Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alex Barr. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alex, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

Going into comics has been one of the most fulfilling, as well as complex, aspects of my career as a freelance artist.

I learned to do what I do, by observing others. A lot. I’ve been reading comics, manga, and graphic novels for all of my life. If I see something that I like in a comic, I’ll make a mental note of it to use it for my own art in the future. This could be an angle, a page composition, a coloring style, anything.

There are several ways in which I can speed up my process, and it’s to take as many shortcuts as possible. I think a lot of artists tend to dance around that word, and many are convinced that taking shortcuts means sacrificing the quality and integrity of your craft. If you know how to use your tools and references to your advantage, it can help you improve and grow significantly. Especially if you are involved in comics, where your job is to draw literal hundreds of images, over and over again.

One of the most essential skills, I have found, is to work quickly and effectively. I don’t spend hours gruling over the most minute details. I draw each stroke with confidence, knowing where I want it to go, and I move on to the next, There are times where you absolutely must shut off your “perfectionist brain”, and simply move along with the process, for the sake of being able to reach a deadline. Learning to work fast, and utilizing shortcuts to keep your art looking visually pleasing, are two of the most valuable traits in a comic or webtoon creator.

When it comes to comics, there is no smooth way to ease into it, you can only really dive right in. While it seems intimidating at the start, since there is SO much that has to be taken into consideration, it is much more manageable once you get the ball rolling. I put my dream off for at least 2 years. Every day I would think “One day, I’ll be good enough at drawing to make my comic… one day!” I realized then that I had simply been procrastinating, and that my dream story was never going to happen until I finally just started drawing it. As terrifying as it can be, you have to start somewhere! So why not now?

Alex, 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 am the comic & webtoon artist of “Pink Sugar”, and I specialize in expressive colors, queer themes, and fantasy elements.

My desire to make comics came from having access to the local libraries when I was a kid. Every week, I’d go with my mother, and I’d walk out with arms full of graphic novels. The older I got, the more I questioned myself and learned more about my identity, I remember feeling euphoric any time I found a character that I could relate to. The first time I felt this, was with Karolina Dean from Marvel’s “The Runaways”.

In my heart, I realized that I wanted to be that for someone else, one day. My comic is a love letter to people like me, and it is the way I show the reader that I see them, and that I know they exist, and that we exist together. The core essence of the art that I create, is to show a world of love, community, authenticity, and living one’s truth. It has always been my way of trying to speak, and I love that there are people who listen.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

In all honesty, most social media is deliberately curated to drown out a lot of visual artists and their posts. Algorithms, everything trying to imitate Tiktok, the idea that you have to constantly be posting in order to avoid being forgotten, but not to post too much, or at the “wrong” times, or use the “wrong” phrases in your captions. It’s very frustrating, to say the least, but we have no choice but to roll with the punches. So we adapt, because artists are always adapting, always growing.

Most internet success is from good luck, and having an audience that is willing to interact with what you say and post. A lot of my “Pink Sugar” readers came from a time where Webtoon featured me as an up-and-coming comic, which is something I am incredibly grateful for. I try to respond to every comment, even if it’s just a “Thank you so much for reading!”. People like to feel acknowledged, and it’s a two-way street. Be kind, be grateful, and always remember your roots even during waves of popularity.

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

Sharing my messages & opening someone’s eyes. If someone feels seen by my art, then I’ve done something right. It’s an outlet for me, as well. The characters in “Pink Sugar” are partially a result of character traits that I got tired of waiting for someone else to make. I don’t see enough queerness in media, so I made it happen. Same for my butch lesbians, my fat characters, my trans characters, everything. They are so self-indulgent for me, and I love what I draw, and I love knowing that they feel authentic at the same time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dulceskull.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dulce.skull/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dulceskull
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dulceskull