We were lucky to catch up with Buster Moody recently and have shared our conversation below.

Buster, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I always liked drawing as a kid, but when I was in maybe first or second grade in elementary school we had an assignment to do a drawing recreating a pose from a photograph or pre-existing graphic. I copied a Joe Montana pose from a 32oz plastic Chiefs cup my parents had gotten from going to a game. My art teacher told me that the way I drew his body turned with his legs crossing over was very advanced for my age- in fact, none of the other kids in the class were capable of drawing something like that. That was the first time that I realized “Oh, this is something that I can actually do GOOD, maybe even better than my peers.” That was really the impetus for me initially believing that I could pursue art in a meaningful way. An encouraging comment from someone in authority to a young person in an impressionable period of their life can go a long way for setting them down a certain path.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an illustrator, an animator, a video editor, a cartoonist (comic book writer/artist combination), and part-time beat-maker. My primary creative outlet is comic books and illustration work. As such I’ve seen my art published in books like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and related TMNT titles) and Godzilla in Hell for IDW Publishing, Limbo Beach with rapper Vince Staples for Z2 Publishing, and various stories/covers/pin-up illustrations for other publishers such as Image Comics, DC Comics, and Weird Punk Books. I also stay busy doing commissioned illustration work for collectors and fans, and participate in various self-published anthologies with other creative friends and peers.

My current project is Lazer Storm: Giant Slayers, which I’m writing, illustrating, and publishing myself. The first book I’ve handled every aspect of production on.

I’m also a full-time motion graphics animator and video editor, producing videos for various clients.

My beat-making pursuits are purely for creative exploration and output. Since having kids I haven’t done many live music shows, and mostly just focus on getting fun melodic ideas out quickly.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me, I love to feel as if I’ve accomplished something, and with certain kinds of art and creative endeavors, the point of entry is literally just your own willingness to make something. A pencil and a piece of paper is often all that’s required material-wise to start creating. There’s often no technical training or official permission necessary for making something and feeling rewarded by the act of creating alone. Writer Alan Moore equates artistic creation with magic, as in with art you can reach the “idea space” that exists only in concept, but then bring those ideas into material form and reality. That making of magic is what’s rewarding to me.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Honestly, just being a patron of your favorite artists is the greatest support you can provide. Whether that’s showing up to an art show, a book signing, a convention or an opening, commissioning original pieces from artists you love, buying the books and prints they put out, or even simply sharing their work on social media- these are all things that help the art community.

Another thing many art fans and collectors don’t realize is that a lot of organizers of shows or conventions don’t always have their finger on the pulse of the community. They will tend to err toward legacy talent, and the newer creatives can fall by the wayside. Don’t assume that any local show to you will feature an artist that you love just because you love them. Organizing events is certainly a time-consuming occupation, so it’s not always a fault of their own, but many times they are ignorant of the newer trends and fresher artists- there is power in reaching out to organizers as a fan to encourage them to extend invitations and opportunities to newer talents.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bustermoody.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bm00dy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealBusterMoody
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bustermoody
• Other: https://linktr.ee/bustermoody Original art dealer: https://inkyknuckles.com/buster-moody

Image Credits
Author photograph by Morgan Cooper