the years, the public seemed to like the captions. If I sold a piece, they would ask me if the caption came with the piece, and I, of course, would give it to them.

When I started building my website a few years ago, I used the same concept of captioning my wood carvings…and transferred it over to placing captions on the graphics I got from the clip-art library. The captions are meant to amuse and to be informational as well. STYLE…we don’t hear much about style anymore.

* Rodney Dangerfield, who never gets any respect…that’s his STYLE!

* Minni Pearle, who always had that price tag, dangling off her straw hat…and her greeting…

How—-Deeeee y all! That was her STYLE!

* Jack Benny (comedian) lived to a ripe old age, but if he was asked his age, he would always tell you

he was 39 years old…that was his STYLE!

* Pat Paulsen, another comedian, who ran for President of the United States for about 25 years, and

never won anything…that was his STYLE!

Like many others, I’ve visited hundreds of websites over the years, and I’ve seen an explosion of creativity unleashed all over the world! I’ve been impressed with the inventive and imaginative websites, that people have put together to express themselves, etc. And, one thing they all have in common…they’ve discovered their own style on which to build and to show to the world!

STYLE! I think style, is one of the most important elements in our lives, because it serves as a base for building anything in the first place, etc. So, for those of you, who may be struggling with the issue of style, I offer you a few tips.

* BE YOURSELF! Never, never copy anyone for any reason…never! There’s only one Elvis; one Lucy;

one Liberace; one Erma Bombeck.

* Develop your own style, and stay with it. Don’t let anybody sway you with something you’re not

happy with, etc.

* It takes courage to take chances with your work, but do so with common sense.

* Everyone is creative in their own way…some more than others, but be patient…it will all come in

time.

* You can’t please everyone, so don’t try, or you’ll find yourself locked up in the Funny Farm, etc.

“In matters of style…swim with the current and stand like a rock.” Thomas Jefferson

Use your imagination…that’s what it’s there for. And, most of all…do the things that make YOU happy FIRST…and do it with STYLE!

ARTICLES PUBLISHED: (160+ websites/includes links); Direct link: http://humordoctormd.homestead.com/articlespublished.html
Website name; humordoctormd - Over 150 colorful pages; over 300 graphics
http://humordoctormd.homestead.com
email; humordoctormd@yahoo.com
Copyright; Jerry L. Aragon (The Humor Doctor) 2007