Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Thompson.
Hi Andrew, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve always been the art kid, ever since I was really little. Eventually, I attended CCAD and studied illustration. After graduating in 2013, I moved to Boston where I started working as a graphic designer for Reebok. After a couple years out there, I decided to move back to start my freelancing career in 2015. Knowing what I know now about freelance, I don’t know if that decision would have been nearly as easy to make! Freelance illustration is a tough nut to crack, and I kind of lucked out with some of my early clients. At first, I was just taking whatever jobs I could, but I slowly started to try new things. On top of figuring out freelance, I also began teaching as an adjunct professor at CCAD. During my 6 years of teaching, I covered a bunch of classes within the illustration department.
Not long after moving back, a friend encouraged me to try out comic conventions and I decided it was worth a shot. I signed up for a show in Michigan and had an absolute blast! I definitely didn’t make money at that one, but I learned a lot and I felt like I found my people. From that point on, I kept doing them but didn’t really hit my stride until 2018. That’s when I started making my own personal work instead of selling fanart or client work as prints. The beginning of 2018 had been really difficult for a number of reasons, and art suddenly became a way for me to express everything and work through it.
I still remember the first event I tried selling that first personal piece. I was terrified no one would like it, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! I was blown away by how many attendees related to the story. Those interactions honestly inspired me to continue expressing myself through my art. Four years later, and I’m still making my own personal work on top of freelancing and other side ventures like launching an apparel Kickstarter this August!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
HA! Plenty of struggles and smooth roads! Like I said before, I’m not so sure I would have gone freelance if I knew what I do now. Back then, I figured I’d get work from Reebok and that would pretty much pay the bills. I had left on good terms and my team was short-staffed, but I didn’t get a ton of work from them. That’s when I started teaching. An old professor of mine had heard I was back in town and thought my skill set would be perfect for a couple classes.
I also looking at local agencies and started emailing them. I started networking at shows and events, usually with little progress. Eventually, I started getting work in the board game industry, but most of those early jobs didn’t pay much. Thankfully, I started to get more work under my belt and made a bit of a name for myself.
Then 2020 threw a whole new curveball my way! I was planning on focusing on personal work and conventions that year. In Feb 2020, I was at con (c2e2) in Chicago and my friends and I started to hear rumors that another conventions would probably start to shut down. That’s when myself and my buddy Cory Mitan created a platform called “Artist Alley Online” where artists who were affected by convention cancellations could create a digital card showcasing their work that linked to an online store. At first, we were really hopeful that “Artist Alley Online” could become a resource for artists during the pandemic, but traffic dropped off and most of the conventions started doing their own online events. I definitely felt like I let everyone down and got pretty depressed because of it. Don’t worry, I don’t blame myself anymore!
That depression I went through led me to start a graphic novel that I’ve been chipping away at on patreon since. It’s called “Banishment” and it’s all about depression and anxiety. Mostly it’s how those things feel to me, but it also has a lot of hope. Fast forward to 2021 when an art director for a large video game developer came across a page from said graphic novel on Twitter. That led to the biggest freelance job of my career and allowed me to step away from teaching last year!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create energetic, bright, and graphic works within the fantasy genre. Although my artistic roots began in the world of screen printing and contemporary pop art, my subject matter has begun to shift into what I like to call “fantasy pop”.
I’m definitely known for my colors. My personal work is very bright and doesn’t use a lot of black or muted colors. I find bright palettes make me happy and I always want that to come across in my work. Even if the subject matter is heavy, there are still positive ways to look at those situations, and that always helps me get through those tough times.
I think I’m most proud of how much my personal work has changed who I am. I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself and it’s helped me grow and really figure out who I am and what’s important to me.
I think what sets me apart from others is my story. Every piece of personal work has a story rooted in emotion and I think that’s super important to my success. It gives people a way to put their own feelings into words or see a version of themselves that can overcome whatever it is they’re going through. It’s also a way to feel like you’re not alone. That’s the type of art/music/media that I gravitate towards.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Haha. I audibly let out an “oof” when I read this one!
I think my definition of success has changed over the years. At first, it focused more on money and my career. Now, I look at success as something that comes from balancing life with being an artist. I feel the most successful when I’m hanging out with my art friends at an Airbnb after a long day of working at a convention. I love those quiet moments where we all get to talk and just hang out. The deep conversations, laughter, and camaraderie are what I view as success now. My art gives me the privilege to experience those moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://schmandrewart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schmandrewart/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/schmandrewart
