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

Hi Joshua, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always appreciated art, and there’s rarely a time where you won’t find me carrying a comic book around! “Batman: The Killing Joke” was one of the first comics I bought in middle school, and I remember my mind melting at Brian Bolland’s extensively detailed illustrations. Everything just popped from his linework. My love for art only continued to grow through high school, especially in 2013 when we moved to San Francisco. This move was an ultimately positive change for my personality, because it allowed for me a period of growth and change for ideas I never thought I’d be interested in. This was a time of discovery despite how terrified I felt at the time. I owe a lot to the “Amazing Fantasy” comic book store on Ninth & Irving St in the Sunset District, where I discovered “Batman: Hush”. Jim Lee’s artistic direction with “Batman: Hush” made me realize that I wanted to be a comic book artist, despite having never taken an art class. I remember rushing back home from school and spending whatever free time I had copying the poses and panels out of the comic book, just practicing the fluidity and motion his was able to give his figures. They felt so alive. This hunger to become an artist only strengthened with David Finch’s run on “The Dark Knight: Knight Terrors”. That same time in High School, I decided to pursue visual art at the end of my Junior year. I took a class that summer at Academy of Art University, got a portfolio together, and attended a national portfolio day in SF, where I applied to California College of the Arts! Had I not pushed myself, I most likely would have ended up in another school instead of CCA. I still carry these books with me all of these years later, and run to them as a source of inspiration whenever I feel an artistic block. You can see a heavy influence from both of them in my work, now! I owe a lot to their work.

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 Joshua Cousin, and I am an analog illustrator based in Durham, North Carolina. I was born in Durham and attended the Durham School of the Arts until 2013 (my sophomore year), at which point I relocated to San Francisco, California with my parents. I attended and graduated from the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco in 2015. I earned my BFA in Illustration from California College of the Arts in 2019, and have been a freelance illustrator for the past four years. I was very eager to return to my home of Durham, and moved back in October 2021. I’ve been described as soft-spoken, and have often felt empowered to use my illustrations where my words may fall short. I thrive in environments where innovation and experimentation are encouraged and I love to explore new concepts. Most of my work is rendered with ink/cross hatching as my main style, attributed to my love for comic book illustrations. That being said, I am also able to work in charcoal, as well as oil paint, and various online mediums. In 2019, I had several art shows, with my work currently on display at Self-Designs Art Gallery in Sacramento, CA. I am a local artist at Cecy’s Art Gallery in Downtown Durham, and have also had my work featured in two of their gallery exhibitions this past year. My work has gone viral online, through Tiktok, Reddit, and Instagram. That being said, I would love the opportunity to showcase my artwork in more conventional settings, e.g., such as exhibits, galleries, showings, etc. I am also always looking for employment opportunities that allow me to utilize my gifts and talent. I am currently accepting commissions, and I’m always open to any and every opportunity where I can showcase my artwork!

Personally, in terms of a larger goal, I would really love to inspire someone. Nothing would bring me greater joy than making artwork that a kid would one day use as their inspiration to create art. I would love to inspire someone, just as the art world, in general, came to be my saving grace during my darkest moments. If I can spark the audience’s creativity, then I’ve more than done my part!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the biggest benefit we can all gain from as artists is consistent interaction! Any bit of interaction helps. Sharing our work, purchasing our work, even simply talking about it to other colleagues/friends/family. All of these go such a long way, and it allows us to keep being able to not only do what we love, but it also financially supports us enough to KEEP being able to pursue our craft. I love what I do, and I recognize that part of my journey is thanks to the constant love and support my friends and family provide me with. Your support helps encourage us to keep going and creating. I want to keep inspiring people, and I want to continue to be inspired by other people. Support is how we can continue to achieve that goal.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

This is something I’m still unlearning, but it’s okay to take a break from what you love. I’m learning to take it easier on myself with my work output. As much as I love social media and how it’s allowed me to show my art to the world, I can also say it’s done as much damage as it has support. I was at a place two years ago where I was churning out 3-4 pieces a week to keep my audience interaction high, and while the results were wonderful, I felt myself burning out quicker and becoming more and more overwhelmed with a lack of ideas. Some of my best work recently has simply come from taking a break, stepping away, and coming back after a couple of days. Two years ago, I went through a big burnout where I didn’t create anything for about a month. When I need a break, I tend to go back to my source of inspiration to remind myself why I love being an artist. I re-watched Lord of the Rings, and immediately got my drive back. I drew a picture of Gandalf the Grey in charcoal, and it turned out to be one of my best portraits. All of that happened from taking a break from my art. Your skills will not diminish, and your work will be waiting for you whenever you choose to return. It’s important to take care of yourself. Life is short, so it’s important to not forget to enjoy it. It’s okay to recharge.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jcousinart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_insane_mr_j/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-cousin-b62422155/
• Tiktok Handle: jcousin29
• Gmail: Jcousin29@gmail.com