We were lucky to catch up with Lorem Wofford recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lorem, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Ever since I was very little, I adored stories. My parents used to hide books from me even before I had learned to read, because when I so much as saw a book I would cry and cry until someone read it aloud for me. My parents realized that I had a love of stories and encouraged me to express that through art and writing. The best piece of advice I have ever received in regards to improving my craft came from my father, who is a freelance graphic designer, as well as someone who experiments with many different creative projects spanning various mediums on his free time. He told me that the best way to learn is to start and finish a project. This is really hard advice to follow, especially if you’re not satisfied with the skill level you’re at, however it is the only surefire way to improve. This can be applied to all kinds of projects, big and small; from a four paneled comic to a twenty chapter novel. There’s a finality of finishing something that allows you to step back, look at the thing in its entirety, and think about what you’ll do differently next time around. If you stop a project every time you get uncomfortable, you’ll never know your weaknesses… but you’ll also never know your greatest strengths!
Lorem, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I would describe myself as a storyteller, but I tell stories through many different mediums: illustration, animation, short stories, and most recently I’ve been experimenting with comic-making. I have the freedom to experiment with these mediums because I’m currently a student at the University of Texas at Tyler, and work as a barista at a local coffee shop.
The main way to access my work would be on instagram, although I’m planning on uploading my short stories online, as well as my first webcomic. The content I produce spans from character design to watercolor paintings.
The latest project I have finished is a short story titled “Aureolin Wild” which I wrote, illustrated, and published myself. I was able to print a hundred copies through a company called Risolve in New York, and sold the copies through a few local shops and by shipping it to my online followers. It was a risky move, as I wasn’t sure how many people would be willing to purchase it. Thankfully, I was able to sell almost all of the copies and even managed to make some profit— which I quite frankly wasn’t expecting.
I learned quite a lot from that project. Even though there are things I would change if I were making Aureolin Wild now, I am still so satisfied with what I was able to make, and the story I was able to tell, with the help of my gracious editors. I am also honored and grateful for the support that was shown to me by everyone who picked up a copy!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I used to be extremely rigid on how I wanted the result of my art to look, wether it was writing or illustration wise. I would never begin making something until I had a vision for exactly how I wanted things to go. However, when I started being mentored by an artist who specialized in abstract art, I was forced to change that. She would put a bin of papers, scissors, and glue in front of me and tell me to make something. At first, it was impossible. I would stand there and attempt to mentally form the scraps of paper, cardboard, and string into a masterpiece and she would catch me. She told me “Make the thing— don’t think about the end!” Not only did this new way of thinking help my art, but it also allowed me to be more flexible in real life. It taught me to see anything and everything as movable, adjustable, and alterable. It allowed me to stop in the middle of doing something and say, “Let’s change course; because now I see a better way.”
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Being able to appreciate the big and small beauties of day to day life. A heart shaped leaf in a rainbow colored puddle, an old man in a coffee shop holding his script up to the light, an empty walking path canopied by tall pines, or a laughing boy and his father who both have bright red hair. I am always looking for beautiful things like these. Creative thinkers have a way of seeing the world in that way, I think. Being able to pick out and love the subtly wonderful. Of course, each person will notice different things.
It’s also rewarding to be able to emphasize things I deem most important through my art; because I think the best stories are ones that magnify the truths of real life.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Jamie, Piney Woods Darkroom