Chewing Pencils

Hi everyone, my name is Jason Frazer. I am a fellow cartoonist and owner of the website www.twistedmusings.com.au . Whilst cartooning is not my main profession, I have spent a number of years illustrating and drawing and my work has appeared in a few publications over that period of time. I have also been fortunate enough to illustrate the cover to edition #1368 of Frew Publication’s ‘Phantom’ which, for a Phantom enthusiast was a big thrill. I also have an interest in business start ups.

Back when Matt asked for submissions for his site, I was more than happy to ‘put my hand up’ to offer up some content. I had been posting content on my own site for a little while now with the hope that others (if they chose to) could learn from some of the mistakes I’ve made, both artistically and entrepreneurially.

I wanted to share with you a quote I found in a book I have been reading “Will Eisner; A Spirited Life.” by Bob Andelman. The quote was made by Joe Kubert (one of the comic book industry’s most respected artists and creators) when he was reminiscing about Will as a studio boss:

“It’s important for an artist to know what he’s doing business wise as well as art wise. We’re not just responsible for drawing pictures and telling stories, but also finding out what happens to our art after it leaves our hands. What happens when the engraver gets it? Nobody saw our original art. Everyone gauges your work when it’s printed. But if we put quality into our work, everyone who touched it afterward would take the same care because they would have a sense of it.”

Take a moment to reflect upon this quote in relation to your own work.

Over the next few days I would like to revisit this quote and see how each of the main points should relate to your own work and the way both your work and you are perceived by others.

As an artist, do you know what you’re doing business wise as well as art wise? Do you draw the ‘old fashioned way’ or digitally? Do you focus on quality or quantity in your work? How do you believe you are perceived as an artist? As a person?