We were lucky to catch up with Riley McAndrews recently and have shared our conversation below.

Riley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I have experienced both sides of the workload spectrum. When I was an artist in residence at Studio Kura in Itoshima, Japan, my only task was to create art. I was fresh out of college, experiencing the full freedom of the “artist lifestyle” which became overwhelming in its own right. Creating my own schedule and deadlines and becoming my own manager was an adjustment after 16 years of academia. After my residency, I returned to the states and needed to support myself. I am still at the very start of my art career. Because of that, I have a “regular job” as a sales coordinator and 3D printing technician at a 3D printing production facility. It utilizes the skills I learned in my digital media classes of my degree, but I am constantly learning in this position. In a way, the machines have their own art and I have the opportunity to work with sculptors, engineers, and other creators.
Many people look down on artists that don’t make art full time, yet they discourage younger artists by saying “don’t quit your day job” if the art doesn’t meet their own personal standards. The balance between art-income and other income sources depends entirely on the individual artist.
Admittedly, time management with a full time job and a growing art career is difficult. My time to create is condensed into evenings and weekends, but the restraints motivate me to be even more efficient with my time and seek projects that have more meaning to me. I strive to find a balance between a steady income, a healthy level of work, and a steady artistic output in order to feel fulfillment with my career.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an interdisciplinary artist from Colorado specializing in illustration and sculpture. I am a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelors of Arts, emphasizing in digital media studio arts, and a minor in Japanese. In my work, I often explore memories and experiences as well as language, relationships, and identity. I love working in a narrative style and find a lot of joy in creating long form comic work. I often work in a whimsical style suited to children’s illustration, but I also take inspiration from manga and YA graphic novel literature and memoirs. I’ve always been interested in art, but my focus has changed rapidly and often in the past few years. Entering college, I wanted to be an animator for children’s networks, which then transitioned to a desire to become a storyboard artist. After my introduction to sculpture class, I decided to pursue 3D work to be showcased in galleries, but it did not satisfy my need to make narrative sequential work. Nowadays, I am pursuing illustration work and am looking for an illustration agent to represent me.
I am the author and illustrator of two ongoing webcomic series, “Cinnamon and Pear” – an LGBTQ love story, and “odds & ends, evens & beginnings” – a slice of life diary comic, both of which can be read on Tapastic.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Although I have completed many individual projects during my career, my most meaningful works have been part of large collections – my first being “I Hope the Flowers Were Worth It”. This collection showcases my story of healing from a traumatic accident. In the summer of 2022, I had a terrible fall from faulty scaffolding that shattered my right heel, broke bones in my left foot, knocked out five teeth, crushed my maxilla bone, broke bones in my left hand, and sent my mental health into a terrible spiral. Despite being physically unable, all I wanted to do during this time was make art. Journaling and creating visual works are how I like to communicate with myself and my emotions, especially in times of distress. Once I regained dexterity in my dominant hand, I began drafting pieces which would eventually become my undergraduate senior show “I Hope the Flowers Were Worth It” in December of 2022. This project holds the most meaning for me as it acted as a form of therapy and a record of my resilience. Although I have no formal training or knowledge in the art therapy field, I cannot stress enough the impact making artwork had on my recovery. Each piece referenced a journal entry from that summer, combining my written and visual thoughts. Finishing each work represented coming to terms with the emotions and events associated with it, with the final one being an all-encompassing installation completed the week of the show opening. The act of putting the final flower on the chalk outline helped me process that the worst was over. I still had much more healing to go and I wouldn’t be “done” until June of 2023, nearly a year after the accident, but it gave my the closure I needed.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being understood in a deeper way than words can convey. I often struggle to voice my thoughts directly, finding it easier to use comics or illustrations to express them. When people view these works and interract with them, it brings me joy and a sense of connection that is hard for me to acheive through conversation. Being an artist also gives me something tangible to record my life with. Much of my work deals with memories and experiences. Retaining the little moments and thoughts is the driving purpose behind my diary comics “odds & ends, evens & beginnings”. I have mountains of sketchbooks chronicling my journey, my memories, and my life. Some of those memories are only clear to me now because I took the time to draw them.
For me art is a form of connection, not just between myself and others but also to connect with myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rileymcandrews-art.com/
• Instagram: @smiley_riley_productions (https://www.instagram.com/smiley_riley_productions/?hl=en)
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/riley-mcandrews-541b68232
• Other: Cinnamon and Pear: https://tapas.io/episode/1233578 odds & ends, evens & beginnings: https://tapas.io/episode/2741196

Image Credits
Woody Myers