Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Bell.
Andrea, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, I’ve been drawing and creating stories for as long as I could remember. I don’t remember this but my mom tells me that I always talked about being an illustrator and author when I was younger—guess I had my eyes on a prize!
After spending most of my time growing up and making my own comics for myself, attending art community classes at the nearby college, and writing everything down from diary entries to high school honors-level persuasive essays, I made the commitment to attend art school after graduating.
Even though I had been a creative person my whole life, I didn’t have much time to build a portfolio during high school (I was a band + foreign language nerd and couldn’t fit it all in!) With no portfolio, I decided to attend Columbia College Chicago to major in illustration and to grow. I was fortunate enough that my instructors were also working professionals and that my environment of a major city had plenty of art-related happenings to be discovered.
Throughout my college years, I always thought I would end up working in animation as a character designer or maybe even flex my sequential imaging muscles and be a storyboard artist. It wasn’t until my last few semesters with some superb teachers did I actually start to consider making more comics and graphic novels.
I really did enjoy all my school projects; they helped me find my style of illustrating and writing. However, I don’t really consider my career beginning until after I graduated college and began creating work solely for me.
Very quickly after Columbia, I found myself inundated with the Chicago comic art scene. I attended more events centered around the community and made a lot of friends who were also artists.
A few creators in particular I befriended were a part of a small publisher called Yeti Press. They all had books published by this duo, and I’d be lying if I said I wanted to fit in and be a part of a bigger collective. So I emailed Yeti Press, had a pitch meeting that went extremely well which led to my first graphic novel, “Rose from the Dead” to be published with them.
Once I had the taste of small press and self-publishing, I couldn’t stop! I started creating more comics, zines, and other goods like pins, patches, and buttons.
After building up my catalog of work and tabling at a couple shows alongside Yeti Press, I wanted to apply as a solo artist. My first show I applied to and exhibited at as a solo artist was CALA (Comic Arts LA). I had never been to LA and knew no one except a couple of artists from the internet. Luckily, the comics community is wonderful and very friendly. I had an engaging and inspiring first show, and couldn’t wait to create more to participate in future shows across the country (and Canada!).
Today I work as a full-time freelance artist. I showcase my work at about 12-15 shows a year.
Has it been a smooth road?
Personally, I’ve encountered many challenges along the way, but I can always trace them back to 2 main sources.
The first, I should say that there are plenty of artists that work a full-time day job and somehow also come home to make work for a full-time artist career. I have found out through my trials of navigating full time and part time work that one of the most challenging components of my creative process is being in a stale routine. The worst thing I have done to my creative flow was to put myself in a full-time job routine that would mentally, physically, and creatively drain me every day. Coming home after an 8-hour job to then draw was the last thing I could balance and focus on.
The second challenge that I must always face head-on is taking care of my mental health. Even having the freedom to schedule my days and prioritize my clients around my own work ethics and routine feels tremendously difficult if I’m not taking care of my mental health. I’m an emotional person, and if I don’t tend to my feelings/anxieties/fears/emotions they will come back to bite me on a day that I was hoping to be the most productive.
There have been plenty of days, random or consequential, that birthed anxiety or depression that have immobilized me to the point of staying in bed—which only adds more stress if your livelihood demands you be actively creating every day.
Tell us more about the business.
A little about me, my name is Andrea Bell. I’m a Midwest-born, freelance illustrator + comic artist, cry expert, and fellow human being.
Being an illustrator, my brand is me so, therefore, the art I create can reflect my experiences, mood, and feelings. My illustration and comics reflect adventure, honesty, and strong relate-able characters combined with an intriguing palette while catering to fictional or autobiographical work.
I’ve very proud of my most recent book, “Still Waiting.” It is a collection of comics and writings created during a time of loss that dissects the healing process with the goal of birthing more empathy for the reader.
As it is work that is mostly autobiographical, it was a new experience to share such a personal process with my audience, but it has definitely been the most rewarding it creating new connections with readers of my work.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The kids now days are creating so much amazing art! I love visiting comic conventions and seeing the vast styles these young artists have.
If I had to predict anything for the industry, I’d say that we’re probably going to see more and more younger creators that utilize social media to put their artwork out there, who learn complicated drawing techniques from Youtube, or ones who start marketing their work much earlier in life because the internet taught them how.
Pricing:
- Still Waiting – $12
- Fair Voyage – $20
- Cry Club Enamel Pin – $10
Contact Info:
- Website: andreabelldraws.com
- Email: andreabelldraws@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyharvest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaBellDraws/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyharvestyeah
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/andyharvest
Image Credit:
Jim Vondruska
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
