Who I Am

[nightfingers]

"JOE KUBERT SCHOOL OF ART in Dover, New Jersey from '94-'96"

HOLY SNICKEYS!

You were there when I went there to apply.

I went on the tour as an applicant in '95.

Small world.

[Hankinstien]

Loston--

This showcase of your stuff is great, thank you for doing this!

Your interactions with me on this forum have always been incredibly encouraging and informative. You've really helped me out in a lot of ways, I appreciate it!

-Mike

[Bruce Lee]

Loston--

This showcase of your stuff is great, thank you for doing this!

Your interactions with me on this forum have always been incredibly encouraging and informative. You've really helped me out in a lot of ways, I appreciate it!

-Mike

Thanks very much, Mike. I'm glad I've been of some help to you.

[Bruce Lee]

For me, I'd like to know what areas you struggled to excel in. What did you do (apart from practicing) to overcome the areas you struggled in. Career wise? artistically?

Hey, Clint. Practicing is of course very important, but practicing what you are good at won't make you better at the things you aren't good at. It's important to draw outside of your comfort zone. I force myself to draw things I don't like to draw whenever I can. Drawing things from life teaches you best. Repeatedly drawing the things you aren't good at is the only viable way to turn your drawing weaknesses into strengths.

Outside of practicing, I work hard to train myself to observe the world around me. We all see the world around us every day, but most of the time, we take all the details around us for granted. When I watch a movie, I pay attention to the way a shot is composed, or how the figures are lighted, or how the wrinkles on a jacket sleeve look. I try to pick up on the "ins" and "outs" of facial expressions and body language too. I take mental notes, and sometimes, actual sketch-notes. I often write down or sketch out things that I have observed, which helps me to solidify ideas, concepts, and to come to certain conclusions. Art is something that takes place in the mind before it reaches paper, so I work hard to train my brain.

Career-wise, there's always a struggle to find bigger and better gigs. I do a fair amount of networking, but much of my work doesn't actually come from that sort of thing. Most of it comes from the reputation I've built as a pro over the years. I've been providing work for DC Comics licensing department since 1998. It's not always as steady as I would like, but the last few years has been rather busy. A good rep for doing good work and meeting deadlines is very important. Each project that I complete for an editor proves that I'm versatile and reliable. Each new editor that I work with expands my contact list, increasing my chances of getting even more work in the future.

There's always commission work, which comes via my web presence online, and also there are the occasional comic gigs that pop up, or some other illustration project that seems to fall into my lap, but I admit that I don't actively pursue finding new work the way I should. I've managed to keep busy with the sources I have already, so I haven't gone hungry in a while, but it's not good to get too comfortable with your situation. I'm considering throwing my hat into the comic book ring again soon, so we'll have to see what happens with that.

Loston

[jujigatame]

I attended the JOE KUBERT SCHOOL OF ART in Dover, New Jersey from '94-'96.

lol...to think we might have been classmates!
I had an admissions interview in January '94 but, ultimately, my parents balked at the tuition rates so nothing ever came of it.

[Bruce Lee]

lol...to think we might have been classmates!
I had an admissions interview in January '94 but, ultimately, my parents balked at the tuition rates so nothing ever came of it.

We would have been, for sure. There would also have been a good chance that you would have been staying at the Mansion, and if so, I would have been your Resident Advisor. Heh.

Loston

[W.Blankenship]

You rat basterd I think you did something to my head because I haaven't been happy with the digital finish on this last two pages and I'm thinking of inking traditionally through these two stories I'm working on.

[Bruce Lee]

You rat basterd I think you did something to my head because I haaven't been happy with the digital finish on this last two pages and I'm thinking of inking traditionally through these two stories I'm working on.

LOL. Sorry about that, chief.

[steve11jr]

What kind of artist were you before you entered the Joe Kubert School? Do you think you would have found you way without the guidance of the school, or did you grow a lot while you were there? I love hearing stories about how people made it to the big times.

[Bruce Lee]

What kind of artist were you before you entered the Joe Kubert School? Do you think you would have found you way without the guidance of the school, or did you grow a lot while you were there? I love hearing stories about how people made it to the big times.

I was a very good portrait artist before entering the school, and I was an excellent draftsman, but I learned a lot from the school. I was easily 10 times the artist when I left. I learned a lot about composition, layout & design, anatomy, figure drawing and foreshortening, inking, lettering, coloring, painting, even a little animation. I don't know that I would have found my way into doing professional work with the school because the school taught me artistic disciplines like working hard and meeting deadlines. Before the school, most of the drawings I began never even got finished. Now I can do 100 pages of a artwork in a matter of a few weeks. The school gave me the "know-how", and helped to provide me with the right attitude necessary to become a professional artist. I grew a lot while I was at the school, and continued to grow even more after I became a professional. The one thing that is guaranteed to make you a better artist is the experience of drawing a lot. Repetition and hard work will help any artist get better at what they do.