GLENDALE
-- Michel Gagne doesn't always encourage people to follow
their dream of self-publishing their comics. "If you
just want to do one book or two books, go get a publisher,"
he said. "You should self-publish only if you're in it
for the long haul."
Gagne
should know what he's talking about -- he quit his job in
1998 to found GAGNE International Press and has been writing,
illustrating and publishing books and comics ever since.
He
and five other comics professionals took part in a panel discussion,
"Animators Do Comics," at Glendale Central Library
on Wednesday night. The panel was sponsored by the Association
Internationale Du Film D'Animation.
In
what can be a niche career if animators want to retain control
over their work, a comics artist must be his or her own public
relations firm. "I answer all my e-mails, I draw for
all my fans," Gagne said. "I promote this stuff
because I believe in it."
Another
avenue is finding people who are interested in your subject
matter, even if they aren't necessarily into comics, said
Milton Knight, who has been working as an animator since 1980.
"I'm
not afraid of people stealing my ideas," Gagne said.
"I talk as much about my book as I can. Some people keep
their ideas in the closet their whole life and never do anything
about it."
Audience
members asked the panel for advice about honing their craft.
"Find artists that you like," said Mike Kunkel,
who publishes "Herobear and the Kid." "For
me, Norman Rockwell is a huge influence because he only has
one image, but it's almost like a mini-movie within that,"
Kunkel added. "I look at what he does that inspires me
and how I can incorporate that into my work."
Moderator
Amid Amidi, who publishes "Animation Blast," cautioned
attendees that there's no step-by-step process to becoming
a great artist. "Art can't be found in an instruction
manual," he said. "It's a lifelong endeavor."
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By
Gretchen Hoffman, Glendale News-Press