We recently connected with Mindy Indy and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Mindy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
All that being said, I’ll be real with you – I don’t make a “ton” of money from my art, even at this stage in my career, but I am surviving as a freelance artist in NYC, which is no small feat. I prioritize using my art skills every day rather than buying stuff I don’t need or eating out. I value paying for an art studio rather than being isolated working from home (which I did for many years). I’m at my art studio most days of the week – TI Studios, which is a wonderful community of well-seasoned artists that I learn so much from on topics of all kinds. I value taking on meaningful projects for small religious publishers and non-profits, rather than living in a bigger, nicer apartment. I value living in Brooklyn, where even though it’s more expensive in every way imaginable, I’m well connected IRL to artists, various art scenes, and everything that’s happening in NYC. I value writing and making the art for my creator-owned comic, AER HEAD, and launching multiple Kickstarters, rather than giving up rights to a big publisher (at least at the time of this posting lol!)
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started exhibiting in small comic conventions with my own mini comic, The Misfortune Cookie. The bigger the shows were, the more money I needed to make, so I started drawing character commissions. I eventually got accepted to New York Comic Con and MoCCA Fest, among many others. The prime of my convention days was exhibiting at San Diego Comic Con twice. All the while I was working on my passion comic, AER HEAD, which is the main reason I want to draw comics. Ever since I’ve had 2 successful Kickstarters for AER HEAD 1 & 2, I’m doing less shows. I plan to make about 10 issues of AER HEAD, with each Kickstarter being better than the last!
AER HEAD is the art I’m most proud of. It’s a sci-fi/comedy about a surfer who sees the future in his dreams. One night he predicts a giant solar flare will wipe out Earth, and needs to use his lifeguard skills to warn people! I went all out on making the drawings as cool as possible (especially the surfing in space scenes!), and I paint watercolor backgrounds and scan them in to look more like an animation. I totally geek out about the watercolors! Even though I could’ve colored the backgrounds in Photoshop, the real watercolors give the art that extra specialness that you just don’t see in any other comic because it’s a longer process with more steps. It makes me super happy when I hear of a friend or fan who really loved reading AER HEAD!
For freelance work, I make any illustration the most exciting it can be and specialize in depicting tricky or difficult subjects or visuals. I drew a weekly comic strip for the Dysautonomia Foundation for 7 years titled “No Tears: Life With FD,” which was a sweet comic depicting the real life struggles of people with familial dysautonomia. For the last few years, I wrote the comic as well.
I’ve found a niche working for Catholic organizations on Catholic subjects. As a faithful Catholic myself, I find that these projects are more meaningful. I’ve illustrated 2 books on saints titled “God’s Superheroes: Amazing Catholic Men” and “God’s Superheroes: Amazing Catholic Women,” where I pumped up the super hero theme on all these fascinating historical people of faith. I’m finishing up the colors on the sequels too!
Currently, I’m also animating for New York Vocal Coaching’s “Singing Dictionary” series on YouTube. Sometimes this involves simplified anatomical elements, which are challenging but rewarding when I get the parts to move just the way the client wants them to. I focused in animation in college, but got away from it for awhile. It’s come full circle, as animation work somehow seems to find me.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Now, especially with AI art that can be generated by anyone, original art created by real live artists should be elevated. Artist’s skills and expertise should be more valued over someone typing prompts. I think that society should view AI more as a tool to enhance art rather than using it to replace artists for production of art. However, AI is out there and we can’t control how others use it. If AI is to replace some artistic gigs and jobs, maybe the government should roll out UBI (universal basic income). Organizations could make grants and residencies more accessible so every artist could get one. Maybe new art organizations would emerge that could fund longer artist residencies, or something that comes full-circle, like you’re a resident artist for a year, and then become someone who leads the residency for another year, maybe teaching is part of it too. Maybe artist communities/colonies will grow. All that’s hypothetical for now, and at a larger level of organization, but on an individual level, if you’re buying a gift for someone, consider getting a handmade more special item from a local artist or someone on Etsy rather than buying mass manufactured stuff.
I also think more than ever, it’s important for parents and other adults to foster the seed of creativity in their kids and the youth in their communities. Usually the arts are the first thing to be cut from any budget, but schools and after-school programs need to prioritize the arts even more.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindyindy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyindy_art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindyindycomics