We were lucky to catch up with Suzi Blake recently and have shared our conversation below.

Suzi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Ever since I could remember, I have wanted to become an artist in some capacity. Some of my earliest memories involve my brother and I watching Pokémon on our box TV downstairs, trying to sketch our own cards to battle each other. I was never great at expressing myself verbally, but drawing became the perfect medium to capture my thoughts.

Through high school and early college, I continued to study visual arts across the board (graphic design, animation, and editorial illustration). It wasn’t until I was studying abroad in Japan that I truly focused in on comics.

An alumnus who had moved to Osaka for work visited our small 20-person group to recount his experience in the industry. We all huddled around a conference table, scrambling with our art supplies to jot down every piece of wisdom as he began to talk. No time to explain why my pencil bag on the table was labeled “SILVERWARE” in masking tape from the multiple out-of-state moves in my lifetime.

As he spoke, he mentioned working with pre-written characters felt like giving back to the artists that inspired him in the first place. It is a feeling akin to Christmas magic. While it is awe-inspiring to experience that magic as a child, one grows up and finds it is even better to BE Santa for someone else. It immediately struck me. My purpose became to continue that magic and draw for the next generation. From there, I pursued what is known as “licensed comics,” or comics that feature characters adapted from other forms of media. By some twist of fate, here I am again, sketching characters from that small TV screen.

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?

Of course! I am a freelance comic artist based in St. Louis, though I was born and raised in Maryland. Like many creatives in my industry, I was absolutely enamored with animated shows and comics. My upbringing had some darker moments, but through these fantastical settings and characters, I could easily connect with others through a shared interest. I was that embarrassing child that wore cheap costumes to comic conventions, doodled Dragon Ball all over my tests in class, led the high school anime club with a bunch of nerds, and I loved every minute of it.

I went on to study Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). There I had the most incredible professors and mentors, all deeply passionate about the craft. As excited as they were to continue their own thriving careers, they seemed equally thrilled to promote us in the industry and cheer us on. I wouldn’t be where I am without their guidance. Through one of their portfolio reviews, I received a job offer from Webtoon to work as a background artist for Batman: Wayne Family Adventures. It felt unreal. I was incredibly honored to be a part of a team with such talented artists. Following that, I was brought on to be the storyboard artist for the official Skullgirls Webtoon while working as a cover artist for Oni Press on projects such as Rick & Morty and Aggretsuko. I feel blessed to work on so many dream projects in the past few years.

It took a lot of time to accept that cringier side of myself growing up. I made so many silly mistakes learning to interact with the world, but I wouldn’t take it back in a heartbeat. Nothing felt more fulfilling than watching the art I’ve made be published, shared, discussed, and celebrated in the same way I consumed it growing up. I’m still very early in my career, but I am thrilled about the projects ahead. Regarding your craft and how you go through life, my professor phrased it best: “Allow yourself to suck. Just don’t stop.”

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

Sometimes, I still can’t believe how I survived 2019 going into 2020. During my final semester of school, I simultaneously worked as a server for upwards of 70 hours a week at several restaurants under the same owner; I designed a series of marketing materials, including the logos, menus, signage, social media posts, and merchandise for my sister’s phenomenal, healthy-style restaurant, McFlamingo by Jacksonville; and, I finalized my senior thesis, all while sleeping on a futon (like I said, embarrassing!). I remembered days when I would be working from the crack of dawn well into midnight with a 90-minute break for lunch. During this, I would take my bowl of pho to this liminal space in the attic of the restaurant, where I would continue my design work on a desk fashioned from two soy sauce barrels and a plank of wood.

Through so many bouts of struggle and trauma, I could have easily gone a different, less fulfilling direction, but I had a strong support system in my family and friends. Throughout the pandemic, I poured myself into as many networking opportunities and passion projects as I could. One project was a small fan calendar for this comedy band, Ninja S*x Party. As January, I chose to draw the song “Danny Don’t You Know,” a power ballad written from the perspective of the lead singer speaking to his younger self, assuring him of his worth and the many positive things awaiting him in the future. It felt perfect, and as my portfolio cover, it coincidentally led to many exciting projects.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Definitely!

For Organization Purposes: my bullet planner has become essential in managing multiple projects simultaneously. As a freelancer, I can’t recommend it enough for keeping track of deadlines or invoices, and a weekly planner helps breaks down large projects into more manageable steps. It’s also fun to sketch out upcoming events and paste in photos/keepsakes as you go along.

For Networking Purposes: attending comic conventions or portfolio reviews can be very valuable for meeting people in the industry, but there are so many virtual spaces as well, especially in the last few years. Try and join as many zine projects as you can. It not only trains you to create art under tight deadlines, but it is also a wonderful chance to meet fellow creators! Additionally, drawing jams hosted by larger art communities, such as Lightbox Expo, create a unique opportunity to draw alongside professionals on the same canvas.

For Drawing Purposes: there is a litany of resources at your disposal. A positive result of social media includes all kinds of artists willing to share their processes. Just go out and practice. Draw master studies of your favorite shows on screen or in comics. Redraw memes featuring your favorite characters. Make it fun, and creativity will follow.

Additionally, I’d be happy to answer any questions or help if anyone wants to reach out!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.suziblake.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzi.b_doodles/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzi-blake-doodles/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuziB_Doodles