Doug Comstock is stepping down as editor of the Westside Observer after nearly two decades working at the small but mighty neighborhood news outlet.
The 82-year-old Salt Lake City native has pursued many careers while living in San Francisco, including as a political consultant and cartoonist, and currently as a receptionist for Angela Alioto’s law firm and artist. He joined the neighborhood news outlet as page designer in 2007, when it was the West of Twin Peaks Observer, and has guided it through the media industry’s changes — including its most recent cyber attack — all while laboring as a volunteer.
“That's the thing about the Westside Observer, the model is that writers write for nothing,” Comstock said. “They get paid nothing. I get paid nothing. We do it for the love of whatever. God knows whatever. I guess it's to try and make our city a better place.”
Though he’s stepping away from the responsibility of the neighborhood news outlet, Comstock said he’ll still be around to write about things that piss him off, namely actions at City Hall.
Over the next six months, Comstock will train his successor, John Crabtree. Crabtree will move the organization’s tax status from 501(c)4 to 501(c)3 nonprofit
Aside from his office job and teaching Crabtree, Comstock will be spending time at his studio space in Art Explosion Studios, where he plans to spend four days a week crafting abstract acrylic, cold wax and oil paintings.
“I’ve loved every moment of it,” Comstock said, reflecting on his career. “That’s for sure.”
The Ingleside Light caught up with Comstock to hear more about his time in the creative fields.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How do you feel about stepping down as editor?
Relieved in a way. It's a bigger responsibility than I ever thought I'd have to take on, and it's turning out to be more technical than I'd like. I mean, this latest bot attack that took over westsideobserver.com and forced us to switch to westsideobserver.net has really thrown me for a loop and made me realize how little I understand about how this stuff really works.
What has been your greatest takeaway from being at the West Side Observer as an editor?
Don't expect to make a lot of money, so you'd better love what you're doing because there's no remuneration for it, that's for sure. Just tell the truth as much as you can, as truthfully as you can, and don't feel too bad for hurting feelings. Double-check, as well, to make sure that if you're saying something, please double-check that it's right.
Why are neighborhood news outlets important?
Mostly because there's no money involved. Zero. There's no way that they can buy you off. The source is totally unpolluted. We do depend on donations, but frankly, we don't get any big donations, so we don't have to worry about that.
What is the inspiration behind your art, and what does your process look like?
Most of my inspiration comes from closing my eyes and trying to see what I see. I’m seeing color combinations. I’m seeing the colors play with each other. It all comes to me.
In the first stages, I just use acrylic medium, acrylic paste with sand, with small pebbles, and sometimes crumpled paper to build up the textures. I love the texture that you can get with it, and then I go over it with cold wax. I used to just go over it with oil paint, but then I discovered cold wax. Now, cold wax is different from oil paint. You mix the wax half and half with oil paint, and you don't have to worry about fat over lean with cold wax. You can just paint as many layers as you like…In my process, I start out with the abstract, just throwing stuff around, trying to build up a texture and a structure. Once that’s done, I let it dry thoroughly, and then I can start to go over it with cold wax, bring out the textures, bring out the structure, and make it into a painting.
What is one piece of advice you have for someone who wants to pursue journalism or art as a career?
Don’t give up. Don’t let them beat you.
