We were lucky to catch up with Adam Cherry recently and have shared our conversation below.

Adam, appreciate you joining us today. 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?

I hated the cartoons in my college newspaper, so I went to their office and asked for a job as a cartoonist. They told me that the comics guy had just quit that day and I could be the comics editor. That afternoon I realized I had never written a comic before. Next I had the crushing realization that writing comics is extremely difficult. I gave myself a crash course on how to write and illustrate comics when I was 18.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a professional writer and illustrator with a background in both gallery exhibitions and published works. I have showcased my work in numerous exhibitions, including at Gallery 1988 world renowned for its pop culture influenced art shows. My comics have appeared in multiple publications including contributions to several comic anthologies. But I have set that all aside to focus on my comic book series Hell’s Lounge. It’s a bizarre horror-comedy story like nothing I’ve ever created before. It’s my most ambitious and exciting work yet.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After years of compromising my vision to cater to potential fans by creating art that is “easy to understand’’ I was good at what I was doing, but I hated it and I began to resent my art. So I quit “people pleasing’’ to work on something that was going to make me feel like a real artist. I had been doing art for other people for so long that I forgot how to make art for myself. It took months. I learned to sit and draw for no reason, just drawing. I meditated everyday (still do) until I had a vision. That vision put me on the path that I am on today. Writing and illustrating my comic series Hell’s Lounge. Some people read it and say “Well, I don’t understand it.” And I reply “Exactly.’’.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In the movie Misery, James Caan’s character has a tradition: whenever he finishes writing a novel, he rewards himself with a cigarette and a glass of champagne. But if you’re a writer or an artist, you know this is a joke. there’s no such thing as “the end.” What are you celebrating? Your first draft? Your third? Maybe it’s your final draft, but it’s still going to have to go to the editor and back for revisions. In the meantime you think “what if everyone hates it and it flops?” Or even worse, what if it’s a success!?! Then you have to go on tour and promote it, and meet all of your idiot fans who you grow to resent. Then you have to top your last successful project with something even better. So you have to grow to love the process. Learn to enjoy writer’s block, creative dry spells, and hating your own work, because there is no cigarette and Champagne moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Adamcherrycomics.com
• Instagram: adam.cherry.comics