Interview: Will Hernandez

Today we’re joined by Will Hernandez. Will is a phenomenal and versatile visual artist. He specializes in drawing, both in traditional and digital mediums. Will does both illustrations and comics, as well as regular drawing. When he’s not drawing, Will also dabbles in sculpting, photography, and even animation. It’s clear he has an admirable amount of passion as well as talent, as you’ll soon see. My thanks to him for taking the time to participate in this interview.

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

I am a visual artist. I enjoy drawing, inking, and watercolor painting both traditionally and digitally. I illustrate as well as make comics from time to time, and I mostly enjoy doing so in a more “cartoony” style. From time to time I’ll sculpt, photograph, and even animate, but just plain ol’ drawing is where my heart’s at.

What inspires you?

Honestly, science is what inspires most of my work. Nature, robotics, physics, astronomy, all these concepts and more are what really interest me. When you look closely at them you can really come to appreciate the universe we live in a little better. You learn that reality really is stranger than fiction. And you also realize that some of the biggest surprises are a lot closer than you think.

Forest Walk

What got you interested in your field?  Have you always wanted to be an artist?

I honestly hadn’t considered pursuing art as a career until I entered high school. Earlier in my life art was nothing more than a personal endeavor, more of a hobby. It wasn’t until I enrolled in a video class, and met my video teacher, which was when I really started to pick up art as a life goal. He was very kind and supportive to all his students, especially when it came to those who showed artistic ability. He suggested I look into doing cartooning or animation as a career, which was the first time I had even though about my artwork as something profitable. But aside from that, I’ve always loved to draw, paint, sculpt, and just create in general. I just hadn’t considered myself an “artist” until later.

Forest Walk

Do you have any kind of special or unique signature, symbol, or feature you include in your work that you’d be willing to reveal?

Aside from my main signature (which is present on most of my artwork) not really.

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

If you ever ask anyone how to get better at art and they tell you to do a lot of it, that really is the answer, the one and only answer. Do a lot of art, and never give up if you really love it. Also, be sure to look for like minds, make friends with other artists because it will really help you stay motivated. It’s a long and often times difficult road to travel, but what you get out of it in the end makes it all worth it. And be sure to keep past artwork, you’ll want to see how much you progress as time goes by 😉

Mermay

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I identify as asexual, though I’ll develop romantic attractions from time to time depending on the person. Also I’m not really sex repulsed, it’s actually a curiosity of mine, but more in a science way than in a “do it” sort of way. But in general I try to use my labels lightly. We’ve all got our own unique point on the spectrum of things, a place that nobody has or ever will again occupy. For the sake of explaining an experience labels are great, but I don’t think that we should be confined to them because subtly that separates us from each other, which simply isn’t the case. I’m asexual yes, but more importantly I’m me and I’ve got my own unique experiences.

Mmm

Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field?  If so, how do you handle it?

Luckily for me most people have been so kind and understanding whenever I choose to bring it up. Though from time to time there may be some misunderstandings which I can typically explain away with ease (yes I know what “the sex thing” is)

What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?

Like I said, I know what sex is, it’s not like I don’t…

Robot Aestetic

What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?

DUUUDE! DO WHAT YOU’RE LITTLE QUESTIONING HEART FEELS IS RIGHT! AND BE THE BEST YOU YOU CAN POSSIBLY BE! I know that’s kinda blunt but it’s really what it all boils down to 🙂

Finally, where can people find out more about your work?

You can find my work on my main art blog at willhernandezdraws
Or you can find my slice o’ life comics at willhernandezcomics
And if you like you can support me at https://ko-fi.com/willhernandezdraws

I can’t wait to meet you all!
See you around 😉

Watch Me

Thank you, Will, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.

Interview: Ted Brandt

Today we’re joined by Ted Brandt. Ted is a wonderfully talented inker who works in comics. He’s one of the artists working on Action Lab’s Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess book, which looks absolutely incredible. He obviously has a lot of passion for his work and it shows. My thanks to him for taking the time to participate in this interview.

WORK

Please, tell us about your art.

I’m primarily an inker working in the comics industry, currently for Action Lab comics on the LGBT+ friendly comic Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess.

As an inker my main job is to take the comics pages that are pencilled and polish them, finishing the linework. Reductively, I neaten the pages, but it’s more like a subtle reinterpretation.

What inspires you?

Depends on the day! I absolutely adore movies and music, but find inspiration in reading, cooking, eating; anything can be inspiring, or maddening, if you approach it in a certain way.

What got you interested in your field?  Have you always wanted to be an artist?

Art’s a bit like my sexuality: I was always supposed to be here but it took me a long time to figure it out. I’d been reading comics regularly since I was 14, but it wasn’t until nearly a decade later that I decided to try actually making them.

Do you have any kind of special or unique signature, symbol, or feature you include in your work that you’d be willing to reveal?

Sadly no; as comics work is sequential commercial illustration, there’s nothing recurring in the work I’ve done so far!

What advice would you give young aspiring artists?

Never confuse wanting to be an artist with wanting to be known as an artist: take pleasure and pride in the process, and let the results worry about themselves. And never be afraid of a bit of hard work; as long as you’re not sacrificing your health to achieve it.

ASEXUALITY

Where on the spectrum do you identify?

I’m in the heteroromantic asexual category. I’m very happily in a long-term relationship, but don’t experience any desire for sex.

Have you encountered any kind of ace prejudice or ignorance in your field?  If so, how do you handle it?

I might be lucky, but no! If, and that’s a big if, it’s ever come up, people have been pretty cool about it. It’s entirely possible my lack of experienced prejudice could be partly to do with the fact that I’m white and male; it’s still a pretty big sea of privilege to be swimming in.

What’s the most common misconception about asexuality that you’ve encountered?

Probably my own! Before I realised where my orientation is, I was obviously not interested in sex but felt like admitting that was somehow announcing that I wasn’t as cool or interesting as everyone else.

What advice would you give to any asexual individuals out there who might be struggling with their orientation?

Find friends who you can talk to about it, and don’t be afraid to be honest. I lied to friends for years, pretending I was like them, and had experienced sex. I’m pretty sure they all knew I was lying, of course, but they were kind and never challenged me over it, or made me feel terrible because of it. So having people in your life who will be supportive is key.

Also, don’t be afraid to experiment and find out where on the spectrum you are. Trying something doesn’t define you at all, but the self-awareness that you will gain is priceless! I thought I was demisexual for quite some time, but with time and experience have realised that I’m full Ace.

Finally, where can people find out more about your work?

You can type my name into the digital comics website Comixology.com to find all my published work.

My Tumblr (tenbandits.tumblr.com) is my rolling art/blog.

I’ll have a full website soon, but it’s not quite ready yet. When it is, links will be available from my Tumblr!

Thank you, Ted, for participating in this interview and this project. It’s very much appreciated.