Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erik Reeves. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Erik, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I have been able to earn a Full-time living from my creative work for well over 20 years.
I remember first selling my Artwork to my classmates at Birdie Alexander Elementary School in Dallas,Texas when I was very young.
I would purchase a paper tablet and pencils from the tablet machine and pencil dispenser in front of the Principals Office every week.
I had a love for Visual Story Telling at a very early age.
I would fill each tablet with artwork, each page was fully colored and helped progress the story till the last page.
I remember doing a “JAWS” book and at the top of each page was a small boat going across the page and at the bottom of each page I had drawn the Giant Shark getting closer to the boat until it finally ate the entire boat.
I worked in the Food industry as a Cook learning to prepare entrées that not only tasted good but where also very pleasing to the eyes.
Then later I started working in Retail where I learned how to be a great salesperson and understand how to satisfy a customer’s needs.
I honestly believe working in those professions gave me the experiences that I use even to this day with my many incredible clients.
Being creative is fun but knowing how to share what you create with the world is a skill that is very necessary to have a successful Art career.
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?
My name is Erik Reeves and I am a Professional 2D-3D Character and Concept Artist that has worked in the Video Game Industry on Big Games like “TRANSFORMERS: War for Cybertron” and
I am a Professional Sketchcard Artist that has done work for Marvel Entertainment and Upper Deck Entertainment for Several Years!
I am a Full time Comic Book Artist, and the Creator of the Highly Acclaimed “Hoodratz In Space” comic book series available here https://www.indyplanet.com/hoodratz-in-space as well as the “Peacekeeper: Old World Order” comic series available here https://www.indyplanet.com/peacekeeper-old-world-order and the Fan Favorite “Throwd” comic book series available here https://www.indyplanet.com/throwd-goth-damned
I am a 2D-3D Animator.
I am the Author of the very Informative “How to Draw Comics from the Hood” Book series exclusively available here
and the CEO of Vear Graphics
-an independent Visual Entertainment and Advertising Resource company.
I attended the Art Institute of Dallas were I became good friends with other incredible and Successful Artists.
It’s because of this incredibly honest, sincere and always encouraging 20 plus years of friendship that still exists today that I was privileged to learn the many complexities of many different Creative industries.
I enjoy bringing my clients Stories to life visually and I truly believe that everyone has a story inside of them that they would love to tell if they had a way to get it out to the world.
I provide this service and more to my clients with Professionalism, Respect and the Highest regard for clients who may be working with a Professional Artist for the first time.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was to stop trying to be one of the best artists in any industry but to always strive to be the best…
If you do not become the best in your industry you will by default still become one of the best artists in your industry!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me the best aspect of being a Creative is that I have the ability to create things that did not exist yesterday and by doing so I have the ability to potentially change the world!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/Erikreevesart
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Erikreevesart
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Erikreevesart
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/Erikreevesart
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