Carlo Barberi's Workshop

So this weekend I was invited by my good friend elmudo to a comic book workshop. This was specially cool because the artist that was giving the workshop was Carlo Barberi which in case you didn't know is a killer artist, who has worked on many titles for both marvel and DC. And he is also from my hometown of Monterrey, Mexico which makes him even more badass.

Joking aside, it was very insightful to speak and receive advice from another professional, because as you should know, every artist experience is different, regardless on how many years they have been working in the industry, everybody has a different story on how they broke into comics and how to say relevant, produce excellent work and still have a life outside the drawing board (or at least trying to ).

It is my personal opinion that every workshop, every little chat and every porfolio review, every chance you get to speak with a person that is clearly better than you is, is always enlightening because every time you learn something that you didn't know, or you didn't think you know. Is in this occasions that you actually get better because you are forced to act on the spot, trying to get the better part of your work and getting good advice at the same time.  In a way it is kind of what they are teaching us at the Kubert School, but as I mentioned before, every artist has a different story.

And one more very important thing is the people you know in these sort of gatherings. You never know who are you gonna end up chatting with, they might just end up being really good people and you never know, may be very good friends for life. And in this business connecting with other peers and colleagues is as important as the ability to draw.

So if you ever get the chance to attend to one of these workshops don't hesitate to do so. That might be your first step in the right direction.

Rock on my friends... y arriba Monterrey!

Closing the Gap

Ever since I decided to do everything in my power to become a better artist, I've tried to help anyone that wants to pursue the same career path. I think that you can always learn something from somebody, if it is someone that is just beginning or someone that has been in the game for a while. You simply cannot say that you are an accomplished artist that knows what the deal is.

And specially when I talk to people that are starting at this, they seem to share a little bit of sene of disappointment at the beginning, because you are dying to produce awesome-jaw-dropping-juicy-delicious art that can inspire other people, and the fact is that, at least for the first years you will try your best to do so, only to find out that, for the most part your are not completely satisfied with your work. This can be frustrating, believe me I know, we all have been there.

That is why when I found this video, somehow it just clicked with all the right words and in the right tone. From now on I will have a solid message to share with all of my friends and future artists, because this is what it is all about.    

This is an excerpt of a longer interview made to Ira Glass, an american public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life.

So here it is: http://vimeo.com/24715531 

And here is part 3 of 4 parts of the whole interview.

How to become a comic book artist with Fernando Ruiz

I know I have not posted anything in a while, but I promise I have tons of cools stuff to post, if I can only make some time to do it. School is pretty tight now and there are some extra curricular projects that also take most of my time.

In the mean time I leave you guys an interview done by Bleeding Cool, to one of my teachers at The Kubert School: Fernando Ruiz. He is a really really good teacher and I have learned a lot from him.

Keep drawing my friends!