We recently connected with Kevin Betou and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned to do what I do by simply doing what I do. It’s that simple haha but for context I began my interest in drawing at a really young age, like around six or seven. I lived in France and I had an uncle who made money doing portraits of tourists. To be super blunt he was scamming them, he’d simply take their picture and trace the image. The final pieces always looked lifeless but they were happy and he was paid so he was happy. I thought it was so dope. Not the scamming part but the drawing part. I knew he was using a short cut but it didn’t matter, the idea of having nothing on a page then making it into something was fascinating. But, I didn’t want to just copy what was already out there in the world, I wanted to make my own. As I drew and created stories it was only a matter of time until I crossed paths with comics, the perfect bridge between drawing and story telling.

Later in life, I ended up in California attending Oakland School for the Arts. It was a charter arts school in which students did academics in the morning and art in the afternoon. I was reading manga and comics like crazy at this point, the stories were amazing but I was also learning. I was a student and every book had a new lesson. In addition I was also an ACTUAL student at the art school haha. Under the wing of Andrew Junge, Pablo Cristi, and Rob Underwood I was starting to come into my own as a visual artist. I knew what I wanted to do with my life at this point, I made my first self published comic in my senior year. People loved it but more importantly, I loved it. I haven’t stopped since that day. But honestly I haven’t stopped since my uncles portraits, but there was definitely a shift in that moment.

Sheesh that was a long winded intro haha let me get back on topic, what could I have done to speed up my learning process? Nothing. Straight up, not kidding haha. I draw everyday and have drawn everyday of my life since before I could speak English. There’s no magic tricks or shortcuts. I’m exactly where I should be and I should be exactly where I am because I put in the work. You just have to do it, whatever it is you do, and do it everyday. I promise it’s that simple. Not easy, but simple.

What skills were the most essential? Life drawing, which is simply drawing things from real life. It’s not the most fun but it is the most important. it’s the artistic veggies so to speak and you have to eat them. It’s okay to reference Comics and Manga but at the end of the day the art within these is someone’s simplification of what’s already out there. So if you draw that you’re taking it a step further and simplifying a simplification of the real world. The nuance in the real world is infinite and could never be fully captured. Better to go straight to the source, you know.

Bonus essential skill is learning how to learn. It’s important to know how to make yourself sharper in your craft because eventually, it’ll be just you. No school, no master, no nothing, just you. There’s so many resources out there to teach yourself how to do things these days but also knowing how YOU personally learn best is key. For example, I dropped out of college before taking any color classes. All my work had been black and white at that point. I knew I had to go further, so I taught myself via YouTube. It was frustrating and took two years to get a good grasp on it, but now all my books are in full color and absolutely stunning. It’s hard work but again ain’t nothing to it but to do it.

What obstacles stood in my way of learning more? Mainly myself, I get so in my own head about the stories I forget to set aside time to study.

Kevin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kevin Betou and I am a comic book artist from Oakland. I got into my field because I’ve always loved storytelling and drawing. Growing up though I didn’t see many characters I could relate to, so I made my own. I predominately draw and write comics about black and brown people. Right now I am working on my magnum opus Tempo. It is set in a world where people get power from music, bridging the gap between Hip-hop and Fantasy. I’m talking streetwear and knights and elves and rap, it’s really dope you should read it.

Outside of comics I also dabble in making clothes, I release a small capsule of shirts and hoodies designed by me with every book released. But drawing and storytelling are definitely my core. I can literally draw or write anything and make it dope.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is finishing up a book and watching the world you’ve had in you’re head for years finally start to take shape. All that time thinking about characters, dialogue, outfits, environments, story moments, all of it just coming together. It’s really something else.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Hmm, I think something non-creatives have a hard time wrapping their heads around is the monetary side of things. That is to say, money is the lowest artistic motivation for me. I NEVER make something with the intent to sell, the work is always always about the feeling it gives. Along the way, if someone wants to buy something, dope. If not, I’m never pressed because it’s never about that. If I just wanted to make a buck I’d draw anime is poppin’ right now and call it a day haha.

Contact Info:

• Website: kevinbetou.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kb2draws/
• Other: My work is available on my site but also at Neighborhood Comics, Planet Fun, and the Culturalist Union in Savannah, GA. As well as Cape and Cowl Comics and Dr. comics and Mr. Games in Oakland, CA

Image Credits
Ellen Kirkpatrick Kendrick Hall