Today we’d like to introduce you to Acruxicon

Hi Acruxicon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

While I can’t exactly pinpoint when I started picking up drawing, I do remember when I started excessively drawing on the family computer using default software such as MS Paint and Windows Movie Maker to generate wild ideas that I’ve conjured in my mind, influenced by the media I was consuming growing up in the early 2000s. As evident in my work, I draw a lot of inspiration primarily from the video games I’ve played growing up such as Sonic, Mario, Sly, Ratchet and Clank, Spyro, the OG platformer icons! Additionally, many have cited my work as “Looney Tunes” esque, and in a way, I suppose I have also drawn inspiration from that as well. I am a huge Looney Tunes fan after all!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve had a few challenges that have impacted my creative growth. For starters, I started posting my art online at an early age in the early to mid-2010s. Obviously, as a kid, my art was amateurish, and knowing how unforgivably cruel the internet can be, tore my work to shreds whenever I posted art online. People in my inner circle weren’t any more supportive either. Some cited my work as childish and hideous; the worst was being told it looked like “Mickey Mouse on Crack.” Being exposed to harsh feedback at an early age damaged what little confidence I already had. So, I carried this mentality that no matter what I put out, it would be sub-par at best. But I continued drawing because I genuinely enjoyed it. Eventually, I became more active in different creative communities as far back as mid-2018. I still remember one of my first reanimated projects being the Sonic X Reanimated Project and the Cuphead musical being one of my proudest achievements. Having the opportunity to learn and grow alongside animators served as a stepping stone for one of the most significant projects I would take on for the next three years.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I’m proud of the projects I’ve created, especially the one I’m working on. Sly Cooper: Rise of the Legendary Thief is a passionate fan project that is comprised of talents from all around the globe. Ranging from people who love Sly just as much as I do to people who may not know too much about the character but are learning about the lore along the way. What sets me apart from my peers is that I treat this fan project with the same integrity as an original project. What I mean is strategic planning, storyboarding, scriptwriting, voice directing, and hosting monthly to bi-monthly meetings to delegate tasks and keep everybody on track. Fan projects are an excellent training ground for strengthening multiple skills required for a successful show. The only difference is the foundation of the series has already been established. You’re just reinventing the wheel, which is a good thing! But, of course, it’s different when creating an idea from scratch. But even then, every original idea is inspired by existing media.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

Not all feedback is good feedback. Sometimes, you have to go with your gut. You are the one creating the content after all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://acruxicon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theacruxicon/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Acruxicon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Acruxicon
• Other: https://acruxiconcommissions.carrd.co/