Drawing because he loves it
http://firefox.org/news/articles/867/1/Drawing-because-he-loves-it/Page1.html
Dan Rafter
Dan Rafter is a freelance writer and editor. He's also the author of GEARZ, a new comicbook mini-series to be published in early 2008 by BlueWater Comics.
By Dan Rafter
Published on 11/12/2007
Artist Chris Noeth is making a name for himself in independent comics. And he's doing it because he's passionate about comics and storytelling. It's certainly not because of the money.
Independent artist tackles his dream job
Chris Noeth is one busy comics artist. He’s the artist on the cover story of Tales from the Crypt #4 from publisher Papercutz. He’s also the artist on Bluewater Productions’ It Came from the Sea … Again! Noeth, though, is an international artist, a resident of Muennerstadt, a small German town, so his work isn't concentrated only in the United States. He’s the artist, too, on the horror series Das Volk der Tiefe. How has he stayed so busy in such a fickle industry? Firefox News asked.
Firefox News: How long have you worked in comics, and what inspired you to enter this medium?
Christ Noeth: I started to draw at a very early age, right around the time I could hold a pencil. But instead of giving up like most people do, I continued to draw. I’m 36 now, and I had this dream to become a comic-book artist since I was 14. This was also the time I started to draw some very rough first comics, stories I did just for fun. I soon realized that my dream of becoming an artist could really come true. I started to work on some small fan projects at this time, and published my first work in some German fanzines.
FFN: Of course, it wasn’t always an easy journey, right?
Noeth: Because of the comics crash in the ‘90s, I decided to study computer science instead of trying to become a professional comic-book artist. My dream seemed lost because making a living by drawing comics was impossible at this time. While studying computer science, I began working in the game business as an artist on computer games like Far West, Railroad Pioneer and Lula3D. This was great because I had the chance to combine my love for computers with my love for art and creating. I also learned a lot working on games. Later, I moved on to work as a lead artist in mobile games where I was responsible for a team of seven international artists. Because comics got healthier over the last few years, I decided to quit my job and work as a freelance comic-book artist and illustrator. I did this at the end of April 2007. So my dream finally came true.
FFN: Were you a big fan of comics as a kid? If so, what kind did you like?
Noeth: I can’t think of a comic book that I didn’t like. I really loved superheroes from the beginning. I read everything from Superman and Batman to Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. I also loved comics like Tarzan and European comics like Asterix, Lucky Luke and Tintin. But I enjoyed superheroes the most, and it was a great time because they printed all the classics like the Jack Kirby and John Buscema comics and the Neil Adams work in the ‘70s for the first time here in Germany. That made it possible for me to grow up with all the fantastic comics.
FFN: What inspired you to get into comics?
Noeth: As a teen, I got the Stan Lee/John Buscema book How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way as a present. This was the moment I realized that I could become a comic-book artist. I made this my goal in life. It took a while, but finally it all worked out.
FFN: What do you enjoy most about drawing for comics?
Noeth: Working at home near my family, and the possibility to work in my pajamas all day long! And of course, it is great to build all these fantastic worlds and characters by only using a pencil and blank paper. It is great to work with other great talents like the writers and editors of the books.
FFN: On the other side, what do you enjoy least about working in this business?
Noeth: This is difficult because I’ve always wanted to draw comics, and there isn’t really anything that I don’t enjoy. Sometimes deadlines can be difficult to handle because I’m a perfectionist. I can’t work on pages as long as I’d like to. I have to force myself to lay down the pencil and move on to the next page sometimes.
FFN: How hard is it to break into the business?
Noeth: If you want to break in, you need three things: dedication, patience and, finally, a bit of luck. You need all of this to stay in the business after breaking in, too. It took me a long time to get into comics as a professional. I worked my way into comics by learning important things in the game business first. Never forget: It’s all about good storytelling.
FFN: What lessons have you learned about working in this field?
