We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Edwin Sanchez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Edwin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned through trial and error. Since childhood, I loved drawing and making stories, often inspired by comics, video games, and cartoons like Dragon Ball, Marvel comics, and Kingdom Hearts. Though I was never formally taught to draw, I observed and copied what caught my attention, absorbing my favorite forms of visual media.

At the School of Visual Arts, I began to hone my skills, but I still wasn’t satisfied with the education. Surrounded by talented peers and professors, I was often told to emulate certain artists, but it wasn’t until my final year that I chose to follow my intuition instead.

I focused on the artists I admired and asked myself, “Why am I attracted to this?” That’s when I truly began to learn. I expanded my knowledge by studying more artists, reading, and exploring various mediums, always searching for answers.

Looking back, I wish I’d asked more questions. I don’t regret my past, but I’ve learned that curiosity and open-mindedness are key to mastering any craft. Ego can block growth, and when it’s in the way, learning suffers.

I recently had the pleasure to train under the Watts Atelier Bootcamp last summer and it was an exciting experience being able to be a student again with the new mindset I had learned.

It changed my artwork for the better.

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

My name is Edwin Sanchez, also known by my pen name, Enoch. I’m a fantasy illustrator.

I’ve always loved storytelling and knew from a young age that I wanted to tell stories visually. This discipline feels like a calling, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. The deep communication that happens through imagery fascinates me, and I aim to create art that speaks to viewers, whether through comics or illustration.

I’ve created my own comics, drawings, prints, and take private commissions. While I enjoy interpreting various stories, I find the most fulfillment in creating original work that comes from my spirit and subconscious. Fantasy has always been natural niche for me.

I used to wonder how I could stand out among so many artists, especially in an age where everyone has a platform. But I realized that my uniqueness comes from simply being myself. Instead of trying to be “different,” I now focus on creating what speaks to me and improving my craft. As long as I stay true to myself, my art will always be distinct.

It has become a spiritual journey, and that’s what makes me most appreciative of this discipline. I’ve learned who I am through my art, and my art reflects the person I’ve chosen to become. I’m proud to have come this far without compromising my ideals. This is why I chose not to pursue this craft as a “job.”

I want to create work that transports people to an unknown world, leaving them with a moving experience they can carry with them.

I’m currently working on an original fantasy graphic novel and a new illustration series based on Arthurian legends. There will likely be more projects soon—I’m always coming up with new ideas to explore. Hopefully, I’ll get to share them soon. People have always wanted to see my original illustrations as a comic series, and I hope I don’t disappoint!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During my second year of college, I had the wonderful opportunity to be trained by Klaus Janson in my “Making Comics” class. If you’re familiar with comic artists, Janson is famous for working alongside Frank Miller on The Dark Knight Returns, a comic that changed the industry forever. He was no pushover and probably my favorite professor because of his brutal honesty. I’ve never seen so many students drop out or cry during a class before.

Every week, we had to submit three-page comics, and the following week, one lucky student would be critiqued in front of the class. He wouldn’t tell you—it was a surprise. He would photocopy your work, pass it to the class, and you’d know it was your turn when it reached your desk.

And then, it was my turn.

This was one of the most profound and intense moments for me, not only as a student but as an artist. After everyone received a photocopy of my work, Mr. Janson looked at me and asked, “Edwin, what is it that you want to be?”

I replied, “What do you mean?”

“What do you want to be and do?”

I was puzzled. While many people had asked me that before, I usually gave an esoteric answer like, “I want to be an artist who inspires the world.” But when he asked, something froze inside me. I couldn’t find the right words.

I knew what he was looking for, but I couldn’t give it to him. He wanted a concrete answer: an illustrator, a background designer, a character designer, etc.

I stammered, “An artist… a comic book artist.” I loved comics, so it felt right, but the truth was, I didn’t know. I just wanted to make art.

He asked, “Do you really want to?” I answered, “Honestly, I don’t know.” I felt my face turn red as everyone stared at us.

“I can tell you don’t know. Everything in your art feels hesitant. Your characters, your backgrounds—some parts feel lazy, like you don’t give your characters the respect they deserve. It doesn’t feel like you want to be an artist, or a comic book artist, for that matter.”

Many would say this was harsh, but I knew he was right. He was testing if I had a solid goal, and it was clear I didn’t. He showed me exactly where he was right. Looking back, I realize I was being lazy and not respecting my craft. I was just coasting by, working hard but not doing my best.

After class, I remembered the students who had dropped out because they couldn’t handle his blunt truth. It took me a while, but I realized,

it was exactly what I needed.

I had never received such brutal honesty about my work. I grew up with support and belief in my potential, but that made me think I could coast without putting in the real effort. I was wrong, and there wasn’t a better person to tell me.

Finally home, still feeling the sting of my ego, I remembered what inspired me—friends, family, and shows that always taught me not to give up. It was okay to feel pain and suffer through it. I grabbed my sketchbooks, looking through my work, and told myself I had to get better.

I may not have known exactly what I wanted to be, but I knew I wanted to make good art that inspired people. Maybe, if I kept getting better, that blurry vision of a dream would clear, and the path would reveal itself.

From then on, I chose to work harder, smarter, and simply get better.

I did.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

As a society, we need to strive for a greater sense of beauty. That means buying from original creators who make beautiful works of art. A piece of art can be a painting, a dress, or even a dining table with silverware.

Being surrounded by beauty is essential. There is a sense of sterilization in the arts now, and the focus on modernism has transformed the arts into something very mundane and self-referential.

There was a time when buildings were designed to be beautiful, street lamps were romantic, and people bought paintings that venerated higher ideals, like heroes or saints. This was a time when society believed in something greater than themselves.

Someone may ask, “How do you know something is beautiful?” You don’t need to think to know what beauty is; you feel it. It’s very similar to the feeling of joy. As long as we follow that intuition, not only will society grow, but our relationship with beauty and the reality we live in will change for the better.

It would make life so much more worth living.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.enochseasel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enochseasel/