Today we’d like to introduce you to Malcolm Pryor.
Malcolm, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Well, I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. My mom always told me that I started at the age of three, and I haven’t stopped since. I was inspired by the cartoons I watched, the video games I was able to play, and the movies I enjoyed. I believe what really fascinated me was that I enjoyed art that had a narrative, that each piece was the result of someone’s artistic exploration or journey. I didn’t start drawing seriously until about late high school, so my own journey is really just beginning.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I would like to define myself as an illustrator and a sequential artist, and I enjoy making art that’s very story and character driven.
Creating characters is honestly one of the hardest things for me to do as an artist. I usually have so many ideas, they’re very hard to put on paper! I see scenes in my head as if my characters are in their own movie, music video or TV drama. When I really get into a character I’m creating, I illustrate their actions and their mannerisms. To me, it feels like recreating a scene from their own lives.
I am heavily inspired by animation and comic books, and I have also had the opportunity to work in that field since graduating. I enjoy fashion, so much so that I try to put together outfits I’d think my own characters may wear.
My end goal is to actually tell the stories I dream about in my own artwork. From what I’ve been told, my peers really enjoy the characters I have made and would love to see them in their own stories one day. I believe that it’s time to write and illustrate more of my stories rather than just dream about them. I am in the process of writing some of my own books right now, and one of my goals for the coming year is to really push myself in getting my name and my artwork out there.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
That’s a tough question, though I think it has a lot to do with being successful and making our mark on the world. There’s a lot of anxiety for a younger or budding artist because we feel that we are not as successful or as accomplished as others may be. It’s so much easier to be in this mindset now because information and media are so much more accessible now. We tend to compare ourselves to celebrities, our peers, and even industry artists that are our age (or younger!).
When I was in school, I was taught that a successful artist meant being able to provide for yourself and make a living off the work you create. I think there’s some truth to that, but I think you can also measure success on many different levels.
I have felt success when I’ve met certain goals of mine, especially when I did freelance storyboard artwork for Cartoon Network’s Craig of the Creek. I’ve also felt an emotional success when I’ve made artwork for clients or for loved ones. I believe that success as an artist can be measured by the goals that you set for yourself or the accomplishments you achieve, whether they be financial, personal or emotional. As long as you set goals for yourself and try to accomplish them one at a time, it allows you to break out of your comfort zone. You can land the jobs you want, make necessary connections, and grow stronger as an artist.
Being a genuinely kind, open and respectful person will get you far, each and every time. I would not have had these successes were it not for the friends and teachers that have supported me throughout the years. So, having wholesome support groups gives you the necessary criticism, as well as growth. We are never alone in our struggle as an artist either, some of my inspirations have openly shared their doubts, fears, and complications that come with their own careers.
You are not alone in your challenges, so lean on your friends. You don’t have to be like everyone else, just be yourself and be open to new opportunities. So, you can determine your own success as an artist.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I am active on social media! I am in the process of working on my own portfolio website and Instagram, but I heavily use Twitter (@GenOttr).
Contact Info:
- Email: mlclmpryor@gmail.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenOttr
- Other: https://mlclmpryor.tumblr.com/
Image Credit:
Malcolm Pryor
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