When I was a kid, I used to make sound effects while I drew pictures. I don’t know if all budding artists do this, or if it’s a wannabe-illustrator thing or what. But I know some of my friends did it then, and other illustrators have told me they did it too, when they were young. The thing is, I still do it sometimes, when nobody’s around.
When I’m writing, I also practise lines of dialogue out loud on occasion too – but that’s a practical thing. It can often be the only way to see if it works. It’s important that one is never caught doing this kind of thing. Particularly if one is putting on a funny voice or a dodgy accent at the time.
Anyway, now I have a baby, and looking after her needs is a varied and challenging job (probably the most grown-up thing a guy can do). And I’m starting to make sound effects again. Everything seems to have a sound effect now; from changing a nappy to putting on her little shoes; from tickling her to washing her face and hands. I didn’t really start this on purpose, it just sort of happened along the way (the sound effects that is – the baby was deliberate).
I can see her years from now, having to walk around with earphones permanently plugged into her head, with sound effects accompanying her every move. Or maybe she’ll just make them herself. Her brother already accompanies his footballing with an ongoing commentary, but I think that’s pretty normal for a boy his age, dreaming of playing alongside his heroes.
Every now and then, I’ll catch myself sounding like a cartoon soundtrack, and I’ll think back to those days of drawing pictures while I made the sounds of jets or explosions or cars or monsters. Art held a joy for me then that I struggle to recapture, when drawing was as much a way of giving substance to what was going on in my imagination, as it was about making a good picture. Back then, just as I try to apply it now, the whole point was to be involved in the making of the thing. The picture at the end was the equivalent of the photos you take while you’re on holiday. When I look at my pictures, I recall the experience of creating them. And sometimes I hear the sound effects too.
