The Right Artist for the Job
Pairing Art and Story
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Andrew Rodriguez
Comic books are one of the most wonderful mediums of entertainment. The pairing of art and story is not unique to comics. However, the manner in which it is accomplished is far more so within the realm of Western comics and manga. Now, comic books are a visual medium—the story is crucial, yes, but the art is no less so. The art is what separates comics from many other forms of storytelling entertainment. Just as you wouldn’t want an overabundance of large blocks of text in a comic book panel, so too should the use of the art be appropriate to the story.
Why the Right Artist is Crucial
Getting the right person for the job is something we aim to see in our entertainment as a whole. We want the correct casting of characters for on-screen adaptation performances, and this can be applied to the sequential art within a comic book as well. And just as a particular actor can be a talented performer of their own merits but incorrect for a given role, in the same way, a genuinely skilled artist can be the wrong fit for a comic book. But how do you know who the right artist for your book is? To answer that question, we must look at what the job of the artist in the realm of comics truly is.
Understanding the Artist’s Role
Every story has a tone set by the writer. Combined with the setting and genre, that tone sets the stage for how a story should generally look on the page through the art. The artist visually tells the story for the reader.
Matching Style to Tone
When seeking out an artist for your comic book or graphic novel script, you should seek out those with styles who would best represent the tone of your book. Are you writing a grotesque or gnarly horror or monster book? You likely want to stay away from artists whose styles are brighter and not suited for your darker tone. Conversely, the late Bernie Wrightson of Swamp Thing fame is a phenomenal template to think about when shopping for artists to commission. Is your story a high-octane action piece? You’ll want to seek artists who excel in dynamic movements, such as Brett Booth, in order to sell that to your audience.
The Consequences of Misalignment
This may seem remedial for those who may have already produced a comic book, but for those who are newer to the endeavor, it is a vital part of the process. Without an artist whose style complements the writer’s story, the audience will likely not experience the emotional story beats you spent countless hours crafting in the way you intended. Worse yet, they could be left feeling a bit cheated because the visual storytelling didn’t match your premise and written tone.
The Importance of Compatibility
To use the aforementioned examples, if your synopsis tells your readers to expect a dark and monstrous tale that may delve into the gruesome and horrific, but you’ve commissioned an artist whose style isn’t remotely compatible with that, then no matter how expert that artist may be in their style, they will be ill-suited to your project as the visuals will be a far stone’s throw from what you told your desired audience to expect. In the same way, many artists have a fantastic grasp of layout, lighting, anatomy, and even how to draw characters in epic poses that exude a sense of awesomeness and imposing regality, yet aren’t quite the savants of dynamic motion in their work. For characters whose abilities or skills hinge on the showcasing of incredible agility, flexibility, or speed, such artists would ultimately detract from the character in a sequential scenario (though they may still be perfect for an epic cover or pin-up).
Overcoming Challenges in Finding the Right Artist
Finding the perfect artist for your project isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially if you have yet to build connections via networking with other creatives. But it is worth your time to be thorough in your search.
Key Considerations
Your favorite artist may not be the right artist for your project. Many first-time creators are on a tight budget and, therefore, must consider the artist’s page rate. Freelance artists, especially sequential artists, are in high demand, so availability and scheduling play a huge role here as well. Does the artist’s availability align with your goals and production schedule? Is waiting for a particular artist’s availability to open up something you can and want to do?
Pairing Your Writing with an Artist Like a Pro
Like a good steak and wine, an artist can be a powerful draw to a project when they’re properly paired with it. Comics are a visual medium of storytelling, and the direction of the art through which your readers will experience your story can make or break even the strongest and most well-thought-out of stories.
Example of a Perfect Match
For examples of the right artist for the job, take a look at ‘The Art of Joe Bennett: Alphacore’ in the site shop and Michael Montenat’s interior art that brings the Soska Sisters’ hauntingly horrific story to life on the page in Bloodruth #1, available to pre-order now!
