We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jerry Bennett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jerry below.

Alright, Jerry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am utterly delighted to work as a full time illustrator. I worked for 16 years as operator of a machine that prepared interior pre-hung doors for residential homes, and it was exactly as exciting as it sounds, so I don’t even have to wonder what a regular job would be like. In fact, the year I was turning forty, I had made up my mind that I could no longer be working in that job when I hit that milestone birthday. I had been doing a ton of freelance work in the evenings and attending a lot of comic conventions selling work and networking, but it was a real leap of faith to go full time freelance. It did cut my finances in half, but I was never in need, and I realized how much happier and at peace I was when I did it.

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’ve been drawing since third grade when I bought 1977 Star Wars comics (in 1977) and traced all the ships and aliens in them until I could draw them from memory, and even create new ships and aliens I felt belonged in that galaxy far far away. I illustrate just about everything: covers and interior illustrations for magazine & book covers, tee designs including licensed ones for Marvel, Star Wars and Power Rangers, storyboarding for films/commercials, but my focus has always been on comics and graphic novels. I’m currently drawing Glamorella’s Daughter with writer Charles J. Martin for Literati Press. It’s a little known comic series, but it’s a collaboration I have been very proud of, taking a grass roots effort in comics creation, and garnering audiences all over the world through the volume collection trade distribution. Lately, I have been focused on writing my own story ideas, which has been a daunting, yet surprisingly satisfying undertaking. I have written a middle grade graphic novel, part of a trilogy, that I’m currently pitching to publishers.
I also teach workshops on the comics process, and serve as the current Global US Illustrator Coordinator for the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators), an international organization which helps members understand and find success in the children’s publishing industry.

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

People may or may not know the resilience it takes to pursue a career in publishing, especially in comics and graphic novels, not only because of the intense saturation of creators looking to find same success, but the amount of work it takes to create comics, and usually for very little compensation. I’ve been freelancing for over a dozen years now, and preparing to turn 53 years old, which many believe would be an era of well-groomed establishment in a career, but I’ve come to realize the wonderful journey of learning, evolving and connecting (commiserating) with like-minded creators in a career path I don’t plan to ever retire from. I want to create stories, period.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’ve always wanted to be a storyteller. At one time, I thought I wanted to be a Disney animator/director, but realized that my passion was always in comics, and I particularly love what comics can do, which I think is completely unique and distinct from any other storytelling medium. I’ve had lots of story ideas, and I’ve been taking the time to learn how to write and draw those stories, and really enjoying the process of discovery in learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thejerrybennettcom
• Instagram: @artistjerrybennett
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artistjerrybennett/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-bennett-9b731a47/
• Twitter: @comicbookjer
• Youtube: @jerrybennett
• Other: https://ko-fi.com/jerrybennett