Are You a Creator or an Artist?

[Tieback]

When I first started my current comic, the characters I created felt just like that, creations. And every time I, the creator, pulled the strings they would obediently dance for me. Up until now, I’ve only created short comics, usually ten to twenty pages in length. And due to the short time frame of these stories, I didn’t spend much time with the characters. I realize now that this lack of involvement, robed me of the opportunity to truly get to know any them.

The comic I’m currently working on, I’ve given my sole creative attentions to for over a year. And as the comic has progressed, I’ve come to better understand each of the characters. It’s like I roughly carved them out of marble, and each page, each sentence, each expression further carves out their form. And it’s progressed to a point where I’m not always pulling the strings anymore. Some of these characters have become so well defined that they think, act and speak on their own. And I, the artist, merely record their activities.

My role is shifting from creator to artist. I didn’t fully grasp the difference between these two words until now. I may write the story’s plot to go one way, but the characters will pull it in another. I started a webcomic because I wanted a creative project I could have complete control over. And now that loss of creative autonomy has taken root, my worst fear, I’m surprised to say I couldn’t be happier.

~ Tieback

[anitacomics]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I appreciated it so much.

I did experience a similar thing with my own comic. It came a long way, as I had the idea in high school, then neglected it as a silly idea, then took it out again and wrote a pitch, then neglected again for a few years. I
Now I've been writing it for about a year, and have drawn 80 pages. I've come to know better all of the secondary characters, while the main one remained untouched. I'm waiting for her to tell me more.

I still do feel like a creator. It might be because I'm not into the deep part of the story, or because this story in particular will never give me more. Anyway, writing this story about a family helped me know much more about myself and my family. I didn't choose to write about them, it came naturally, and I guess this counts as "art"

[yondoloki]

I'm not sure there is a difference between a creator and an artist... I usually use these terms interchangeable. To me a creator is a person who creates something, being it a new ice cream flavor a table or art. An artist just creates with words or images or other media to deal with and explore the human experience.

A comic to me is a creation, but it is also a piece of art. So I call myself both

[saerel]

Creator, here. I feel it'd be arrogant to call myself an artist : S

[timinabox]

neither, I'm just a dude who makes comics because I can x3

[xawien]

haha i'm more of an artist cuz i'm a hell lazy creator lol
this is my recent work

[indagold]

You can't be one or the other in order to produce good work. You have to be both. Creator implies creativity, having the drive to make something and release a good product. An artist has the technical and specialized skills to bring that creation to life. Not to mention it's basically the exact same thing. It's like asking "are you a writer or author?"

[shazzbaa]

The way you're using the words is interesting, because I tend to think of those words very differently! Just looking at the words themselves, I'd think of myself as a "creator" because "artist" doesn't seem to fully encompass what I do -- I'm not just here to draw pretty pictures; I want to create a world and a story and bring it to life.

The way you seem to be using them is more a question of: "Do you directly control every part of your work? Or does your work seem to have a life of its own, outside of your control?"

I'm gonna be honest, I kinda disagree with the idea that in order for your characters or world to be fully developed and alive and real, they also have to be out of your control. That's certainly a valid way to work, but I think it's equally possible to have characters that will make their own choices, and as a creator who knows them near-perfectly, build your story with those choices as a part of it.
Instead of going, "and then they'll go do [X] -- oh!! my characters don't want to do that at all! how alive they are!" -- instead, you can also start that decision knowing "my character's deepest desire is [X], which pushes him in this direction; that's the way he would choose go, so that's what he'll do, which will put him in conflict with this other character whose fear of [X] will drive her to stop him."

You can certainly learn more about your character the more you work with them (I love the marble analogy), and they can develop in ways you didn't see from the outset, and you can certainly end up reworking the plot when you find an option that rings more true...... but in the moments when I'm happiest with my work, I rarely see myself as out-of-control, with my characters doing whatever they like. I see myself less like a biographer or parent, and more like a deity -- I love them, and I love growing closer to them, but ultimately I know what's in their hearts and I create a perfect plan for them based on that!

[Rueleer]

It's really interesting how you say your role is shifting from creator to artist because of how you're infusing more meaning into your characters - since I'm the complete opposite! X"DD I prefer being referred to as a 'Creator'.

Though I have a feeling that a large part of that preference is due to the meaning of the word 'Artist' to me. An 'Artist' has always been, firstly, what you call an illustrator (of any kind), and what I find most people related the word to. I have also called myself an artist ever since I figured out how to upload to DeviantArt, so perhaps that lessened its meaning to me.

The title 'Creator' then gives me a lot more freedom, and a better chance to explain my role properly, instead of just being labelled with assumptions. Even if I make it specific, say, I refer to myself as a "Webcomic Artist", I sense that at least a handful of people would attribute that to me having only provided the art. I'd be much happier being a "Webcomic Creator", since that much more accurately describes my current position.

I may also be biased since I like Youtube Content Creators a lot, and I also have a wide range of interest for projects outside of illustration based work, and thus prefer the flexibility. Either way though, I don't think the title you give yourself matters much in the end, since much 'Art' seems to be made when someone perceives it as such. So whether you call it your creation, or your artwork, they have the same potential.

[Tieback]

Thank you for the kind comment. When I wrote and posted these thoughts, I was hoping to come across others who had a similar experience as I did. I know every person's journey can be unique when making a comic, but it is still fun to find others who's personal journey takes a similar turn as your own. Thanks again for the reply.

[LeoDormouse]

None of my business, but I think everything in your drawing is great except for the belly. Something about it just bothers me. Other than that, it looks great !

[keii4ii]

Some of these characters have become so well defined that they think, act and speak on their own. And I, the artist, merely record their activities.

I would consider myself a "witness" or a "reteller" as opposed to an "artist."

[T.S.Thorn]

H:3llo, I'm Ghost. Nice to meet you all. Let's see, I think of myself as both I write and I draw, but mostly write I'm still trying to perfect my art abilities. IMO, as long as you have creativity you can do anything, whether with words of pictures.

Here's one of my drawings:

[Tieback]

I really like your choice of words: witness or reteller I think we are expressing the same idea, but prefer to use different words. I love it!

[keii4ii]

The idea is definitely similar and possibly the same, but there might be some differences! Even with a real life event, if there are 10 different witnesses who were at the scene, you'll probably get 10 different versions of the event. So with a witness mindset, you're not just doing the drawings. You're bringing your own perspective as a storyteller. Plus, there might be some details that are fuzzy and you have to fill in.

[Tieback]

Indeed, 10 different witnesses results in 10 different stories. If you haven't already watched it, I think you might enjoy a 1950 Japanese film called "Rashomon". It's about 1.5 hours long. You can watch it with subtitles on youtube for free. Here's a link if you are interested:

[scythe]

I am and have worked as an artist many times in the past, but with regards to my comic, I consider myself a creator. The art is a monumentally important aspect to what I'm creating, but it's the creation itself which is why I'm doing it, not any recognition I might possibly receive for my art.

Or put another way, I'm doing this to make my creation, not kickstart a career as a comic book artist.

Hope that makes sense.