Review Fix chats with artist Chris Clarke, who discusses his origins in art and more.
Review Fix: How did you get into art?
Chris Clarke: I started at a young age- where drawing/doodling was a great escape, but also a great way to fight boredom. For me, drawing was a very private thing and I was always reluctant to share… Then in college I started to whip up quick drawings for program advertisements and tee shirt designs and then got an internship with John Romita as one of Romita’s Raiders for a summer. That internship was a blessing and a curse- for I had a great experience doing corrections on comic books and being exposed to that career field. The negative was that I became self-conscious and pushed forward the idea that my art was not on that level and this career path was not for me.
So fast forward a good bit and find a guy who doodled CONSTANTLY at work or in meetings, but never really took the time or effort to push something out to the public (Still struggling with that). Then when my firstborn came along- I found myself with a lot of late/sleepless hours. So I started to draw something for his nursery. Soon I was doing more pieces for kids and their rooms and then commissioned pieces. I was lucky enough to get in cahoots with the Cultural Compulsive Disorder (CCD) https://www.facebook.com/CCD.NYC, http://www.ccd.nyc/ – These folks let me create and participate in a number of their awesome events, and make a few dollars along the way. Each event had a different theme and a different adventure! So, Now I draw when time allows- sometimes for me, sometimes for commissioned pieces.
Review Fix: What are your favorite things to draw?
Clarke: I love superheroes. I love drawing them in my own cartoonish style. I love drawing people and I love cramming in loads of details on drawings. So that usually means adding a number of characters on each piece. My love for superheroes also means just doodling and creating my own universe of heroes/villains. It is a great creative exercise and adds to my mental well-being.
Review Fix: What are your most popular pieces?
Clarke: I am more in line with posting the popular characters pieces, even though I truly adore the obscure (or lesser known) DC characters. While I do specific pieces for kids, the general pieces get the better attention.
Review Fix: What are your goals in art?
Clarke: To keep drawing and enjoy it. I think I’ve always wanted to create a children’s book or to come up with that novel new cartoon proposal. But for those- you need time. So maybe down the line. For now- I love finishing a piece and mailing it off and seeing people appreciate the piece and all of the labor and details that went into it. I’m not hitting a big audience, but I know I am impacting folks.
Review Fix: Any pieces you’re looking to tackle?
Clarke: I have a list of things I want to tackle. I also have a list of things I want to re-do, for I am very critical of my work and a lot of the pieces I see how I can improve the next time around! But- as far as pieces planned in my head: Star Wars Trilogy (original), Star Trek, Wrestlers, Saturday morning cartoons (HUGE PIECE!!!), a cartoon piece on “ALIENS”… and so many more…
Review Fix: What’s next?
Clarke: Probably a lot of doodling. Also I have been selling off some of the self-created heroes- so that is pretty exciting as well. It’s nice to know that someone appreciates and values your art and your creativity.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Clarke: Find me on Facebook 12for12Designs…Otherwise- I need to get more tech savvy for Instagram and technology in general. You can also e-mail me at [email protected] if you have a request and need pricing.
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