Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Lee
Hi Eric, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a writer and illustrator of my own web comics series: The Breakup Artist- a tale about a woman who other women hire to breakup with their boyfriends. When I was young, I had a deep affinity for American comics and art. As a child, I always carried a clipboard of paper to draw. This later grew into filling notebooks and notebooks with my drawings. But it wasn’t until I became a young adult that I dabbled in writing as well. It turns out that I have been bitten by the writing bug too.
I have since then moved onto collaborating with fellow writers to help them get their own comic series of the ground. The partnership creative process is also highly rewarding, since it allows me to bounce ideas back and forth with another person.
Comics are my favorite medium of storytelling bar none. They are a fantastic way to synthesize art and writing into one package. I enjoy crafting characters, making stories, and putting so much of my personal self into my comics. It can also be a highly collaborative process too- which makes it less lonely than if you were writing your own novel. I love writing and drawing, but most of all- I love comics!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been so many bumps and obstacles along my journey when pursing art and comics writing. However, the most persistent one is crippling self-doubt. It is easy to think you are not good enough in your art or writing. It can be discouraging- especially when you compare yourself to more accomplished people out there. It really prevents you from doing things. It prevents you from continuing a writing project or from wanting to submit your work. If you can push past your self-doubt, then you open yourself up to a world of possibility that you couldn’t even imagine.
However, this is not a one-time challenge. Gathering the confidence in yourself and your work is a never-ending process. You need to continue to overcome your insecurities and affirm to yourself that you are talented and have a unique voice that needs to be heard. Once you get into a rhythm, then your art and writing can become more of consistent and flourish.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am most proud of my first web comic work: The Breakup Artist. The story felt personal for me and it helped me really understand the ins-and-outs of the creation process. I wrote it while I was studying to become a psychologist, so I had a unique lens about dating that goes beyond a typical rom com story. I like to think that this mixture of funny, light writing style-combined with my psychology training makes me different from other creatives.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you like to catch me live and in-person, I do art shows around California regularly. I always appreciate interacting with fans or meeting potential new collaborators at the shows. You can also find me online on my social media links.
I am an easy-going collaborator. However, I do like to bring in my own ideas and takes on projects. I think collaborations should be a competition of what are the best ideas that will help each individual project. I will throw out thoughts on how the project may be improved, while also respecting my creative partners’ visions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meeleeart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meeleeart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meeleeart
- Other: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/the-breakup-artist/list?title_no=216034
Image Credits
Art by Eric Lee
Photograph by Sherry Lee