My favorite part about this was that he apologized for potentially unintentionally scaring the person who asked at the end. Little courtesies like that are why I respect people like him.
Jim Lee is right! We live in an age now where as long as you have a piece of paper, pencil, internet and camera, you can touch the world! We have RU-vid, and other social platforms, books and videos to teach you the SAME things if not more than sitting in a class can do. The only difference is that you can tailor what you learn! The lessons and examples of all levels are out there. And get this, you can print and market your own stuff! There are no more gatekeepers! Do your art, learn by drawing what you love! Jim had a tutor, he took what he needed and won over the gatekeepers. He drew what he loved and he never gave up. Let the world be your tutor!
This is something that my Animation professor recently told me, school is good if you want to practice the art, it doesn’t necessarily make you better at it, it just gives you the practice that you didn’t know you needed. She even told me that you don’t need a masters or a bachelors, or any school experience really. All you need is a portfolio that will grab the attention of someone. As long as you’ve got work to show and it’s enough to make it past all the rejection you WILL face, then that’s what matters. But you still gotta put the work in there
Thank you, I was told the exact same thing by experts telling me that you need to have a good ass portfolio. I wanna get into programming as well as graphic design/digital art and I realized that a degree doesn't matter, well it helps, but what's most important is what I make. 🥲
Jim lee has been my favorite artist since I was a kid... I never knew he was this original and this true, I always just focused on his art. Now, I love him even more
Jim is so right. So many people, not just young people, want the easy route or someone to "tell" them what to do. Very few are willing to sacrifice and kill to get to where they want to be. This is why there is a 1%.
RB3 Setting goals and achieving success is a life skill Some kids learn it through sports if they have good coaching. Some people have parents who provide structure and teach good work ethic. But I think it’s important to have someone in your life who can teach lessons like this. You have to be willing to put in the work, though.
That was pretty good to hear; I think it was inspiring, coming from a legend like Jim Lee. Sometimes people need to have someone jump on them and tell them how it is.
That was actually a valuable lesson I got by going to art school. My high school art teachers had been full of encouragement. But once I got to college...brutal. It was a stark lesson in humility.
Let me tell ya' what I learned, and what Jim is saying; DRAW!! Just SIT DOWN and draw!! I'm lazy minded---I have to literally FORCE myself to get ON MY BUTT and just DO IT! I am not employed in any way, because "Making deadlines" takes ALL the fun out of it for me. But, I have to say---if ya' really WANT to make something of your Art---you gotta' WORK...Yeh, Work!! Get ON it! Your WELcome.
That wasn't a harsh response at all. That was a reality based response. The world doesn't care. YOU have to make your mark on the world. If it's given to you, it's worthless. If you sacrifice and suffer and work harder than you've ever worked to achieve something, when you get there, you'll enjoy it immensely.
When I was around 12 years old I emailed a few artists (one of them a comic book artist) and asked them how much money they made or if i could support a family, I don’t think they realized I was 12.
That was awesome. Jim was just being honest. It seems to me that a lot of young folks today don't want to earn their keep (success); they want it given to them.
I don’t think that’s necessarily true. I know plenty of older people who feel entitled to things. Work ethic isn’t dependent on generation. But it should be taught at a young age so people know how to succeed in life.
If a person have a talent to write a good story or book and with addition you have skill how to draw, ink and coloring then you have a chance. I wanted to be comic book artist I can draw in pencil but I can't write a book or have no talent in coloring or inking. I am still learning the pros and cons about it. If person wants to get out there to be comic book artist. Build your own story and create your own new character to see where it takes you?
I'm a beginner artist too and I want to write and illustrate comics but I feel so conflicted about my other hobbies or new things I'd like to try,but I do have a strong motive to commit to art and getting better.
