This is real i promise!X3
Last year i was in a class called Career Development. For the final project we had to interview sumone in the field we want to get into when we get older. Of course being a drawing loving otaku, i want to be a manga-ka. Huh but no manga artists live around here...what was i to do.....sooooo I sent several emails so several American Manga artists and one of them replied!
Lindsay Cibos the Manga-ka for Tokyopops Peach Fuzz emailed me back! Yay! Ill love her forever and i own her manga!X3
so heres the interview.
1.How did you decide to go into this field?
I've pretty much always had an interest in art, and I've enjoyed telling
stories through the use of the comic medium since I was a teen. It
seemed like a natural career choice for me.
2. Manga artist always talk about how deadlines can be stressful. Is
this true? How many hours a day do you have to work to be able to make
deadlines?
The process of putting together comic book is very time-consuming. I put
in about 8 to 10 hours a day, every day. From writing the initial
concept to putting the finishing touches on the artwork, it takes about
six to seven months for Jared and me to put together a full 160-page
book. That breaks down to around a day and a half spent on each page.
3.What are the differences from drawing for fun and drawing for work?
Does drawing for work seem less enjoyable?
I feel passionate about the work I produce, so it doesn't feel any less
enjoyable than the art I do "for fun". Because of deadlines, however,
sometimes you have to force yourself to draw even when you don't feel
like it.
4. What kind of schooling did you have to go through to gain the skills
you needed to be a manga artist?
Aside from art classes I took in high school, I'm mostly self-taught.
Just a lot of practice (I've been drawing for as long as I can
remember), trial and error, and studying the works of other artists.
5.How did you get the job as a manga artist?
Tokyopop discovered me through my entry in their Second Rising Stars of
Manga competition.
6.Do you ever feel restricted in what you are allowed to put in your
story? Have you flat out been told ‘no you can not put that in there?
It depends on the artist and what they are trying to accomplish, but in
my case, not at all. My editor has always been very open to all of my
ideas. Sometimes my editor will offer suggestions for ways to improve
the story, but otherwise he gives us free reign to do as we wish.
7.What parts of your job do you like the most/least?
All aspects of the creation process have its ups and downs. For example,
I love coming up with story ideas, but fine-tuning the final script can
be a tedious process. Likewise with the artwork.
8.How do you deal with what you don’t like?
You just have to keep pushing through it. As a professional, there's no
time for "artist blocks".
9. How does it feel to hold the completed, published manga in your
hands? Does it give you a sense of achievement?
In a word, exciting! It's a lot of work to put together a book, but
seeing the finished product on the bookshelf next to all the other manga
that I enjoy reading makes it all worthwhile.
10.What kind of salary can a beginner artist even begin to hope for?
That depends on the publisher, but as a general rule to some, don't
expect to get rich! At first, you may have to supplement your income
with a part-time job.
11.Are OEL’s allowed to be longer than a trilogy? (All the OEL I have
seen were three books or less)
Again, depends on the publisher. I tend to agree that three volumes is a
good starting point, especially for a beginner. That's a three-year
obligation--no small task. I have seen successful titles expanded into
additional volumes.
12.Is there any other advice could give me about becoming a manga artist?
If you're interested in art and comics, my first piece of advice would
be to keep practicing and refining your skill, and never give up: it's
not something that can be learned overnight. Second is, when developing
a series, start small. It's fun to think up an epic story that will span
20+ volumes, but it's far more important to first try developing
something with a definitive beginning, middle, and end. Starting with a
goal that's easier to reach will help keep you motivated.
And thats what she had to say. Thank you Lindsay again!(even though its not like ur going to see this but watever!)
Rai-chan
