Art Heroes

If you look back to the beginning of this blog, and the beginning of the year, you’ll find that I set myself a bit of an ultimatum: Get serious about succeeding in the arts or give up and get a normal job.

I’ve been playing in the arts since I was about 17 and, although I always had the intention of making it my job, I’ve never been able to do so. I made short films and music from about that age but I was far too stubborn to join in with either of those industries and decided to be completely DIY, without having enough skill, experience or money to pull it off. I’ve got a scriptwriting degree but I can’t find the motivation to develop TV scripts that most definitely will never be bought. I have, however, been making some money doing comics.

Along with Jack Fallows, I’ve been running comic book workshops in schools, libraries and anywhere else that would have us for the last two years. These have been fairly successful but due to other commitments, the workshops never really reached their potential.

With Gary Bainbridge and a handful of other artists, I’ve been working on Sugar Glider and a few other titles for over a year. Since my first publications went on sale last November at Thought Bubble ‘10, I’ve shifted well over 300 units and received rave reviews for my work. But, again, I feel like I’ve not been able to do as much as I would want to as everyone is making comics in their spare time - and everyone has precious-little spare time!

Another frustration factor has been my “day” job (I work evenings as a Youth Work Assistant). Not only is this job in constant threat, it has also changed so dramatically over the last few months that it is no longer the same job I started three years ago.

All of these things (and more too tedious or petty to include) drove me to the self-imposed ultimatum I blogged about when I first switched over to Tumblr.

Now that it’s nearing the end of the year, I suppose I should have made some decisions and moves towards success or, quite frankly, I should be getting myself a ‘real’ job and start contributing to society. (yes, that was a little tongue-in-cheek)

Art Heroes is the answer to all these problems. Or, at the very least, the beginning of the answer. But what is Art Heroes.

Art Heroes is the trading name of the partnership business I’ve set up with Lee Robinson. I met Lee back in March after our mutual friend Ruth Comer told Lee that I’d be the best person to talk to in regards getting started in comic books. As is my way, I immediately convinced Lee that it would be a good idea to draw the Anthony mini-comic that came with issue 2 of Sugar Glider.

In the most basic terms, Art Heroes is a comic book publishing company, which also runs comic book workshops in schools, libraries and any other establishments that wants them. Over time, we’ll also be pitching other companies with the intention to develop content for other publications and mediums.

The first Art Heroes comic, Halcyon and Tenderfoot, will be released 4 times per year starting in March 2012. However, we’re working incredibly hard to get a preview #0 comic ready for Thought Bubble next week. I’m sure we’ll get it done… This A5 black and white preview will be just £1.50, though you will be able to buy a digital version for £1.

Here’s a lettered rough version of page 1. Lee hasn’t done the finished artwork on this yet, but it already looks great:

The Art Heroes website is not finished yet (we’re doing a comic at the minute!) but if you want to have a little look, go here.