"I make comics!" "Oh..."

[Wezboy]

I once was asked to draw one of my characters, on a napkin... with a blue ink pen... on one of my job interviews... could it be any worse than that? It's like, the whole room's eyes staring at me, probably judging me. I never felt so much like a sheep surrounded by a group of lions in all my life lol.

[joe_galindez]

Did you do it? Was it a reasonable request, or a good time to draw a giant middle finger?

[Wezboy]

I wish I could have drawn a middle finger, because I got so nervous because he got me by surprise hahaha, and if came out SO BAD I'm not used to draw with pens on napkins lmao

[Wezboy]

like... why the napkin bruh

[LCT_m_a_d]

Usually I get completely dominated or dismissed

Me "I'm working on a webcomic..."
Other person "oh i did a comic a few years ago!!! Here let me show you my first series that won xyz " talks for hours about their own art life story.

I kinda want to interupt them and say "wait didnt you at least want to know what my series is about?".

[Kura]

For me my family is very well aware that I work and make money off my comics and novels.

Though for relatives I don't often see much, it's more of a "You're still doing that? When are you going to grow out of that and do some real art?" while for people I don't know it's usually a "Oh so you work for MARVEL then????"

For the most part I just tell people I don't know that I work in sequential art, and they rarely pry further than that. While estranged family members, well nothing I can really do about that.

A lot of the time though it'll be on my end, I'll say I work on comics and the other party they will be really interested and ask me all kinds of questions about it... but I really don't want to go into it as it's not impressive since it's mostly just indi work unless I happen to land a contract, with even contracts all being indi work, and indi is something anyone can jump in on... so it's just not impressive at all. I got nothing to brag about.

[joe_galindez]

"Let me draw it in the air for you."

traces outline of gigantic humdinger

[xanedis]

"Yes, but I won't."
"I've got no time for lesser beings."

...The things that cross our heads, but we never say. Maybe that's for the better. XD

[NanettesClouds]

Heads up in case ya'll want to continue the artists VS writers discussion I've made a new thread here:

The title is a bit of a joke, and I certainly don't want this conversation to turn into a fight. My other thread sorta derailed into the ol' "artists vs writers" argument, and I think the discussion that was happening there was interesting, and that there's more to be said, but talking about it in the other thread would be inappropriate. Here's how I wan't to frame this discussion though. The question isn't "Who's job is harder, Artists or Writers?" It's "What are the specific challenges…

I'm glad that this thread has gotten back on topic at this point :V But I feel like there's def more to be said on the other topic.

[panda3291]

Other Artists: You need to pick a specialization to get into one of the bigger jobs and focus on that.

Family: Pfft. That's not a real job. You're a waste of talent.

Other people: THATS AMAZING. WHY ARE YOU WORKING HERE? WHY ARENT YOU WORKING ON MOVIES?!

[themecraftmail]

I once saw my friend had webtoon, and I produced to ask if he new any comics about squared faces, and said no.
I never talked to him again,(that part was fake).

[Rhombik]

I don't tell many people but the ones I do are usually quite supportive and nice.

But I do present it as a learning aid, not as a comic.

I tend not to bring it up unless it comes up in conversation. I'm not against a bit of self-promo but I like to choose my moments. It seems to pay off.

[Kimmicomics]

Usually when I tell people that I make comics, They are surprised and they always ask if i also make the Donald Duck comics.
Then My face usually goes to squidward mode, and I show them my horror manga. Usually after that they tent to say thing like oh woah that is different or looks good. Or I didn't expect this.

SO the horror is kinda breaking the ice,...

[Kimmicomics]

Usually I just start doing other stuff or pretend that I get a text message XD
I have bumped into some of those. It can be really annoying. Usually I give them a minute or two to wrap it up, and if not I'll lead the conversation somewhere else.

[NanettesClouds]

They are surprised and they always ask if i also make the Donald Duck comics.

That's such a specific question??? Why Donald Duck comics of all things?

SO the horror is kinda breaking the ice,...

I feel that, my comic is this weird campy psychological horror thing, I think people have trouble wrapping their heads around what it is and so that tends to get me a bit more good-will once i show it to them.

[Zugaikotsu]

I suggest super sexy eggplant to be your sidekick!

[Kimmicomics]

That's such a specific question??? Why Donald Duck comics of all things?

In the netherlands, Everyone... and I litteraly mean... EVERY-FRIGGIN-ONE. Grew up with the Donald Duck comics.
They were the entertainment for people back in the day with no ipads and shit

So... when I yell COMICS. everyone will remember their childhood and their Donald Ducks...
( me on the other hand I grew up with W.I.T.C.H, cause... gurlstuf.... ) XD

I think people have trouble wrapping their heads around what it is and so that tends to get me a bit more good-will once i show it to them

I have the same thing. Usually people have expectations when seeing my work. But when the great plot twist or the event occurs, people are sort of.. shocked.. to see that there are comics that are definitely not for children.

[xanedis]

Aye, it's the same thing in Finland(the bit about Donald Duck comics). I think it might be a Scandinavia thing in general, too.

[NanettesClouds]

That's super interesting, I feel like so much of comics-history is america-centric that the experiences and cultures of other countries comic scenes kinda gets lost. (I guess that goes for A LOT of history but whatever).

Maybe this is another spin-off thread topic.. Who knows.

[YangKoete]

Ya just need to get them interested about the story.

Don't even say it's yours.

Then at the end of your big description, ask;"Do you wish someone drew it? Yes? Because I did."

Just change up your words~