Through Thick & Thin --- Do You Have What It Takes? -- Randy Valiente On Comics Industry Past And Present, On His Processes And Straight-Forward Advice To Young Artists

Are you ready to endure the hardships of getting into and staying in the comics industry?

Ready to learn how much sacrifice modern comic book illustrators are giving to deliver their masterpieces?

And just how masterful you become when you've been doing comics for years?

Welcome:

Immortal Artist Interview Series: Randy Valiente Part 2

• How Randy adopted and evolved his medium, techniques and materials through the technological changes... Then that enabled him to create different styles to suite his projects better

• What he does to avoid being burned out

• His simple but often overlooked principle in project and time managment

• The drastic changes that happened in the local Comic book industry and what it means for current and upcoming comic book artists... Those who want to get into comics this is a MUST-READ!

Immortal Artist Interview Series: Randy Valiente Part 2

5 What is you creative process like? how you get starting in your drawing sessions? how do you prepare?
Ano ang proseso mo sa paggawa? Pano mo sinisimulan yung mga drawing sessions mo? Pano ka nagwawarm up, prepare?

I evolved sa loob ng mahigit 20 years ko sa industry. I started the traditional way, pencil and ink. Then pumasok ang digital and Photoshop. Now I’m using a Cintiq pero paiba-iba ako ng process depends on the project. Minsan pure trad, minsan pure digital, minsan halo. Ayokong ma-bore sa isang proseso. Dynamic ang tingin ko sa art, kailangang mong subukan ang ibang avenue. Hindi na uso sa akin ang warm up, I’ve been doing this fo a long time. Paggising ko, pag-upo ko sa drawing table, simula na yun ng buong araw na pagdu-drawing.


6 Where do you find inspiration for your drawings? who are the artists you find to be doing really inspiring works recently?
Saan ka nakakahanap ng mga inspirations mo sa pagdrowing? Sino mga current artists ang sinususndan mo at nagagandahan ka sagawa nila?

Hindi na rin uso sa kin ang inspiration, I guess, yung inspiration ko na lang ay yung mismong passion ko for illustration. I have hundreds of artist na kasama sa development ko, pero wala akong tinututukan. Masyadong diverse at malawak ang tinitingnan ko. Lately, nahilig akong tumingin sa mga classic oriental art. Naaapreciate ko na rin ang mga abstracts, na hindi ko dati ma-take. Nahihilig ako ngayon sa watercolor. I like the flows of water. Gusto ko ng mga loose sa trabaho. I guess I am already on the level na hindi na ako kayang ikulong ng isang genre o isang reference. I am now a prisoner of my own creativity.

7 What current projects are you working on right now?
Ano-ano mga  projects mo ngayon?

I did Enrikke for Immortal Comics, my story and art. I have many projects on the side dahil I am also into storyboard and concept art. I still have a contract with a US comics publisher, pero gumagawa ako kung saan-saan basta trip kong gawin. I also have couple of personal projects na ginagawa ko sa mga coffee shops para matanggal ang burnout. I managed my time very well, natuto na akong ibalanse ang schedule for everything.

8 How about projects that are about to come up?
Mga projects na parating pa lang?

I’m looking forward to other stories na maku-contribute ko sa Immortal Comics. I have several concepts in mind pero kailangan ko munang hinugin sa isip. One at a time.

9 Any dream projects you really want to be able to work in?
Mga projects na pinapangarap mong makuha?

My own creation, of course. Yung walang magsasabi sa yo kung ano ba dapat ang gawin mo. Yung Malaya kang gawin kung ano yung nasa utak mo. That’s the ultimate goal of an artist, I guess.

10 What are your observations about what's going on in the industry? Anything you're super excited about?
Ano mga napapansin mo sa comics industry? mga bagay na nangyayari na nakakaexcite para sayo?

I grew up in a different komiks industry. It’s big. We produced millions of copies every week, not every year. Yumaman ang may-ari ng GASI at Atlas at that time. Trabaho ito para sa amin. May suweldo kami every week. It’s a different world right now. Gagawa ka ng komiks ngayon out of love. Don’t expect na magkakaroon ka ng instant pera. It’s tough. Kaya nga bilib ako sa mga bata ngayon. It’s pure love. It’s passion. Magbabago lang ang pananaw nila kapag nagkaroon na sila ng pamilya at kailangan na nilang kumita. Doon mo malalaman kung sino ang tatagal sa industry na ito. Through thick and thin, hanggang sa magutom ako, tumagal ako sa industry na ito. If that excites you, then congratulations.

11 How is your typical day like?
Pano usual schedule mo?

I draw every day (and every night), seven days a week. Titigil lang ako pag may lakad o kung may dapat asikasuhin. I sleep 3am or 4am, I woke up 10am or 11. Ganun ang routine ko araw-araw.

12 Advice for young artists? ;)
Advice parasamgabatang artists?

Just draw. Find your inspiration. Huwag ipasok sa isip ang rockstar attitude. This is art not showbusiness. Forget the fans, the conventions, the autograph signing, mga papuri at parangal. Darating lahat yan na hindi mo inaasahan. Concentrate more on self-development. Stop criticizing others. JUST DRAW!

Interviews so far

Those are the interviews so far.

To recap here are the links to the interviews we have published so far:

Jim Jimenez
Part 1 http://immortalcomics.blogspot.com/2015/10/launching-today-immortal-artist.html
Part 2 http://immortalcomics.blogspot.com/2015/10/immortal-artist-interview-series-jim.html

Ceasar Ian Muyuela
Part 1 http://immortalcomics.blogspot.com/2015/11/just-how-much-talent-does-this-guy-has.html

See more of Randy's work here: https://www.facebook.com/randyvalienteart

Follow Immortal Comics and keep updated on our exciting projects here: facebook.com/immortalcomicseries