Broken Frontier

Like Obi-Wan Kenobi once said, that introductory line is “true, from a certain point of view”. As a fellow creator, I feel that I do have a good understanding of artists and why they do what they do. However, I freely admit that what I don’t understand is how they do what they do.

When I see a finished piece of art, be it a paneled page or a cover/ pinup, I am often stupefied; how did this person use a pen or a wacom to turn a blank piece of paper (or a blank screen) into an amazing vision of something fantastical? I can literally sit for hours poring over the work of Alex Ross, Rob Liefeld, Ed McGuiness, Bryan Hitch, Mark Bagley, Greg Horn, Brian Denham, Jason Martin, Terrance Griep, Nadir Balan, Marc Silvestri, Michael Turner, Edu Fransisco, Rivkah, Marat Mychaels, Weshoyot, Keron Grant, Ray Height, Josh Howard, Andrew Law, Mike S Miller, Jim Lee … and become lost in their lines as I try to understand how they create awesome, tangible and real worlds out of thin air.

‘Concentrate!’ Yoda once cried as Luke Skywalker struggled to control his growing power, yet no matter how much I focus, how closely I follow the lines … they remain a mystery to me. After 14 years of reading comics and about 5 years of working to break into our industry, I still don’t understand how artists create their magic.

I may not grasp the how of it, but, as a fellow creator, surely I fathom the why? Of course I do! Creation is creation whether you are behind a keyboard, a mouse or a pencil. The need to create is an overpowering desire that leaves little room for anything else.

I understand the burning passion to turn the vision that dwells in your mind into something real and tangible on a page; artists use pencils, inking pens, colored markers, Photoshop and wacom tablets to achieve what I do with a pen or a keyboard.

Just as many people who don’t understand writing see that art as being almost mystical, I have the same reaction towards artists. Just as writers have the skill to see and describe other worlds, artists have the ability to render those worlds into absorbing images.

As a writer I know how hard it is to break into comics and I know that artists also face an uphill journey to grasp that one shot at being published. What I don’t understand is why many artists seem to put barriers in the way of their own progress.

Yes folks, you guessed it right; this is where the current edition of The Story Factory becomes controversial!

Just to set the scene, I have spent a number of years trying to break in as a writer. Along the way I have met many talented artists yet, even more so than newbie writers, fresh and new artists can sometimes seem keen to place obstacles in the way of their own success. Of course I am not going to name names, but a number of years ago, I was negotiating to write a small press project. I negotiated a page rate for the book and while I wasn’t going to earn a fortune, I was happy to be paid anything! (Unfortunately, despite a contract being signed and the work being completed, the payment never arrived, but that is another story!). My entire fee for the book, US$250, is what the newbie artist asked for per page. For an unpublished artist, let alone some of the artists at DC/ Marvel, that page rate is unheard of.

So, the point I am trying to make is that artists should never over value themselves. Having finally seen one of my scripts drawn, I understand and appreciate how much time and effort goes into creating one page, let alone 22. However, remember this; even Erik Larsen and Jim Lee got their start in small press (and possibly didn’t get paid much or at all for their efforts!). 

I understand the desire for a paycheck; even artists have to eat! More than that, getting paid lends legitimacy to your work; all of a sudden drawing comics becomes a job rather than just a hobby. All I am saying is that you shouldn’t let money get in the way of great experience and good exposure.

Writers are important, but perhaps not central to comic creation, whereas without an artist there is only a blank page or a page filled with stick figures and words. I don’t understand artists or their idiosyncrasies and perhaps I never will. What I do know is that I enjoy working with them; I love the thrill of seeing my stories come to life and I know it could never happen without them.

Next: Working With Artists.