Hey there, fellow art enthusiasts! Ever wondered what it’s like to step into the shoes of an artist (or more specifically, a comic artist)? Well, today’s your day, because I’m about to spill the beans on my daily art adventure. Now, keep in mind that every artist dances to the beat of their own pencil, and my routine might be as unique as the characters I draw (not very?), but hey, now’s your chance to see behind the curtain.
So Monday through Thursday, this is my routine. Fridays and Saturdays, I switch gears to teach English.
Good Morning!
The day kicks off with me defying the gravitational pull of my cozy bed at the crack of dawn – and by crack of dawn, I mean 7:15. After groggily stumbling into the kitchen, I whip up some breakfast (cereal) and, together with my trusty sidekick (aka my wife), see my son off to school. When the clock strikes 8, it’s time to embark on my artistic journey for the day!
Picture this: I’m seated at my desk, armed with a gallon-sized mug of coffee that could wake the dead. The first order of business? Prepping pages. Now, I’m a bit of a planning nut, so I like to get my ducks in a row before diving into the comic creation chaos. Sometimes, I spend a week prepping pages, gathering photos, snapping shots, or even tinkering with 3D software to visualize those epic scenes. It’s like setting the stage for a blockbuster, only it’s all happening inside my head and on my drawing tablet.
But let’s talk about the good work days, shall we? Those magical moments when the stars align, and no prep work is needed. I dive headfirst into drawing, and depending on the complexity of the panels, I can sometimes summon a whole page into existence before the clock strikes lunchtime.
Now, here’s a plot twist for you – in the last few years, I’ve decided to take better care of my artist self. At around 11:30, weather permitting (because, let’s be real, I’m not about that rain-soaked jogging), I take a brisk 20-minute jog. It’s like hitting the reset button on my creativity because the fresh air does wonders for the tangled web of ideas in my mind.
Lunchtime - Comic Artist-style
After the invigorating jog, it’s lunchtime. No superhero ever conquered the comic world on an empty stomach, right? And when the clock strikes 1, I’m back at my desk, armed with my second gallon-sized cup of coffee – because let’s face it, the first one was just a warm-up. Now, my approach to drawing has undergone a bit of an evolution. Pencils and paper? Nah, we’re in the 25th century, my friends (right?). Efficiency is the name of the game, and I’ve gone completely digital. Enter the Wacom tablet, my trusty sidekick in the quest for quicker, more streamlined drawings. The only downside? Every time I pick up a pencil and paper, I find myself frantically searching for the UNDO button. Someone really needs to figure out how to install one of those on a pencil.
As the digital ink flows, I need a soundtrack to accompany my artistic exploits. Drawing is a solitary affair, a one-person show with no intermission (one reason I wanted to make movies back in the day, it’s a team sport). That’s where background noise comes in – whether it’s the beats of music, the talking heads of a documentary, or the banter on shows like Pawn Stars. It’s my way of combating the isolation and making the technical aspects feel a little less tedious.
Fast forward to 5, and it’s time to don my parent hat. I stroll a mere block to pick up my son from school. From there, while he dives into an hour of video game glory, I’m back at the drawing board. If the day’s pages are still in progress, I add the finishing touches. But if all goes according to plan, the last two hours of my day are dedicated to prepping pages for the next day.
By 6-7, I wrap up, often exhausted and slightly disheveled. People underestimate the energy it takes to be hunched over a desk for 8-9 hours. It’s a marathon of concentration, and one thing I love about drawing is that it demands my full focus. I’ve never been one for work where the mind can wander – give me the immersive world of comics any day.
The Boring Truth
But wait a second! This life of an artist is pretty banal and boring, right? Yup! Because, hey, it’s a job! Just like any other. That’s one reason I’m baffled that people often look down on art as a profession and say things like “hey get a real job!” Because it’s no different from that teaching job I ALSO work. Drawing is tough, takes a LOT of effort and concentration, BUT I don’t get paid adequately. Hmm. Something isn’t adding up here.
So Monday through Thursday, this is my routine. Fridays and Saturdays, I switch gears to teach English – sometimes a welcome change of pace, but usually just a job is a job is a job. Yet, the freelancer’s curse creeps in, and drawing work often nudges its way into Sundays and other supposed days off. It’s the trade-off for the freedom of being your own boss.
One thing I know for sure is: every artist out there is putting in the hustle. Each one has his or her own unique routine. So spill the beans in the comments! I want to hear about your creative chronicles. Until then, keep those pens moving, embrace the exhaustion, and let the world of comics be your canvas!
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*I don’t use AI for my artwork. These filler images are just for fun and aren’t meant to represent my art so they have been labeled “AI GENERATED.” I want my blog to be enjoyable for you but I don’t have 2-6 hours to draw each image (this blog is done in my free time). If you’re against AI in art, please direct your criticism elsewhere (maybe someone trying to pass off AI generated images as their art). I am not doing that.
