It’s a fairly humid evening at Omaha’s midtown Caffeine Dreams, a relaxed garden lush with lilies and lilac bushes is the backdrop to a conversation with comic book artist Cynthia Martin.
Martin has adopted Omaha as her hometown; she fell in love with its vibe after visiting its Old Market. Her enthusiasm for her craft and positivity is enamoring. And, like many, she’s able to draw from her home.
Marvel Comics Star Wars
“My knees went out from under me,” Martin said. “It was staggering.” She’s talking about the opportunity for her first comic, Ms. Victory Special #1 (AC Comics, 1985); this gig led to her more work, including a stretch with Marvel Comics Star Wars. At the time, she was one of the few women working in the comic industry.
“It’s still proportionally male, but women have moved into decision making roles,” Martin said. “There are great female super hero characters. I try to get people interested in female heroes as people – not just figures in spandex. “
Her fiancé at the time may have been responsible for getting Martin’s drawings in the hands of some key people, but Martin’s noted swift brushstrokes and clean action images have given her steady and engaging projects.
Historical Biographies
“I’ve gotten to learn things that my history classes didn’t teach me,” Martin said, talking about her early experience on reader graphic biographies from Capstone Press that vary from The Story of the Statue of Liberty, to Booker T. Washington: Great American Educator to Elizabeth Blackwell: America’s First Woman Doctor.
“I teared up at the end of the Booker T. Washington project,” she said. “It was so poignant and beautiful. I’m proud of these, to be educating kids. The Story of the Statue of Liberty –oh my gosh! Intense! It’s enshrined in my memory as one of the most labor intensive of my career.”
Branching Out
“I can teach people to draw,” she said. “The trick to drawing is draw what you see, rather not what you think is there. I teach people to see this differently. I can’t make anyone an artist but I can make them better.” Her other recent projects have included illustrating Edge Books’ How to Draw Comic Heroes.
Advice for Artists
Martin emphasized a “code of the freelancer” that involved being in communication through online resources, email and via phone. It’s about “looking out for people.”
Martin’s recommendations for an artist pursuing paid jobs:
Art School: Through many technological advances, there’s so much Photoshopping going on. Through art school, Martin continued, learn several disciplines such as live action storyboards, In-Design, Photoshop, pre and post press.
Do a lot of different stuff: By varying a work portfolio, Martin suggested, editors will take notice and give steady work and projects. By adding your skills (like inker and writer, or penciler and colorist) the chance of breaking any link, or cutting down on the number of people working on a project is simplified. Thus, less “links to break” on the whole process.
All about the deadlines: Editors lose jobs over deadlines, Martin emphasized. Even quality can take a back seat, hitting deadlines is essential. Beat them if possible. Get a reputation as a problem solver.
Longevity: Find something that other people don’t like to draw and become an expert at it. For example, Martin has become a go-to person for Westerns and horses.
“It’s very fun, it’s a wonderful way to make a living.” Martin said. “I work from home and for some people that would be the kiss of death, but for an artist it’s paradise. It’s possible to make a living doing art. And, I really like Omaha. It’s a really good town for artists. Culturally it has a lot to offer for its size. And, it’s just the right size for me.”
 |