Noeth: I’ve learned that you really have to love comics to work as a comic-book artist. The love for this medium is the only thing that can stop you as an artist from working on better-paying jobs in advertising or on storyboards. I know many other artists who don’t want to do comics because they can make much more money drawing storyboards, for example. They all like comics, but they never will draw any. Drawing comics and telling fantastic stories is what I’ve always wanted to do, and this will never change. What really surprised me is how great it feels when you are holding your printed work in your own hands for the first time. It’s amazing, and from this moment on you know you did everything right.
Firefox News: How long have you worked in comics, and what inspired you to enter this medium?
Christ Noeth: I started to draw at a very early age, right around the time I could hold a pencil. But instead of giving up like most people do, I continued to draw. I’m 36 now, and I had this dream to become a comic-book artist since I was 14. This was also the time I started to draw some very rough first comics, stories I did just for fun. I soon realized that my dream of becoming an artist could really come true. I started to work on some small fan projects at this time, and published my first work in some German fanzines.
FFN: Of course, it wasn’t always an easy journey, right?
Noeth: Because of the comics crash in the ‘90s, I decided to study computer science instead of trying to become a professional comic-book artist. My dream seemed lost because making a living by drawing comics was impossible at this time. While studying computer science, I began working in the game business as an artist on computer games like Far West, Railroad Pioneer and Lula3D. This was great because I had the chance to combine my love for computers with my love for art and creating. I also learned a lot working on games. Later, I moved on to work as a lead artist in mobile games where I was responsible for a team of seven international artists. Because comics got healthier over the last few years, I decided to quit my job and work as a freelance comic-book artist and illustrator. I did this at the end of April 2007. So my dream finally came true.
FFN: Were you a big fan of comics as a kid? If so, what kind did you like?
Noeth: I can’t think of a comic book that I didn’t like. I really loved superheroes from the beginning. I read everything from Superman and Batman to Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. I also loved comics like Tarzan and European comics like Asterix, Lucky Luke and Tintin. But I enjoyed superheroes the most, and it was a great time because they printed all the classics like the Jack Kirby and John Buscema comics and the Neil Adams work in the ‘70s for the first time here in Germany. That made it possible for me to grow up with all the fantastic comics.
FFN: What inspired you to get into comics?
Noeth: As a teen, I got the Stan Lee/John Buscema book How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way as a present. This was the moment I realized that I could become a comic-book artist. I made this my goal in life. It took a while, but finally it all worked out.
FFN: What do you enjoy most about drawing for comics?
Noeth: Working at home near my family, and the possibility to work in my pajamas all day long! And of course, it is great to build all these fantastic worlds and characters by only using a pencil and blank paper. It is great to work with other great talents like the writers and editors of the books.
FFN: On the other side, what do you enjoy least about working in this business?
Noeth: This is difficult because I’ve always wanted to draw comics, and there isn’t really anything that I don’t enjoy. Sometimes deadlines can be difficult to handle because I’m a perfectionist. I can’t work on pages as long as I’d like to. I have to force myself to lay down the pencil and move on to the next page sometimes.
FFN: How hard is it to break into the business?
Noeth: If you want to break in, you need three things: dedication, patience and, finally, a bit of luck. You need all of this to stay in the business after breaking in, too. It took me a long time to get into comics as a professional. I worked my way into comics by learning important things in the game business first. Never forget: It’s all about good storytelling.
FFN: What lessons have you learned about working in this field?
Noeth: I’ve learned that you really have to love comics to work as a comic-book artist. The love for this medium is the only thing that can stop you as an artist from working on better-paying jobs in advertising or on storyboards. I know many other artists who don’t want to do comics because they can make much more money drawing storyboards, for example. They all like comics, but they never will draw any. Drawing comics and telling fantastic stories is what I’ve always wanted to do, and this will never change. What really surprised me is how great it feels when you are holding your printed work in your own hands for the first time. It’s amazing, and from this moment on you know you did everything right.