Artist of the Day: David Alegre

David Alegre

Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Primary media:
Digital [Photoshop, Manga Studio], ink, Copic markers
Education:
Self-taught
Major projects:
The Ballad of Meng Francisco personal comic project [author/illustrator]
Wu Xing High collaborative cartoon project [contributing artist]
CelebritEATs drawing series of celebrity heads and food puns [illustrator]
Sulong Itim short comic contribution to BLACK TORCH comic anthology [author/illustrator, 2013]
What is the most valuable piece of artistic advice you have ever received, and from who?

Since I never went to art school and learned everything I know from self-study online, my wells of inspiration and advice have been culled from a plethora of sources. I know it’s kind of a cop-out answer, and I apologize for it, but it’s very true. I didn’t start doing art (past the odd notebook doodle) until my final years at college, and to that end, I’d say that DeviantArt was probably my biggest artistic mentor.

To answer the question, however, I’d say that the biggest piece of artistic advice I have ever received was to never stop drawing — and to never be truly satisfied with your art at its current level. This sentiment has been repeated by every single person I have admired and emulated. It’s a simple statement that is surprisingly hard to stay true to. Over the years, I have come to the realization that creativity and artistic acumen is a finite resource. It’s like a muscle, prone to fatigue and exhaustion just like any other part of our body. Upon realizing that, I decided to treat art like I would a consistent exercise regimen. I try to dedicate at least an hour a day to purely personal art and development.

I try very hard to jump out of my comfort zones as much as I can, and more often than not use my art-me-time to practice drawing things that I would otherwise avoid if given the choice. I used to HATE drawing vehicles and backgrounds, and now they are actually kind of growing on me! A lot of this comes from studying people like Kim Jung Gi. His art is so refreshing and uninhibited to me; I feel like he is a man who has lived and breathed drawing for years and has built up an amazing mental library to reference from — and as a result, can draw pretty much whatever he wants, however he wants, at a speed that seems supernatural. I strive to be on a level like his. I strive to build a mental library as grand as his.

To me, the keys to that library lies in consistency. And the hunger to improve fuels that consistency.

TL;DR never stop drawing.

More:
Website/Twitter/Tumblr/Wu Xing High Tumblr/CelebritEATs